IMPROVING YOUR CHILD'S RC CAR DRIVING EXPERIENCE: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Remote-controlled (RC) cars are a popular choice among kids for playtime fun. However, the joy of controlling these miniature vehicles can sometimes be overshadowed by frustration when maneuvering becomes difficult. 

Besides, let’s be honest here. How many parents have had to secretly replace or throw off an RC toy that got damaged in a matter of days? Kids are all sorts of fun, but they can go through toys fairly quickly. RC cars are always at high risk because not every child gets the hang of it!

Why you need to improve the driving experience 

Children, especially those with limited driving experience, can find it challenging to control RC toys effectively. 

Maneuvering the car around obstacles or through tight spaces requires a certain level of skill and coordination. Without prior experience, kids may struggle to navigate smoothly, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction with the toy. For instance, kids who don’t know how to ride a bicycle are more likely to crash their RC car! 

Additionally, repeated instances of the car getting stuck can diminish the enjoyment of the play experience. By enhancing the driving experience, you can help your child overcome these challenges and fully enjoy their RC car adventures. 

Choosing an age-appropriate toy 

There’s no secret here. Selecting the right RC car for your child's age and skill level is crucial in ensuring an enjoyable play experience. Opt for models that are specifically designed for beginners or young children, and that are easy to navigate. These typically feature simplified controls and are easier to operate. Look for cars with rugged designs and bulky sizes, as these factors contribute to greater stability and control. Avoid purchasing advanced models with complex features that may overwhelm or frustrate your child.

Installing bearings 

One effective way to improve the performance of an RC car is by installing bearings. Bearings are small metal components that reduce friction between moving parts, such as wheels and axles. By replacing the stock bushings with bearings, you can enhance the car's efficiency and maneuverability. The good news is: You can find plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to replace those for RC toys, and you can find cost-effective quality bearings from specialist suppliers, such as this Chinese bearing manufacturer. 

You won’t believe the difference bearings can make. They enable the car to move more freely, so it becomes easier for kids to control. Another advantage of bearings, they help prolong the life of the car by reducing wear and tear on critical components. 

Installing suspensions 

Another modification that can significantly enhance the driving experience is installing custom suspensions. We all know what suspensions do. They absorb shocks and vibrations. They do exactly the same for toy cars and help create a smoother ride on various terrains. 

For RC cars, especially those controlled by beginners, custom suspensions can make a world of difference in handling and stability. They allow you to adjust the car's ride height and stiffness to suit your child's preferences and driving style, and to accommodate the terrain. So, if you’ve got a bumpy yard, this is a golden opportunity! 

In conclusion, there’s so much you could do to create a fun RC experience for a younger or less experienced kid. When you think it only takes a few modifications for your kids to drive the RC car with confidence and ease, there’s no reason not to do it!

MATTEL WHEELING A NEW ANIMATED SHOW ONTO NETFLIX

An all-new animated children’s series based upon Mattel's iconic Hot Wheels brand of toy cars is coming to Netflix in Spring 2024. Mixing out-of-this-world vehicles, adventurous characters, high-octane races and more, the new Netflix series promised to be a high-speed thrill ride. Hot Wheels Let's Race follows the newest generation of racers: Coop, Spark, Mac, Brights, Axle, and Sidecar as they attend a racing camp that always puts the pedal to the metal. 

Through exciting car races, extreme stunt contests, and thrill-seeking challenges, Hot Wheels Let’s Race is a show that while aimed at kids the whole family can enjoy watching it together. Plus, in coordination with the Netflix Season 1 debut of Hot Wheels Let’s Race the toy manufacturer will be coordinating a lineup of Hot Wheels toys and consumer products featuring the show’s vehicles, settings, and storylines.

Are you geeked about this new show coming to Netflix? 

MAX FLEX TRACER RACERS

Max Traxxx Tracer Racers were my kids favorite toy that we reviewed on ageekdaddy.com last year. They still play a lot with these 1:64 scale remote control toy cars that blaze a trail of light behind them as they race around a track made of glow-in-the-dark material.  So they were really excited when Skullduggery Toys sent us a new variation released this year to try out called MAX FLEX RC.

MAX FLEX RC still has miniature remote control toy cars racing around a track but now you can customize the shape and layout of courses with flexible roadway segments that can be bended and twisted up, down, left and right.  This opens up a new level of fun in creatively building courses to race around and driving your cars through the track. Create a Grand Prix style course full of turns and curves, a stunt course filled with ramps to jump and bridges to cross, or a track inspired by an off-road rally style race with MAX FLEX RC.

While the original Tracer Racers tracks simulated street drag racing, the new Flex segments replicate off-road driving. MAX FLEX RC track sets provide both an on and off road racing sensation as Tracer Racers zoom up to 500 mph scaled speed for their size.  The new course configurations and conditions available with Flex tracks add a new level of excitement and entertainment to playing with Tracer Racers.



Though the track style has been altered with MAX FLEX RC, it still maintains the thrilling glow-in-the-dark effects of Max Traxxx tracks. The flexible segments of MAX FLEX RC actually take it up a notch being able take them apart to increase or decrease their size as well as allow for the creation of a crisscross pattern of orange and blue panels that creates a super looking glow-in-the-dark effect. In addition to the glowing aspect of the track, Tracer Racers toy cars also project purple light rays down from their undercarriage which leaves a blaze of color behind them, day or night, that is a really impressive looking visual effect.



Your Tracer Racers zip around a track directed by a remote control that lets you alter the toy cars speed and whether it is going forward or in reverse. Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) these remote controls also are used to charge the toy cars. When not being played with a Tracer Racer car can also be clipped to the top of a remote control to keep track of the toys.

Skullduggery took a toy my family already loved and improved on it. So obviously, the MAX FLEX RC track sets are going to get A Geek Daddy nod of approval. There are three options you can choose from: Max Flex 200 Piece, Max Flex 250 Piece, and Max Flex 300 Piece track sets. Also Max Flex sets are compatible with the original Max Traxxx track pieces providing even more variation to the possible race courses you can put together to run your Tracer Racers on.

We've had a wonderful time playing around with the MAX FLEX RC track set and want to share our enjoyment with our ageekdaddy.com blog readers and social media followers. Thanks to Skullduggery Toys, we have a MAX FLEX RC track set with 2 remote control Tracer Racers to giveaway. Who wants it?!

One lucky winner will be selected randomly from all eligible entrants. For a chance to win complete the entries in the rafflecopter form below by 11:59 pm on December 9, 2018. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate in the giveaway. Skullduggery Toys will be responsible for delivery of the prize once ageekdaddy.com has selected a winner and provided his or her contact info to them. You must reply back within 48 hours once contacted about winning this giveaway with your contact information or an alternate winner will be selected. Good luck!

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Read our past Max Traxxx review here. For additional information or to purchase a MAX FLEX RC track set, please go to skullduggery.com

MODARRI TOY CARS DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE

Today we're taking a look at the DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE for Modarri toy cars.  The Modarri brand is known for its customizable toy cars that feature real steering and suspension mechanics that provide a realistic mock driving experience. They are also very durably built with real metal frames, heavy duty plastic, and strong mechanical linkages. While each car has 10 or more interchangeable pieces these toys are very sturdy because the screws that connect them are retained in the components for a tight fit and they don’t fall out. These finger-driven cars have won a number of toy industry recognitions including Popular Science -- Best of Toy Fair, Family Choice Award, Parents Choice Award, and Best Toys for Kids Astra Award.  Plus they get A Geek Daddy nod of approval for just being awesome to play with.

Up until now though there wasn't a play surface that did justice for taking advantage of the finger driving steering and suspension features of these toy cars.  Rolling a Modarri along a cement sidewalk is the equivalent of hot rodding a Dodge Challenger Hellcat on a pot hole speckled road. Just like you want to take a sports car to a race course like the M1 Concourse near my home for the best driving experience, you'll want to utilize the DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE to get the most out of playing with Modarri toy cars.



With the Modarri DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE you can build your own street-styled race track! It includes 20 pieces of soft yet durable EVA foam track that were constructed specifically to provide an incredible surface for enjoying the steering and suspension mechanics of Modarri cars. Vroom! Vroom! You'll understand why Modarri toy cars stand out when finger-driving one on laps around race courses you've constructed with these foam track pieces.

Just as Modarri's cars are customizable so are the layouts you can put together with these track pieces.  The DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE includes 12 curved foam track segments, 4 straightaways, and 4 pieces of Y-shaped foam track allowing for a variety of layouts for Modarri cars to drive around. These pieces quickly snap together with a tight interlocking fit making it easy to design your own costume track that provides a smooth ride for Modarri cars.

In addition to the street-style track pieces, this delux bundle also includes a Modarri car with 13 interchangeable parts (4 wheels / 2 suspensions / 1 chassis / 1 seat / 2 fenders / 2 hoods / 1 metal frame + 1 swivel-tipped hex screwdriver). It also comes with 11 race course accessories ( 4 orange racing cones / 4 hard interlocking racing barriers [2 orange & 2 white] and 3 tire stacks). The playset has everything you need for some race car fun!

My son has been having a great time playing with the Modarri DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE. I have to admit enjoying playing around with it myself as much as he has. Building and racing Modarri toy cars around on these street-styled foam tracks is a nice bonding activity for fathers and sons to do together. To share in our fun, A Geek Daddy has been provided a second Modarri track set to giveaway.

One lucky winner will receive a Modarri DELUX STREET TRACK BUNDLE similar to the one pictured in this toy review courtesy of Thoughfull Toys.  For a chance to win, complete the entries in the form below before 11:59 pm ET on November 25, 2018. One randomly selected winner will be drawn from all eligible entries. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate. Thoughtfull Toys will be responsible for mailing the prize to the selected winner. Good luck!

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A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review and is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to ageekdaddy.com readers and social media followers. I have received no other financial compensation. Opinions expressed in this post are my own.

TOY COMPANY HONORS DECEASED EMPLOYEE WITH COLLECTIBLE CAR

Last year ThoughtFull Toys suffered a tragic loss when 30-year old sales manager Trevor Floyd unexpectedly passed away from heart failure after he had just been promoted to the position and moved into a recently purchased home with his wife Anna and their two young children, 1-year old Cora and 3-year old Caleb.  In honor of Trevor who was thought of as a close friend as well as team member by his fellow employees the toy company is being thoughtful to their colleague's memory and supportive of his family by producing a limited edition collectible Modarri toy car in his honor.

Modarri toy cars are customizable with mix and match pieces that have real steering and suspension mechanism to provide a fun play driving experience. Trevor loved ThoughtFull Toys' Modarri brand! He had incredible child-like excitement every time a new car was released.



So ThoughtFull Toys is producing 500 limited edition T2 (Trevor Floyd) Modarri cars which will be sold for $100 each.  T2 was Trevor's nickname at ThoughtFull Toys and 100% of the money generated from the sale of these collectible cars will be donated to Anna, Caleb, and Cora.  This Limited Edition T2 Modarri car which has been named after Trevor is decorated in his favorite sayings and incorporates the names of his wife and children into its design.

If you would like to help support Trevor’s family, you can do so by helping to share this story or by purchasing a car yourself. CLICK HERE to place an order for a Limited Edition T2 Modarri toy car.  Each car has a custom license plate to identify which car it is in the series of 500. The cars will ship on a first come first serve basis after the family and close friends orders are fulfilled.

In addition to the car pieces incorporating references to Trevor, the Limited Edition T2 Modarri toy car's packaging will commemorate the man with the following tribute on the back of the box:

“Trevor Floyd (T2) had a passion for helping others and bringing out the best in the Modarri team. He was one of the most persistent and tenacious people we ever knew – he never gave up on a goal. He had vision, and he worked every day to put the pieces in place to see that vision come true. He was a kind, loving and humble man that brought a joyful feeling to every room he entered with his child like exuberance. He was like a kid on Christmas every time he held a newly created Modarri car. “Wow, Wow, Wow!” was a favorite expression of his. We will miss Trevor dearly, and he will never be forgotten.”

A Geek Daddy sends condolences to Trevor Floyd's family, friends and co-workers. Please head over to the Modarri website to check out the T2 toy car and consider ordering one to assist the memorial fund for his family.  This car really looks sharp and I'm sure Trevor would be exclaiming Wow, Wow, Wow! about it.

AUTOMOBLOX

Combing the fun of wood building blocks with toy cars is AUTOMOBLOX.  Play Monster sent us a few of these vehicle sets to check out and we had a great time playing with them. These toys made of European beech wood are like bringing high quality Cub Scout Pinewood Derby cars home that can be played with by kids all the time rather than just during a special race.

Each one has interchangeable components that can be swapped between vehicles allowing children to customize them with no tools required.  Plus free rolling wheels with tires and rims that can be mixed and matched make them thrilling to race.  No batteries needed … just push to get them rolling or shove down an incline to really get these toys going.  

POLICE CRUISER + FIRE RESCUE PATROL

This play set comes with three fully built Automobloxs -- a police car, fire fighter SUV and rescue truck.   The bodies of each of these toys can be split into three parts and each of the cab tops and tires can be removed as well as the truck bed cover.  Mix and match these components to create your own vehicle designs or trade them with parts from other Automblox sets for even more options to let kids build their own unique vehicles. This was my son's favorite set out of the ones Play Monster sent us to review.

RACE CAR 2-PACK

My daughter loved this Automoblox set that comes with a classic hotrod and a futuristic looking street racer.   She was excited about the hot red and neon purple color schemes of the HR5 Scorch and SC1 Chaos that are included in this toy pack.  These are the colors she'd want her race car to be if she ever becomes a pro driver I was told while watching her tinker around with them.

TIMBER PACK

A sturdy rugged off-road vehicle that comes with a trailer carrying a detachable motorcycle is my favorite Automoblox play set.  I monkeyed around with this while my son and daughter were playing with the other Automoblox cars, utility vehicles and trucks.  Like the other toys, this Automoblox SUV can split apart with its body separating into three pieces and the canopy being removable. Its four wheels also come off the car with their tires and hubs also able to be split apart too. Hitch up the included trailer to pull the motor bike around or spin the motorcycle around on its own.

Because of small parts Automoblox are not recommended for children under 4 years old but otherwise these are some wonderful toys for kids and kids at heart.  My kids were thrilled by these toys and I enjoyed jumping in the fun with them as we raced these cars against each other across the hardwood floor in our dining room.  Automoblox are so well constructed for many families they very well become keepsake toys passed down to future generations.  Based upon the quality of the toys and their fun factor, Automoblox absolutely earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

For a look at other Automoblox play sets or individually sold cars and to learn more about the brand, head over to playmonster.com

InRoad Toys PlayTape

 **A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

We have this big bin filled with toy cars that my son and daughter love to collect but which are just sitting around gathering dust because the kids never seem to play with them.  So on a recent weekend when it was too cold to go outside and play, I pulled out the bin of cars and said no TV or video games today.  My kids whined to me that was too boring but I had an answer for them by pulling out some InRoad Toys PlayTape.

This product encourages children to engage in imaginative play by allowing them to create their own roads and rails to use with toy vehicles.  I handed over the PlayTape to my kids and let them construct their own race courses, winding roads, and railroad tracks to entertain themselves with.  They had a blast laying out designs with this special tape on our dining room floor and spent a few hours playing with miniature toy cars and trains that hadn't been given much attention in a long time up until then.

The PlayTape stuck really well to our hardwood floor but more importantly when the kids were all done it also easily lifted up leaving no sticky residue at all.  The last thing you want is your nice floors left with marks or gunk on them and with this fun product you can be rest assured that won't be a problem.  Another nice aspect of InRoad Toys PlayTape is that when your kids have wrapped up playing with it you can throw it in the recycle bin rather than the trash can because it is recyclable. 

We had four rolls of PlayTape for my kids to be creative with which included 2 sizes of paved roadway, a dirt trail, and railroad tracks.  My kids then laid out a rectangular race track.  Of course every race track needs an airplane runway so they added that in the middle.  When their cars weren't racing they needed someplace to park so they added a dirt parking lot to the mix as well with the dirt trail themed PlayTape.

I appreciated that my kids were easily able to tear apart the PlayTape to create the roads, tracks and trails they envisioned without my having to intervene to do it for them.  It was also nice that they could usually re-position the PlayTape several times while playing without it losing its ability to adhere to the floor so they could switch things up a bit or not have to worry about laying down something exactly perfect the first time.  This stuff will adhere  to any flat surface including walls, which can make for some interesting scenarios, but while it is easy to remove from many surfaces mess free the PlayTape is sticky enough I wouldn't recommend placing it on carpet.

Looking for an idea to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day when traveling for a summer vacation or amused while your family is visiting relatives?  Pickup a sheet of poster board and a few rolls of InRoad Toys PlayTape, which are both easily transportable, and take them and a few toy cars along with you. 

My kids built a drag racing strip, railroad crossing, parking lot, and a dirt road to play with their toys on a piece of poster board I picked up for them to use with InRoad Toys PlayTape. Note though unlike sticking it on a floor or wall, you aren't going to be able to pull off the PlayTape without ruining both it and the poster board.

My 7 year old twins have enjoyed hours of fun racing their toy cars around the network of roads they've built with the PlayTape on several occasions.  It really was great having them get some good use out of all the toy cars they've collected and seeing them being creative and imaginative while they played.  When you tear off a strip of PlayTape from a roll it really is only good for one session of play.  When the kids are done playing it is time for the material to be recycled rather than try to save it and use again. Fortunately there is enough material on each roll to be used for several play times.  My kids have engineered themselves some pretty intricate road systems on several different afternoons with the original four rolls we were provided for this review.

InRoad Toys PlayTape gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval because it is an affordable item made in the good ole USA that encourages kids to engage in creative and imaginative play without creating a mess or headache for mom or dad to have to address.  Rolls of PlayTape range in price from $4.99 to $13.99 and the product has received quite a few awards and accolades.

You can purchase InRoad Toys PlayTape online or you can pick up some rolls at a HOBBY LOBBY store near you. CLICK HERE to search for a local HOBBY LOBBY or  another retailer that may be carrying InRoad Toys PlayTape near you.