Nitro fuel pumping up radio-controlled cars

Instead of batteries, teen-targeted Hasbro minivehicles to run on nitromethane, sounding and smelling like real thing.

The story "Nitro fuel pumping up radio-controlled cars" published July 12, 2006 at 8:40 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[itworker--2008]

Nitro!

You want to give a 16yr old a bottle of Nitro?

Granted they use them in the imports now, but I thought you had to be at least 21 to purchace Nitro?

[armando_m]

Nitro!

Not that I'm aware of, but then local governments might have their own restrictions.

Nitro glow fuel is mostly alcohol, with a percentage (15% for example) of nitromethane blended in. It's not all that much more volatile than just plain old alcohol out of the family medicine cabinet.

I'm way over any legal age limit unfortunately, but I've never had my age verified in any way when buying my fuel online.

[amadensor]

You are thinking of something else

You are thinking of Nitrous Oxide. It is controled because it can be used as a drug as well as making lots of go-fast. This is nitromethane, top fuel dragster fuel. Not at all the same. Very flamable, but not near as dangerous as gasoline.

[itworker--2008]

Nitro!

You want to give a 16yr old a bottle of Nitro?

Granted they use them in the imports now, but I thought you had to be at least 21 to purchace Nitro?

[armando_m]

Nitro!

Not that I'm aware of, but then local governments might have their own restrictions.

Nitro glow fuel is mostly alcohol, with a percentage (15% for example) of nitromethane blended in. It's not all that much more volatile than just plain old alcohol out of the family medicine cabinet.

I'm way over any legal age limit unfortunately, but I've never had my age verified in any way when buying my fuel online.

[amadensor]

You are thinking of something else

You are thinking of Nitrous Oxide. It is controled because it can be used as a drug as well as making lots of go-fast. This is nitromethane, top fuel dragster fuel. Not at all the same. Very flamable, but not near as dangerous as gasoline.

[Shawn Lane]

What?

Can you image some kid running this on the street at 25mph. I am thinking this is not a good idea.

[Shawn Lane]

What?

Can you image some kid running this on the street at 25mph. I am thinking this is not a good idea.

[Bob_Barker]

Ok...

Nitro has been powering RC cars for sometime now. I know because I've owned 2. And they go MUCH faster than 25. Try up near 60mph. Of course that's only in a straight line.

Go to a Hobbytown USA and you can get top quality car with much more performance than a cheap Hasbro knock-off.

I reccomend the T-Maxx truck. It's the most fun you'll have with an RC car. And they're near indestructible.

[armando_m]

Ok...

The whole point is that they're targeting people who can't afford or don't want to spend the kind of money it takes to get into the higher quality/higher speed vehicles.

Some people aren't hobbyists like you and I...they just want a RC vehicle to putter around with, and Hasbro is betting that people might want something a bit faster than electric while still not spending between $500 and $1k to get started.

As for me, I'd never own it. I'll stick with my savage, but I'm obviously not part of their target market for this thing.

[Bob_Barker]

Ok...

Nitro has been powering RC cars for sometime now. I know because I've owned 2. And they go MUCH faster than 25. Try up near 60mph. Of course that's only in a straight line.

Go to a Hobbytown USA and you can get top quality car with much more performance than a cheap Hasbro knock-off.

I reccomend the T-Maxx truck. It's the most fun you'll have with an RC car. And they're near indestructible.

[armando_m]

Ok...

The whole point is that they're targeting people who can't afford or don't want to spend the kind of money it takes to get into the higher quality/higher speed vehicles.

Some people aren't hobbyists like you and I...they just want a RC vehicle to putter around with, and Hasbro is betting that people might want something a bit faster than electric while still not spending between $500 and $1k to get started.

As for me, I'd never own it. I'll stick with my savage, but I'm obviously not part of their target market for this thing.