The 1st Narra Toy Weekend: Drivers, Start Your Engines!

This time around, we take a look at my brother-in-law's growing collection of Q-steer RC cars as well as the tabletop race course he made. Q-Steer is a line of remote-controlled toy cars manufactured by Takara Tomy, based on the popular Choro-Q pullback line. First released in late 2006, Q-Steer incorporates micro infrared technology as opposed to the traditional radio control used by other micro R/C brands. It also uses the 40 mm long S-Tech chassis, which is an evolution of Tomy's Bit Char-G chassis. Much like their Choro-Q contemporaries, Q-Steer cars have a slot at the rear, where users can insert a coin to change the cars' handling characteristics, such as doing a wheelie. The slot also identifies the car model and the available frequencies. The car and the remote weigh 16 grams. Each Q-Steer car can be set to one of two IR channels, which contist of A-B and C-D bands, and up to four cars can race simultaneously. The controller is white with grey buttons and features the basic six-point movement function, a turbo boost button, a channeling switch to select either the A, B, C or D band and a special grey tool used to switch the power and channel levers underneath the car, as well as to open the car's battery case.

I really dug the two Lightning McQueens. Q-Steer's infra-red remote-controlled Lightning McQueen is from the Pixar film "Cars" and Gani has both models -- one wearing the familiar red colors and the other from the dream sequence which was in blue. Loaded with features to optimize performance, these speedsters can move forward and backward and turn left or right, and features a "dash button" for extra bursts of speed! Also includes a special set of "noko-noko" tires, that give Lightning a wobbly, wavering running style. The included controller can operate up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet). Each car and controller are powered by two LR44 button cell batteries each. Maximum operation range is 1.5 meters or 5 feet.

Gani also has two Initial D inspired cars. Initial D is an anime and manga about the world of illegal Japanese street racing, where all the action is concentrated in the mountain passes and rarely in cities nor urban areas, and the drift racing style is emphasized in particular. An accessory called a "Spin Tire" axle enables these micro R/Cs to drift. Most, if not all, of these cars were sourced over the internet and Gani's growing collection consists of cars based on real models, as well as cars from licensed anime, movie and video game franchises such as the two above.

The race track was built on an 8 ft by 4 ft sheet of plywood. The course was lined by a variety of accessories -- some scrounged from various toys and others came as accessories to the Q-Steers. Optimus Prime from the Transformers Animated series makes a cameo. Optimus is a promo toy from a McDonald's Happy Meal.

And here are the drivers! Mark flashes a V sign as Gani preps the cars. Let the race begin!

The race heats up! I should also mention that my brother-in-plaw has been raiding my nephew's toy chests for suitable accessories such as the ones pictured here.

And Gani FTW! Seriously, my brother-in-law trashed everyone's butt that day. And here's our high octane fuel:)

Check out Takara Tomy's Official Q-Steer site!

More races soon since Gani had a custom table modeled. Plus, I've been making some tracks for printing on tarp.