Large Scale RC Racing in Australia: The Nationals, The Bikes and Why You Should Give It a Go

If you've ever watched a Large Scale RC race and thought, "That looks seriously cool, but I wouldn't know where to start," you're certainly not alone.

Large Scale RC racing is one of the most exciting and realistic forms of radio-controlled motorsport you can experience, but for those outside the scene, it can be a little difficult to understand how it all works.

With the 2026 Large Scale National Titles fast approaching at MRCCR Lilydale in Victoria, now is a great time to explain what Large Scale racing is all about, how the Australian racing scene works, and why the 1:5 Motorcycle class deserves a serious look.

And if you've always wanted to try an RC race bike but haven't wanted to invest in a bike just to find out whether it's for you, we can help with that too.

We have race bikes available for hire for the Nationals, giving newcomers the opportunity to turn up, race and experience the class without having to purchase a complete bike and equipment package first.

Interested in hiring a race bike for the Nationals? Email us for details and availability.

The Australian Large Scale Racing Scene

Large Scale RC racing in Australia is a little different to many of the smaller scale categories.

There are currently four States with active Large Scale racing communities and clubs:

• Queensland

• New South Wales

• South Australia

• Victoria

Each State holds its own State Championship during the year, with the Australian Large Scale National Titles rotating between the four States and their clubs.

The Nationals are traditionally held in November, usually around the second week of the month, and bring together competitors from across the country to compete for the title of Australian National Champion.

The result is one of the biggest events on the Australian Large Scale calendar and a great opportunity to see some of the country's best drivers and riders competing together.

Following the recent 2026 NSW Large Scale State Championships, the entry list for this year's Nationals is already looking very healthy across all categories, including the 1:5 Motorcycle class.

That's great news for Large Scale racing and even better news for anyone thinking about getting involved.

What Actually Happens at a Large Scale Nationals?

A Large Scale National Championship is not a one-day sprint meeting.

The event is generally spread across several days, with one to two days of open practice followed by two days of qualifying and finals.

This gives competitors plenty of time to learn the track, dial in their cars or bikes, work on setup and get comfortable before the serious racing begins.

Qualifying consists of six 10-minute qualifying rounds, with a driver's best four results counting towards their final qualifying position.

That qualifying position determines where you start the finals.

Depending on the class and entry numbers, semi-finals may also be required before the main finals.

The Large Scale categories include:

1:5 2WD Sedan

One of the traditional Large Scale categories, combining scale appearance with powerful engines, long race durations and plenty of opportunity for strategy.

1:5 4WD

Four-wheel-drive Large Scale cars provide huge mechanical grip and performance, with plenty of engineering and setup options for competitors who like to fine-tune their equipment.

1:5 F1

Large Scale Formula 1 cars bring the look and feel of full-size open-wheel racing to the RC track.

1:5 Trucks

Big, fast and spectacular, the truck category provides plenty of entertainment for both drivers and spectators.

1:5 Motorcycles

And then there's the one that we're particularly interested in at Holeshot Hobbies...

1:5 RC Motorcycles.

The Racing Is Seriously Different

One of the things that makes Large Scale racing so appealing is the length of the races.

This isn't simply about going flat-out for a few minutes and putting the car back on the bench.

The car categories race a 30-minute final, with a maximum fuel allocation of 700ml.

The motorcycles have a different format, with three 10-minute finals, with the best two results counting towards the final championship grading.

That creates a very different style of racing.

You have to think about tyre condition, consistency, traffic, fuel, mechanical reliability, track position and your own driving.

Making a fast lap is one thing.

Putting together fast laps consistently for an entire race is something completely different.

And that's where Large Scale racing really starts to separate itself from many of the shorter, sprint-style RC categories.

The longer qualifying and final races provide an enormous amount of track time and create an unmatched challenge in endurance, consistency and race craft.

Why 1:5 RC Motorcycles?

If you're new to Large Scale racing, the 1:5 Motorcycle class might not be the first category you think of, it should be.

The bikes offer an incredible combination of performance, realism, affordability and simplicity.

A 1:5 race bike is a proper piece of miniature motorsport engineering. Suspension, steering geometry, braking, tyres, chassis setup, gyroscopic stability and rider input all come together to create something that looks and behaves remarkably like a real motorcycle.

But unlike a full-size motorcycle, you don't need a trailer, a workshop full of tools, a truckload of fuel or an enormous budget to get involved.

In fact, 1:5 Bikes are arguably one of the most economical ways to get into Large Scale racing.

They are relatively easy to transport, don't require a huge amount of equipment to get to the track and their ongoing running costs are extremely competitive compared with other Large Scale categories.

And perhaps most importantly...

You spend more time racing and less time wrenching.

More Racing. Less Wrenching.

One of the biggest misconceptions about RC racing is that you spend most of your time working on the car.

While there is certainly a mechanical and technical side to the hobby, a well-prepared 1:5 motorcycle can be surprisingly straightforward to maintain.

You don't need a massive pit setup.

You don't need a huge collection of specialised equipment.

You can transport the bike relatively easily and, once you're at the track, you're able to spend a large percentage of your day actually driving.

For anyone who loves motorsport, engineering and tinkering, it's a pretty hard combination to beat.

You get the satisfaction of building, preparing and setting up a race machine, followed by the opportunity to actually put it to work on the track.

And when you get it right, there is nothing quite like it.

It's More Than Just RC Cars and Bikes

Large Scale RC racing also offers something that can sometimes get overlooked.

It brings together people from all different backgrounds who share an interest in motorsport, engineering, technology and competition.

RC racing encompasses many of the same disciplines found in full-size motorsport.

• There's mechanics.

• There's engineering.

• There's suspension and chassis setup.

• There's tyre management.

• There's understanding grip and track conditions.

• There's race strategy.

• There's physics.

• And, of course, there's race craft.

You learn how to manage traffic, understand your competition, find the quickest way around a track and, perhaps most importantly, how to be consistent when the pressure is on.

It's also a fantastic social outlet.

You meet people who share the same interests, travel to different tracks, compete together and often form friendships that extend well beyond the race weekend.

The Thrills Without the Hospital Bills

For motorsport enthusiasts, RC Large Scale racing offers something particularly appealing.

• You get the adrenaline.

• You get the competition.

• You get the engineering.

• You get the noise, speed and excitement.

• You get the challenge of racing.

But you don't need to risk your body or spend the sort of money required to go racing at 1:1 scale.

That's especially true with the 1:5 motorcycles.

They provide many of the challenges and rewards of motorcycle racing in a package that is far more accessible.

And when you make a mistake, you're generally picking up the bike rather than picking yourself up.

All the thrills without the hospital bills.

Want to Try a 1:5 Race Bike?

This year's Large Scale Nationals at MRCCR Lilydale could be the perfect opportunity.

With the entry list already looking strong following the NSW State Championships, the 1:5 Motorcycle class is shaping up to be a great field.

If you're already racing Large Scale, come and have a look at the bikes.

If you're an RC motorcycle enthusiast who has never raced Large Scale, come and see what they're capable of.

And if you've always wanted to race a 1:5 bike but haven't been ready to purchase one, Holeshot Hobbies may have another option for you.

Race Bike Hire Available

For the Nationals, Holeshot Hobbies is offering race bike hire options, allowing you to experience 1:5 Motorcycle racing without having to purchase a complete bike and equipment package.

It's a great way to find out what the class is all about, get some racing experience and decide whether 1:5 Motorcycle racing is for you.

Email Holeshot Hobbies for bike hire details, availability and package options.

Come and See What Large Scale Is All

About

Whether you're a seasoned Large Scale racer, an RC motorcycle fanatic, a motorsport enthusiast or someone who simply enjoys building and tinkering with cool machinery, Large Scale racing is worth checking out.

The Australian Large Scale community continues to grow, and with competitors travelling between States for State Championships and the Nationals, there is a genuine national racing community behind it.

The 2026 Large Scale National Titles at MRCCR Lilydale will be another big weekend for the Australian Large Scale scene.

And with strong fields across the categories and the 1:5 Motorcycle class continuing to attract interest, it's a great time to discover what these machines can really do.

Maybe this is the year you stop watching and start racing.

For information about 1:5 motorcycles, race bike hire, setup advice or getting started in Large Scale RC racing, contact Holeshot Hobbies.

Holeshot Hobbies Specialists in RC Motorcycles and Large Scale Racing holeshothobbies.com.au