Mini-Z Glossary

The world of Mini-Z racing is full of specialized terms. This glossary will help you decode the jargon you’ll hear in the pits at Tassie Mini-Z Club.

A - C

• AAA (class): A club touring class with its own published rule set — separate from Box Stock and Open; confirm motor, ESC, battery, and tyres on the meet sheet.
• 2500 (class): A club touring brushless speed tier with motor/electronics limits published per meet — not the same as full Open 2WD unless the round brief says so.
• ASF (Auto Scale Format): An older 2.4GHz radio protocol used by Kyosho before the switch to FHSS.
• Auto Scale Collection: Kyosho’s line of highly detailed, factory-painted bodies that are both display-quality and race-ready.
• AWD: All-Wheel Drive. In Mini-Z, this usually refers to the MA-020 or MA-030 chassis, often used for drifting.
• Ball Diff: A differential that uses small metal balls and pressure plates to allow wheels to rotate at different speeds while providing adjustable “slip.”
• Box Stock: A racing class restricted to standard, out-of-the-box Kyosho RWD cars with minimal modifications allowed.
• Brushed Motor: A traditional electric motor using carbon brushes to deliver power. Used in the Box Stock class.
• Brushless Motor: A more modern, efficient motor without brushes. Common in the Open and EVO classes.
• Camber: The angle of the wheels relative to the ground when viewed from the front. Negative camber tilts the tops inward.
• Caster: The angle of the steering pivot when viewed from the side. Affects straight-line stability and steering “feel.”
• Cogging: A stuttering movement sometimes seen in brushless motors at very low speeds when the ESC can’t determine the motor’s position.

D - F

• Dead Zone: The small range of movement at the centre of the transmitter’s trigger where the car does not move.
• Differential (Diff): The mechanism that allows the drive wheels to rotate at different speeds during a turn.
• Dual Rate (D/R): A setting on the transmitter that limits the total range of steering or throttle movement.
• ESC (Electronic Speed Controller): The “brain” of the car that regulates how much power goes from the battery to the motor.
• EVO: A Kyosho chassis line that uses a separate receiver module in the car so you can pair Futaba, Sanwa, KO Propo, Flysky (with the correct EVO receiver hardware), etc. Contrast with Readyset + FS-RM005, where the car stays on the integrated board and only the handheld changes.
• F1 (class): Formula Mini-Z — open-wheel bodies and chassis rules; a different discipline from tin-top touring classes.
• FDR (Final Drive Ratio): The overall gear ratio between the motor pinion and the rear axle.
• FETs (Field-Effect Transistors): Components on the circuit board that handle power. “Stacking” FETs was a common way to increase power in older brushed cars.
• FHSS (Mini-Z): The modern 2.4GHz Mini-Z FHSS link used by Readysets with the bundled KT-531P — and, with Kyosho’s Flysky FS-RM005 module, by Flysky Noble NB4 / NB4+ to the stock Readyset receiver (see Kyosho module docs).
• FS-RM005 (Flysky): Kyosho’s module for Flysky Noble NB4 / NB4+ on Mini-Z FHSS. Kyosho lists compatibility with Readyset lines and EVO (with correct receiver hardware) — product page.

G - K

• Gear Diff: A differential using internal gears. Reliable and simple, often found in Box Stock cars.
• ICS (Integrated Circuit System): A programmable system in Mini-Z cars that allows tuning of steering and throttle parameters via a PC or special adapter.
• I-LapRC: The electronic timing system used by Tassie Mini-Z Club to track lap times.
• Kingpin: The vertical pin that the front steering knuckle rotates on.
• Kingpin Flip: A legacy MR-03 Readyset tweak (flipping front pins to change ride height / binding). MR-04 front ends are different — do not assume the same procedure applies.
• KV Rating: A measurement of a motor’s RPM per volt of power. Higher KV generally means higher top speed but less torque.

L - N

• Lexan: A lightweight polycarbonate material used to make high-performance racing bodies, primarily for Open classes.
• LiPo (Lithium Polymer): A high-performance rechargeable battery used in some Open classes. Requires specific safety precautions.
• LM (Le Mans): A specific chassis configuration with a 102mm wheelbase and a low-profile motor pod.
• MA-020 / MA-030: Kyosho’s All-Wheel Drive (AWD) chassis designations.
• MM (Mid-Mount): A motor pod configuration where the motor sits in front of the rear axle, usually with a 98mm wheelbase.
• MR-04 / MR-03: Kyosho’s Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) chassis generations — MR-04 is the current design; MR-03 is the long-running predecessor still common on the used market.
• NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride): The standard rechargeable battery type used in most Mini-Z racing (AAA size).

O - R

• Offset: The measurement of how far the wheel’s mounting surface is from its centerline. Used to adjust the car’s width.
• Oversteer: When the rear of the car slides out during a corner (“loose”).
• Pinion Gear: The small gear attached directly to the motor shaft.
• Pitch: The distance between gear teeth. Mini-Z gears usually use a specific “module” or pitch.
• RCP Track: The industry-standard modular foam track system used for Mini-Z racing.
• Readyset: Kyosho’s term for a complete, pre-assembled car and radio package.
• RM (Rear-Mount): A motor pod configuration where the motor sits behind the rear axle, often used for shorter wheelbases (86-94mm).
• Rostrum: Another name for the driver’s stand or the elevated platform where drivers stand during a race.

S - T

• Sensored Brushless: A brushless motor system that uses a sensor to tell the ESC the exact position of the rotor, eliminating cogging.
• Shore Rating: A measurement of a tyre’s hardness. Lower numbers are softer (more grip), higher numbers are harder.
• Spur Gear: The large gear on the rear axle that is driven by the motor’s pinion gear.
• T-Plate: The T-shaped piece that provides rear suspension flex and connects the motor pod to the chassis.
• Tech Inspection: The process where an official verifies that a car meets the rules for its racing class.
• Toe-In / Toe-Out: The angle of the front wheels relative to each other when viewed from above.
• Traction Rolling: When a car has so much grip in a corner that it tips over rather than sliding.
• Transponder: A small electronic device in the car that signals the timing bridge to record a lap.

U - Z

• Understeer: When the car fails to turn enough and “plows” toward the outside of a corner (“push”).
• Wheelbase: The distance between the centre of the front and rear wheels. Standard Mini-Z wheelbases are 86mm, 90mm, 94mm, 98mm, and 102mm.
• Wide Front End: A configuration of the MR-04 / MR-03 chassis that increases the distance between the front wheels for better stability.