Every RC enthusiast has that one memory that sparks their lifelong passion. For me, that moment came in June 1984, when I got my hands on my very first RC car—the Tamiya Grasshopper.

The Spark of Envy

Let me set the scene. It was the summer of ’84, and my older brother Ron had just scored a Tamiya Audi Quattro. Now, if you know anything about RC cars, you’ll understand why I was practically green with envy. The Audi Quattro wasn’t just any RC car—it was a beast on the track, with its realistic appearance and wide rally tires. Watching Ron zip around the yard with that thing was pure torture. I needed my own set of wheels, and fast.

The Deal of a Lifetime

As luck would have it, my 15th birthday was just around the corner. I was old enough to have a bit of money saved up from mowing lawns and doing odd jobs, but not nearly enough to buy a top-tier RC car like Ron’s. That’s when my parents stepped in with a deal that would change everything: if I could come up with half the cash, they’d cover the other half as a birthday gift. You better believe I jumped at the chance.

After what felt like an eternity of saving, I finally had enough. I can still remember the excitement of heading to the hobby shop, cash in hand, ready to pick out my first RC car. And there it was—the Tamiya Grasshopper, sitting on the shelf like it was waiting for me.

The Tamiya Grasshopper: A Classic in the Making

For those who might not be familiar, the Grasshopper wasn’t just another RC car. It was a game-changer. Released in 1984, this 1/10 scale buggy was designed to be both affordable and durable—perfect for a kid like me who was just getting into the hobby.

The Grasshopper was built on a lightweight plastic chassis, making it easy to handle, even for beginners. It had a solid rear axle, coil spring suspension, and a simple yet effective 380 motor. Sure, it wasn’t the fastest or the most powerful RC car on the market, but it had heart—and it was mine.

Learning the Ropes (and Crashing a Few Times)

The day I brought the Grasshopper home, I felt like I was on top of the world. I spent hours meticulously assembling it, following the instructions to the letter and ensuring every part was perfectly in place and tightened just right. This was my first real experience with “wrenching,” and it was pure bliss. There was something incredibly satisfying about taking a pile of parts and not just building a model, but creating a fully functional, drivable machine. The sense of accomplishment was unmatched, and it sparked a passion that’s stayed with me ever since.

Once I finished assembling, I tore open a fresh pack of AA batteries for the radio, grabbed my fully charged 7.2V NiCd “hump pack” battery, and flipped the car over to secure it in place. It took a bit of wrestling to get that battery snug and the panel securely fastened, but eventually, everything was ready. With anticipation running high, I took the Grasshopper out for its maiden voyage.

I started in our backyard, then headed out the gate, crossed Cedar Hills Drive, navigated across the wash, and into that big open field just below the hill we called “Volcano.” I’ll be honest—I wasn’t exactly a pro driver from the start. There were plenty of crashes, spectacular flips, broken parts, and more hours of wrenching to keep it running. Extra dollars went into replacement parts, but every bump, scrape, and break was a lesson learned. With each run and every maintenance session, I got better, and that’s where the real fun began.

Hooked for Life

That summer, I must have spent hundreds of hours with my Grasshopper. Whether it was racing against Ron and his Quattro or the neighbor up the street who had a Tamiya Frog, I was completely hooked. The thrill of controlling that little car, pushing it to its limits, and tweaking it to make it just a bit faster or more agile—it was absolutely addicting.

Over the years, I’ve owned more RC cars, trucks, crawlers, and boats than I can count. There have been some breaks along the way—life has a funny way of pulling you in different directions—but I always found my way back to the hobby. And it all started with that Tamiya Grasshopper.

A Passion Reignited

Now, after a decade or so away from the scene, I’m back at it with the same enthusiasm I had as a 15-year-old. The RC world has evolved a lot since 1984, but the core of it—the excitement, the challenge, the sheer joy of driving and wrenching—remains the same. That’s why I started this blog, Rapid Rhino RC, to share that passion with you and maybe even inspire a few newcomers to take the plunge.

So here’s to the Grasshopper, the little RC car that started it all. Next up—the quest for my very own 4WD RC!

— Coby R