Is This the Future of 1/8th Electric Offroad???
02-23-2011, 11:46 AM
#31
I don't know about there but electric 1/10 scale is blowin up around here in North Georgia. We had 37 short course, 24 buggys, and 18 E8's at a recent event, not to mention the sportsman classes. And its only the beginning! Electric is starting to outnumber the nitro's at events. Electric 1/8 is also starting to show serious interest. Its all cyclical. However, I give credit to the new tech and to Traxxas for reviving electric with the short course slash. Electric is back!
02-23-2011, 11:59 AM
#32
I'll believe it when I see it. I have seen a few 810's at the track and I didn't see a single thing about them that stood out. They didn't seem any quicker or handle any better than any other buggy. I haven't seen 810's taking over the tracks en masse. When I totally get beat by one or see one tearing up the track, then maybe I'll take notice.
One thing the people forget is that heavier cars are going to handle rough areas better. 1/8th scale tracks often have big ruts. I lighter car is more apt to get taken out by such areas.
Durability is often subjective. If you are a smooth controlled driver, you wont crash as much and have less breakage. I have broken hardly anything on my Ve8 in over a year, yet I've seen racers who run more "durable" buggies not finish races over and over again.
So ROAR race lengths are the sole basis for your argument?
Having been in a couple of ROAR races, I can tell you that I would not appreciate having to be at a track for 20 hours due to 10 minute long mains.
I don't see how anyone cannot see the value that lipos have contributed to 1/10th scale racing.
One thing the people forget is that heavier cars are going to handle rough areas better. 1/8th scale tracks often have big ruts. I lighter car is more apt to get taken out by such areas.
Durability is often subjective. If you are a smooth controlled driver, you wont crash as much and have less breakage. I have broken hardly anything on my Ve8 in over a year, yet I've seen racers who run more "durable" buggies not finish races over and over again.
So ROAR race lengths are the sole basis for your argument?
Having been in a couple of ROAR races, I can tell you that I would not appreciate having to be at a track for 20 hours due to 10 minute long mains. I don't see how anyone cannot see the value that lipos have contributed to 1/10th scale racing.
The point is that 1/8 buggies don't need to be 8.5lbs. From what I have seen racing this 810e for the past three months is that they can be around 6lb-6.5lbs with no loss of durability but significant gains in run time. Sure, us weekend hacks probably can't take advantage of a significantly lighter car, but you best believe a pro level driver could. This is why we have weight limits in the rules.
I am not bashing ROAR. However, when the rules are suffocating it prevents innovation. I don't like super long race days either, but 1/10 days are long because there are too many freaking classes. Realistically, the technology is to the point where you don't need a stock or mod class. Stock is as fast as mod. This is driven by ESC tech gains and battery/motor improvements. The classes and short mains are merely a throwback to when the technology was limited. Nothing more.
Nitro did not have the same constraints hence why they have longer mains and fewer sub classes.
More too the point, you can build lighter 1/8 electric cars and there are advantages. Longer mains are the main one which appeals to guys coming from nitro backgrounds. Lower costs are the second. You can use smaller batteries. C rating isn't as important. Not to mention the cars are just a bit cheaper. Fourth, it is safer. I rather have a 6lb buggy going 40mph hit me than a 8.5lb buggy. Both hurt, but one hurts more.
This is especially true during indoor season.We were talking about building lightweight 1/8 cars back in '07/'08 if you look at the big electric conversion thread. Running 3s with high KV 1509 Neu motors. The issue was there wasn't a decent platform available.
02-23-2011, 12:49 PM
#36
I would love to see the 1/8 e buggy get lighter, with all of the added benefits of a lightened chassi, drivetrain and motor/esc/battery, but still would not want to see 20-30min mains. The $$$ in tires would be to much for me, and I suspect it would be that way for others who run multiple classes.
02-23-2011, 01:12 PM
#37
Of course, you haven't seen a lot of them. It is a fairly new car and people tend to be followers instead of innovators. No one was racing 1/8 electric either four years ago until a bunch of us decided to use Neu, Lehner, Pletty motors and modded 1/10 ESCs with $250+ lipo packs because we saw potential... Enough of us did it and the mfg's listened and now we have RTR stuff out of the box instead of our old Franken buggies...
The point is that 1/8 buggies don't need to be 8.5lbs. From what I have seen racing this 810e for the past three months is that they can be around 6lb-6.5lbs with no loss of durability but significant gains in run time. Sure, us weekend hacks probably can't take advantage of a significantly lighter car, but you best believe a pro level driver could. This is why we have weight limits in the rules.
I am not bashing ROAR. However, when the rules are suffocating it prevents innovation. I don't like super long race days either, but 1/10 days are long because there are too many freaking classes. Realistically, the technology is to the point where you don't need a stock or mod class. Stock is as fast as mod. This is driven by ESC tech gains and battery/motor improvements. The classes and short mains are merely a throwback to when the technology was limited. Nothing more.
Nitro did not have the same constraints hence why they have longer mains and fewer sub classes.
More too the point, you can build lighter 1/8 electric cars and there are advantages. Longer mains are the main one which appeals to guys coming from nitro backgrounds. Lower costs are the second. You can use smaller batteries. C rating isn't as important. Not to mention the cars are just a bit cheaper. Fourth, it is safer. I rather have a 6lb buggy going 40mph hit me than a 8.5lb buggy. Both hurt, but one hurts more. This is especially true during indoor season.
We were talking about building lightweight 1/8 cars back in '07/'08 if you look at the big electric conversion thread. Running 3s with high KV 1509 Neu motors. The issue was there wasn't a decent platform available.
The point is that 1/8 buggies don't need to be 8.5lbs. From what I have seen racing this 810e for the past three months is that they can be around 6lb-6.5lbs with no loss of durability but significant gains in run time. Sure, us weekend hacks probably can't take advantage of a significantly lighter car, but you best believe a pro level driver could. This is why we have weight limits in the rules.
I am not bashing ROAR. However, when the rules are suffocating it prevents innovation. I don't like super long race days either, but 1/10 days are long because there are too many freaking classes. Realistically, the technology is to the point where you don't need a stock or mod class. Stock is as fast as mod. This is driven by ESC tech gains and battery/motor improvements. The classes and short mains are merely a throwback to when the technology was limited. Nothing more.
Nitro did not have the same constraints hence why they have longer mains and fewer sub classes.
More too the point, you can build lighter 1/8 electric cars and there are advantages. Longer mains are the main one which appeals to guys coming from nitro backgrounds. Lower costs are the second. You can use smaller batteries. C rating isn't as important. Not to mention the cars are just a bit cheaper. Fourth, it is safer. I rather have a 6lb buggy going 40mph hit me than a 8.5lb buggy. Both hurt, but one hurts more.
This is especially true during indoor season.We were talking about building lightweight 1/8 cars back in '07/'08 if you look at the big electric conversion thread. Running 3s with high KV 1509 Neu motors. The issue was there wasn't a decent platform available.
02-23-2011, 02:55 PM
#39
I drove a 4x4 SC converted Outlaw and it handled very well on the track with a little tuning. Way easier to drive then my sc10 mind the fact that it is 4wd. It even had the stock electronics too plus a lipo of course. Nothing broke either and it had some bad hits from other drivers
02-23-2011, 03:32 PM
#40
Your statement about lipos not having a positive effect on 1/10th scale classes, just shows how out of touch you are with the hobby.
Lipos/Brushless power is ofcourse not entirely responsible for this but I had been hopeful that all of the benefits of Lipo power from 2007 onwards that we would have seen this trend turn around, no such luck to date.
However there are signs that things are slowly starting to improve!!
Ofcourse in my area the only real hope will be 1/8th EP classes as they are the only tracks available!!
02-23-2011, 03:38 PM
#41
I really don't see the fascination with lightweight 1/8th scale. You guys are missing the drawbacks of going lighter. Durability, stability and traction will suffer. Good luck with that in 1/8th scale racing where you fly off 20 ft jumps.
If I see a guy with an Outlaw actually finish a race, I will personally shake his hand.
Why does everyone talk as if there is something wrong with 1/8th scale. It's not shrinking, it's growing. There isn't large number of disillusioned drivers clamoring for lighter vehicles. Only a few who are trying to "fix" something that isn't broken.
If I see a guy with an Outlaw actually finish a race, I will personally shake his hand.
Why does everyone talk as if there is something wrong with 1/8th scale. It's not shrinking, it's growing. There isn't large number of disillusioned drivers clamoring for lighter vehicles. Only a few who are trying to "fix" something that isn't broken.
Last edited by blade329; 02-23-2011 at 03:53 PM.
02-23-2011, 03:46 PM
#42
Not around here. Things must be different down unda.
With Lipo/Brushless, 1/10th has never been better
That design looks waaaaaay too fragile for 1/8th. Do you realize how much power the electric 1/8th motors have?
I will agree though, I don't like converted 1/8th cars either. Thats why i have THE first true 1/8th EP car, the Caster Fusion.
With Lipo/Brushless, 1/10th has never been better
That design looks waaaaaay too fragile for 1/8th. Do you realize how much power the electric 1/8th motors have?
I will agree though, I don't like converted 1/8th cars either. Thats why i have THE first true 1/8th EP car, the Caster Fusion.
I just saw the price and I am even more impressed!!!
02-23-2011, 04:12 PM
#43
I really don't see the fascination with lightweight 1/8th scale. You guys are missing the drawbacks of going lighter. Durability, stability and traction will suffer. Good luck with that in 1/8th scale racing where you fly off 20 ft jumps.
If I see a guy with an Outlaw actually finish a race, I will personally shake his hand.
Why does everyone talk as if there is something wrong with 1/8th scale. It's not shrinking, it's growing. There isn't large number of disillusioned drivers clamoring for lighter vehicles. Only a few who are trying to "fix" something that isn't broken.
If I see a guy with an Outlaw actually finish a race, I will personally shake his hand.
Why does everyone talk as if there is something wrong with 1/8th scale. It's not shrinking, it's growing. There isn't large number of disillusioned drivers clamoring for lighter vehicles. Only a few who are trying to "fix" something that isn't broken.
Unless people try something new, there is no progress. It isn't about being disillusioned. It is about making improvements and experimenting. The end result is finding things that actually work better than the status quo. If all anyone ever did was stick with what was in the rule book or not try new things, you will never see half the stuff that is out here today. Mfg's depend on guys like us to spot the trends, come up with ideas and then they basically copy what we come up with on a large scale.
When I brought my first electric 1/8 to race with nitro in '07 I remember all the looks, boos, and people asking "why?" They just didn't get it nor did they know what was possible. Now those same guys are showing up with electric 1/8s.
People do want lighter vehicles. Why do you think they sell Carbon Fiber, Titanium, and Aluminum hop ups? It isn't purely to make the cars pretty.
02-23-2011, 04:14 PM
#44
Tech Adept
I live by a Hobby People and frrequent them quite a bit . The last person who had one told me he was broken all the time . Broken A Arms , bent hinge pins , bent shock shafts , fried electronics . I asked him if he hits alot of curbs . He said it was from moedrate bashing at the track . Mentioned he was taken out by an 1/8th scale . 
To answer the question , is this the future of 1/8th scale ? I do not think so .
I have held one in my hands a few times . Cool trucks for the money.
There is no way one of these would make it through a heat at the track . The first solid contact with a "real" 1/8th scale and you would be headed to the pits . Or with a solid contact to the wall at the end of straight or a pipe . Which happens to the best .
He said it was from moedrate bashing at the track . Mentioned he was taken out by an 1/8th scale . To answer the question , is this the future of 1/8th scale ? I do not think so .
I have held one in my hands a few times . Cool trucks for the money.
There is no way one of these would make it through a heat at the track . The first solid contact with a "real" 1/8th scale and you would be headed to the pits . Or with a solid contact to the wall at the end of straight or a pipe . Which happens to the best .
02-23-2011, 04:20 PM
#45
thanks kenton, like we thought but now there is proof. i agree with the comment about people going 'lightweight'. the result may be faster but not as durable. i converted my vorza to the tekno V4 and its lighter but im afraid it doesnt have the tank like durability it did before.