I applaude Tamiya for keeping it all Tamiya. This controls the costs. If the rules were opened up it would ruin the low cost nature of some of the TCS classes.

Sure it keeps costs low, but the HPI bodies are cheaper than the Tamiya ones, and everyone eventually needs a new body. You know what I mean? I'm not talking about allowing brushless mini's to take over, which would be funny to see if they could handle to power...lol. Tamiya tires, spec batteries, silver can motors. That's all understandable, it controls the cost and keeps everyone on the same playing field.

I spoke to a Tamiya rep today and he was telling me that most of the TCS races he gets invited to run HPI bodies and when the TCS spec comes for the top five drivers he rarely cares about the body sitting on the chassis, just that the drive components meet TCS regulations.

Tamiya opened up the screw rule for NorthAm races, they're allowing any esc and receiver to be used, you can use Deans connectors if you chose, but still the Tamiya body only rule stays in effect. I just hope it's the next thing addressed by the TCS folks is all.

And, as far as bodies go, those restrictions help maintain some semblance of scale fidelity which is a BIG part of Tamiya's business operations AND appeal. When the powers that be at Tamiya see, oh, say a Protoform DNA TC body and wonder to themselves "I wonder what car THAT's modeled after...?" I don't see them opening up to outside bodies anytime soon, and good on them for sticking to their guns on that.

I've never raced TCS, but I've always thought it was a VERY good idea. Go figure.

Scottrik

stulec52 ygpm

Does anyone know where you can buy the HPI VW Golf body? -Ky

Adrian, the M04 (RWD) and the M03 (FWD) have the same gear set, but the M04 can run a 21t pinion, and the M03 can only use a 20T pinion. with that being said the RWD comes out of the corner harder when it is set up right, the FWD keeps a slight better corner speed. At TCS nationals, the 2 cars were very very close in speed with the same size tires. My M04 turned a 18.20 lap, and the fastest I saw from an M03 was a 18.16 I will add that I did nothing but break in my black can for about 5 minutes in water. I know that many of the fast guys were playing with motor zappers. so I'm not sure if it is a fair comparison.
And the one car that I know was fast had about 500 rpm more than me at 2v

Troy's M04 was very fast.I water dipped both my hand outs for about 3 minutes and 1 was very fast the other a fishing weight.Good job is Japan Troy!

I say the cars are able to compete equally but handle so differently.

so far mine M03M has a off power push but my track is low to med bite now the Novak race I'm guessing it will be dead ON!!! high bite wish i could run my motors thou ...If the handout motors are the same as the m03m kit motor I know how to work em we will seeeeeeeeeeeee

Thanks, John.

Custom, what tires do you have to run @ Novak? can you run the RP tires? I have not tried them on carpet but the might be great?

TCs rules apply so only mini tires I have em all S,M,slicks,& kit > S and M to start

rumor is the TCS mini classes will not longer be split in 07 at the regional level. M03 & M04 will be heads up baby! )

That will be even better! John(s) and I can still mix it up.

looking forward to it Troy...started building my 07 TCS cars

m03 and m04 it doe's not matter I turned more laps with My M03L

I think that if both 04 and 03 both set about the same lap times and the racing is still at a price that is affordable for anyone to get into, more power to tamiya to keep the brakes on the modifications that can be done to the chassis and shocks and springs the closer and the more fun it will be to run the M chassis class.
I have mostly raced 2wd off road and quite for about 10 years came back and started 4wd on-road stock and mod almost lost interest again and found the mini class and then the Rwd m04m and have found my second wind with just having fun.