Tamiya mini cooper
First race meeting with the new body shell, medium wheelbase and lipo.
Made a mistake when setting up and put additive on the front tyres. Wiped it off quick hoping it wouldn't be too bad. Did the rears as usual.
Handling in practice was 'interesting' with zero rear grip, handbrake turns that just stopped the car dead on every corner. Decided softer at the rear might be the answer, redid my rear only additive and headed out for the first heat.
Car was much better, so I just settled in and tried out a few things driving wise. I was basically trying to get round the track without hitting stuff and be as smooth as possible, but also trying turning in before letting off the throttle and stuff like that.
I did OK, still hit stuff but not badly.
Next heat I stuck with off the power then turning in and was much quicker. In fact I almost finished on the same lap as the leader with him only coming past me when I hit the barrier at the apex and lost time there, that was in the last 30 seconds or so. Was pleased with that performance.
Heat 3 and more of the same, trying to be smooth and not hit stuff. I felt I did a worse job on this heat although certain parts of the track I'd drive really well on (this happened last time I raced there too on a different layout) I think if I could spend a day learning the track I'd be much much quicker. I thought I'd had one really good lap but that was all. It turns out that one really good lap was a second and a half quicker than my next best one and just proved there was a lot to gain by not making mistakes.
Got to the final, lined up, hit the throttle, went into turn 1 and the car span. When I tried to go again the car span the other way. Marshal picked it up and said it was dead.
I'd snapped the steering bellcrank
No racing there for 4 weeks, so I've ordered new alu parts for the steering. another thing was this kid kept on saying my gearbox was stripped because it was making a funny noise. His dad looked rather apologetic as I explained what I had in there. After a while it did get to me though so I've ordered the TA03 ball diff lol
Made a mistake when setting up and put additive on the front tyres. Wiped it off quick hoping it wouldn't be too bad. Did the rears as usual.
Handling in practice was 'interesting' with zero rear grip, handbrake turns that just stopped the car dead on every corner. Decided softer at the rear might be the answer, redid my rear only additive and headed out for the first heat.
Car was much better, so I just settled in and tried out a few things driving wise. I was basically trying to get round the track without hitting stuff and be as smooth as possible, but also trying turning in before letting off the throttle and stuff like that.
I did OK, still hit stuff but not badly.
Next heat I stuck with off the power then turning in and was much quicker. In fact I almost finished on the same lap as the leader with him only coming past me when I hit the barrier at the apex and lost time there, that was in the last 30 seconds or so. Was pleased with that performance.
Heat 3 and more of the same, trying to be smooth and not hit stuff. I felt I did a worse job on this heat although certain parts of the track I'd drive really well on (this happened last time I raced there too on a different layout) I think if I could spend a day learning the track I'd be much much quicker. I thought I'd had one really good lap but that was all. It turns out that one really good lap was a second and a half quicker than my next best one and just proved there was a lot to gain by not making mistakes.
Got to the final, lined up, hit the throttle, went into turn 1 and the car span. When I tried to go again the car span the other way. Marshal picked it up and said it was dead.
I'd snapped the steering bellcrank

No racing there for 4 weeks, so I've ordered new alu parts for the steering. another thing was this kid kept on saying my gearbox was stripped because it was making a funny noise. His dad looked rather apologetic as I explained what I had in there. After a while it did get to me though so I've ordered the TA03 ball diff lol
Oh and on the radio front I got to hold a Spektrum 4DXS and really liked the feel in the hands. The wheel size felt spot on. I do intent to do the same test with any other TX I can get my hands on.

way down on my want-to-build list is a MX5 shell on a M.Rage
I buy these thin foam sheets with adhesive backing at arts and craft stores and stack them up to the right amount of pad thickness.
Here it is on my M03. My other cars run this too, check my albums page for others.
Here it is on my M03. My other cars run this too, check my albums page for others.
The scary thing is I picked it up from TC guys. Imagine a touring car going full pop down the straight and catching a marshal.
This explains why I ran it once then removed it. The carbon fiber one I made in 2009 was positively vicious.
This explains why I ran it once then removed it. The carbon fiber one I made in 2009 was positively vicious.
Tech Regular
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 281
From: ontario canada
BODIES! I need another body and will ATTEMPT my first nice body. The one I have I just sprayed it quick to race when I bought it haha. To excited to race! What is a decent body other than the swift and what companies are good/best? I'm really sad I can't get the ek civic from hpi but we'll. ....that's life lol. Any suggestions help!
The subaru BRZ from RIDE, has been a popular choice at the WCICS this past year.
At KARZ and CARCAR, the Jazz and GTI from Blitz have been mainstays.
Sucks that the HPI shells are not being made anymore. But we'll go on without them.
At KARZ and CARCAR, the Jazz and GTI from Blitz have been mainstays.
Sucks that the HPI shells are not being made anymore. But we'll go on without them.
I have two BSR M-rage bodies that my younger kid is going to attempt cutting and painting later this year for the loaner M05 he is driving. I'm going to teach him how to use a circle cutter. It shall be pretty funny.. 
I drove my M05 and M03 last night. My heavier M03 is considerably faster around the track just as long as I don't clip the marker dots during a turn..car hates to be disturbed with its top heaviness. I need to figure out a way to get more bite on the M05 and V2 during acceleration. My SabreFD Mini can barely keep up with my M03 during acceleration, but once it gets going it maintains a faster consistent speed around the track even if it clips a marker dot.
To answer my own question, I need to lighten my M05 and V2.. just babbling..

I drove my M05 and M03 last night. My heavier M03 is considerably faster around the track just as long as I don't clip the marker dots during a turn..car hates to be disturbed with its top heaviness. I need to figure out a way to get more bite on the M05 and V2 during acceleration. My SabreFD Mini can barely keep up with my M03 during acceleration, but once it gets going it maintains a faster consistent speed around the track even if it clips a marker dot.
To answer my own question, I need to lighten my M05 and V2.. just babbling..



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