Originally Posted by Cadman1981

Anyone know where i can get a front end of the TRF101 for my F104v2?

Originally Posted by volracer

I believe TQRCRACING has the parts.

Is the TRF101 going to be legal for TCS races next year?

Originally Posted by FMW

Hello All,

I decided to take the TRF101 for a spin. I built one off the shelf to see how I can best share the differences between both platforms.
As most of you may know I have A LOT of time on the V2. About 6 weeks ago I was in Japan talking to the designer of the car. In case anyone wondered it's Kiyo Suzuki. He's the same fellow that travels the world with Marc Rheinard developing the TRF touring cars. The man knows his stuff when designing cars in case you wondered.
In short Kiyo and Satoshi Maezumi told me the new front end changes the way the front end responds to your steering input. Basically, you'll notice it feels more neutral compared to the standard front end. Having driven a million laps with my V2 around the Tamiya track I can confirm that is indeed the case. The V2 is a stable car. However, the 180 hairpin turn after the sweeper has always frustrated me as the V2 wants to continue to turn. You have to be careful after the 180 to keep the car straight to make the inner sweeper. In the past I've tried to fix this with dual rate on the radio and with tire choice and sauce application tricks. With the TRF101 the car enters the turn with immense stability and there is no sign of the car wanting to continue to turn after applying throttle after the 180. It's just that stable. I believe this is the case because you now have a solid front end like the F103 on top of having the side links further apart. With the F104 link front end you have more movement going on with the front end, which makes for some unwanted movement. I didn't think this was an issue before, but it seems like the solid front end cures sensitivity and over-steering. Also, loosening the front screws on the carbon mellows the car out even more. If you think the front carbon piece doesn't move if you loosen it think again. There's a ton of movement. It's a great tuning option. I would suggest making sure the whole is big enough so the screw moves freely with the carbon top piece. Also, Kiyo informed me that I should experiment with using O-rings instead of the steel washers in the middle of the front end. This will make for a softer and dampened front end.
In short...I put two packs throw the car with my V2 starting point set up. It can only get better once I begin to play with more things. For one, the stock instructions have the TRF shock built with too much droop. Surprisingly, the car remained stable at the Tamiya "Kink" even with that much pod droop. Typically, you have to set the V2 with little pod droop to keep the car stable though the kink. Not so with the 101 so it seems, but more testing is needed.

Originally Posted by Cadman1981

So... the front end is not better than the Exotek setup? or better?

Originally Posted by subaru73

Yes the car is legal

Originally Posted by j.d.roost

Sorry to ask.... but I just pulled this from Tamiya usa page.

1.Legal chassis platform: F104 Version I&II and F104W. The new TRF101 F1 chassis is in an incubation period and will not be allowed for use in TCS racing until further notice.

Do you know anywhere this is officially updated?
We have a TCS race in March.

Originally Posted by Dan

Best to contact Fred Medel if there have been updates on TRF101 legality at TCS. Last I heard it was not allowed since the TRF101 is a limited edition car.