Sideshow Bob

i also dont get piad...but i like wrenching on my stuff...it's part of the hobby and for me it is fun. like in all forms of racing.."a clean car is a fast car"...or so they say lol. before a big race ill probably spend a whole week rebuilding my car lol..but im a bit OCD like that. i NEED to clean it every time, even club races..at least then i know about all the stuff that is or could go wrong. people do tell me im a bit crazy..but im the one laughing at the track when they miss qualifiers because they are looking for a fault somewhere on there "filthy" cars hehe. i get what you are sying about your car..im exactly the same way...people always thing we race new bodies and or chassis...but no...just cleaned up nicely :-)

JamminSP

iTrader: (7)

I mainly run the RC Pro Series in the South. I have traveled as far as North Carolina and Georgia to race. I perform maintenance like the pros would, often rebuilding shocks and diffs multiple times a day. Im not paid, dont have a chassis sponsor of any kind and do this for fun. Im also one who generally replaces my engine at around 4-5 gallons of fuel.

Ive been in racing all my life. RC sure beats spending $10K for a go kart engine that might last 50 laps or might blow up on the break in stand or dyno. Even with all the parts I change and throw away, tires are still the biggest expense. Up until recently I was burning tires up in less than 30 minutes.

Rockthecatbox21

iTrader: (19)

1st paragraph, i can't say i agree with ya, second though makes a ton of sense. I used to ride dirtbikes all the time, but the cost is 10x as much as rc. A friggin graphics kit alone on a dirtbike costs $250!!!! Why would i spend that kind of money when i never have time to ride and an rc body wrap is only $35. If money was no issue, then maybe I would get back into full scale hobbies.

JamminSP

iTrader: (7)

I wish I could get back into karting. I ran open modified and shifter karts. Its amazing what my engine builder was able to do with a 5hp Briggs & Stratton. We were cranking out right at 60hp running 30% nitro with a few other goodies added in the fuel. If the engines weren't so bad the tires would eat you alive. $400 a set and Id go through about 2 sets a race day.

I guess if you look at it on a scale level RC is almost as bad.

Sideshow Bob

my cousin's mom used to mock us because we were basically grown men playing with toys (early 20s at the time), and we just always replied that: "well, with all the sh@t like drugs, porn, alcohol the kids of today are into..arent you glad id rather spend my money on toy cars?" see what i didnt realise at the time was...i now drink more beer, sniff more nitro and perv on RC pit girls on the internet too

305M3

iTrader: (43)

$400 for a set of tires... I tracked full scales cars and spent 2K$ on a used set of track tires. But that was before I met my wife, so using that excuse as a way to justify what I'm doing now doesn't work so well.

blktransam

iTrader: (59)

every 6 months or so then sell it to someone local for cheap to get them into a HB car

sdtech58

iTrader: (30)

I've got 5+ seasons on my 8ight 1.0 and still going strong. About 20-25 gallons on the chassis. I'm not a super competitive person, just like the hobby of it all more than anything. I fix stuff when it breaks and do 1 complete tear-down per year during the winter.

Davidka

iTrader: (86)

If you're replacing all of that, every race day then you're causing more wear working on the car than you are running it (screw holes). If you keep the car clean, not one of those parts (except for maybe the large-diameter wheel bearings) wears out in less than a season.

sialek

My old jammin lasted about 15 gallons, now the mp9 is after few (about 5 gallons) and i've changed almost everything except chassis plate. A bit funny, pay more, change more?

mongdex

My xray 808 2011 spec: 1 year old
Revo 3.3: 5 year old (heading into shelf life soon)

BradS

iTrader: (8)

+1, tires are the most expensive part of racing. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the piles of 50% used tires. Trying to get smarter at least re-using foams when I can.

Was nice to meet you at Cape Fear Shawn, come out to the Carolina's again. Wish I could make that RCPro race in Houston, good luck in that one.

Kingcoltzan

20 Gallons on my 777 And still going strong.

Only been through one set of arms (replaced them only because they were a bit tatty rather than broken), upgraded the std C-hubs as the cast ones thread easily, fine since. Driveshafts are the thin ones and have about 18 gallons on them and are a tad bent, but still perfectly fine. Diffs are all original, as are (believe it or not!) some of the bearings - it has THE smoothest drivetrain in the world! Chassis is still the same as original. I think the only part I have ever actually broken on it other than the metal hub, is the plastic hub surrounding that, which cracked after a tough impact once.

I still retain 777 is the strongest car out there

MadRussian

iTrader: (3)

Agreed just no need to replace all that. Mugen stuff lasts a very long time, which is why a lot of long time r/c racers race Mugens.
I just rebuilt my buggy, replacing anything that showed signs of wear.
Only needed to replace the front lowers from rock chips, the rest were absolutely perfect, and have a TON of racing on them. Diffs were all fine with lord knows how many gallons on them, the steering shafts plastics were worn next to ackerman and had slop so they were replaced, but that was about it.

tak4

Yep the 777 is just such a solid platform.... If only it was a wee bit lighter.