Hey All,
My local club has built IC interest again after a 4yr absence and there is a call for a slower/cheaper class to Pro Tourer. Naturally there is the Pull-Start option but I and the club racers would like to make a class to suit a broader range. I've read about and met people that have run either the OS TGv2 or the Nova Sturm as control engine classes with good success. Personally having run the Sturm my opinion is that it's a little quick for the targeted racers but at $100 cheaper than the OS it is easier to sell to new competitors.
So I ask is there a middle ground, an engine at the Sturm price but closer to the TG power?

Thanks in advance,
m.Ellis

i don't think Sturm will loose to TG

The Novarossi Sturm is a very capable engine. I race one in our local club series against more expensive engines. You do notice there is a bit less power, but in laptimes there is hardly any difference.

In the German HobbyCup they use the Sonic PS 12 or Xceed PSS 12, both Picco based. I have not seen them run, but from what I've read, they are comparable to the Novarossi Sturm engines.

All three seem very suitable for a spec class. They match current chassis quite well in terms of clutches and RPMs. Judging from the specs, the TG runs a lot less RPM, so I wonder if you can really get clutches, gearing and 2-speed right.

http://www.sonic-engines.com/index.php/products/ps12
http://www.mrt-rcshop.de/XCEED-Hobby...oStock12-PSS12

Find a supplier that will guarantee the same specs and supply(motor and pipe) for 3 to 5 years (or whatever period you choose)

Disappointing to start a class, only to have the motor be updated or be replaced weeks or months later.

the nova will out last tg 3 to one we found a new tg with a cracked rod straight out of box and the tg will still run as fast/but not as long if you ring its neck///lean it death

That is is a difficult thing. Manufacturers do whatever they want. Looking at the Speed Passion 13.5 turns brushless motor wel used in many stock competitions it was a disaster with at the end 6 different versions, all with a different performance but sold with as same part number.

Having experience with the N21-5T (in the same line as the Sturm/N12T1) I can tell you there are many differences in timings between production series but on the track all perform the same. The only difference is that the one needs a different gearing than the other and that is something some drivers do not understand.
Also due the lower power the clutch is becomming more important. Without support to those people who do not understand this they still will face a unsatisfied performance...

I am curious at the Hobby Cup in Germany is Sonic involved to render help to the racers, or are they just the supplier and the racers rely on fellow drivers to help one another?

The Hobby cup is once started by Patrick Scheafer (owner of Shepherd/Sonic). Back in the 90's he was a picco distributor and did provide a Picco engine for almost production price.

Later he did become a Novarossi distributor and so a Novarossi model was choosen.

A few years ago he started the Sonic line so a Sonic became the choice but I believe the N21-5T/Brave/Sturm/N12T1 are still alowed.

On the Dutch MACH track both brand engines are allowed.