Since I posted this my friend and I have discussed your guys responses.
We know that because we are older I am 54 and he is 57 that our reaction time is slower....lol
We are noobs to this class but we do have some experience in racing.
The guys we are racing with are running VTA and 17.5 class so they very very fast. Its kinda not fair for a couple of new guys trying to compete but it is was it is......
My new question is we both have lower end TX's and servos. I have airtronics mx-v and he has the lower end futaba.
We both feel like maybe a faster TX and servo might help us out.....but not sure......
In oval racing you have few seconds to take a breath and calm down.