quick update,

I had been running the M05 chassis for the past year and a half in the short wheelbase. We typically get about 15 entries in the Tamiya M class at our club. We have an A and B main ...I was able to consistently get in the A mains and place about 5th or 6th ...depends on who enters that day. We had a few sponsored drivers that ran with us, as well as some Tamiya Mini "Experts" -guys who had run in the TCS mini events. So our class is pretty darn competitive and placing 5th or 6th in the A's I felt was respectable.

I hate making so many changes between races, but decided to switch to the M05 VII chassis, long wheelbase and use a new Futaba 4px controller w/ digital steering servo and the 4px receiver unit. So lots of changes. I was only given 2mins of practice w/ the new setup (our club keeps a strict schedule on practice times on the day of the events). So the qualifying races were really my time to tweak the car and test it out.

Yesterday I placed a solid 4th in the A's (again, about 15 entrants w/ an A and B main). I was about 1 turn away from getting 3rd and the 2nd place driver was not far ahead. The Tamiya M05 VII chassis is a dream, the center of gravity keeps the car planted, and w/ the long wheelbase I feel it drove very well. By the main's I found that feathering the throttle and easing off the throttle were the way to get it around the track the quickest. Not too aggressive, just smooth and steady... The car really went where I aimed it and was planted really nice. The guys in the top positions were all either mid or long wheelbase and all except one ran the VII chassis.

I feel that running the short wheelbase 05 chassis for such a long time was great training for switching to the VII chassis. I feel it actually made me a much better driver running the short wheelbase which is twitchy and less planted. It makes you drive much more carefully.

Anyway, my Tamiya ran great yesterday, ...super strong. I feel it is really dialed in and only things to improve are my own skills. The car is ready. Our 1st place driver was checking my car out and watching me run (we ran in different heats during qualifying) ...he had said the car looked perfect. ...most comments were on my skills/areas where I can improve.

So +1 to the VII chassis!