darnold

iTrader: (2)

For the racer, a "New" kit from a manufacturer represents a solid investment of their money. They know that support of parts and setup advice will be available, but sometimes team size can be misconstrued as a platform problem when it's not.

Racers should remember that most of the "new" car launches are actually "ongoing" development accumulations that manufacturer's do every few years until something truly revolutionary comes about. So the 'new' kits are usually refinements of some aspect of their design theme. For instance, they may want to introduce better pivot balls for less play along with a better differential setup. Or they may want to introduce a slightly revised front steering geometry to work better in higher bite; or a stiffer chassis that allows adjustable wheelbase. Although these revisions can be misinterpreted as "new cars" instead of evolution's, it does appear that this update or "freshening" up cycle can serve as an indicator to the buying public that the car is still viable. TOP has chosen not to take that path so it can seem as if no development is going on and it's a dead platform; but nothing could be further from the truth.

The TOP car has done lots of development testing since its introduction. For instance, an in-line configuration was extensively tested to see if they needed to bring out a new chassis configuration, but the tests were very inconclusive so nothing was done. Sure TOP could have released a 2014 "In-line" car anyway but all it would have been was a standard TOP Rebel with a different chassis plate. So why do that, just to have a "new car"? TOP also tested a different front end configuration and changes to the roll centers, and some other geometries, but they didn't offer overall increased performance. So again, why bring them out as a 'new' kit was TOP's thinking?

The AL chassis represented a tangible improvement for the increased traction of the Black carpet so an addendum kit was created. There are other things being tested right now that may offer increased adjustability for a wider performance envelope. At some point TOP USA may put it all together and offer a "new" kit. They just wanted it to be something of substance for their platform like other manufacturers do for theirs. Because their base platform has been really quite good it has taken longer to get to that point.

What can be said for now and the future is that everyone that runs a TOP Rebel 12th scale will continue to have parts availability and setup support; just as they have since it's introduction in 2011-2012. The car is still being run at the highest levels from 17.5 to 13.5, through 12th Mod, and it is doing well. The team has shrunk some as drivers find other opportunities, but that is the economy of today's market, and the cycle that most teams go through. Neither constitutes any real change in the car's capability, and the TOP Rebel is still very much a capable and consistent platform to compete and win with.