Notes from todays trial on an RCP wide oval.

First the RCP track is simply the best. Set-up and tear down for the wide oval took about 10 minutes. The surface is very tractive and the only downside is the black dust that you get until the track is worn in. Blows off with canned air very easily. Small price to pay for keeping those precious bodies unscraped by hard barriers. The soft rails will train you to keep the line smooth and drive clean.

First, you may need to use the stock rear brace to keep the stock chassis fully locked. The Skyline of one of my buds required the brace. I removed the rear stand-off spacers/retainers and reassembled with the rear brace. The rear locked firmly in place. My Acura did not require the brace. My supra with the aftermarket electronics did not need the brace.

The stock CF chassis conversion will take 30-45 minutes depending on how familiar you are with your vehicle and whether you do bearings and the awd with it. We did front bearings with an awd and it took about 20 minutes.

The AWD with stage 2, 8 tooth, and IC3 batts ran comparitively well against stock mini-z's in the mr2, 1.5 configuration and the mr1. Against the mr2 mm (Enzo), the mini-z took the honors. This is not to say that the standard issues with the X-mod were resolved, just that it was closer than I would have believed, being a long time mini-z racer. The AWD X-mod could use it's drag braking to cut tighter into the corners and carried more speed through the corner. I would like to believe that just the chassis made this possibly but alas, the AWD made it possible. Please keep in mind that all the mini-z's were stock motor powered!! The X-mod steering was still too pushy, not enough throw.

The CF Mod RWD with 4 cell packs, Stock motor, Flash ESC, Shredder RCVR, accelleration seemed faster but the punch out of the corner was dull. Needed the mod motor there, but didn't have a pinion puller to get that funky sized pinion off. Really wanted to run the M-BB mini-z motor that has high rpm and neo mags for high torque. That would have been the true test!! Will have to wait for the new pinion puller. Steering throw had to be trimmed back on my M8, EPA, to keep the tie rod in the right knuckle!!!! Plenty of steering and VERY fast response with the HS-55. Got an AWD kit for the Mod chassis, with the M-BB it will be a very competitive racer.

We were satisfied with the CF chassis conversions. No snakebites and everything stayed rigid.