What will it need to race?

[N80]

It looks like the overall dimensions meet ROAR requirements.

You'll need 2.2 rims.

You'll need the single speed conversion.

ROAR lists only a .12 ci engine for 1/10 scale gas trucks. I'm sure local tracks probably allow the .15 2.5 if everyone agrees. But if you wanted to race seriously the fabulous 2.5 would have to be yanked and replaced. What a waste.

Anything else to get the truck race legal?

How about race competative?

I'm kind of puzzled by the motor thing. This truck looks like it was designed with racing in mind. Great looking, highly tunable suspension, low CG, optional battery placement even. So why wouldn't it come with a race legal motor?

Will Traxxas ever release a rolling Chassis type kit for those that want to race but not spend the money on the 2.5 which they couldn't run?

Maybe there aren't that many serious ROAR racers out there?

(Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the 2.5 or Traxxas, I'm just wondering what the most cost effective strategy would be to make this thing a legal and competative racer....it certainly has the bones of one from what I can tell.)

[N80]

Hellooooooooooooooooo.

I imagine the silence here is a pretty good indication that Traxxas is on the mark with their marketing: bashers and casual racers. And if folks want one for ROAR or NORRCA legal racing, they'll know how to do it.

[tater_salad]

For most club races, you may not need to change anything. For sanctioned racing it would need a .12 motor, the single speed conversion, and 2.2 tires and wheels. Around here you could run it stock because it is pretty much run what ya brung.:D

[G@TORBAIT]

Seriously how many hardcore racers are truly gonna buy this for the track??? This truck doesnt look like it was designed for the die-hard roar racers.It looks like it was designed for casual schmoes like me who will take it and race the body off of it for fun.Outside the speed and acceleration of the 2.5 ,theres nothing really revolutionary about it like the revo was to m.t.Traxxas is appealing to the masses by building a racing chasis and sticking thier most popular and proven parts in it.The casual racers make up a high percentage of the market so they built a truck to appeal to them. IF THEY BUILD IT ,WE WILL BUY

[72'dolphins]

I don't think the JATO will be the next ROAR racing champion. IMO, TRAXXAS doesn't make serious race car, except the REVO, they make great bash/race(with hop-ups), but not very serious ROAR cars.

[J_Bone]

When it comes out, we will see what this truck can do!!

Traxxas already has a basher truck, the Rustler. So I'm thinking this is their race attempt?? yes for ROAR you will have to change a few things, but that is minor. At the club level, I know I can race one no problem.

[N80]

tater-salad, are you talking about the Grove? Yes, so far it has been very casual in all the classes. I'm wondering if it will be that way in the spring and summer? I would expect the rules to tighten up a bit. Maybe not.

As for Traxxas not making racers, that seems to be very true. The bones of a Losi or an Assoc truck are much lighter and thinner than what you see on the Jato. But compared to these other trucks the Jato is a bit unconventional. Whether this is simply just typical Traxxas beefiness or possibly something that will surprise us at the track remains to be seen.

And maybe Duratrax has the corner on a cheap entry to racing but it can be done with Traxxas trucks. I only know about electric but a rolling chassis team factory RC10T4 is $215!!!

I've got less than $350 in our little E-Rustler, RTR kit, charger, batteries and all, plus a few bashing parts, and we've got it competative for casual club type racing. (Really, we got beat last weekend, but it had more to do with driving than the truck, we had the fastest lap time!)

Maybe the Jato will offer the same flexibility. I don't know.

[Tervuren]

RUles have always been loose every year I've been out there. Granted they haven't done point races before, if its a sanctioned prized event or something, then they will tech everything. Otherwise its pretty much run what you bring.

I jsut hope Truggies don't catch on, especialy with the LP Komodo's. The way things are run though, if 3 truggies show up, they would get their own class if they so wished. Thats the nice thing, if you've got osmething a bit unordinary, can just create a class for it if you bring two others.

[Unbreakable207]

I would like to note that in the RC Car Magazine, there were several hints of possibly Traxxas making a Race Version of the Jato (own electronics, motor, etc.), It's all from the Inside Look...

This mag:
http://s93998036.onlinehome.us/Jato.jpg

So we might be offered a race version kit, which I would buy.


-Unbreak

[N80]

Me too.