Took 2nd Place in my first race

[Tobey]

Placed in the 2wd SC Truck class last night. It's pretty much run what ya brung with this group. My Slash is stock except for the Velineon brushless sytem, Airtronics radio, Desert Rat body, and tires. Based on recommendations on this site, I have Switches on the front, Bowties on the back, both mounted on Proline split-six beadlocks.

The field was 9 trucks, split pretty evenly between Slash, Blitz, and SC10. I wish I knew what brand the leader was driving, but I didn't get a chance to find out. But it wasn't just the truck. He lapped the entire field twice, except me and 3rd place, who were about 1/3 of a lap from being lapped a second time.

I definitely wasn't the fastest out there. I'm still learning how to drive on an off-road course. My best lap was 1.5 seconds slower than the winner's best lap. But, I kept it on the course, only needed help 1 time from the corner marshall, and ran consistant laps. The track was made for 1/8 buggies; typical lap time in my class was about 30 seconds.

The track played to my "slow but steady" plan. It's a sandy, clay track. Early in the day, it was wet, tacky, and fast (for everyone but me). By the 3rd qualifier, it had dried out, and become pretty slick and slow. I was 3rd in the last qualifier. But, since everyone else had been so fast early, I started the main in 7th.

I avoided wrecks, passed a couple of cars under speed, passed even more as they were piled up in corners, and next thing I knew, I was in 2nd place. I finished 1 second ahead of 3rd.

Comments on the Slash:
1. It's very tight off throttle. I need to get a little more front end bite under off-throttle and part-throttle conditions. But, I have to not make it anymore spin-happy than it already is under hard throttle. Maybe some bowties on the front?

2. I need to learn how to brake more gently. Next time out, I'll probably play with the end point adjustment on the radio, to limit the maximum amount of brakes. The radio has the pulsing ABS function, but that made it hop under braking.

3. Overall, the Slash is sturdy, predictable, and handles the smaller jumps well. I had a good time with it.

[arvint]

Great job! With a good driver, the slash can actually be a good racer

[ohdeeuhm]

Now that's what I like to hear! Great job Tobey! Showing those SC10's a thing or two about the Slash's abilities lol.

[Tom95YJ]

Great Job !

How was your suspension set up ?

[Tobey]

Great Job !

How was your suspension set up ?

Just like Slayden's, except:

Shock oil: 70wt in the rear, 50wt in the front It's what I had in the tool box, and it seemed to work; the landings off the jumps seemed to be less dramatic than before I changed the oil. Of course, that could just be due to fresh, clean fluid moreso than the weights.

Shock position: Front - Outer, Rear - hole #3. Moving the shocks out seemed to help control the body roll early when the track was damp and tacky. I didn't change anything as the track dried out. I might next time.

Gearing: 22/86 with the Velinion system.

[slash racer]

Just like Slayden's, except:

Shock oil: 70wt in the rear, 50wt in the front It's what I had in the tool box, and it seemed to work; the landings off the jumps seemed to be less dramatic than before I changed the oil. Of course, that could just be due to fresh, clean fluid moreso than the weights.

Shock position: Front - Outer, Rear - hole #3. Moving the shocks out seemed to help control the body roll early when the track was damp and tacky. I didn't change anything as the track dried out. I might next time.

Gearing: 22/86 with the Velinion system.

Good job Toby,
Do you still have the stock motor and esc?
If you do next time the track dries out and is slick, put the brushed system back in it and try it out. sometimes slow is fast.....
A guy i race with went to a big in door race up north east yesterday. He ran in spec SC, TQ and won with a slash, ran mod SC with the same truck stock set up and finished 2nd. in a field of all makes and all BL systems. Oh and he ran stock tires too....

[Tobey]

Good job Toby,
Do you still have the stock motor and esc?
If you do next time the track dries out and is slick, put the brushed system back in it and try it out. sometimes slow is fast.....

Yes on the motor, but, it's not necessary. I am very gentle on the throttle. In fact, I noticed toward the end of the race that I was only using full throttle at 2 points on the track. The rest of the time, I was feathering it. It was funny to see guys running me down on the short straights, only to go flying wide in the corner, totally out of control.

I road race full-size cars (current car is a '94 Firebird). The best advice I've ever received was from my first instructor: Go slow in the slow parts, and fast in the fast parts. It's good advice for any kind of racing.

[Tamiya]

sounds like you're ok on "racecraft"

hard to compare in a race-whut-ya-brung class but assuming he's running
same motor & chassis, how his car handles vs yours is a big clincher

if track is quite smooth you don't need all that Slash suspension articulation;
i'd look at jacking it down as much as you can afford... corners heaps better
and you can keep cornering speeds up