I am fighting through the fear of watching this post dissappear before my eyes. I have words and they will be read, wordpress! So help me, I will post this ten times if I have to.

As my interest and enthusiasm with RC racing is reaching a new peak each day, I am continually reading and researching just what it is that makes a truck fast. It’s much more than a motor. Why can you put a Ferrari and a Mustang on a race track and have the former run circles around the latter? Sure, the Ferrari likely has a horsepower advantage but even giving them equal matched motors will see the gap close only marginally. So what exactly is it? The details. The minor, often subtle changes. The tweak that seem negligible when viewed individually. That is performance.

These things take a sharp eye for detail and a tactile feel for the vehicle. Drive a couple laps, pit the truck and turn some wrenches. Repeat again and again.

My truck has been completely rebuilt from the ground up for the coming race season. There is no part that has not been given acute attention.

Let’s have a look at some of the changes:

– Shocks have been fitted internally with nylon shims, limiting the amount it is able to extend at its longest. This lowers my overall ride height, lending to better handling and a slight increase in traction. Three spacers for the rear, two for the front.

– Rear shock oil weight has been increased from 30 weight to 32.5. This will help ensure my truck doesn’t bottom out with the changes made in ride height.

– Front shock oil has been changed from 30 weight to 35 weight. Again, this works in unison with my nylon shims and also causes an increase in steering.

– My Electronic Speed Control, effectively the brain of the truck, has beven placed in a slightly more forward location. This lends to more centralized weight distribution, striking a balance between steering (front end weight) and traction (rear end weight.)

– The gear differential controls how power is divided between both rear wheels. I replaced the fairly light stock black grease with a much heavier 5000 weight silicone fluid. Power will be more constantly shared now, only splitting more to one wheel under a very hard turn.

– The truck comes from the factory with two sets of three holes on the top of the rear shock tower. Each hole will give your suspension a slightly different performance. I’ve drilled a fourth pair in the now innermost position. This will be ideal for a tight, technical track.

– Forced lubricating spray through all of my ball bearings. Their one job is to spin smoothly and without friction. They feel incredible now!

– Replaced my chassis, motor guard, and various other plastic parts. General wear and also cosmetic. It’s good to look good.

– Replaced slightly bent turnbuckles.

Now it’s just a matter of handling some of the fine tunes that can only be done at the track. Dialing in my caster, camber, and toe in. The truck drove exceptionally well today and feels like an incredibly solid platform to start working from and dialing to it peak. Traction was excellent under throttle and the amount of steering available was ridiculous. I’m very proud of the work I’ve put into it and excited to watch the results on the track again tomorrow.

With much fear now, I will attempt to post this. Thanks very much for checking in and reading a bit about the things that excite me!