Bought my son a Buggy.

[RobH]

The local track around here only races 1/8 scale so I naturally gravitated to that class of vehicle. My son was stuck with my leftovers (Duratrax Maximum ST). Because he didn’t run the same class RC as everyone else, he couldn’t participate in the races (only allowed on the track during intermission). To make matters worse, the POS Duratrax would rarely start for him. Then if it did start, it would crap out quickly.

Needless to say, my son never really got the "Nitro Bug". Recently, I was surfing RCNT and a private message from NitroAddict pops up: “Man I have to get rid of this OFNA Buggy.” NA sold it to me for a song without electronics, engine or pipe.

To make a long story short, my son now has a buggy:

OFNA MBX R2
Rebuilt Hot Bodies 3.5cc Engine (Savage .21BB w/ bigger head)
Stocker Lightning 2 Baffle Tuned Pipe
Futaba AM 2ch TX/RX
Hobbico 130 oz steering servo

You buggy experts may not think this is anything special, but you can’t convince my son of that. The engine starts up quick on the starter box and runs like hell until it’s out of gas. I think the magical, tuning fairies came by and sprinkled tuning dust on that engine. Either that or the Steven Bess, heat-cycle break-in really kicks ass.

Yesterday, my son and his friend were taking turns running the buggy WOT up and down the culdesac. Listening to a couple of ten-year-olds hooting and hollering and carrying on, I knew he was loving it. After they ran my gallon of 20% to the bottom (about 5 tanks) he came back and said:

“Dad, this is the best one I’ve ever had.”

That made me pretty happy. If he really gets into it, we’ll upgrade him to a competitive setup. If not, the whole thing cost me less than $170 out of pocket. Judging from his resent nitro run, I think he’ll be buggin to run again (just like me).

Big thanks to NA for hooking us up large with a great price on the OFNA buggy.

-Rob

 

[Nitroaddict]

i was getting ready to ask you about the status of the buggy. Glad to hear that u got it up and running. I never ran the thing, so i wasn't sure about it, but the guy i got it from raced it, so i figured the setup must be pretty good. Have you tried to drive it and see the diff between it and the Lightnening? I think its a perfect buggy for a 10 year old. just right eh?

 

[RobH]

Honestly, I'm still a newbie racer. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been racing. Maybe by the end of next season, I'll be wise enough to tell you the difference between the two. It brings a smile to my kid's face and that's all I was after.

 

[wdavidhicks]

That's cool, Rob. My son's fifteen and exhibits an indifferent attitude toward nitro. He is more than willing to head out with me and watch me bash, however. I think he thinks nitro is too much work or something. Maybe one of those 1/18 Associated electric trucks would change his mind.