what do i need to race my lightning?

[lillightingboy21]

I want to race my lightning in the up coming summer i have 110 right now and i have christmas and i can save up like 200 in the next 3 months. What should i get for my lightning to help me keep up with the big boys. I am willing to speed money to upgrade my buggy. What should i get and how much do the things cost. Also anything i need for the pits. Help me out. Also i want to tell you guys something. Ok today i was down at my friends with my car and i was ripping down the street and there was this kid that owns a t-maxx. He was also driving on the street he hit the curb and he ran out in front of me i was going full throttle. I tried to swerve but i still hit his acnle and i thought he broke it. He didnt i hit him with the side of my car and it went flipping in the air and it must have flipeed 10 times. The only thing i broke was my body and it was just a little crack its sweet.
I thought it was gonna break all kinds of things but hey. Now try to help me out with the racing. Thanks
Nick

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

Any buggy that needs to be competitive needs to be made so that nothing falls apart for 15 minute of runtime, aka bulletproof. Stuff like locktiting EVERYTHING before each race will really help, also you need to put 2 springs on your manifold so it doesn't pop off. If you use a 2 piece pipe use extra zip ties so if you can it during a race your pipe doesn't come off. Also a fuel spill guard will help alot go long races like 15 minute mains and you need to pit and do a quick refuel. If you spill fuel on the brakes it hurts believe me. There are many tricks racers use, like extra fuel filters and more tubing to smooth fuel delivery and optimse lid runtime (when your upside down). Making sure you diffs are properly filled with the right weights of fluid helps. Don't race with grease in them, I did this and your tires spins too much and you wonder why everyone is doing better lap times. As for what engine and what kind of servos ect dpends on what class do you want to race in. Is this a local club race? If so the engine you got is fine. I might just reccommend a powerful steering servo as all stock RTR servos blow imo. Other than that save your money for spare parts. Too many people get the best equipment and try to race and the vehicle is too fast or they cannot control it. Get good with what you have and go from there.:buggy1:

 

[Smurfola212]

If your running the stock engine, chuck that and get an 8 port

 

[FlyinRazorback]

Practice, practice, practice. That's the best thing you can do. Even if you are in your yard, on the track, where ever you are, practice throttle control and steering control.

As for getting your buggy ready to race, make sure you have a good set of servos. I would rather have really good servos and a decent engine than a really good engine and decent servos. The way a buggy handles has alot to do with how fast you get around a track. Keep your shock oils and diff oils clean and fresh. I usually change mine out every 2 weeks. Take a 2-3 air filters with you to the track. Take 2-3 extra glow plugs with you as well. A couple of sets of tires never hurts. When in doubt, go with crimefighters or komodos, they work well at almost any track.
Get a big cart of some sort to carry everything in. If your track doesn't have pit tables make sure you take one. Some sort of canopy like an EZ Up is nice to have as well.

When you get to the track walk around and ask questions. Seek out the fast guys and they will more than likely give you some tips on how to set up your buggy.

 

[lillightingboy21]

Yes it is just a club race. But i have one question how do u oil the center diff. I know a kid that will show me how but what weigts should i use. I'm a newbie to racing but not rcs i just left the diffs like that because i just bash with some friends and i really didnt know what weights to use. Before i race at that track I'm gonna go there one day to see how it all works out. Also ask questions. I know this one guy that lives around my neighborhood that has 10 cars and he races all of the time i will ask him for some pointers also. But if you guys have anymore pointers that will help. Thanks..................Nick

 

[Nitroaddict]

wt of oil in the center diff will vary from track to track, and is your own personal preference. i personally use 10,000wt, since i like my diffs fairly stiff.

#1 way to get race ready?

PRACTICE!!!

 

[CRSMP5]

the track you PMed me about will not let me run big block items on it.. aka 21 or bigger.. only tmaxx and smaller.. so i cannto say the buggy will work there.. next the size of that track is small.. use the 21bb and stock gearing cause you will never be at maxx speed.. now if you were to try the real track a hr away... run a pull start engine, picco is allowed, gear it high lots of long straights for max speed, and due to picco great bottom end for all the hair pin turns it has...

as for parts... wingstay, buy a spare.. wheels/tires are a thing of buy some try them if they work great.. if they suck your screwed.. the stock pro parts and pro tires are great... you have the rtr version so id start buying up the things like chassis braces, maybe extra brake parts so you can move up from duel brakes to tri or quad.. but honestly.. a better steering servo, chassis braces from a pro and your set to race..

 

[RobH]

You need an FM radio if you don't have one too (75mhz band is good). The AM band is glitchy and you one have a small selection of frequencies.

Other than that, servos and a good engine (like these guys said).

Since you going to upgrade the engine, you really should do the diff gear upgrade. I've seen first hand how soft the stock diff gears are. $22 for three sets of diff gear makes for a cheap hop up. I put the MP 7.5 diff gears in my Lightning. I hear the Savage ones fit too as well as maybe the GS Storm gears. I know MP 6 gear DO NOT fit so stay with the 7.5 ones. Don't replace them with the Hot Bodies gear (they'll just blow again).

Have Fun Racing.

-Rob

 

[slothy]

and most important - A good attitude!! i hate crybaby racers !!!

 

[lillightingboy21]

Yes so do i the one time i went to a race with my friend all of the guys that were racing and didnt come in 5 or up cried it was funny but grown men crying come on.

Since the track closes to me doesn't allow .21 and up i can't race my lightning and i dont think my parents arent gonna drive me an hour away i have to buy a 1 10 scale i think. What should i get . That is rtr and race ready. But if i change my mind i will have to find a track that is like 45min. away that alows .21 and up.

What is a good steering servo? What brand and how much i want a futaba because my lhs is having sales on them becuase of christmas. Also how much will it cost?

 

[slothy]

well just buy a decent motor - 200-250 bucks.. cheaper then what a 1/10 scale will cost you

for servos I've been using 5645 ($75-80 i think) hitec servo for steering and 645 ($40) hitec servo for brakes/throttle

 

[lillightingboy21]

Cool i think i will lookin to that stuff. So i can try to keep up.