WRM's third 1/8 scale Buggy season.

[WRM]

I'm starting this as a "general" Buggy thread to share what's going on with this year's racing at St. Louis Dirtburners track and for other stuff. This is my third season (my first race was June 2024).

I haven't run the Rovan 305 since I swapped out the axle driveshaft (ordered some from Amazon), we'll see how those ins hold up? Amazon shafts have setscrews in the ends so you can replace the pins (also extra pins & setscrews).

Rovan 1/5 & Tekno 1/8:

Went to "test and tune" at the track today, had the rebuilt AD3 (new bearings, rod, piston/cylinder and Clutch) in the NB48 2.1.

Perfect weather and track conditions - big air on the center double (note yellow buggy)!

L-R Kyle's TeknoRC EB48 2.2 (Randy's son), Randy's EB48 2.2, my NB48 2.1 and EB48 2.2.

NB rebuild hadn't been on the ground, only stand break-in. Ran good but had some flame-outs. One particularly bad one left me on the outside of the end of the Straightaway, but not quite outside enough - a Truggy creamed me at full speed (glad he continued with no issues).

That was it for NB (best lap 38.4 sec), so switched to EB and ran one pack (4S G2 5000mAh 100C) - thought it died quickly but didn't realize I'd run 22 laps (best lap 36.66 sec)?...
https://stlouisdirtburners.liverc.com/practice/?p=view_session&id=23075352

What a great day! Season opener is supposed to be this Saturday, but weather doesn't look good?

More to follow....

 

[Tunedfrog]

Looks like an awesome track.

 

[WRM]

I really like this new layout - Wes posted a walk-around video yesterday.
https://www.facebook.com/StLouisDirtBurners/

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1666758064737710

 

[WRM]

The Avatar Photo details....

Date: 10/27/2024
Location: StL Dirtburners track
Photographer: Candace Marshall

Candy is our excellent, volunteer, track photographer. She took this photo at the Pumpkin Cup, and yep, "that's me". Smile on my face, Meramec River in the background, Track is on the right (I'm coming back from the driver's stand).

 

[WRM]

Mother Nature strikes again - about an hour ago, stldirtburners announced on FB that our season opener has been re-scheduled for next Saturday.

 

[luke66]

Wow very nice!

 

[WRM]

Had .4" of rain when I checked it early, .6" when it quit this morning.

NB48 2.1 is running again/ready for the track - snagged a brand-new rear hub from the MT kit and put in the top link that my buddy gave me (bigger diameter, same threads). Ran about a tank and a half tuning, focusing on idle mixture. Hate to run it on my gravel driveway, but what choice did I have?...

I'll never forget the sound of my rod failing last year and heard that same "Tink" sound a few times today? Turns out it was a piece of Chat bouncing around that would wedge in the flywheel? You can see corners chipped off and "metal" deposited on it....

 

[ahr43]

Nice track. Nice rig. Third year. Congrats. 1/8 nitro is tough.

When I race again in my next life, it'll be 1/8 nitro. But not alone. I'd want a partner. Someone to drive. I liked the wrenching and pitting. Driving was just something I had to do in between.

Good luck for a successful season and lots of podiums. Post up results and action when you can. -AC

 

[WRM]

Nice track. Nice rig. Third year. Congrats. 1/8 nitro is tough.

When I race again in my next life, it'll be 1/8 nitro. But not alone. I'd want a partner. Someone to drive. I liked the wrenching and pitting. Driving was just something I had to do in between.

Good luck for a successful season and lots of podiums. Post up results and action when you can. -AC

I really only did one year w/Nitro (June '24-July '25) and definitely like the challenge. Big thing is "NO Flameouts" during Quals/Mains, and am finally getting this tune thing down. Pretty sure I'll be in the D/C-Main in big matches, so doubt you'll see me on the podium anytime soon?

Should have good pit support. If I'm there, it'll be on LiveRC and my goal is always to "make progress" (beat my previous best) and stay out of trouble. You can't finish first if you don't first finish....

 

[ahr43]

You still have work to do to match my record. I ran some F and G Mains in nitro. Good thing about running the lower Mains once you begin improving and 'bumping up' to the next Main, you'll get lots of race laps in. Always a good thing. I bumped up and out of the D into the C and from there into the B once. Backed off the throttle in the B. No way I wanted to run with the big dogs in the A. Best fun I ever had in RC. Those nitro years.

See you race with a 'boonie hat'. That was my headgear of choice too. Liked it better than a billed cap for both racing and marshaling. -AC

 

[WRM]

You still have work to do to match my record. I ran some F and G Mains in nitro. Good thing about running the lower Mains once you begin improving and 'bumping up' to the next Main, you'll get lots of race laps in. Always a good thing. I bumped up and out of the D into the C and from there into the B once. Backed off the throttle in the B. No way I wanted to run with the big dogs in the A. Best fun I ever had in RC. Those nitro years.

See you race with a 'boonie hat'. That was my headgear of choice too. Liked it better than a billed cap for both racing and marshaling. -AC

Ha!... It depends on how "big" the match is - I'll be in the "first one", whatever letter that is?...

Have had that OD (& ACU) for 15 years - when the front gets sweaty, just flip it 180. Toss it in the laundry when it gets "salty". Put the chin strap on when you get on the ATV!

 

[WRM]

Noticed OD's showing signs of sweat/salt, so it's already in the laundry basket...

 

[Xraycer]

Big fan of boonie and bucket hats, myself!

 

[Doom!]

Big fan of boonie and bucket hats, myself!

Me too.

 

[RustyUs]

Had .4" of rain when I checked it early, .6" when it quit this morning.

NB48 2.1 is running again/ready for the track - snagged a brand-new rear hub from the MT kit and put in the top link that my buddy gave me (bigger diameter, same threads). Ran about a tank and a half tuning, focusing on idle mixture. Hate to run it on my gravel driveway, but what choice did I have?...

I'll never forget the sound of my rod failing last year and heard that same "Tink" sound a few times today? Turns out it was a piece of Chat bouncing around that would wedge in the flywheel? You can see corners chipped off and "metal" deposited on it....

View attachment 270745

What turnbuckle is that?

 

[WRM]

What turnbuckle is that?

My buddy went straight to Titanium - that part is from his TeknoRC EB48 2.2 kit. This is the first time I'd had a top-link failure, but I guess there were enough failures for them to upgrade w/larger diameter shafts (same square/wrench)?

It looks like rain again this weekend so stldirtburners is having a Wed. night race this week (Quals @ 6:30 p.m.) - one Qual round, then Mains. I plan to run only EB because it's easier/less gear and I wonder if they'll have enough bodies (people) for racers/pits/turn marshals for Nitro? My buddy says he probably isn't going, so I won't have my usual "Pit crew".

I'm guessing they'll have the timer turned on for practice around 5 but doubt they'll have the camera turned on - I've only seen that for big events.

https://stlouisdirtburners.liverc.com/

 

[WRM]

The first 2026 Stl Dirtburners race is in the books. I only ran EB, and we had 4 classes/5 heats (2 X EB, NB, ET, Novice), it being a weeknight and all. I felt pretty good in the first qualifier round, couldn't get my head into the second qualifier (lots of brain farts/mistakes), then did OK in the main. Finished right there with my racing buddies Randy and Greg (we finished within 13 seconds of each other in the Main). I finished all three races and didn't break anything, which is always my first goal, with a fast lap of 34.219 sec.

https://stlouisdirtburners.liverc.com/results/

One of my G2Smart 4S packs finally gave up, it would start out OK but lose power after only 7 or 8 laps. It wouldn't go completely dead it just had reduced power to the point where it wouldn't even make the double jumps at full throttle. That was the second time I noticed that with that pack, so I'll put it on the smart charger tonight and check its' "health" but won't be racing with it again. That leaves me with three packs - one G2 and two Fantoms, so definitely going to get another pair of packs soon to get me through the season (they will not be G2 packs). If anyone has some suggestions, please let me know - a hard case non-shorty 4S 5000 mAh/100C or better with bullet sockets.

Supposed to rain tomorrow and Saturday, so next race should be April 18th (weather permitting?).

Cheers,

 

[RustyUs]

Do you have an ESC that has data logging?
How long are the mains?
I'll be curious to know what batteries you choose. I'm in/out of different forums/groups and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly posts on practically every brand of battery out there.

 

[WRM]

Do you have an ESC that has data logging?
I'll be curious to know what batteries you choose. I'm in/out of different forums/groups and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly posts on practically every brand of battery out there.

The ESC does have data logging, but I haven't checked that out - so far just use it to program the ESC. I'll have to check that out!

Running 1900 KVA https://www.reds-racing-usa.com/sho...ESC-G3-Homologated-ROAR-EFRA-IFMAR-p765363193

I like the Fantoms but they have no 4S packs listed right now (only 2S). There are suitable Zeee and OVONIC 4S packs in my Amazon cart, but I'm not ready to pull the trigger. The "new formula" Proteks seem interesting, but not in my size, yet.

 

[RustyUs]

The ESC does have data logging, but I haven't checked that out - so far just use it to program the ESC. I'll have to check that out!

Running 1900 KVA https://www.reds-racing-usa.com/sho...ESC-G3-Homologated-ROAR-EFRA-IFMAR-p765363193

I like the Fantoms but they have no 4S packs listed right now (only 2S). There are suitable Zeee and OVONIC 4S packs in my Amazon cart, but I'm not ready to pull the trigger. The "new formula" Proteks seem interesting, but not in my size, yet.

Yeah, I went to Fantom's website to see what possible packs you currently have and saw the same thing... no 4S LiPo batteries listed. I don't do any club racing anymore. I was never the type to get top dollar high end gear nor could I afford it. I mainly just run my RCs on medium size backyard track. I do run try to run them hard at times when track is damp/conditions are right. I only got one 100' straightaway to open things up. I could see myself running some Zeee, or Ovonic 4S packs. I mean, I already have two Zeee 4S packs that I use in my EB48/ET48 rides and they serve me well.

There's probably no way that I'd run the above packs at a race. Meh, it wouldn't make a difference with my old man driving skills... not until I get acclimated again. Definitely would be steppin' up my game and getting something in the 5500mAh range for buggy and 7000mAh for truggy for 10-minute mains. Even though "C" discharge numbers are bogus, I'd still try to get the highest C rated packs I could afford.

I've always wanted to try SMC Racing's packs. They usually get good reviews until someone comments about one in a "What's the best battery to get?" type post/thread. Like I said before, somebody has had a bad experience with every battery that gets posted in the comments. But, in your case, you're searching for 4S packs with inboard bullets, I don't think SMC has any... at least last time I looked.