RX8 Race Report

hokay...I gave the RX8 a shot at a weekend clubrace. I'll try keep everything short and simple and to the best of my knowledge.

First off, the setup:
Jammin X1-CRT truggy
BBT Rims, LPR Bow-Fighter Mix (both sets in M2 compound), taped
Tekin RX8, #3 TP, 0 DB, default BS, fan installed. No other adjustments made aside from 3S cutoff
NeuEnergy 25/50c 3S 5000mAh
Neu 1515/1.5D/F
stock center spur
14t pinion
10K weight center diff
7K front diff
5K rear diff

Total weight: approximately 10+lbs

Next up, Track Conditions:
hard-packed dirt, loose sections in some areas.

Weather & Time:
roughly 3pm, temperatures hovering around 95-96 degrees

Opponents:
Jammin X1-CRT Novarossi SP21 Hollinger Edition Motor (20% nitro)
Jammin X2-CRT Novarossi SP21+ Hollinger Edition Motor (20% nitro)
Mugen MBX, unknown motor, 30% nitro


RACE REPORT:

Started off with the 1.5D and the Neuenergy 3S. Ran 4 10min mains, came in 2nd place behind the X1-CRT in three of four. Not for lack of speed or handling, I was out-driven. The driver of the nitro X1 happens to be a good friend of mine as well as mentor. He's been racing for 15+ yrs. I discounted the X2 and the Mugen...the X2 had a new driver and the Mugen had a rusty driver. Guess I'm doing alright.

The RX8 handled the race requirements with ease...only one or two cogging moments, but they were inconsequential to my placement. The RX8/1.5D combo is pure insanity...power delivery is good, but just a hair less than the MMM.

After the first main, I decided to try out the RX8 and the T8 2650 motor. Grabbed a fistful of throttle and holy crap. The sensored motor would lag for about a split second and then turn on the juice. This made for a particularly distressing 2nd Main. Off-throttle corrections in the air and around turns proved to be my downfall. I ended up placing 3rd, just ahead of the Mugen. I was not happy at all with the power lag...not at frikkin all. :angry: The startups and all were smooth, don't get me wrong...there was ZERO cogging with the T8. But the power delivery was just not what I needed to stay at least in the thick of the pack. If it wasn't for the Mugen flaming out (although they fixed the problem quickly), I would have placed dead last.

Power delivery between the Neu and T8 are markedly different. The Neu motor screams for the throttle lashing. The T8 takes it time and is mostly nonchalant. Now it is possible that this could be due to timing (which I did not touch on the RX8), but I didn't care to find out. At least not on a race day with everyone eyeing and curious about the performance of a converted 1/8 in a race setting. Tried and true, I switched back to the Neu. (Hey...that rhymes! )

After switching back to the Neu for the 3rd main, I was able to regain second place behind the X1-CRT. It was a seesaw battle between me and my mentor for 1st place, but he ended up being the more consistent racer and ultimately pulled out the victory.

The final Main was a mirror of the 3rd. I was choppin it up with the old man for 1st place, but his consistency beat me out. He made no mistakes, kept his lines and cornering clean and his jumping smooth. I made very few mistakes, but those mistakes added up and ended up costing me the final main. Oh well...consistency is THE mitigating factor on race day.

Now on to performance temperatures.

1st Main - Motor: 136
ESC: 123
Batt: 112

2nd Main - Motor (T8): 123
ESC: 120
Batt: 115

3rd Main - Motor (Neu): 144
ESC: 125
Batt: 120

Final Main: Motor (Neu) : 146
ESC: 124
Batt: 123

Overall, I'm neither pleased nor displeased with the RX8. Seems to give me about the same performance (power-wise) as the MMM, but when run in tandem with the T8 and the sensor, it is a good combination. Smooth, no cogging, but questionable on the delivery. AGAIN, it could possibly be due to the timing not being set up right. I don't know, nor would I care to find out at the moment. I'll stick to the Neu for the time being and possibly until I find something that performs better. I'm sold on the Neu motors right now. The T8? Meh...no thanks. I'm gonna need a motor for my buggy, so I'm going to pick up a motor from lincpimp and perhaps sell the T8.

One thing I did not try, though: I didn't try running the T8 without the sensor module on. I'm wondering if it would have made a noticeable difference. We're possibly having another race this weekend, so I just might try it this way if I'm so inclined to forgive the T8 for her ghastly performance.

I'm not happy with the temps that the 1.5D and the 3S packs were reading that day...a little too close to the edge, if you ask me. I might go back down to an 11T pinion and see how things work from there.

And as a closing note, I was able to try out some new batteries that I had ordered. They are the new Thunder Power 40/80c hard packs. I picked up a 3S 5000mAh pack from rclipos.com, and holy CRAP....these things are friggin monsters. The 3S acts very similar to a 20c 4S pack...looks like I just might have to order some more of these and use them for race days. The 3S pack I was using was barely sweating after an exhibitionary main...it temp'd at 100degs after a good 12mins of running HARD. The 1.5D wasn't too happy to be run so hard, though. She temp'd at 148. The RX8 wasn't fazed, though...she was happily plodding along at 125degs.


So there you have it...a race report from halfway around the world.


If you guys have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you. And I hope this review helps some of you.

forgot to mention...I didn't get a chance to get any vids or any race pics. There was no one there to take 'em. :(

Perhaps next time I'll be able to get someone to snap some up.


In the meantime, let me pacify the mob...and show you pictures of the track and some scenery from this little place I call home.

the beginning of the track, the straight and a shot of my mentor.

the first turn, the second turn (right after the first whoop), and the beginning of the first rhytm section.

the midpoint of the the first rhythm section (and a shot of the other racers), the end of the rhythm section and the third turn.

the beginning of the second rhythm section (and a bonus pic of the other racers), the middle and end, and the 4th turn.

the last tabletop, the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th turns, and the beginning of the straightaway.

a lone buggy, a shot of Brushless HQ (the altima), and a scenic of greener pastures, trees, clouds and a hotel-type building.

a shot of what was to the right of Brushless HQ, the road heading in to the track, and of course....The NEMESIS: the X1-CRT with a Nova Hollinger.

a look at where the pics were being snapped from, the view of the road that was behind and to the right, and directly behind me.

an upclose of HQ (NeuEnergy 3S being charged and balanced with a MRC SuperBrain 989), and gratuitous shots of the T8 2650 (with a shot of my hand).

AANNDD...where would we be without pictures of the warriors? I present to you the RCM CRT.5e and the RCM X1-CRTe.

and my knife.

the munchkin...revo shocks for the front, buggy front shocks for the rear, R1Pro with a VXL motor. All being run on 2S for race, 3S for insanity.

and of course, I must represent RCM all the way out here. Mike, I'm doing my best to give y'alls a good name.

and of course, the big brother. I need to get rid of that damn snake sticker. yes the wires are sloppy...I know.

and of course, some last pimpin shots of an AWESOME paint job (done by yours truly).

And...proud shots of the badges of brushless. :great. I am proud to sport the RCM logo.



That's all she wrote, folks....stay tuned for another exciting weekend of Life on the Rock.