Rc-Help Goes Racing IMCA At Competition Rc In OKC!!!

Tony

Staff member
I can almost remember the last race that I was in. I was running a Team Associated Factory Team TC3 that we fitted with a Modified body and ran it with a 19 turn motor. Man, that was some great racing. But when it's just 3 of you racing every week, you get burned out. So, I quit racing, sold everything and pretty much got out of the hobby.

Well after a while I started to get the itch to do some more racing, but mainly I wanted to build another vehicle. Thanks to Rc-Help, I was building helicopters and airplanes, but I needed my ground pounder fix! So I purchased the Team Losi 22SCT. Thought I would get back into course racing with jumps and such. Well, that all changed a couple weeks ago.

I went up to Competition Rc in OKC and was talking to some of the guys there. They talked me into ditching the SCT and turning it into an oval car. Yes, I'm taking the 22SCT, which is a truck, and turning it into a car. I purchased the body, tires, transponder and another battery just for the occasion. I already has some acrylic paint that I had ordered for the SCT build, but little did I know, the colors were NOT going to work for me. After painting the body, I found this out the hard way. Live and learn I guess.

So with the body painted, the tires glued up (first time gluing tires in over 8 years, more on this later!) and the electronics installed, it was ready to race. Almost.

I still needed to get the modified body posts installed to mount the body, but I had to get those at the track. So I put that off for later. The week after I purchased everything, I was going to go racing. But I had forgot about my daughters birthday party. So that was not going to happen. The following weekend, it was raining and I didn't even think about going. There may have been another week that I missed, but I"m not sure lol.

So now we are to teh weekend of racing. I had loaded everything up and we are ready to go racing. I get to the track 10 minutes after it opened, adn the parking lot has quite a few cars in it already. Didn't get my parking spot lmao. No matter, I just unloaded the car and setup inside. Then, it's up to the counter for some parts and to sign in.

I go up there, sign in to race, give my transponder number and pay my race fee. From there, I purchased the 4 body posts, as well as a battery hold down that we use to support the tear body posts. Get back to my table, and it's time to get them all mounted up and drill the holes in my body.

Once that was done, I started looking at my setup. Man, I have NO IDEA what this thing is going to do. But there is only one way to find out. I plug in the i306 and start charging one of the TWO batteries that I have lol. Then the other. Once that was done, all I could do is wait. They don't open the track until 2PM, and the track opened at Noon. So I was just sitting there.

Once the track opened, they watered it and put some traction into it. So I tossed in a battery and we went out for some practice. I do apologize, I did not get any practice laps on camera. But this thing was loose as all hell. I had all of the steering that I could handle, but man, that back end was all over the place. So I started playing with the setup. After a couple hours of playing, the car was still very loose, but I decided to just drive it.

I did have to purchase a fan for my ESC though. It was coming off the track after practice at about 160ºF. Just a little hot. Put the fan on it, and it was coming off at 120ºF. Much better, but my motor was coming off at about 170-180º. Oh well, can't get the rear end to hold so I"m spinning tires like crazy and all I can hope for is the track starts biting more and I quit spinning which will cool the motor down. So with that, it was time to get ready for the first race.

The first Heat race, I had no idea what to expect. There were 4 people in my heat. Myself, and 3 others. One of which was a good racer, but the other two I was not sure of. There was this kid that was racing, which is the yellow and orange car, that this was his first time racing oval. I was a little worried. Then, there was another guy that I had been warned about. He was a rolling road block from what I heard. NO worries. So with that, it was time to go racing!!!

First Heat IMCA Competition Rc OKC 05 31 14 - YouTube

As you could see, the back end was all over the place. But I won the race. I'm ecstatic! Even though it was an easy win. I believe this is when I decided to move the ESC from the front of the chassis back to the rear right over the transmission which is in the mid position. I also made some shock changes to try to get a little more weight on the right rear as well. And with that, it was time for the second Heat race!

Second Heat IMCA Competition Rc OKC 05 31 14 - YouTube

Man, the rear end was still all over the place and I can't seem to find a 6.8 lap at all. The traction is just not there coming out of the turns. Don't get me wrong, it was much better with more weight on the rear, but it was still way over steering and was still very loose. Coming out of a turn, I was ballooning the left rear tire up like CRAZY!!! It was after this race that they talked me into removing the diff and packing it full of thick black grease. This should help keep from blowing the inside tire off the rim. So, I pulled the transmission and did just that. And yes, I won the second heat as well lmao. Yup, getting more confident in my skills coming back, but it was still an easy win. Time for the third and final Heat race!

Third Heat IMCA Competition Rc OKC 05 31 14 - YouTube

As you can see, this thing was MUCH better in the third heat. 3 heats, 3 major changes and teh car was getting better and better. I found the high line and was able to run it and the sling shot off the top was what netted me a 6.4 second lap!!! I was running consistent 6.7's and 6.8's in this one. But, playing around trying to find my line and just slacking off resulted in only 42 laps whereas I had 43 in teh other two races. Doesn't matter, the second race was enough to get me into the A Main!

I decided that I would just leave the car as it was since it was running VERY WELL. I had a car that if I could find the line, I could run with the top pack. So, I got a candy bar, cleaned the dirt off my truck, and chilled until it was time for my race.

Lets to racing in the A Main. I do have to apologize, for some reason, the camera was looking up more than usual. Not sure why though.

YouTube

Man, I was so shafted on that race. I should have had a top 3 spot in that race. I was LAPPING the white car when he didn't give me any room and took me out. This resulted in losing my 3rd place position and getting knocked back into 4th. I was right there running with Rocket and Bandit until I was knocked out. Then, I started to over drive the car, and flipped it coming out of turn 4 where I got the slowest corner on the track to flip me over... From there, it was just trying to keep my 4th place position and try to catch Big Jim for 3rd. But, that didn't happen and I ended up with a 4th place finish.

All in all, it was a great night. I didn't break anything and I finished 4th out of 9 drivers total in my class. For my first time running in over 8 years, I think I did pretty well. Next weekend, if I go, should be interesting. I'm going to put the rear mount transmission in the truck to try and gain a little rear bite and see how it drives. I may regret it, but it's all about learning and having fun.

And I have to give HUGE props to that kid in the yellow and orange car. This was his first time out and he was doing great. In the B Main where he was running, he DOMINATED that race!!! But he got tangled up and it broke one of his camber links which knocked him out of the race. This kid is going to be one to watch, that's for sure.

Hopefully, I will have yet another thread and yet another batch of videos for you all to watch next weekend. Let me know what you think!
 

Tony

Staff member
hahaha, forgot to publish it lmao. It's up now. Sorry about that.

Yeah, he came in a little hot in to turn 3 and just tapped me. With as loose as the back end is on this thing, that was all it took to spin me around lol. Thankfully, it spun back to the right direction as fast as it spun around lmao. ,
 

Tony

Staff member
Thanks Lee. It was a lot of fun. Will be even more fun when I start winning lmao.
 

Derek

Well-Known Member
That looks like some serious fun! I like going to the local rc dirt track every now and then. Some pretty cool trucks, truggies, and cars there.

I'm just glad to see you out doing something, Tony!
 

Tony

Staff member
It was fun but I'm regretting it now. Screwed up my schedule. Not sure I will go back. Can't afford to be this tired.
 

murankar

Staff member
Looking good a little rusty at the same time. Cant wait to see more.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
 

Tony

Staff member
I didn't win lol. I changed the transmission position and had to test it while racing. Didn't get to practice at all.
 
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