XRAY - Model racing cars

Thanks for that TeamGP, seems like a logic set of steps to follow and I will try these this weekend. I think you could be bang on the nail about the shock oil, but I think I'll take the front down to 35w first with 3 holes open in front and see if this works. I am using Xray oil.

Two more questions though:

1. Should I be using the shims under the camber links and sterring rods as per the basic asphalt setup?

2. Why does the Hudy book state you should remove shocks to check droop? Surely with shocks on would be a more accurate reading since this is how it operates in the first place.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,
S

Thanks for your help everyone. I changed the oil to 30w all round and increased the rear toe to 3 deg. This imediatley showed better handling throughout. I still have a little oversteer that I want to get rid of so I've decreased the wheelbase by 1mm to see if this helps at all.

The race went ok-ish. I qualified 4th and in the two finals I had the following problems.

Final 1 - Someone t-boned me while I was in 2nd place and one of my rear shocks came loose on the lower arm, ripping out the grub screw. This ended my race.

Final 2 - My rear-left tyre came unglued while in first place. I managed to nurse the car to the finish in this state, but only finished 3rd after the second placed guy caught wind of my problem and played dirty by nudging my back-end making me lose two places on the last lap.
He would have overtaken anyway but the kid in 3rd before nudging me was his son. I did give him an ear-bashing though after the race.

Oh well....hopefully it'll be a little better next time.

Thanks again all for your help.

Cheers,
S

Doh! Too bad. But as I always tell myself, "Next time!"

Update your online setup if you get a chance so we can take a look.

I've posted my setup. Please see comments for the changes made once temperature came up.

I've shortened the wheelbase by 1mm. I've got a meeting on the 18th so will let you know how this one goes.

Cheers,
Stelio

Before you change the wheelbase, try loosening the rear diff up to where its just barely tight enough AND you don't hear the pulley slipping on power. The diff should be loose enough so that if you have the car on the stand and you turn the spur gear with your right hand, you should be able to touch the left rear tire with your finger at the same time (with VERY LIGHT pressure) and it should stop, while the right tire continues to spin with the spur.

I suspect that this should cure your oversteer.

Well....the car handled quite well today but on my first qualifying round I had too much oversteer again but I could control it. Before the next quali I moved the rear shock from hole 4 to 5 and closed a hole in the rear. This cured my oversteer on corner entry completely.

The car was handling very well but was a bit sluggish on the corners and was also more aggressive to drive due to the shorter wheelbase. This is a change to my smooth driving style so I had a few big wacks against the side walls, and to put the cherry on top I had forgotten my set-up station at home . A few people were kind enough to share their gauges for the day. The sluggishness of the car I think was due to the light shock oil and soft springs. I saw some good drivers using light blue prings all round, so I think I'm going to 35 W oil, light blue front and white springs at the back. I also used the adjustable top-deck with only the middle brace installed due to the cooler temperature.

I'm wondering if I shouldn't go back to the 260 mm wheelbase to get more stability but I'm almost certain I'm gonna have the oversteer problem again, or maybe I should adjust my driving style.....

It was a good day nevertheless and I do need to improve my driving for sure.

Thanks TeamGP for your help.


I have improved since starting in the c-class, actually made it into the b-final so now.....I have to improve my driving.