Right, now with a few more minutes than on D-day at 10:30pm
Basically, with the 1.6 pistons rear, the car was really good, 5th qualifier overall is not too shabby when you have 45 guys, most of them racing a few times a month at least the first ten, with the top 8 or so being national top guns and pan-continental racers. Mr EOS, part of the Yokomo factory team was here again, and I out qualified him btw as he ended up in the second series
He would have won the race overall though as he climbed his way back up to TQ, but there was a massive (and unacceptable) pile-up at the end of the second a-main, and he lost it all there and finished #2 overall (adding both mains). I am proud to report I was NOT part of that mess (for once
).
I started with the shocks second inner hole on the tower, but then went to second outer at the second qualifier. It settled the car very nicely, but also the new tires were probably breaking in too, which sure helped.
The front shocks could have beneficiated from a 2x1.7mm piston instead of 1.6mm which I think was a tad stiff even with 32.5WT. I was too lazy to do that job, as well as worried this would cost me well-needed stability and corner-entry performance.
The A&L steering was game-changer, frankly, especially after I installed brand-spanking new RPM (blue... all I had left!) ballcups after the first qualifier pop. The car feels "natural" with it, most slop is gone. If you're running any OIN I can only recommend you pick one up from
@GoMachV , it's well worth the money (this is an unsponsored message!)
The handling was great, frankly. The car is VERY easy to drive, which does help consistency, and it was absolutely royal through fast chicanes and in the 2+2 (with a turn in the middle). Forward grip was just as good as anything else, probably the MM4 design compared to MM3 for most cars these days. I think the slower sections lacked a bit, though.
A couple of seasoned B-mainers who looked at the car (and marshalled us) did mention that the car entered in the turns very nicely, but was a bit slow at the exit, probably not squaring up as fast as the other top cars. Then again, maybe not bad a solution for someone who races 3x/yr and doesn't have lightening fast reflexes.
Not many pictures to share this time, as it was pretty much uneventful for me, I could focus on the driving... as well as wrenching for my son who finished dead last, but with all my admiration (the other kids run often, plus he was the only one running a RM 2wd with a mabuchi, the others all had 4wd with 10.5'ish mills
)
Concluding on this season: the car IS competitive - and I have to admit I am surprised about it...- but probably not up to the top-notch level. One of the top dogs came out to chat after my fast qualifying round and his analysis was that my car was helping them realized they probably weren't using their cars to their full potential, as they would (rightfully) expect a newer design to be more competitive on the track - I was probably using 99% of the car that day, while they were stuck at 90%. It did change during the main though, as I totally lost it
Talking about what to do with the car, and seeing how robust it is, and how it's already paid for, I'm thinking it might very well be my son's ride for next year (we only run offroad the indoor winter season, we do mostly onroad usually), but back with the small bores and the RPM steering (or maybe even a worlds'). I don't like to handle 4wd's over to young kids as I think it doesn't teach them to drive smooth, on top of usually needing more wrenching (from Dad).
One last pic with the last vintage AE shirt of the season:
Over and out !
Paul