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Returning_Jim wrote:

notarex wrote:After action report:

I got hammered in 4wd. Not only were they better drivers, my cars were way outclassed. The belt drive rear motor was laughable...

What do you believe is the biggest detriment to the car? The overall weight, the weight distribution, or the suspension geometry?

A couple things...the original Optima tends to have understeer problems, especially under acceleration. Also remember they were meant for a totally different kind of track surface than you see nowadays, lots of loose dirt and no insane triple-jumps. A car designed for a track in the 80's is a poor performer on a modern track. Rear-motored 4WD cars can perform beautifully if they're dialed in; for the Optima, increasing track width somewhat will help reduce the understeer problem. That's pretty much all you can do because the original front end parts don't let you modify caster angles, which is another way to improve steering. Lastly, adding a front wing or adding weight up front might help the steering.

Hey Notarex,

Just would like to let you know that the Optima came in the mail today, after a safe trip accross the ocean!!



Its beautiful and in perfect condition, I really like it a lot!!!

Thanks a bunch for the front brace - Hot Trick on top of it!

And I am waiting for a Hot trick chassis, thats some piece of luck as I did not have the front brace!!!

The chassis is coming from Canada, hopefully getting here tomorrow!!!!

<LOL

Am a spoiled brat!!

I will give this Optima Beetle a feww mods, Will let you know What I do, until the Vintage Race she will participate in, in June!

Cheers!!

Words can't express how thrilled I am that it went to a great home. I'm equally pleased that it will continue racing. It's funny, my first Optima that I got when I was a kid is in France- it had the full gold kit also. I sold it on Ebay probably 15 years ago to someone in Paris. I hope you are holding up over there, best wishes from this side of the pond. Please keep us posted with your progress!