Buri Racer 1/8 scale 4WD electric pan car
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:41 pm
Starting a thread about an interesting project I found some weeks ago, the Buri Racer 1/8 scale.
It is not a vintage car but basically based on the design of early 1/8 scale 4WD onroad cars as the Kyosho Fantom 20IS 4WD and the SG VCS 4WD of the early 1980s. And using several parts from old Mantua and SG cars which are still available today. Indeed a SG VCS was used for the early prototype.
I heard about this project and did a search on the design, talking with Thomas the designer of this car and finally had the chance to try a prototype car at a large 1/8 scale nitro race last weekend. I´m really impressed with the car, how it works and the fun I had at that run. I think other guys might be interested in such car also, but you won´t find it at a shop for a reason. That´s why I want to share my knowledge and experience for this car.
Talking about the Buri Racer, actually it came to my mind through Facebook. I knew about the re-release of 2WD 1/8 scale pan cars in Italy and France since about two years but they share the same problem as Pro10 or other 2WD onroad cars. If traction is very low, there is no fun at all, that´s why I just collect them now. I always had the idea there should be a 4WD pan car but there was no these days, until the Buri Racer was born. If you like to fiddle with fast brushless cars, this might be something for you, as for me. I was not really sure before, if the Buri would be up to my expectations but now I can say yes it is. Handles great, acceleration is similar to a 1/8 nitro car with maximum speed somewhat slower but still really, really fast. Runtime with a 4S 4600mAh pack was around 7 minutes. Temperature for motor, battery and ESC were warm but OK, considering weather was extremly hot that day. It´s just important using some airflow to the motor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBVal6dgaic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34oOSoAzAr4
First pictures showing a SG VCS 4WD, one of the roots of the Buri Racer.
Thomas, the designer of this car is into 1/8 scale onroad cars since more than 30 years and knows a lot of them. He is based in Austria/Europe, that´s one of the reasons why you maybe won´t find this car.
Thomas had the idea of making a 1/8 car what would be much cheaper and easier to setup than suspension cars. So perfectly for beginners of 1/8 scale and young guys who can´t afford a regular 1/8. Overall the car is built using just around sixty parts, is easy to maintain and you won´t be lost in tons of setup options as there are very little.
As you can see from pictures, the Buri uses graphite parts throughout. Machined aluminium motor mount, axle blocks will be aluminium again replacing the original plastic parts of a vintage Mantua car, used for the prototypes.
Drive system is a solid tubular rear axle and oneway system for the front, as the suspension cars. One belt connecting front and rear drive. Some sort of suspension is used through chassis flex and a rocker front end. Several top plates using different camber settings for the front end were tried, from what I learned a fixed 1° camber setting will be used for production, this seems affecting even tire wear. Castor could be adjusted using several fixed positions. Rocker plate could be adjusted also, that´s it. No shocks, no springs. A quick release system is used for front and rear so any current 1/8 wheels could be used.
Prototype cars had been built for nitro and electric motors, Thomas decided to release just the electric version for the moment.
The Buri project is not really commercial and won´t be sold through shops, otherwise the car would be much more expensive and can´t compete with suspension car kits. The kit will be available in about 4 weeks and I hope I will have one of the first kits. I know at least one other member here will have a Buri car too, so it will be interesting sharing personal experiences.
A website for the Buri Racer is in the works but you can contact Thomas and finde more informations also at Facebook currently. If there are any questions on the car, equipment etc. I try to help also. I had several prototype cars in hand at the last ENS race and had a real close look at them, also Thomas answered a lot of my questions there.
Speaking of electronics, the Buri is designed for a 4S brushless system, same as used for 1/8 offroad cars. Battery will be fixed by battery locator and velcro type as some sort of battery brace. ESC could be any 4S capable but they found Hobbywing being the best choice. Motors at the prototype cars were 4 pole sensorless motors with around 2300KV rating. Most of the prototype cars were using cheap Turnigy Trackstar which seem quite good and were very fast. 2500KV might be a rocket, I think I will be going with something like 2100KV and I know someone will be trying even lower rating but larger pinion. Servo could be used any standard or low profile servo but I think should use metal gears and should be digital 8 kg rating. Bodies could be any 1/8 gas car version as dimensions are same.
If someone wonder why I start this thread, I won´t earn any money. I just think this is a really interesting car, not sold through the industry. I really like the concept, also I think this is a car where I will have much more tracktime than spend on setting up or preparing. Some guys know I´m collecting also 1/8 cars but I don´t race them, for a reason. This time it´s the opposite. I used to race Pro10 cars but when you´re older and eyes are fading, a larger 1/8 car makes more sense too.
It is not a vintage car but basically based on the design of early 1/8 scale 4WD onroad cars as the Kyosho Fantom 20IS 4WD and the SG VCS 4WD of the early 1980s. And using several parts from old Mantua and SG cars which are still available today. Indeed a SG VCS was used for the early prototype.
I heard about this project and did a search on the design, talking with Thomas the designer of this car and finally had the chance to try a prototype car at a large 1/8 scale nitro race last weekend. I´m really impressed with the car, how it works and the fun I had at that run. I think other guys might be interested in such car also, but you won´t find it at a shop for a reason. That´s why I want to share my knowledge and experience for this car.
Talking about the Buri Racer, actually it came to my mind through Facebook. I knew about the re-release of 2WD 1/8 scale pan cars in Italy and France since about two years but they share the same problem as Pro10 or other 2WD onroad cars. If traction is very low, there is no fun at all, that´s why I just collect them now. I always had the idea there should be a 4WD pan car but there was no these days, until the Buri Racer was born. If you like to fiddle with fast brushless cars, this might be something for you, as for me. I was not really sure before, if the Buri would be up to my expectations but now I can say yes it is. Handles great, acceleration is similar to a 1/8 nitro car with maximum speed somewhat slower but still really, really fast. Runtime with a 4S 4600mAh pack was around 7 minutes. Temperature for motor, battery and ESC were warm but OK, considering weather was extremly hot that day. It´s just important using some airflow to the motor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBVal6dgaic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34oOSoAzAr4
First pictures showing a SG VCS 4WD, one of the roots of the Buri Racer.
Thomas, the designer of this car is into 1/8 scale onroad cars since more than 30 years and knows a lot of them. He is based in Austria/Europe, that´s one of the reasons why you maybe won´t find this car.
Thomas had the idea of making a 1/8 car what would be much cheaper and easier to setup than suspension cars. So perfectly for beginners of 1/8 scale and young guys who can´t afford a regular 1/8. Overall the car is built using just around sixty parts, is easy to maintain and you won´t be lost in tons of setup options as there are very little.
As you can see from pictures, the Buri uses graphite parts throughout. Machined aluminium motor mount, axle blocks will be aluminium again replacing the original plastic parts of a vintage Mantua car, used for the prototypes.
Drive system is a solid tubular rear axle and oneway system for the front, as the suspension cars. One belt connecting front and rear drive. Some sort of suspension is used through chassis flex and a rocker front end. Several top plates using different camber settings for the front end were tried, from what I learned a fixed 1° camber setting will be used for production, this seems affecting even tire wear. Castor could be adjusted using several fixed positions. Rocker plate could be adjusted also, that´s it. No shocks, no springs. A quick release system is used for front and rear so any current 1/8 wheels could be used.
Prototype cars had been built for nitro and electric motors, Thomas decided to release just the electric version for the moment.
The Buri project is not really commercial and won´t be sold through shops, otherwise the car would be much more expensive and can´t compete with suspension car kits. The kit will be available in about 4 weeks and I hope I will have one of the first kits. I know at least one other member here will have a Buri car too, so it will be interesting sharing personal experiences.
A website for the Buri Racer is in the works but you can contact Thomas and finde more informations also at Facebook currently. If there are any questions on the car, equipment etc. I try to help also. I had several prototype cars in hand at the last ENS race and had a real close look at them, also Thomas answered a lot of my questions there.
Speaking of electronics, the Buri is designed for a 4S brushless system, same as used for 1/8 offroad cars. Battery will be fixed by battery locator and velcro type as some sort of battery brace. ESC could be any 4S capable but they found Hobbywing being the best choice. Motors at the prototype cars were 4 pole sensorless motors with around 2300KV rating. Most of the prototype cars were using cheap Turnigy Trackstar which seem quite good and were very fast. 2500KV might be a rocket, I think I will be going with something like 2100KV and I know someone will be trying even lower rating but larger pinion. Servo could be used any standard or low profile servo but I think should use metal gears and should be digital 8 kg rating. Bodies could be any 1/8 gas car version as dimensions are same.
If someone wonder why I start this thread, I won´t earn any money. I just think this is a really interesting car, not sold through the industry. I really like the concept, also I think this is a car where I will have much more tracktime than spend on setting up or preparing. Some guys know I´m collecting also 1/8 cars but I don´t race them, for a reason. This time it´s the opposite. I used to race Pro10 cars but when you´re older and eyes are fading, a larger 1/8 car makes more sense too.