Serpent 966 Evo . . . Ready to rip.

Regular visitors will know that I recently got myself a Serpent 966 Evo with the intention of going 1/8 circuit racing.

After an extensive rebuild I have finally gotten around to fitting some electrics and an engine.

In the end I opted to use an engine that I already have, an SH PT21XT2-P8 with exiting gasses being disposed of by a matched SH pipe set.

This is a relatively mild engine and, at £200, not too expensive. That said it is still plenty powerful enough to get me into all sorts of bother! It will be quick enough to hold its own at Adur club meetings but will, I suspect, be a little out of its depth at national meetings.

Layin' down the astro at SHRCCC.

 Everyone loves a bit of old school grass action but when the weather doesn't play ball the post race clean up can become a little tedious. This, coupled with the inevitable wear and tear of a grass track, has prompted SHRCCC to up sticks and relocate just down the road to a year round astro based facility.

I made the trip on a nippy Sunday in April for the innaugral meeting.

The enthusiastic committee, headed up by Neil 'Dudders' Dudman and Darren 'Tartman' Parker, have put in some hard graft to turn a 5-a-side footy pitch into the bristly green oasis seen in the pics below. The various members have bought their respective skills to bear and produced an interesting track with something for everyone.

(click on the pics for full size versions)

I'm going 1/8 Circuit racing with a Serpent 966 Evo.

They say a change is as good as a rest and I'm not one for resting so change it is!

I am going have a little dabble at the F1 of RC racing, 1/8 on road.

I picked myself up a used Serpent 966 Evo. It wasn't in as good condition as I had hoped so I have been beavering away in my man cave for a couple of weeks executing a major overhaul.

This is the result of my labours.

I am now the proud, excited, owner of a very tidy Serpent 966 Evo.

It is fitted with a full alloy pulley set, blade roll bars and the Serpent 'flex' rear end.

Offroad Wars 2012 at Maritime Raceway

I recently attended the Offroad Wars meeting at Maritime Raceway.

I didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as I have some other big meetings but there are many who did..

I took a few pics while I was there so thought I would post them up so those who didn't manage to make it along could get a flavour of the venue and the meeting in general.

The track is situated on the top floor of a fantastic old building in Chatham dockyard. It used to be a rope manufacturing facility so is long and low.

The access is certainly not wheelchair friendly as one needs to ascend three narrow flights of stairs.

Schumacher Cougar SV2

Well folks the long wait is over.

The nice chap from UPS came knocking this week cradling in his arms my new Schumacher Cougar SV2.

This has got to be one of the most hotly anticipated buggies of recent times and I can't wait to get stuck into the build.

Things are pretty busy in my 'real life' job right now but I am determined to make some time to bolt this beauty together over the next week or so.

I will be taking plenty of pics and writing a few words so please check back regularly for updates.

I am a lucky boy!

TORCH wrap up the winter series.

A nippy Sunday saw the final round of the TORCH winter series.

Over 50 drivers braved the cold to contest the final round of what has been a popular southern series.

We arrived to a frost covered winter wonderland of a track.

I have not been able to make it for most of the rounds and with nothing at stake decided to give the Losi 22 a day out on the astro. Regular readers will know I have just fitted a gear diff and installed a Darren Bloomfield setup which I was looking forward to trying out.

It would be nice to enjoy a fun day of racing with nothing at stake and no pressure.

Losi 22 Gear Diff . . . but Associated SC10 really!

I have only run it a couple of times but have been struggling to make my Losi 22 diff work consistently.

I am the first to admit that I am not so experienced setting up 2wd slipper clutches so to be fair am probably the architect of my own problems.

Much as I would love to keep on blaming my equipment for my poor performances I have taken steps to eliminate this particular excuse from my not inconsiderable repertoire!

The solution?

A gear diff.

I struggled to find a UK dealer with the Losi gear diff on the shelf. I had read that the Associated SC10 gear diff was a drop in fit so opted for this instead. An added bonus was that it was a few pounds cheaper. Which, as long as it fits, is a result.

It is a well made unit with steel outdrives, metal gears and cross pins.

TORCH . . . Onwards & Upwards . . . Bring on the Regionals.

2012 looks like being a big year for local club TORCH.
All the hard work put in by the lads recently has been rewarded with an invitation to host 2 and 4wd Regional meetings during the coming season.

In my opinion this is well deserved.

I have been racing here for a relatively short time but have seen the club go from strength to strength. There is, it seems, a will amongst the committee to keep pushing the club forward and as a result everytime I go along I see new evidence of this desire to improve.