[woOdy]

RB5 First test at Tiverton National.

We received the car only the Thursday afternoon and we was setting off for the National the following day. Me and Jimmy stayed up till 2am to finish the build and I got up early so I could at least put a pack of batteries through the car. I went to my local track( Bury Metro) and it was dry. I didn’t even have my body shell yet so I was running without it and without the wing. It did feel very fast out of the corners and it did have a lot of grip on the astro. As it wasn’t going over our new jumps very well without the body shell I decided to stop before it broke. Got home and started packing to set off.

Saturday morning we got there a little late and my batteries had not charged so I did practice with John Prices B4 and stick trany.
Second practice I did manage to get a go, it was NOT set up very well. It was too hard still after me thinking the pistons I had fitted would work and the 25 wt oil sufficient. The car didn’t want to turn in and the rear end would not roll.

Round 1, got to the start line and my car with the Brand new Mtroniks brushless system in would not work, so I mist round 1.

Round 2, I only changed the speedo and motor back to brushed and I did change the shock angles to try and get it to roll a little more. I also had changed the springs to a softer one as I am using AE springs as I have no spares as yet. Went to brown on the front and green on the rear. Which also should make the car roll a little more for more grip.

Round 3, I changed wheel base to a longer setting so the rear end would come round a little better, changed the inner rear camber ball stud to a higher setting which should also make the rear pivot more but this was still not quick.

Round 4, I changed wheel base to long, the outer ball stud to a higher setting which does the same as lowering the inner ball stud and stud the front shocks right up to try and get more grip from the front but this still was not on the pace.

At this time I was not in a good mood as I had high expectations for this first outing and when I went to find out what final I had ended up in as I tend not to look at the results all day to keep focused on driving smooth and not worrying about having to make 2 good rounds. I ended up 3rd in the C main. I was not expecting that as I thought it was going worse than that.

C’main, I did change the pistons in the rear to the biggest holes to try and make the rear suspension move going round corners, lowered the inner rear ball stud on the camber link which is ment to give more grip. I also trimed the rear wing down to try and give more steering under power and this was the best the car was all day. I won the final and I was very pleased with how it drove. If the day was on FTD and not round by round the time in the final would of put me middle of the A’main.

All in all, it was NOT a B4 as I have drove for a good 3 or 4 years now but I think with time it will keep up with it if not beat it sometimes. I did find it has a lot of rear end grip and it does take the bumps. It does jump nice and flat and it is easy to work on. The quality is also very good and just to let you all know there is not a positive screw in sight. They are all hex screws.