[spybot]

I know this is an old post but I 1st drove a chain driven Optima before I went to what was initially supposed to be the CAT the PB Mustang then my father & I swapped to the 1st 2 Mid Optimas 2 come to the UK about a year before they were officially released, combining this with upgraded batteries the SCE's again a year before anyone else (others still had the old SCR Batteries) the Mids both confused, astounded and upset people where ever in the country we raced. No-one had ever seen RC Cars like them and with the higher capacity batteries (which were completely illegal at the time and had to be disguised) which allowed for higher gearing to be used the Mid's were absolutely unbeatable I loved my Mid & steadfastly refused to swap to the CAT I just upgraded the Mid with Saddle Pack chassis, lwb chassis, adapting the Mustangs dual gearing to fit & remain competitive for many years. I was offered use of a CAT XLS when I did serious damage at an outdoor meeting & I really couldn't get on with it I found it too twitchy & unpredictable. In my humble opinion The MID Optima was an outstanding & I'm sure you could get 1 running competitively these days.