How Long Before theres a competitive 1/8th Electric Class...

[James]

Well the first of the main manufacturers has released a conversion kit for three makes of 1/8th buggy to lipo/brushless electric..
How long do you think before it becomes mainstream?
And where will drivers come from - nitro or electric background.....

[DCM]

I don't think it will be a 'main class', but I can see there being a few converts taking this up.

the appeal is the handling of an 8th car and it's robustness and the lack of mess/noise will attract some, plus I think it may well save some nitro tracks from closing down.

I would think it would start becoming more popular if a chassis manufacturer releases a car ready not needing conversion.

[frogger]

I for one want a 1/8 brushless buggy. I've never been into nitro because of the noise and mess so I hope it takes off.

[DCM]

I know Tekin are working on one and I have seen the video of it running, and is very good, but I would love to see the disk brakes retained.

[showtime]

i would guess that they will gradually start creeping into club racing but as soon as anyone starts getting results with one there will be a lot of heated debates for & against all over the net and i guess a rule change/creation, decreeing that they get their own class/heat to run in!
bit like truggys at Slough, Adrian has always said he'd let them race if they have enough for a heat but it very rarely happens! although i imagine an electric buyggy class would be a lot more popular

obviously brushless & Lipo technology has increased runtimes to a new level but at most clubs you run 20 minute finals & often a 30 minute A final! would you realistically see those kind of runtimes?
quick release battery pitstops maybe?

as for nitro, well for a lot of the people who race it - its all about the little engines quite a few of the 8th guys are old motocrossers like me who like doing a bit of racing on the weekends that lets them still walk on the monday! after all its still 2 strokes, dirt & jumps

[nitrokillah]

http://www.teamnovak.com/products/co...kit/index.html

this might help

[showtime]

its not got an ideal weight distribution with the cells right out there on both sides but it looks pretty cool still

anybody want to buy some extra thick sway bars

[DCM]

Originally Posted by showtime

as for nitro, well for a lot of the people who race it - its all about the little engines quite a few of the 8th guys are old motocrossers like me who like doing a bit of racing on the weekends that lets them still walk on the monday! after all its still 2 strokes, dirt & jumps

But there are many clubs in all different countries losing facilities due to the noise, so it gives the option to still run your buggy/truggy at the same track but with no noise. But I know what you mean about the engine.

As for long finals, I would of though, on a big lipo pack, one battery change in a final over refuels every 7 mins would balance out.

[neiloliver]

As long as they dont make a nitro conversion for the B44 and B4.. nasty noisy things