How many of you have been through this, let me paint the scenario for you-

Your car handles great. You've driven the guy's cars that are beating you, and it's like yours, or maybe even a little worse. You've got all the go fast goodies. Your doing very well at the local races. Your driving is good eough to win.

You get to a big race, and the car is still not fast!!!!!!
Is it horsepower at this point, or what?

I know a lot of you have been to this point, I want to hear the stories of how you got to be the top of the A main guy at the "big" races, instead of the middle or bottom A main guy. We all know who you are, because you're the ones beating us at the regionals and nationals!!!!

ask mc43

There's only like 10,000 different reasons.
Gearing, battery charging, chassis tweak, warped chassis, tweaked t-plates, worn out springs, wrong oil/spring combo, toe not set right, and on and on and on.

Don't be mislead that just because you have similar cars with exact setups that you will be equal. We don't all drive the same and a setup for one guy may not work at all for another. One thing to be sure, if you're copying someone's setup, use new parts like springs and t-plates. These parts fatigue over time and your 3 month old t-plate isn't going to have te same resiliancy as a new one same with springs. Also make sure you don't have any twists or tweaks in the chassis itself. Every so often take everything off of it and make sure it lays flat. A couple of hard hits can knock one out of whack. Make sure the car is right before getting into motors and batteries. Then work down the list.

Dave I'm always one that struggles with big races.I don't as do well when the traction comes up.It all comes down to experience.I'm learning but not at a quick enough pace.One thing I've learned is that as the traction comes up it's best for me to move away from high rubber content tires-pinks and purples and go to a white gray set-up.Putting fresh tires on helps a bunch too.If you don't way too much compund gets buillt up in the tire and they get way too soft.Also I've been softening the center of the car as the traction comes up-less preload on the spring to keep the rear planted.The more you experience high bite conditions the more you learn.

One thing with big races is that big races equal big turnouts. The competition level goes up at big races. If you dominate at your local track and get blown out at the big race, it might be a sign that the comp. level at home is low. Another thing with dominating that I've seen is that the person doing all the winning kind of stops searching for more until he gets beat. Races like Snowbirds where the track is new to everyone, it takes more time to find the setup. Those who have the knowlegde of setup will get it quicker. Your home track you know the setup and what does what there. I like big races because it shows just how good you really are.

Bob
Would it help to wash or clean the tires that have more rubber to get the compound out after every race? Rob Murdock is a true believer in tire washing. He says it helps keep the tire at there original durameter reading and firmness.

Dave,

The car does look good at most tracks.
If I was in your situation, i'd rebuild the whole car.
Speedo and rollout could have something to do with it to.


Chris Ulbrik

90% handling.
10%Power

Double check on your ESC... I had a racing buddy put a Duratrax 8t racing ESC in his car, and he was always off the pace -- changed ESC's and he was back up to speed... Turns out that ESC is not rated for 4-cell use, and when he drove it hard, the amp draw would put the ESC into a 'cruise mode'...

Can't hurt to check on yours...

If your car feels that great your probably too hooked up. I'm really struggling with my setup was well. But I have my own problems with a bastid car (cartech chassis/HD pod) and trying to get the car to work well on a banked oval is a nightmare. But my car felt awesome a couple weeks back and but it was overly comfortable to drive. So I had way too much bite in the front and the rear. Tire were too soft on front and back and my caster/stagger was bad enough to make it work well and handle good from a driving stand point but for speed it sucked. So try freeing the car up some. Maybe some different front springs and thicker weight oils.

I just ran in the Arcor at classic hobbies and by the end of the second day the track was kidna loose. This was due to the odorless jack the gripped compound getting built up in the carpet. If you didnt wash or scrub your tires every other run you were going to have problems! So at big races its a tire game and trying to get the car to run as loose as possible but in control with the tires and chassis. So take that for what you will, just my .02.

The best suggestion I could make is to go to your local track and test test test. If your car is close and comfortable for you to drive then take advantage of a track that has an open practice day or night. Small changes can make significant differences, make one change at a time run 5 or 10 laps and check the lap times they're never wrong. Just a harder or softer tire could be worth almost a tenth. Good Luck, let us all know what you learn.

Doug P.