Rob,

Couple questions...about Brushless Motors w/ 4 cell (4200s) and w/ LIPO 3200 (Peak/Orion) packs.

We've been extensively testing currently the combo of a 3200 LIPO with the NEW Novak 17.5 B/L motor. To date this motor has performed virtually identical in all areas of a run to the 4 cell / 10.5 counter part.

The driver we've used at METRO in Bakersfield was able to run against TRACK RECORD HOLDER Gary Hamilton with virtually mirrored lap times and results, and Jeff (Humpty) Helms and Raymond McCoy have seen very similar results in their racing in the Phoenix area against guys like Kyle Bergstrom.

Which of these 2 combinations would you feel would have the 'performance' advantage? Why?

Have you tried running these 2 combinations? What type of results have you found?

Thanks in advance...

Joe Myers

I honestly dont know Joe. I have not run the 17.5 motor yet. I would assume the 17.5/lipo (17.5 more effecient/lipo high power) should finish better than the 4cell/4300 (10.5 big draw/less power delivery) but havent run lipo or 17.5 or side by side to say for sure. Depends on if your running 4 or 5 minuetes maybe too. I could see mixing lipo with nimh being a bad mix in mod. but that is just a guess because I havent run it yet. Looks like you know more than I if you guys have been running them.

Rob

Rob,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. You are one of the voices I have always turned to when looking for answers to many questions, and I didn't know if you've had any occasions to run these or not.

On paper, it's a hard call...

On the track, so far - so good. (Long term goal is NOT to need to combine...it's hoped that we can get most of our guys into the LIPO arena...but the cool thing is...the guys who wish to stay with the 4 cells can stay with their 10.5's and still run strong and competitive.)

Thanks again~

Joe Myers

(NOTE: We've done both 5 minutes here in CALIF, and the AZ guys are doing 4 min.)

Yes, Lipo and 17.5 are the same lap times as 4 cell 10.5. Four minute runs are quicker due to the lipos not dropping in voltage.

They are amazingly close and close enough for club racing but I think the 17.5/lipo will have a very slight edge in the last minute of 4 a min run it is quicker but the first 30 sec it is slightly slower than the 4300. Too close to really call this with any certainty until we get some fine tuning done.

brian,

Very close to what we've seen in our 5 minute racing (what has given the 10.5 guys the edge so far...is a KNOWN setup) The LIPO guys are still experimenting a bit with weight placement...and final gearing.

So often the "up-front" times of a Good 4 cell on a short track are not as fast as the lap times a minute in...(especially at CLUB events with average drivers) which I've always blamed on the higher voltage causing a bit of a early race push do to the extra power. The LIPO doesn't seem to have that issue nearly as severe.

On the issue of MOD w/ the LIPO - what we've done so far is to allow the 10.5/LIPO to run in the 'OPEN MOD' class with 4 cell Brushed and Brushless OPEN rules. The 10.5/LIPO performs really close on a big track to a 4 cell/ 3.5 B/L and so far it's been a bit SLOWER than a 4 cell / 6t Brushed on shorter tracks....but a LOT LESS work to get upto speed..and KEEP it there.