I'm considering bumping up a class at my local track to race sprints. The track allows 19t brushed, or 13.5 brushless (Novak only). The track is an extremly small 96' dirt oval and I'm stuck on if I should run brushless or not. I have heard that the 19t brushed motors have alot more torque than a brushless setup, and with my small track, I would think that the brushed motor would have the advantage.
The other thing to consider is cash. I currently run Nimh's, and to be competitive in that class, I already have to buy 5000 Mah lipo's, and a charger / balancer. I already have a top of the line ESC to run the brushed motor, and if I went brushless, I'd have to buy the whole shebang, so I'm looking at an investment of about $300 - $350 to go brushed, or $550 - $600 to go brushless.
What would you do? Sorry for the dumb question, but I don't have any experience with lipo's, or brushless systems, but I also do not want to have to buy all over again if I make the wrong choice.
I guess one other factor is that I don't mind doing the maintenance that a brushed motor requires, as a matter of fact, if I didn't have to maintain the motor, I would probably be looking for something else to work on, as I enjoy working on my cars almost as much as I like driving them.:confused:

19 turn is fastest than 13.5. THE WHOLE BRUSHLESS SYSTEM IS LESS THAN $300.

19 turn is fastest than 13.5. THE WHOLE BRUSHLESS SYSTEM IS LESS THAN $300.

Figure the cost of buying GOOD batteries every 6 month, Lipo is less in the long run. I have switched all to lipo except for my WGT car. The only reason I haven't is am waiting for Trinity to come out with their booster for the 1 cell.

As for motors, Brushless is maintenance free versus cutting, new brushes, etc., cheaper to go brushless.

More time to wrench your car!

Comparing apples to apples, lipo wins every time. Especially over the long run. It's going to be brushless lipo for every class.
Let's not forget the new guy, buying into the hobby. The usual argument is that brushed is cheaper when getting started, but we forget the lathes springs, brushes, hood alignment tools. Then for some the motor checkers, Dyno's, etc,etc,ect. I will soon have some etc.'s for sale in the swap and sell section. LOL

The smart money is on the guy who even while running brushed stuff, buys brushless/lipo compatible stuff when something needs to be replaced. For example, if you have a speedo give up, replace it with one that will run brushed and brushless. Make sure that new charger purchaces are 1-? cell lipo compatible.

I'm still running a brushed class this year, but I am thinking for the 2010 season it will be brushless, like the others. We also have a brushless class. Both are good fun, but the brushed car requires more maintenance on race day. Cuts into the fellowship part of the racing that we all enjoy. We like to call it fellowship anyway! Usually we really pour on the smack talk! Everyone at our track are pros in this department.

Good advise : spend the extra time working on your chassis.

;)

...since you posed this as a "What would YOU do" question....

I'd take stuff I already have (Batteries) and pick up a couple CHEAP Used 19t's (if I didn't already have a couple...which I do) and run them until I felt I was getting 100% of the performance from them... Personally, I would worry about getting beat at that stage of the game, because the only person I worry about beating is MYSELF, setting personal best times, and getting clean runs.

Since it's moving UP a class , it would give you good track experience with a little more speed... THEN, GO w/ the BRUSHLESS and fine tune your setup from there....at a pace that makes it comfortable for the expenses... (Watching and learning what the B/L guys are using the whole time)

Just an option---The Novak Havok is $150 with a motor or you could get a refurb GTB from Novak for $1oo ($110 for spread spek w/lipo cutoff) and a refurb 13.5 for $55.

Personally,I love brushless and will run brushless anytime it is possible just for the maintenance issue (I hate thinking I have 8 runs on that stock motor and need to cut it and spend $4 on brushes and 20 minutes doing a motor rebuild) In my opinion the best 3 thinngs to have in R/C are Brushless,Spectrum and a Personal transponder. These 3 things remove 3 huge headaches from racing.

I have yet made the jump to lipo's but will in time and I have little doubt that lipo's will be a great thing for my r/c racing.

Later,

Mark

I just made that same changes send the extra $$$$ now you will not be sorry I dont work on the motors just get the gearing how you want and then you got more time to work on and change your setup

I"ve got my mind set on lipo's - it's the motor part I am unsure about! I think what I'm gonna do is get the lipo & charger for now, stick with my GTX & buy a Checkpoint Money 19t just to get my feet wet in this class. I have a hunch that the Novak only rule will be changed pretty quick, and if thats the case, I would be pretty bummed, considering I like to have different setups than anyone else. If they didn't have the Novak rule, I would probably go for brushless right off the bat - I really want to try the Tekin RS, with a Putnam Propulsion 13.5!
Thanks for all the insight guys - Oh yea, anyone have experience with the Tekin RS, or the Putnam brushless motors?

I"ve got my mind set on lipo's - it's the motor part I am unsure about! I think what I'm gonna do is get the lipo & charger for now, stick with my GTX & buy a Checkpoint Money 19t just to get my feet wet in this class. I have a hunch that the Novak only rule will be changed pretty quick, and if thats the case, I would be pretty bummed, considering I like to have different setups than anyone else. If they didn't have the Novak rule, I would probably go for brushless right off the bat - I really want to try the Tekin RS, with a Putnam Propulsion 13.5!
Thanks for all the insight guys - Oh yea, anyone have experience with the Tekin RS, or the Putnam brushless motors?

I would go with a used LRP Sphere Competition speedo and a used Novak 13.5. You can go either way with LRP and most tracks run Novak. Being new I would recommend starting with a 17.5. You will find 17.5 is the norm for a lot of track.

What car are car are you running?

Have you checked with the track to see what their rules are?

I am bumping up from 1/10 slider to sprints. They have the choice of running 19t brushed, or 13.5 bl. I have been racing for about 12 years, stopped running dirt oval about 7 years ago, when I started racing 1/12 pan cars. I stopped all together about 3 years ago to go to Iraq, and didn't pay attention to what was going on with r/c. Now I'm getting back into it, and the hobby has progressed sooo much in the last 3 years its crazy. When I quit, a 3300 pack was the shit & lipo's were unheard of, brushless was unheard of, and 2.4 ghz was the hot new thing. Lots to catch up on - sorry for the rant!

Your not alone as been away 8 years and a lot has changed!! but agree go 13.5 as this is the right choice. I too am going Lipo and BL motors as this in the long run will save money and a good investment. I also agree with other post buy used and see what you think.
Chris