Bracket R/C: September 2013

RC Mini-tip: Name decals

Print your own custom name decals with inkjet sticker paper. $0.50 per sheet at my nearby Fedex Kinko’s.

Generating the image is up to you.

RC Mini-tip: Shock stand

Four holes make a stand for letting air bubbles settle.

A body reamer does the job on this plastic toolbox.

RC Mini-tip: Even out tire wear

If your truck uses the same tires all around, rotate them frequently to have the tires wear evenly.

On most tracks, the tires on will wear faster on one side than the other. Be sure to rotate them in the same pattern each time. I do "back across".

RC Mini-tip: Prevent flat spots

Keep tires off the ground to prevent flat spots from forming in the foam inserts.

An upturned food container makes a cheap car stand.

RC Mini-tip: Buggy body fastening

Use hook-and-loop fasteners (“Velcro”) to attach a buggy body.

It’s much easier to get on and off than clips, and reduces fatigue on the nose of the body.

There’s more than one way to win a race

Somehow, I managed to come in second place last weekend, in a field with some very competent stock SCT drivers. This is especially peculiar when you look at the results:

Position	Driver	Laps	Time	Fastest Lap	Behind
1	COLLINS, JOHN	19	6:14.647	18.543	None
2	ZACH MILLER	18	6:06.510	19.270	None
3	CARY CRONIN	18	6:08.978	18.437	2.468
4	MAGGIORE, MIKE	18	6:12.824	18.395	6.314
5	BRANDON DYCHE	17	6:03.586	18.632	None
6	FROST, ETHAN	17	6:15.874	18.961	12.288
7	DAVID WINKLER	16	6:09.866	19.951	None

What should really stand out there is that my fastest lap was the second slowest of all the drivers in that race. My fastest was 19.3 seconds and almost everyone else had fast laps in the 18s. How then did I come in second?

I never rolled over. Not even in the qualifiers! See for yourself:

Okay, I rolled a couple times, but I never required a marshal to get going again. By playing it safe on the corners and the jumps, I may have added a few tenths to my laps, but I saved all the time I would have lost by making a mistake. Something to think about next time you go for the triple.

RC Mini-tip: Heat shrink CVD pin retainers

Use large-diameter heat shrink to keep CVD pins from coming out.

Before resorting to this method, use thread lock on the CVD setscrew and tighten it down very securely. If that still doesn't keep the pin from sliding out, then try the heat shrink.

RC Mini-tip: Balance every time with better cables

If you’re using race-style packs, hack up the balance plug to make it easy to use.

Click images to enlarge.

Slice off part of the balance plug connector and you can plug it into larger ports.

RC Mini-tip: Faster shock oil changes

Use syringes to fill shocks with bleeder caps, without taking them off the car.

Drain the oil by removing the screw and compressing the shock. Insert the syringe and apply a little pressure on the plunger while cycling the shock up and down. You’re not trying to force the oil in, but to exchange the air in the shock with the oil in the syringe.