Tamiya Touring Car Racing in So California.

[monark192 50]

I guess I'm usually too engrossed in reading the Builds section and always amazed at the high level of what gets posted there, but I only just realized there was a racing talk forum as well...

As a Tamiya fan from the 1980s, there was no other option when a new on road club opened in San Diego, but to race Tamiyas.  I started in their rookie group with a TT02R which also let me race in the GT Spec class for double the track time. Poor results, crashes, and only gradual improvement didn't stop the racing bug from fully taking hold and from there, it was an adventure into Eurotruck and then USGT with a TA08 pro, which was the gateway to fully embracing the TRF blue!

Current fleet has been a TRF420 for 21.5t Touring Car, TRF419 for USGT, and the TA08Pro for Vintage Trans Am.  Recent late night browsing on Buyee resulted in the purchase of another TRF420 chassis to replace the 419 in USGT.

 

[87lc2 2848]

Very nice!  I'm currently headed down the same path.  Started racing about a month ago with my TT02R in novice.  Got kicked out of the class after a couple races so converting it to Tamiya Pro Spec for the next race.  Have an SRX that I run in 12t tub chassis class and also a Euro Truck.  Also just got an F104 kit and looking around for a VTA chassis.   I have a feeling within a year or so I'll have a TRF kit, they are so awesome.  It certainly snowballs quickly, but its been a lot of fun so far!

How do you like the TA08 for VTA?  I hear mixed opinions and most say go with Xray, but I'd prefer to stay all Tamiya if I can. 

[monark192 50]

TA08 works great. I tried it with a top deck but prefer it without.  Car has survived 2 years of VTA racing without anything breaking. 

I'm not a great driver and racing only Tamiya is a large part of the fun for me.  I'm sure an Xray wouldn't make me any better.

 

[87lc2 2848]

Good to hear, thank you!  I think I'll order one.  Having all Tamiya cars make it more fun for me, and I just love putting together Tamiya kits.  I was also turned on to those R12 servos you're using, have them in all of my touring cars at the moment and they're great for the money. 

[monark192 50]

Sunday was the Sedan Showdown at the local track which gave all touring car classes solo hot laps to seed the heats. I ended up seeding third in 21.5t sportsman with my TRF420 which was on rails after a tire change from well used Volantes to almost new Rush. So far so good. After 2 heats of qualifying, I ended up starting 4th for the main.  In the race, I dropped a couple of places after the start, worked back up to a solid 2nd, before a crash broke the car. Disappointing end but overall, this was the most hooked up, enjoyable to drive car I have had at a race.

USGT was a different story.  First time out with the new to me TRF420 that replaced the TRF419 I had been running.  Undriveable is the best way I can describe it after limited practice and the first round of qualifying.  The car was trying to swap ends at every opportunity.  Changed a few things which at least kept it going straight but the best I could manage on the day was 3rd (and last lol) in the B main.

Import Tuner is a local class for either 21.5t fixed timing or 25.5t motors with an "import" body and any 4wd chassis. At the last race, I had decided to try this class out instead of running my TA08 Pro in VTA, and  simply re geared /re bodied my TCS GT Pro Spec TT02R.  This time, I had built up the TRF419 from USGT with an H2RD mid motor conversion kit, and my spare 21.5 ft motor. The car proved a lot of fun and I qualified 2nd, finished 3rd in a close run 6 min main.

It's only a week until the next race, so time to get working on the USGT car.

 

[87lc2 2848]

I assume indoor with the tires you mentioned?   What ended up breaking on the TRF?  What do you think the issue with your USGT car was and how did you semi-sort it for the Main? 

At some point I'll probably get a TRF chassis for USGT, but that's a bit down the line.  Out of curiosity how much of a difference is there between a TRF and a well sorted TT02?  I assume its a huge difference.  My TT02s drive great, can't wait to step up to a "real" race chassis. 

[monark192 50]

Outdoors parking lot track.  It was the plastic drive shaft pin protector on the front diff that broke. 

As for the USGT, I laid down the rear shocks one hole, went up slightly on ride height, increased front toe out by 1 degree, and changed to a set of the spec tires with fewer runs on them. No time to try things one at a time so did what ever I could think of.  Basically I think it was lack of prep as I spent my time putting the Import Tuner car together.

The car that won the import tuner class was a TT02. Same driver has also won in 21.5 TC with a TT02.

[87lc2 2848]

6 hours ago, monark192 said:

Outdoors parking lot track.  It was the plastic drive shaft pin protector on the front diff that broke. 

As for the USGT, I laid down the rear shocks one hole, went up slightly on ride height, increased front toe out by 1 degree, and changed to a set of the spec tires with fewer runs on them. No time to try things one at a time so did what ever I could think of.  Basically I think it was lack of prep as I spent my time putting the Import Tuner car together.

The car that won the import tuner class was a TT02. Same driver has also won in 21.5 TC with a TT02.

Just goes to show, the best driver can win with just about anything I guess...Glad you were able to get the car sorted out to run.  At this point I wouldnt even know what adjustments to make, still learning.  Luckily I havent had any undriveable situations and my cars have been working well for the most part.  I did have one heat in Euro truck where the truck spun at every turn in the warmup lap - realized I forgot to wipe the excess traction compound off the tires.  Held the bumper for a quick burnout and luckily she was good to go. 

[monark192 50]

I don't really know how to effectively make changes either. I have the book Essential Touring Car RC Racers Guide and just went with some of the suggestions in that.

What I really need to do is plan a test day where I can run the same car back to back making changes to help understand what does what. 

[87lc2 2848]

2 hours ago, monark192 said:

I don't really know how to effectively make changes either. I have the book Essential Touring Car RC Racers Guide and just went with some of the suggestions in that.

What I really need to do is plan a test day where I can run the same car back to back making changes to help understand what does what. 

Yes, exactly what I need.  I've been really lucky so far that I haven't had a car that just won't work.  I'm a decent driver, but not good enough to overcome a car that wants to swap ends at every turn. 

I always plan to get to the track early and try different things, but just end up talking with everyone and before I know it need to prep the cars for the race. 

[monark192 50]

Another race day yesterday - this time with our first vintage race for 2006 or earlier touring cars. 

I ran my TRF420 again in Sportsman stock sedan 21.5t although there were only 2 entires in the class meaning we got lumped in with expert group to save time.  I won by a lap and had some good races with the experts although getting out of their way as expert/sportsman were scored serarately limited the chances to mix it up.

Import tuner class was fun with good close racing and a third place.

For the vintage class (pre 2006 chassis, 17t brushed motor, period body w/ antenna tube) I ran a TA04.  Had decent pace compared to the others but the car broke twice. Still, everyone had fun and there will be more vintage races in the future.

[87lc2 2848]

Nice result.  The vintage races sound like a good time.  I'll have to suggest that at our local clubs. 

[monark192 50]

On 9/4/2023 at 3:27 PM, 87lc2 said:

Nice result.  The vintage races sound like a good time.  I'll have to suggest that at our local clubs. 

It was a lot of fun and is going to become a semi regular class.  

[monark192 50]

Road trip yesterday to race at the closest permanent track Cal Raceway, running in 21.5TC and USGT.  A tighter, more technical track with higher grip levels, it proved tough to get a handle on things, with the USGT TRF420 being the worst of the two. I was able to get things a little better throughout the 2 heats of qualifying and the mains to a point where the cars were both fun to drive again.  Finished the day faster than when I started and most importantly, had a blast.  

[joshuaT 15]

Man hearing your racing stories makes me wish I kept racing. I had a TA04SS and modded it heavily into a beautiful alloy/carbon fiber junkie. I wish more places in the US raced touring cars and where I live there are zero hobby shops and I sold off almost everything but bought a TT02 and now am trying to sort it out to make it a basketball court racer down here.

[monark192 50]

Sunday was another round of the Intensity Series at Discount Hobbies in San Marcos, CA.  In Sportsman 21.5 TC, the TRF420 was on rails the whole day. The 6 min main was a close battle between myself and another driver (TRF419 - the only two Tamiyas were 1 and 2!) and while I managed to take the lead for a lap, he got back through and I took second by 0.481 secs. In Import Tuner (21.5 FT or 25.5t motor, open chassis/tire, import style body) the car felt good but I was a little down in overall speed and finished 3rd on the same lap as the two leaders.

For fun, I dusted off the Euro Truck as a couple of friends were going to race this class as well. After a bad decision to rotate the tires front to back to try and even out tire wear had me last in the second round of qualifying, putting things back the way there were led to a fun race and a 5th place.

Overall, a great day at the track.