wtcc5's TT-02 race development and race reports: Race report from the RCKleinSerie @ the IRS

[wtcc5 5803]

@Pylon80: Thank you!

 

Another week gone and I am still waiting for the offer from my parts manufacturer...

It is raceweekend and I rebuild the car this week. I also build a part of the production car for the prototype to test:





The brace strengthens the rear mounts and takes away flex of the upper rear armmounts.


I also wanted to do a new racebody, but wasn't sure if I would find the time to do so. Some of my work was rescheduled and while it resulted in a long and busy thursday, It made the friday shorter. I stayed with the ZooRacing BWOAH! body. It became a two color glory. You know me, I always wish for a proper race livery. On one of my orders, I put in a low priced Tamiya sticker set for a Vodafone Mercedes DTM body... and it came out pretty nice:














Today I was at the track for some final testing and "getting into rhythm":



The rear brace took away rotation and made the car understeer. As the track gripped up later in the day, this became a welcome option part. I will also try harder springs in the rear tomorrow, because in the first laps with tire additive, the rear kind of "collapses" in the fast high load corners.






On another note:
Since this race, two more chassis are allowed in this class: The XPRESS XQ1S and XQ2S. These can be used with some tuning parts like stabilizer, mid-motor-conversion, aluminum parts for the suspension mounts, free choice of springs and hardware... This is a big slap in the face of the TT-01 & TT-02 drivers in this class. I mean, my conversion was already a reason for them to get mad, but now...a full blown competition chassis against a plastic tub chassis... wow!
You can argue that these Xpress have fiberglass instead of carbon chassis and plastic bulkheads, but I doubt that will make a difference in blinky stock 17.5t. Three guys will compete with these chassis and they were instantly far superior to every TT-02 (except of mine). One guy is already on my pace after a few runs and I am pretty sure he will find another tenth racepace til tomorrow, as he is also a very good driver (definitely better than me). I predict this class to become a Xpress only class soon.

[ruebiracer 1213]

On 2/16/2022 at 3:43 PM, Pylon80 said:

I really like the one piece shaft 👌

The TT-02 bathtub just doesn't flex enough to *require* a separate prop shaft and adapters. Good job as usual!

I also think, that the design of the TT02 bathtub is favring the one piece shaft, great engineering work on this little piece of art. What really keeps me thinking, if you still need the 2 inner ball bearings?  Depending on how stiff the shaft is, it could be worth a try to have a testrun with one or even 2 bearings less?

Just dreaming, would be the minimum amount of bearings for a 4WD shaft car?

Great work Kevin, it´s so beautiful in the details with all that changes you´ve done over all your versions.

Good luck for your next race,

Matthias

[wtcc5 5803]

I am back from the race.



It was a nice day with real nice competitors. It started a bit rough for me as we had a field with different skill level and chassis with different performance level.



The first qualifier was very good. I made no mistakes and found a good rhythm. I was in a group with slower drivers/cars, who paid attention and seldom forced me to slow down. The astonishment came afterwards, when I saw, that two laps weren't counted (two 20,XXX laps instead of four 10,XXX laps). As you can see, I already had the transponder located in a way, that it makes it near impossible to miss a count. In addition, I didn't cut the corner or run the curbs once where the time loop is... Discussing the problem with another club member, we remembered, that some weeks ago a driver had the same problem. It was solved by putting the plug in a "channel" socket of the receiver instead of that of "battery". I did that and it was fine all day...(still strange, as this problem wasn't there all these months before).

The second qualifier started ok. After approximately two minutes one lapped competitor spun and turned over directly in front of me. I couldn't avoid contact and ran into his car. The hard impact left me with a left front that dragged on the carpet. That heat was ruined...
Back at my table I found one of the four screws that hold down the upper plate was pulled out of its thread and had a negative impact on my ride height setting. I could repair this by using a longer screw.

One last chance for a good grid position. In the third qualifier I could finally deliver a run, that was good enough for the second grid position. The TQ went to Johannes Weber (Xpress XQ2), who nearly managed a 30L run. I missed his time by nearly a second. Another second slower was Michael Stefan (heavily upgraded TT-02). We three had a similar pace and could leave the rest of the field behind.

While my car stayed very easy to drive, it lost pace with the track evolving to higher grip. I was very unsure what to do and just relied on what I saw. The car had much more body roll than before and I decided to increase the droop to counter that. That worked pretty good, especially in the first laps. Then the balanced started lacking corner entry grip. With us three so close together and my car so easy to drive, I was afraid to try more.



The finals were a mix of emotions then. In the first one I had a good a start and could put pressure on Johannes. The third and fourth place must have had a "coming together", because Johannes and I were several corners in front after lap one. For me it felt like my car had a stronger pace after the tire additive wore off. With my track experience I could stay close to Johannes without haven't felt any stress. Being the track experienced chaser is definitely a comfortable situation and I felt with Johannes when he took one corner a tad too tight and rolled "out of the way". Luckily his car was back on all four just half a second later. I was through and could open a gap. In the end, I just needed to hold it together for the rest of the eight minutes (that felt like eternity).

The second final started quite similar, just with Michael in the hunt. We three ran away from the rest. A nerv wrecking game of who makes the first mistake began. Michael as a very experienced and superb driver didn't make one, I could avoid one so far, Johannes nearly repeated his of the first final. His car was on two wheels for a short period of time. Obviously he lost drive and I misjudged by how much and ran into his back, then trying to brake (oh boy...). After the impact he was on the move again going for the next corner with Michael storming through on the inside. Michael ran into Johannes and I continued.
Johannes and I spoke afterwards about that. He, of course, wasn't happy about it, and I don't know why I misjudged that situation, but I ran into his car and am at fault. I braked too late to avoid contact, then let him go to take the corner first (stayed close though). So the gentleman agreement was fullfilled, I thought. Then half a second later Michael stormed through the inside of both of us. His line then crossed with Johannes line, Michaels right rear touches Johannes left front, spinning Michael around. Both losing a lot of time. What I didn't see at that time, was that Johannes had a body tuck from me running into his back... I just know of it now, because I saw video footage. Johannes if you read that: You are a true gentleman and I am sorry!

So, I was unjustly in front and just needed to finish the heat without mistakes for a second win. Well, Karma striked and I made a stupid error, losing more than enough time for Michael to go in front and win. At that time I was angry with myself for destroying my race, when I destroyed Johannes race...

Johannes and I already talked about colliding in the lunch break, knocking on wood, that it wouldn't happen and then in the last final it happened again. This time nobody filmed and I have no  picture-memory of it in my head, because of the close fight afterwards. According to Fred (our time keeper), I again ran into Johannes after he made an error. This time we were much too close to react at all. Johannes fell back to third.
In this run Michael had a blistering pace and closed the gap to me fast. For several minutes he chased me and tried to find a way past. The winner of this final will win the race. I only had my consistency to prevent his overtake. It had to happen, after several minutes, I was a little wide on corner exit for the straight. Michael went on the inside and we were side by side on the straight. At the end of the straight he was half a car in front and on the inside of the corner. I had lost the place, that was clear. In my head I wanted to at least stay by his side as long as possible (maybe one corner), then he would be gone and I would need to settle for second place. But that never happened. Michael took the super fast left hander too tight (no-lift-entry), jumped on the curbs, barrel rolled over my roof and slammed into the wall, leaving a hole behind. Everybody on the drivers stand was startled. Somehow with a lot of timeloss, he could continue. Later he found a piece of the wall in his car. I was lucky and could bring it home.





This was a bittersweet day. I don't like chrashes and will have to think about it. If they can't be avoided if there is no reaction time, because of close racing and someone make a mistake in front..then what? Was the race director/time keeper not strict enough and should have penalized me (because he saw the incident and me causing the body tuck)?

 

[ThunderDragonCy 8607]

Congrats on the win, and don't be too hard on yourself for the contact. I just think it's inevitable in close, fast touring car racing. Even with a bit of a gap you have so little time to react to things happening in front of you, and if the driver in front makes a mistake there is only so much you can do. I think Johannes maybe suffered a little from taking it too seriously. 

[wtcc5 5803]

Info for all customers: Shapeways delivered already.

[lukej 361]

28 minutes ago, wtcc5 said:

Info for all customers: Shapeways delivered already.

I haven’t had any time to tinker with my cars of late, so seeing this makes me so happy!

Cheers,

Luke

[wtcc5 5803]

@lukej

Finally, finally, finally! What a long wait... The carbon parts arrived today 



Now, I can ship everything and then concentrate on the upcoming Tamiya Euro Cup race 

[ThunderDragonCy 8607]

@wtcc5 Congratulations! They look amazing

[wtcc5 5803]

The first part of the build video series for the customers is online:

(Don't watch it, I cannot speak english  )

[wtcc5 5803]

It is weird hearing my voice on Yt...



As I have the hope, that the spools will arrive in the next week, I sat down and made a "manual" for the future owners:




Download link:

Datei von filehorst.de laden

[wtcc5 5803]

... and a video of the spool:

 

[wtcc5 5803]

I want to be honest with you all. I am a bit tired of the "TT-02" topic right now. It is a bit shizophrenic at the moment. I want to go for a high end touring car, but thinking of it makes me miss the own development already... But I also don't want to spend much energy in a low budget racer. I wonder what will bite me next... Maybe it is not even a touring car.

Oh well, you saw me posting some videos in the last days. I finished another one yesterday:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9mQDRoG89o

This is the second one especially for the v4.1 owners. Finally the build starts. I guide through all the steps for the lower suspension units:




On the weekend I also recorded all the other build steps. And that means I have my car finished standing next to me as I write these words. The car came out beautiful again:








Some detail shots:










On my last custom decal order I made at MCI, I had some space left on the sheet. As I am a flaming Indycar fan of the 90s decade, I remember very good the small stickers Michael and Mario Andretti had on their suspension rods. I couldn't find a picture proving my memory 





??? Maybe it was just on the rear suspension camera? I don't know...


Anyhow... I made some text for the upper arms and gave it the Tamiya 90s future look:



I am very happy with the outcome 






Love it!

[ruebiracer 1213]

Outstanding work Kevin, and good videos! 

And I know no one, that likes his own voice on video!

Kind regards and new inspiration,

Matthias

[lukej 361]

I am away just now, but I'm told that the parts have arrived. Now I just need the spool!

Luke

[wtcc5 5803]

@lukej: Glad to hear… yeah I am waiting too. But I told you that the wait would be long… Unfortunately it seems correct.

[Honza 1180]

This car looks amazing. I'd never guess that I'd look on a TT02 and thought: I want it! 😀

On 4/4/2022 at 8:49 PM, wtcc5 said:

I wonder what will bite me next... Maybe it is not even a touring car.

I remember that you started a TC01 conversion, is there any motivation for that project? I think that once the gearboxes are finished, it'd open a way for tons of interesting projects - for example, modern, high performance iteration of the F201. Or, on opposite end of the spectrum, a rally car 😈 Tamiya wasted an opportunity to create a flexible platform with the moulded-in differentials...

On 4/5/2022 at 9:07 PM, lukej said:

Now I just need the spool!

Tamiya just announced a new spool for XV02, which also fits TT02. It's not first time when manufacturers started making a product only after someone put lot of effort into developing their own..

[jonboy1 3589]

amazing work - blown away!

[Aerobert 2326]

On 4/4/2022 at 8:49 PM, wtcc5 said:

Love it!

You've got to love it. It's just beautiful.

Great work!

[lukej 361]

4 hours ago, Honza said:

This car looks amazing. I'd never guess that I'd look on a TT02 and thought: I want it! 😀

I remember that you started a TC01 conversion, is there any motivation for that project? I think that once the gearboxes are finished, it'd open a way for tons of interesting projects - for example, modern, high performance iteration of the F201. Or, on opposite end of the spectrum, a rally car 😈 Tamiya wasted an opportunity to create a flexible platform with the moulded-in differentials...

Tamiya just announced a new spool for XV02, which also fits TT02. It's not first time when manufacturers started making a product only after someone put lot of effort into developing their own..

Do you have a link to the part? I’d be interested to try it in one of my other TT-02 builds.

Luke

[Honza 1180]

@lukej it's #22047, there's no product page yet, but here's a photo from Mokei Kagaku Facebook page:

 

[Pylon80 4003]

On 4/4/2022 at 11:49 AM, wtcc5 said:

I want to be honest with you all. I am a bit tired of the "TT-02" topic right now. It is a bit shizophrenic at the moment. I want to go for a high end touring car, but thinking of it makes me miss the own development already... But I also don't want to spend much energy in a low budget racer. I wonder what will bite me next... Maybe it is not even a touring car.

How about a RWD touring car? I saw the 103GT you put together a while ago on RCTech, really cool stuff. You should give it the full "wtcc treatment"  with development parts and so on. There would be some interest I am sure.

[wtcc5 5803]

Thank you guys, for the nice words and ideas!

Finally Tamiya heard the customers and made a spool… Even though, I am a little disappointed by the design. This design will develop slop from the first run. And no blades for the outdrives…

[wtcc5 5803]

The last video is online, too:

https://youtu.be/grkYZ0WxG04

 

Partslist download:

https://filehorst.de/d/eIgiGony

[Skunkworks 1]

man its things like this that get me excited about our hobby, some dude can blow tamiya ,X-ray and anyone else out of the water with grit and determination .well done mate . now how do I buy your parts. cheers.

 

 

 

[wtcc5 5803]

4 hours ago, Skunkworks said:

man its things like this that get me excited about our hobby, some dude can blow tamiya ,X-ray and anyone else out of the water with grit and determination .well done mate . now how do I buy your parts. cheers.

 

 

 

If possible contact me via Fb Messenger. I am „Blautal RC Car Racer“ there. Currently there is some interest in my parts and I collect names for another production run. I will prepare and send out a message with all (order) details later this week.

Thanks for your nice words