Competitive Stampede... realistic?

Midge · 03-12-2006, 05:43 PM

The more I read on places other than the Traxxas forums, the more I hear about stampede's and rustler's simply not cutting it on the local track. Don't get me wrong, even if this is true, I have absolutely no regrets about getting a stampede as my first car. The availability of traxxas parts, the help I recieve on this forum every day, and other great things about traxxas made it the right choice for me. I just wanted to know, is there truth behind these rumors? As far as electrics go, I honestly do not see that huge a difference in performance as far as the base of the car goes. I was under the assumption that two 2wd's with similar components will perform similarly, is this not true? Do people just say it because some of the stock components are sub par? Just interested to see what some of you think.

wattage · 03-12-2006, 06:03 PM

I was pondering the very same thing a while ago, but I do not regret buying a Traxxas over an AE. Why? The simple answer is, they are very, very durable, and a blast to drive. The only problem though, is that Traxxas's aren't very race worthy. If you are driving your stamede against other 2wd Stadium trucks, you'll have a hard time keeping up. If you race against other 2wds that are in the monster truck class, you'll have a better time prevailing. To make your 'pede really dominate the race scene, 1, get better at driving, and 2, take a look here.

TheNinja

jtcfanof3 · 03-12-2006, 06:03 PM

Well I would not say subpar,but the lack of adjustability is mainly the issuie.
Now you can make a rusty somehwat competitive,however the Pede is just too top heavy.
Another down fall is the TRX trucks width,Vs. that of a T4/XXXT,that also in racing terms meens lack of stability.
Another downside is the transmission and its ratios.
Traxxas does not make their trucks raceready,(besides the REVO/Jato(which are not ROAR legel out of the box)but there are a number of things you can do too make them more Novice racing oriented,just check out www.ultimatrc.com JANG made his raceworthy,you could too,if your a good driver,thats the key

.

Midge · 03-12-2006, 07:42 PM

So would the first things be to widen it and lower it? Whats easiest way to do that, widepede conversion, then strap battery under car, then take out all shock spacers, would that even up the playing field?

wattage · 03-12-2006, 07:50 PM

Almost. Try following most of the steps on URC, since some of the 'pede's hardware isn't very raceworthy (i.e. camber links, bushings, etc.)

TheNinja

Midge · 03-12-2006, 07:53 PM

Yeah, I was just trying to break it down into some basics. That seems a lot like just turning it into a rusty, but what the heck.

jumo kong man · 03-12-2006, 10:03 PM

I race my pede pretty competively against T4's and other well known racers and have a pretty easy time keeping up. I won 2wd mod truck last year. Tires are the first thing to consider about racing. You want a pin tire in the back with a ribbed in the front.

razer · 03-13-2006, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Midge
Yeah, I was just trying to break it down into some basics. That seems a lot like just turning it into a rusty, but what the heck.

It would be your best option to convert it to a Rusty first. This article shows you how.

Midge · 03-13-2006, 09:09 AM

But you see, thats what I'm saying. I was talking about being competitive as a stampede , and it seems to be so, you won't have a stampede anymore.

performance1st · 03-13-2006, 09:32 AM

if you want your pede to be competitve youl need tires and more than likely a new motor an maybe a few other things here and there

Buzzforbrains · 03-13-2006, 10:14 AM

IMO, it might be best to pick up a few RC mags and see what the winners of the montser truck races are running.

stampedeproject · 03-13-2006, 12:20 PM

When I was looking at getting "back" into RC when I purchased my Stampede, there were three types of RC design categories - 1. Race specific, 2. Race Oriented 3. Fun Durable Project RCs.

The Rustler falls into category #2, and the Stampede into #3.

Although it is possible to get the Stampede and Rustler into category #1, you are pushing the limits of the car and the design, keeping in mind those cars designed for that category are already that much ahead of the Stampede and Rustler right out of the box. From and inverse perspective, taking a car from category #1 and attempting the absolute idiotic behavior we all do with the Stampede would be an expensive experiment in breaking plastic.

Traxxas makes great trucks, very durable trucks, easy to maintain trucks, but durable and easy to maintain does not typically equate to a really really light, and a set it and forget it track winning race RC. Pick you battles. For example - I focused on Shear Durability, Jang focused on Racing, Swami on Speed, Mis-Behavin on documenting the heck out of everything as well as some great upgrades. It's hard to take a potatoes and make it an orange so I have some great respect for those people like Jang and Swami who can and do make it happen.

As mentioned above. Learn to drive. I was just at a huge regional event here in Omaha for indoor racing and these guys were incredible... no they were astounding drivers. I watched for almost an hour and didn't see one barrier hit, not one missed turn, about 50 racers running on a track at 30-40 MPH like slot cars - AMAZING

From my experience driving is the key more than anything else. Timmy with 6 months of experience who's daddy just bought hit the latest greatest "whatever" with blah blah blah upgrades will get blown away by a seasoned RC'er on the track running some Frankenstein looking bashing RC and man is it embarrassing - I have seen it happen over and over and it isn't pretty.

Learn to drive.

Midge · 03-13-2006, 03:10 PM

Exactly the response I was looking for. You just reinforced the perspective I have had on this subject the entire time. Thanks for taking the time to post all of that. I feel completely fine about my purchase of the Stampede, and with electric cars, fortunately components can be transferred from car to car, my stampede is great for what I do to it, and will still be great once I buy a not nessacarily(sp?) nicer but race oriented/specific car

jumo kong man · 03-14-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stampedeproject

As mentioned above. Learn to drive. I was just at a huge regional event here in Omaha for indoor racing and these guys were incredible... no they were astounding drivers. I watched for almost an hour and didn't see one barrier hit, not one missed turn, about 50 racers running on a track at 30-40 MPH like slot cars - AMAZING

Learn to drive.

Touring cars look soo cool on the track, it doesnt look that cool when your driving (or very fast) But when you watch the video someone just took of your race its amazing, I never get to watch the A-main drivers because I'm always in it from lots and lots and lots and lots of practice and driving experience.