Thanks guys!
[emoji41]
Bsn, I like the look from the side with that part of the fender because I feel it gives back some of the Bronco look. You are right, from the rear it doesn't look right. That was a mistake on my part trying to get clearance for rear steer with the big tires. The next body will be cut better.
I was extremely happy with the way Guido worked with the changes. I feel that he was working better than ever. The smaller tires did not slow him down significantly; the only time it seemed to be noticeable was in the mud pit.
Not much to say about the comp courses. Guido didn't finish a single course; they were just too technical for a rig like this. I did get to gate 9 (of 10) on every course but the one where the steering link broke. Winching every obstacle just took too much time.
The TTC was amazing! The guys built some fun and challenging courses.
The truck pull went decent. I dropped a pound of weight by removing the figures, seats, and scale motor so that didn't help. I also didn't bother to break the bead on my tires to adjust for the altitude so they were a bit bouncy. Finally I think I may have attached the sled too far forward on the chassis and didn't get the suspension loaded properly. I did a similar mistake in The Montana TTC truck pull back in 2010.
I felt like Guido was making great time through the Rubicon, Obstacle Course, Frame Twister, and Tank Trap. It was just the electrical connector issue causing a DNF in the Obstacle Course and a couple fumbles on my part that hurt the results.
I was making good time (similar to War Pig) in the Rubicon but either the line he took over the last obstacle changed or I just couldn't find it (do it?). A few attempts to climb it and finally a winch over it cost me a good run.
The Hillclimb was a nasty, loose, steep, monster. I had tried it before and I psyched myself out into thinking I wouldn't do good. I simply didn't attack it aggressively enough.
An electrical issue caused an early DNF in the Obstacle course. For some reason I lost battery power to the truck. I couldn't figure it out before the Frame Twister so I put some dielectric grease on the battery Deans connector and hoped for the best. Near the end I got stuck on a nub sticking out from a log. A winch pull cost enough time to hurt my standings.
As I went to unplug the battery I noticed the lights go out just as I touched the battery connector. A wiggle caused the lights to come back on. Turns out that the spring tabs on the male Deans connector were flattened out a bit and not making good contact. I bent them a little and the electrical issue was solved. Not sure why that happened because that connector has been on there since 2012 NWSC. Oh well, sometimes yer the windshield and sometimes yer the bug.
The mud bog went good. It was a great pit and I ended up running through it several times just for fun. I think I could have had a faster time but I noticed that the motor rpms increased part way though but the truck didn't speed up. Turns out the torque of the Holmes Trailmaster BL motor was overcoming the cranked down slipper clutch and forcing to slip. Man I love that motor.
The Tank Trap was the last event and it was a good one. Not the hardest one ever but it was a challenge just the same. Guido had a great run going until the backflip at the very end before the finish. I almost saved it but ended up on the roof. The winch recovery took some time; but the 7th place finish suggests it could have been a great run.
The power and control of the Holmes Hobbies brushless Trailmaster motor and ESC and the Pit Bull Rock Beast II tires worked flawlessly through every event.
Thank you so much to Holmes Hobbies and RC Orva for the opportunity to run. It was a great event.