Testing on the STRC Slash LCG Conversion kit prototype

by Steve W.

Testing:

I was fortunate enough to get some help from Tony Phalen of RC Driver magazine, who is quite capable with short course truck and who just came back from the short course nationals at CT (which I believe he did quite well).

We ran 3 packs in the stock chassis configuration using the following:

LRP TC Spec speed control (this is an old ESC, pre-turbo, pre-timing advancement days, but it’s solid…and the only thing I had that was available)
Novak ballistic 17.5
AKA Enduro Tires (clay compound w/AKA inserts)
Stock Slash servo

And pretty much everything else was stock on the truck. We didn’t do anything to the diff, nor did we tune the shock’s spring/oil combination…just what Traxxas put in there.

Our first few runs we had Tony run the truck in stock configuration and we were just trying to figure out the proper gearing on the truck.  And the truck actually looked very good in stock high-CG configuration,  The only thing being that it was a bit down on top speed as we were still trying to figure out gear ratio.  We eventually settled on a 83/27 spur/pinion combo where the motor was coming off at 155.  However, this is where we started to notice the setbacks of the high-CG configuration.  Going into the high-speed sweeper at the end of the straight-away, if the truck carries too much speed, then the suspension will “dump” over and lean so much that it basically rolls over the truck.  So in order to navigate this, Tony have to slow down quite a bit to keep the truck planted around the sweeper.  Couple of other thing we notice is that once we picked up more speed with the proper gear ratio, Tony wasn’t able to throw the truck around the corner as aggressively and quick corrections on the steering input (left-right or right-left sudden movements) seem to easily upset the truck and get it out of shape.

When we wrapped up the testing on the stock chassis, Tony’s best time was a 24.9/lap and average around mid 25s (25.5, 25.6…etc)

I converted the truck over to the LCG configuration, and kept everything else the same (same gear ratio, equipment, and tires) and handed the controller to Tony again.  The first thing we were looking for was how the truck would react through the fast sweeper, and now with the LCG configuration, the truck did no’t dump over as much, instead it had a more sure-footed look and it had a good combination of drift/controlled slide through the sweeper now.   As Tony put down more laps, I can see him try and push the limit through the sweeper to see if it will upset the truck, and each time the truck held the line just fine.   The truck also feels more precise for Tony as he was able to put it where ever he wants on the track through some heavy traffic.  The other thing we noticed was the truck was now more rear stable, so even during some bumping and rubbin with the other trucks, I don’t recall once ever seeing our truck spin out.  I believe the truck have more rear bite now as the aluminum extension plate sits right below the transmission and it adds a bit more rear bite.

The first comment from Tony when I asked him how it felt was:  “Freakin night and day!!!” he said he felt like he doesn’t have to be so tip-toe with the truck any more and can really man-handle the thing. And the lap times showed:

Fastest lap with the LCG: 24.6 (with some serious heavy traffic) average dropped to high 24s and low 25s (24.9, 24.8, 25.1, 25.1)

We grab the race result from previous club race, and the winner of the 17.5 stock short course class’ fastest lap was a 24.6 as well (not sure how much on track traffic he had when he put down that lap, but definitely with a very good chance that the winner was not running a slash) so this conversion can throw some competitive lap times now against the other trucks. And this is with a old ESC that’s probably a bit down on power due to lack of timing. So I believe we can definitely squeeze more out of the truck with a better ESC and some suspension tuning.

I will also personally try my hand with this truck now with the LCG conversion installed and will have a report as well.  Stay Tuned everyone!  If you race your Slash, this could be one of the best option part you ever put on your Slash.

Steve

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