Sparko's new F8SE nitro buggy rolls a long list of previous-generation option parts straight into the box — parts that top Sparko drivers Jonah Wilson and Lee Setser spent significant time testing before release. Here's a full breakdown of what's changed, why it was changed, and exactly what's on our own race-proven build.
We've got the F8SE kit in stock — including, at the time of writing, likely the last available unit in the US while every other retailer sits on backorder.
The Updated Chassis: Plus 2mm
The F8SE ships with a new plus 2mm chassis — 1mm shorter than the plus 3mm option chassis Sparko team drivers were running on the previous-generation car. The original short chassis generated a lot of squat and dive under throttle, making the car reactive but harder to drive consistently over a long nitro main. The plus 3mm option calmed that down but ended up slightly overcorrecting, taking away a bit too much reactivity through the turns.
The plus 2mm chassis splits the difference — smooth and consistent enough for 15-minute-plus mains, without sacrificing the responsiveness that makes the F8 platform quick through corners. A milled cutout on the rear of the chassis works with a new X-plate to let you flip between the plus 2mm and standard length depending on track conditions — tighter, lower-grip tracks can still benefit from the shorter setup.
Updated C-Block and Chassis Brace Insert
The C-block keeps the same geometry as the previous generation but is now milled on both sides, so it keys into the chassis correctly regardless of which chassis length you're running. A small insert at the chassis brace mounting point serves the same purpose — keeping everything aligned no matter which configuration you choose.
Front and Rear Tower Changes
The front tower keeps the same link and pillow ball mounting geometry but sits slightly shorter, moving the shock mounting position in just enough to soften some of the F8 platform's naturally strong front-end grip — another small change aimed at making longer mains easier to drive consistently.
The rear tower is a bigger change. It's now a plus 3mm tower (versus the shorter factory tower on the previous generation) for additional shock travel, with new link hole geometry. The previous three-row option tower had a longest-hole setting that ran slightly too long, and a middle-row setting that matched the factory tower's longest hole but ran slightly too short. The new tower splits the difference with in-between hole positions, giving racers a more precise roll-tuning option than either previous setup offered.
Shock Standoffs: One Part Instead of Four
Previously, adjusting shock standoff height meant stocking separate parts for each offset (zero, plus one, plus two, and so on). The F8SE simplifies this with a new shock standoff: all four standoffs are now identical, and height adjustment comes from stackable shims marked with hash marks (one hash = 1mm, two hashes = 2mm). The kit includes plus 1mm and plus 2mm shims, but shims can be stacked or removed for any offset needed — meaning a single style of standoff now covers every setup, which is a real convenience if one breaks or bends trackside.
Factory Running Changes
A few other updates now come standard on every F8SE, electric or nitro:
- 20-degree front caster blocks — up from the original 16-degree (with a brief run of 17.5-degree blocks in between)
- Plus 3mm shock bodies (front / rear) — matching the updated rear tower, and previously an option upgrade
Jacob's Personal Option-Part Setup
For anyone looking to match the exact car raced at Wicked Weekend, here's the full option-part list:
Shocks
- VRP six-hole pistons (3x1.35 + 3x1.45 red front, 3x1.45 + 3x1.5 black rear)
- Emulsion seals in place of the kit bladders
- J&T titanium shock pins (screw-in style)
- HB yellow springs on softer, bumpier tracks; Mugen 9.25T front / 10.75T rear springs on smoother, higher-grip tracks
Front End
- Upper camber link kit
- 4-degree steering knuckles
- 4-hole steering plate for extra tunability over the factory single-hole option
- Metal servo horn
- Adrenaline AR2026 servo
- One-piece engine mount, mainly for easier mesh setting
Rear End
- RC Project 15g weight
- Aluminum rear hubs
- Plus 0.5-degree D-block for added toe on lower-grip tracks (standard D-block when grip allows, for quicker cornering and higher top end)
- Plus 2mm rear hub insert for correct track width
- 5.5mm wheel hex for an extra 1mm of width over the factory hex
None of these rear-end tweaks are must-haves — they're durability and fine-tuning upgrades on top of an already well-sorted kit, not requirements to run the car competitively.
Get the F8SE
Every part covered here — from individual tower and chassis upgrades for previous-generation F8 owners, to the complete F8SE kit — is available now at Adrenaline RC Racing. Want to rep the brand while you're at it? Check out our apparel and stickers.
Up next: getting everything race-ready for the Mugen Challenge at LCRC. Questions about your own F8SE build? Drop them in the comments on the video, or reach out through the site.