What’s up, everyone!
Welcome back to the Adrenaline RC blog — today we’re diving into the very first race day for our TLR-Tuned Typhonbuild. After countless test laps, setup tweaks, and tuning sessions, it was finally time to see how this machine performs in true race conditions.
🏁 Pre-Race Setup: Getting Dialed In
Heading into race day, I made a few key adjustments from the baseline setup:
-
Diffs: 10k in the front, 12.5k in the center, and 7k in the rear — giving the car a thicker, more stable feel overall.
-
Electronics: USRC servo, Kyosho Speedo, and a Tekin motor — all available right here at Adrenaline RC Racing.
-
Tires: We started with a set of Blue Reflex tires, which seemed ideal for the cool, slightly damp track conditions.
It was colder than our last test session, which meant shock behavior and traction would be a bit unpredictable. The plan was to run two six-minute qualifiers and a 10-minute main — perfect for collecting solid data on how the new setup handled under race pressure.
⚙️ Qualifier 1: A Rough Start
Let’s just say... things didn’t start perfectly.
About halfway through Q1, I managed to get a rock jammed in one of the wheels — not ideal. The car also felt lazier in the steering than expected, likely due to thicker fluids and cooler temps.
Adjustments after Q1:
-
Lowered the front arm position on the tower to gain more steering response.
-
Added anti-squat in the rear for better rotation off-power.
-
Swapped springs to HB yellow for a more balanced feel.
With those changes in place, it was time to line up for round two.
⚡ Qualifier 2: Finding the Pace
The difference was immediate. The Typhon felt sharper, more predictable, and balanced front to rear. Even without changing tire compounds, the car came alive on the newer set of Blue Reflex tires, and I ended up taking TQ for Round 2.
Ethan snagged overall TQ from Round 1, which meant I’d be starting second in the main — right where I wanted to be. The setup still had a bit of push, but overall it was fast and consistent.
🏆 The Main Event: Holding It Together
Race day conditions tightened up nicely — grip came in strong, and I switched to a set of Green Reflex tires for maximum traction.
After a clean start, Ethan pulled a small gap early, but I stayed composed, focused on hitting marks, and waited for opportunities. About halfway through, I found a line to get around him, opened a small gap, and managed the race from there.
As the 10-minute main came to a close, my battery started fading, but I held on to take the win with 98% consistency— a stat I’ll gladly take on the Typhon’s debut.
🔍 Post-Race Analysis
After reflecting on the weekend, here’s what stood out:
-
Battery Efficiency: The Typhon’s stock gearing (50T) is quite inefficient. Most race buggies run closer to 46–48T, which I’ll test next to improve top speed and battery life.
-
Suspension: Still room to dial in the shock package — piston and oil tuning will be the next phase.
-
Springs: The HB yellows felt great, far better than stock.
-
Weight Balance: With a few small tweaks, we’ll aim for a more agile front end and smoother rotation.
🔧 Final Thoughts: Can It Compete?
The big question — can the TLR-Tuned Typhon hang with top-level expert eBuggy drivers?
After this weekend, the answer is yes.
With just a few low-cost adjustments — diff tuning, spring swaps, and geometry changes — this buggy held its own against some serious competition, including national-level Xray drivers like Ethan and Ben Decker. It’s proof that with the right setup, even a budget-conscious platform can be a real contender.
💬 What’s Next?
We’ll continue refining the Typhon — adjusting gearing, suspension, and weight — to squeeze every bit of performance out of it. Maybe one day we’ll even take down Lee with it (hey, a racer can dream, right?).
Until then, we’ll keep running tests, making tweaks, and sharing the progress here!
Thanks for following along — and as always, keep wrenching, keep racing, and we’ll see you at the track.