Do people use Traxxas cars for racing? (2024)

Mar 31, 2015, 10:20 PM

• #1

hunterhoward23

Thread OP

Discussion

Apr 01, 2015, 07:13 AM

• #2

waitwhatsthat

Apr 01, 2015, 08:43 AM

• #3

Chubbs

It depends on the level of racing your looking at. At the national/pro level, no, no one is using traxxas. Even the faster guys at your local track don't use Traxxas. Their designs are too heavy and don't offer nearly enough adjustability to suit a more advanced racer. The slash also has a very high center of gravity, and it takes a bunch of mods to make it into a competitive platform. Even then, it won't run with the true pure-breds.

However, if you go to your local club, you'll find the grid packed with Slashes and maybe a rustler or two (I race my rustler). People race what they have, and there are a ton of people who bash with slashes and rustlers. Hence, they find their way to the track. In the more novice classes, where the winner is decided by who crashes the least, it's pretty common to see them on the podiums even.

If you have a traxxas truck, go ahead and race it. You'll fit right in. As you get better, you'll eventually see the limitations of the design, but that won't affect you for a year or two. You can definitely have fun with a slash or Rustler until your skills outgrow the platform.

Apr 01, 2015, 10:17 AM

• #4

bill_delong

There are some local clubs that have a dedicated "Spec Slash Class"... Traxxas cars can be made to perform well if heavily modified, but it becomes cost prohibitive in doing so and far more cost effective to buy a race grade car that already has tunable geometry and upgrades for far less than what Traxxas charges to get something comparable.

Around 7 years ago, Traxxas was the hot ticket for the Monster Truck class, but it died off as race grade 1/8 Truggies took over.

Traxxas tends to stick with one design for long periods of time, this is good for LHS's so they aren't stuck with discontinued inventory. On the flip side, that leaves most of their designs stale and lacking innovation as newer releases of race grades come up with new tuning enhancements to gain a competitive edge.

I still see Traxxas Slashes attempt to race in the 4WD Mod SC class and that's perfectly fine for a novice driver. Once they get tired of replacing broken parts, then they quickly buy a Tekno, Losi, InTech... etc

Apr 01, 2015, 11:52 AM

• #5

BigBadDogg

Hunter Yes.. slash 1000.. alot of clubs do stock slash also.. as for a National event No..

just made a few phone calls 3.. and checked local race tracks .and they all have a stock slash class. and most recommend new drivers start with a slash..

Last edited by BigBadDogg; Apr 01, 2015 at 02:12 PM.

Apr 01, 2015, 02:31 PM

• #6

1320fastback

Stock Slash is a super fun class which is a race, so yes people race Traxxas.
Other than the cheaters which are easy to spot everyone has the same truck so drivers skill makes all the difference.

Its a bit dated now but this guy had 22 podiums with his Rustler.
I did all his mods to my Rustler years ago and still lap a new SC truck every now and then.
http://www.ultimatetraxxas.com/proje...imate-rustler/

Apr 01, 2015, 02:46 PM

• #7

BigBadDogg

wow needed this when I was sold a rustler when i started my indoor offroad carpet career with one.. replaced with a xxxt mf2..

Last edited by BigBadDogg; Apr 01, 2015 at 03:06 PM.

Apr 01, 2015, 03:15 PM

• #8

SoloProFan

Those are some radical modifications, and indeed, the remark in that article is true, the final result looks almost nothing like the original Rustler. It involves many parts to be trimmed with Dremel, to make it eventually look a lot like a race ready car. Like this chassis:

And after the trimming, this arm also looks much like that of a 2WD racing buggy:

With so much cutting and modifications involved, I do wonder if it's really the best way to get a competitive vehicle, or whether it's more like "proof of concept" that with lots of changes, this car can be made really race ready.

Still, a nice achievement, and well documented. Respect for that.

Apr 01, 2015, 04:47 PM

• #9

Chubbs

I wish there was some way I could drive that rustler to compare to mine, to see what a difference all of his cutting made.

I replaced my rear hubs with those from a 4tec, just as Jang did, and I put camber links on mine. But other than that, I never saw any reason to reduce weight on mine. It handles wonderfully, and with a very mild brushless system, has plenty of power. I think the only thing holding it back is driver skill. It's pretty darn quick for a 20 year old design.

Oh, and I wish it had a sealed diff. Otherwise, it's tuned just how I like it.

The slash though....I'm always amazed at the amount of body roll those things have. They look cool, but definitely not the fastest way to get around a race track.

Apr 01, 2015, 05:22 PM

• #10

BigBadDogg

off topic but i could never get the rustler to not traction roll.

as far as the slash body roll. there are pieces in the extra parts bags to stop this . easy its a free fix that most dont do...

Apr 01, 2015, 05:48 PM

• #11

bill_delong

I've found that drilling holes in a chassis is the single best thing you can do to improve traction because it introduces chassis flex, here's an example with a $99 Exceed DriftKing which I've been able to tune and be equally competitive with the TC4 club racers:
http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=120646

The single most important tuning option that is missing from almost every Traxxas car are down stops (droop limiters):
http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/sho...28#post1953528

There are ways to adjust down stop by placing spacers inside the shocks, but it's a real pain. I'd just assume buy a race grade for simplicity of optimal tuning.

Apr 01, 2015, 05:53 PM

• #12

SoloProFan

The suspense is killing me.

Or is this a guessing game? Please remember we "mere mortals" don't have a 204 IQ score, like you claim to have...

My guess is you are referring to spring pre-load clips, to stiffen up the suspension. While this can help prevent leaning, it also tends to reduce traction, and lowers the droop, so the suspension will have less down travel to absorb potholes in the terrain.

Apr 01, 2015, 08:14 PM

• #13

hunterhoward23

Thread OP

Apr 01, 2015, 09:45 PM

• #14

bill_delong

I doubt Traxxas will ever produce a high quality kit (loaded with 7075 aluminum and 5mm carbon fiber parts)... they are already charging race grade pricing for mediocre plastic parts... their current strategy is to milk the highest margin possible and I doubt the market will budge if they follow the same markup on quality parts. They will more than likely lose money if they produce race grade kits.

That's where companies like Associated and Losi are filling the gap with entry level race grade RTR's. Doesn't really make much sense to me for Traxxas to compete with the race grade market... HPI America already tried to do just that and they nearly went bankrupt because they spread themselves too thin. It cost all the Hot Bodies and HPI Team drivers to lose their sponsorships and practically half of the product line from HPI was discontinued

Last edited by bill_delong; Apr 01, 2015 at 09:50 PM.

Apr 01, 2015, 10:10 PM

• #15

hunterhoward23

Thread OP

Yeah, a race grade kit from them would be outrageous. I don't see how they would be able to sell it with better quality and better value kits available, but then again then this is the case for their current line of rtr's and they still sell tons of vehicles. That explains why HPI discontinued so many models!