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There's this track a couple miles up the road from me. I thought it had shut down as its always desolate, and I saw it up for sales years ago, but I came across them in the phone book the other day, and apparently they're only open on race nights now.

So back in the day, they had this beautiful 1/10th scale high banked dirt oval. Its affectionately refered to as "Little Manzi" after the local 1:1 dirt track Manzanita Speedway. It was all about the dirt oval, but they also had a cramped little offroad track. Back then it was too tight for my taste, but I was thinking it would be perfect for my MLST.

I'm waiting until they open so I can call and ask some questions. Meantime I'm making plans. I'm figuring I'm gonna want some spare battery packs, motor heatsinks would be imperative during the summer here, and with the loose surface, probably a center ball diff. My birthday is this weekend, so that my birthday plan, to head out to the track, and I got my kid all psyched up to come along.

So I call today, and the dirt oval is still intact, but they leveled the offroad track for an on-road oval. What was really annoying, is they were bitching to me that the on road guys never even show anymore.

So that's no good. The MLST would be dwarfed on the dirt oval, and really you need a 2WD car. Driving on a banked dirt oval is really pretty cool. You lower the right rear, and left front shock collars slightly, then when you enter the turn, you tap the brakes, and that right rear drops, and the inside front wheel lifts off the ground, then your just counter steering, sliding sideways through the whole turn. Really kicks ass when you got several cars side by side, and one wrong move...

Anyways, I was all ready to hit the track, so now I'm bummed, I'm trying to come up with another not-to-expensive plan. Thought about picking up a 1/10th scale like the Traxxas Bandit. Something cheap that'll get me on the track, but then I remember, I'm dragging my stuff with me on the bus. That was the idea of going with 1/18th scale to begin with, it would be easy to lug with me. So now I'm thinking, Mini-T. Build it up over the next few months, then maybe get myself a brushless for Christmas. Gives me an excuse to check out brushless, and I'd assume that'd get it around the track similarly as fast as a 1/10th scale modified, so it would be fun.

So what do you guys think about all that? Anybody wanna say something about the Mini-t to rain on my parade before I order one?

Now that sucks , Onroad always seems to get better privilages.

Everyone seems to like the mini-t , so no reason why not.

As for a cheap 1/10 , If your going truck , Then a used traxxas stampede would be good , or even to convert to a truggy.

For buggy , Ascociated b4 , or im not sure how many of you US guys have heard of a small english company called "Mardave" , They make a buggy called the cobra , It's been going for a long long time now , And they usually just sell from the shop in the factory , You can mail order though from www.mardaveracing.co.uk , They are insanely cheap , and parts are just the same , I got a full set of wheels with ready glued tires , for about $12 a few years back. They are strong , the upgrades are dirt cheap , you can buy an aliminium chassis for cheaper than a front wheel on a well known buggy.

Well , Im rambling now so ..

take the front dogbones outta the mlst

betty.k wrote:take the front dogbones outta the mlst

Thought about that, but I'd have to lock the center diff, and then there's the issue with MLSTs eating gears, especially with brushless. So I don't feel confident the rear diff will hold up if all the power is directed through it. Besides, the MLST is perfect for romping around my home, and I'd rarely get out to the track, so I don't really want to go messing with that.

As for a cheap 1/10 , If your going truck , Then a used traxxas stampede would be good , or even to convert to a truggy.

Aaaaaaaaah!
There you guys go with the Stampede again. I'm jonesin' to replace my old Stampede, and every time I see one its pure torture, but I got about $100 to spend right now,and I wanted to wait to get a Stampede when I could afford to do it up right.

No Mini-T.

Go with the Duratrax Vendetta or an Associated vechile.

Unless your tryin' to drop a few bucks and go with an Xray MT!!!

sg219 wrote:No Mini-T.

Go with the Duratrax Vendetta or an Associated vechile.

Unless your tryin' to drop a few bucks and go with an Xray MT!!!

I'm thinkin' he wants to do the 2wd dirt oval thing... I think a Mini T is ideal...

Think about it... he already has a Losi "brick" pack from the MLST, plus the radio and esc... alls that he's really needing is a Mini T Pro, and a hs-55 and he's rollin'... toss a McAllister Racing(yep Dave they're still around) modified lid on it(yep they make 'em for 1/18ths), some Street Meats, do the 'ol wedge suspension setup... boom, golden.

Then, if he's really getting into it, he can take it as far as he wants. ie alloy shit(mini t shit is getting cheaper and cheaper), and then theres the lipo/brushless route...

Oh and Dave, sorry for talking like you weren't here for most of the post... just the way it came out of me but, yeah... I think you could get started out very nicely(the mini t pro is fuckin LOADED!) for about the price of that 'Pede(and think about it... with the 'pede, you'd still need to invest in sub C packs AND a charger... this way you got at least the bare necessities covered already...)

And it aint like it even has to be the Losi... You could do the same thing with a FT RC18, the only extra you'd need with that is a motor(the mini t pro comes with a motor at least lol...)

EDIT afterthought... Even though 219 has a showpiece mini t, he has like no mileage on it.... I'm a big mini t advocate because mine has been my primary outdoor runner for well over a year now and I LOVE it... my mini t literally has like a million miles on it...

Bird wrote: I'm thinkin' he wants to do the 2wd dirt oval thing... I think a Mini T is ideal...

Think about it... he already has a Losi "brick" pack from the MLST, plus the radio and esc... alls that he's really needing is a Mini T Pro, and a hs-55 and he's rollin'... toss a McAllister Racing(yep Dave they're still around) modified lid on it(yep they make 'em for 1/18ths), some Street Meats, do the 'ol wedge suspension setup... boom, golden.

Thank you Bird for seeing my vision. Except due to budget, my implementation will be different.

Here's my plan. I'm ordering the Mini T RTR today from Ultimate Hobbies. It looks like the MiniT with the racing shocks and bearing set will run me about $125. Which is precisely what I have to spend. I have a Dynamite Prohet Sport charger and the battery from my MLST. Over the months I will get CVDs, a ball diff, a better servo, and maybe a cheap mild modified such as the Trinity Monster Mod. And of coarse a baja bug body so it can be mini version of my old XXT. Then probably around tax time next year, I get a Futaba 2PL, a Quark brushless setup, more batteries, and the mod lid. I wantthe stock MIni T electrics for my SSMT. And then I'd like to get a set of paddles tires, and also make it a part time mini dune car.

I think always wanted he Mini-T to begin with. There's so much I could do with it. I will be the only guy at the track with 1/18th scale, so I will only being playing during practice time, but I'll bet you money when those guys see a little mini modified screaming around the track with a brushless in it, I'll be having competition reall quick like.