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Post by ryanvanemmerik on Nov 24, 2009 19:16:12 GMT -5
If I was to get started doing this, how much do these things cost? I'd prob be looking at getting into that late model class. Also, is there a web site where you can buy stuff, or where do you buy them and buy parts? Just basically seeing how much it would cost to get into it, thanks for any info.
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Post by The Big X on Nov 24, 2009 19:43:12 GMT -5
Well a stock Losi Late Model new is $180. That will pretty much get you started. It comes with everything you would need to race (remote-car-battery-charger) They call it RTR (ready to race)
I would recommend another battery to help get you though the day. You would have some time to charge the battery between rounds but it takes longer than that with the wall charger it comes with. (I had 3 battery's for 1 car that way I had one for each qualifier and then the feature.) The stock Losi 1100 battery you must have runs $25-$30, but I have found them on ebay around the $10-$15 range plus shipping.
The Late Model class is great to start in. It is also not going to break the bank to race in. The only thing I wrecked on my car last year was the stock plastic gears in the diff. Under $5 I was back on track.
You can do some other things to the car to upgrade it but they are not necessary to race and will not make the car any faster they just make it more reliable.
Come on down Sunday afternoon and check it out. I will have my car if you want to look at it.
Ask away if you have more questions.
Chad
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Post by ryanvanemmerik on Nov 24, 2009 19:58:59 GMT -5
Yea, some time I would like to come and watch to see if I would like it before I go buying all the stuff. I see that you run points seasons. I would love to come and look the stuff over alittle bit, if I do like it enough, maybe I would buy one for the end of the season, then go full time next year. If I could take a look at yours, I would be very interested in doing that, thanks for the info and the help.
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Post by BSchorr on Nov 24, 2009 20:08:01 GMT -5
Our first race is Sunday, the 29th on the Moose Lodge! Start around Noon
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Post by The Big X on Nov 24, 2009 20:38:49 GMT -5
If you want I will bring a battery along and let you turn some laps to get the feel of it when there is some down time during the day or before we start racing. My son is going to be gone this weekend so the car will not race.
The Mini Sprint Car is the same price as the Late Model new and 95% of the parts interchange with the Late Model, but it is tougher to drive as it is taller for the roll center and has a shorter wheel base. Still good fun with a little more challenge.
p.s. I have a Mini Sprint Car for sale for $75.
Chad
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Post by ryanvanemmerik on Nov 24, 2009 20:51:05 GMT -5
I'll have to see what I am doing on sunday, but that would be awesome to run some laps to see how it all works. I am not a sprint car man, I'd want to run the late models. Maybe I will have to find time to come and see, that would be good for me to see if i would like it or not.
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Post by rockdzl on Nov 25, 2009 13:39:04 GMT -5
"The stock Losi 1100 battery you must have runs $25-$30, but I have found them on ebay around the $10-$15 range plus shipping."
Big X, Where do you find a stock Losi 1100 for $25-$30? Hobbytown sells the straight pack for $37.99. That's a lot for this little battery. I too did find one on ebay but, it seems they rarely show up there. Hobbytown has other battery packs with the losi connector for $22. I wish we could use other brands with the same voltage and similar mah ratings. From what I have seen at a couple of races last year, batteries don't win races, good driving and avoiding crashes does. Thanks
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Post by Neisteadt on Nov 25, 2009 13:57:30 GMT -5
Its too bad they're charging that much for those batteries.
However, despite what others believe, I found that the battery plays a HUGE role in how fast a stock 18th scale LM will go. That is why I had a specific battery I always used for feature.
Also, look for the square losi 1100 package. The battery is white, square shaped but has all the same ratings. That battery is also legal for the class and was always a bit cheaper for some reason.
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Post by ryanvanemmerik on Nov 25, 2009 14:28:25 GMT -5
So, by the time you buy the $200 car, 2 $40 batteries. you would have around $280-$300 into the car. Does that come with everything, tires, body, and else? Do you have to buy a seperate battery charger, or does that come with it? What other extras would you have to buy to be fast. If I am gonna do it, I want to be competitive. What does it take to beat Chad or Shawn? Also, I see that there are fees and weekely fees. Is that used for purse money, or is it all just for the fun of it? Also, this hobbytown, can you get everything you need there? I see that somebody sells the bodies. Also, how many laps do the late models have in the heats and features?
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Post by Neisteadt on Nov 25, 2009 15:17:54 GMT -5
You can go to Hobbytown or other hobby stores and buy the car.. they retail at Losi.com for $189. That comes with the controller, car (everything including body) and one battery with a wall charger. That charger will charge the battery, but takes 4 hours to get a full charge in the battery. If you want to buy another charger, you can spend $50 to $500 depening on how fancy you want to get. I would look around at a race, and ask some of us what we use. My charger can do two batteries at once, and I think I spent less than $130 on it. It also does many other functions, no need to get into that now. I ran the entire season in the mini late models last year and never broke a part, just put a new RR tire on after about half the year - but that tire probably would have been fine for the rest of the season. Each day, there are two rounds of qualifiers (what those of us who come from dirt tracks would call heats). So each driver gets two heat races, each is four minutes. The main (or feature as we would call it) is five minutes long. I think we were turning 60 some laps last season. The fees for each day basically pays the rent for the building, there is no "purse money." The late model class is very unique, because of the rules, every car has the same motor, battery, shocks, tires etc... So it really comes down to driving. Chad's son is driving his LM this year, and I sold mine at the end of last season, so to beat us, you'd have to get into another class . The other great thing about getting the mini late model is that we also have an open class for those. So once your driving skills get there, and you decide you want to start upgrading the car, you can run it in that class. But to be honest, I had runs last year that my stock LM would have won the open class. Here is the parts list from the car's maker: www.losi.com/Products/RelatedParts.aspx?ProdID=LOSB0221&Category=Parts+Listing&SubCategory=There are a few things you would want to have spares of, just in case, like bulkheads and ball cups. Again, come see us and we'll show you what those are, and why you might want to have a spare. But the big advantage to this class, over the mini slider (sprint car) is the bumper and body covers the tires, and really protects them. That's kind of long, but I hope it helps. Maybe we can see a #01 out there soon.
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Post by ryanvanemmerik on Nov 25, 2009 16:27:48 GMT -5
Well, you know me there, if there is a car, it will be a #01.
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Post by The Big X on Nov 25, 2009 19:50:24 GMT -5
I would have to agree with Shawn, the battery makes a huge difference in the speed.
rockdzl, You found the same guy that I bought my last 3 batteries from. (I was watching it also). Save him as a seller, he parts out new cars and sometimes you can get parts really cheap from him. The last "New" battery I bought from Rod before he closed and I am pretty sure it was in that $25-$30 range, but it was the Losi square 1100 pack. I am sorry I did not mention that.
The Losi 1100 square pack comes in some of the Losi 1/18 scale trucks and will work in the Late Model but you will have to take out the 3 little screws that hold the battery separator on the chassis.
If you are looking for a good charger, 3 of us have the Piranha digital peak charger which works great for our batteries. I got mine used for $35.
Battery maintenance is huge for these batteries. Discharging them when done racing seems to make them last the longest. Along with not "hot" charging them. Come talk to me and I will tell you how I break in a new battery as far as cycles before I even race it. Not saying I do it correctly but it seems to work well for me.
Chad
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