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Old 2010.05.19, 02:16 AM   #1
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Reflex Racing Long-term Review: F1

Started testing tonight with the Carbon Limited Edition F1. I ran it box stock at Kenon tonight to get an impression of any improvements over the bone stock original.

Initial reports are mixed. I'll get more in depth later, but here are a quick 20 questions.

1) Is it better than the bone stock car? Yes.

2) Is that because of the upgrade parts? No.

3) Does the car come tweaked like the clear chassis sometimes would? No.

4) Is the grey chassis stiffer? Yes.

5) Does it drive differently? Yes.

6) Is the grey bumper stronger than the clear one? Yes.

7) Does the grey bumper have good ground clearance without modifications? Yes.

8) Is it the bumper I would race with? No.

9) Do the plastic knuckles still stick with the stainless kingpins? Yes.

10) Is the plate damper system good? Yes.

11) Is it enough to plant the rear end? No.

12) Am I happy with the upgrades that came on the car? Yes.

13) Am I happy with the way the car drives out of the box? No.

14) Is the car competitive out of the box? No.

15) Am I disappointed? No.

16) Am I planning on modifying the car? Yes.

17) Am I planning on adding upgrade parts to the car? Yes.

18) Will they be expensive? No.

19) Is this car the best way toward a competitive F1? Yes.

20) Will Crotty beat me this year with a near-bone-stock car? Man, I hope not...

All in all, it was a frustrating but valuable test session. The car needs some lovin. I'm tempted to just throw my old setup on it and be happy, but I know that the competition has definitely caught up in the last year or so. That plus the transition to mod motors means it's time for a clean sheet approach.
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Last edited by ruf; 2010.05.19 at 02:34 AM.
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Old 2010.05.19, 02:39 AM   #2
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kinda love the shakedown... broken down to a simple yes and no... thanks for the info...
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Old 2010.05.19, 09:21 AM   #3
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i too like that format!! since we finally have a world class track to run on in htown (technically in porter but close enough) i can do some testing myself, do yo mind if i use your format?
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Old 2010.05.19, 09:27 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ruf View Post
20) Will Crotty beat me this year with a near-bone-stock car? Man, I hope not...
I thought we had established the problem *cough* wasn't the car *cough*... HEHEHEHEHE

Now I'm going to stop taunting Joe, as I need him to rebuild my car with the 2010 ass kicking spec!!!
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Old 2010.05.19, 10:54 AM   #5
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Excellent review Joe... great format. I agree with every point
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Old 2010.05.20, 03:49 AM   #6
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Thanks for the kind words guys!

herman - let us know how your F1 setup goes!

mantis - of course! I don't own 20 questions...

alberto - bite me, pole rider... (for those of you that don't know, a couple years ago, I announced that PNWC AWD stock TQ alberto was riding the pole position in the mains. I'll let you take it from there...)

emu - quit agreeing with me. I gotta get ahead of you somehow...
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Last edited by ruf; 2010.05.20 at 03:52 AM.
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Old 2010.05.20, 07:23 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ruf View Post

20) Will Crotty beat me this year with a near-bone-stock car? Man, I hope not...

All in all, it was a frustrating but valuable test session. The car needs some lovin. I'm tempted to just throw my old setup on it and be happy, but I know that the competition has definitely caught up in the last year or so. That plus the transition to mod motors means it's time for a clean sheet approach.
Joe,

I don't think i can get away with this anymore. Bone stock just will not cut in in mod. But i'm going to try and not change it.

I will have to change my front bumper though. I'll just put the stock one on and try not to hit the walls
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Old 2010.05.20, 07:51 AM   #8
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the rules have changed now you can still use your custom wing as long as it fits within the given measurements
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Old 2010.05.20, 11:55 AM   #9
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Quote:
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emu - quit agreeing with me. I gotta get ahead of you somehow...
Get ahead of me, you are a World Champion... We have raced once on the same track in F1, and you showed me what it takes. In order to beat Joe Chen, you must have a good start. Otherwise, you turn on the cruise control... I hope I can give you a good battle this year, which we were not able to do last year at the KO race.

Being a mod class this year, we have to re-develop the cars. Things that we needed to do for stock, may make the cars too loose for modified power. I think that we will see a lot of mild modified motors being used (Speedy 07), to keep the focus on corner speed rather than acceleration. I still havent decided what motor I will use for the PNWC. I currently use the Atomic Stock BB, which I have adjusted to since it is the handout motor for the Atomic series this year.

Getting the rear suspension to handle the power from the apex out of the corners will be the biggest challenge. The F1 tends to hook a little when power is applied. My latest SP2 F1 setup, was specifically developed for the small track at the Carolina Cup. On a large track, it works, but not as well as my previous SP1 setup with the Stock BB motor. The PN layout has a lot of high speed sections, so having good cornering at high speed is very important. The highest speed corner at the Carolina Cup is basically the slowest speed corner in the PN layout. So some work will have to go into increasing corner speed, while getting the traction that I need out of the corner.

Sorry to go a little off topic...
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Old 2010.05.21, 05:45 PM   #10
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Bill - Please use a Mantis bumper so I never have to see that black kydex snowplow again...

EMU - I learned the cruise control trick from Crotty! You and Layman both had a tenth or two on me in terms of outright laptime. In the past, I have been lucky enough to have the best car on the grid. I think that will be much harder to do this year.
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Old 2011.04.14, 04:21 AM   #11
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I love my F1 again. Lots of learnings. Lots of stupidity.

If you've wondered why this thread went cold, my F1 was utter garbage at the worlds this year. Went down a lot of rabbit holes, but I've finally got it all sorted. Keep your eyes peeled for a follow-up. Beauty of it is that none of it is product-centric. Just proper setup and preparation in a few key areas. Also planning on a parts-only ground-up build video.
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Old 2011.04.14, 05:46 AM   #12
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Can't wait!
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Old 2011.04.14, 08:26 AM   #13
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I am interested in hearing more
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Old 2011.04.15, 03:56 AM   #14
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So here's what I've learned in order of importance. Will flesh out this post as we go. Pictorial coming on our blog.

1) Packaging

2) Tires, tires, tires

3) Steering consistency

4) Glitching

5) Sticking
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Old 2011.04.15, 06:50 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ruf View Post
So here's what I've learned in order of importance. Will flesh out this post as we go. Pictorial coming on our blog.

1) Packaging

2) Tires, tires, tires

3) Steering consistency

4) Glitching

5) Sticking
Hey Joe...not to rush you Majs is having a BIG race on April 30th and there is an open F1 class.....
You gotta strike when the iron is hot.....
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