“King” Richard Saxton is a veteran nitro racer who has raced at the highest levels of competition and has even come close to earning a win at the 2002 IFMAR Worlds where he took TQ. He currently works at Team Associated where he wrenches, mentors and advises some of the newest, most talented drivers on the planet. Fortunately we got a chance to pick his brain about some of his favorite tips he likes to pass on.
Sponsors: Team Associated, Reedy, Pro-Line, VP Racing Fuels, Futaba, Lunsford, Makita, Kicker, O.S. Engines.
Tip #1 Slow Down the Speed of Your Servo
To take away some twitch with your steering, an easy solution is to turn down the speed of your servo. Modern servos have gotten so fast and powerful that they often make the response too quick and sensitive.
Tip #2 Set Droop by Applying Pressure To the Suspension
Droop is a critical component in suspension settings, but in 1/8-scale nitro buggies vibrations and weight of wheels spinning can mask the intended settings. To better replicate how you want your droop to be on the track, give the arms or wheels a good push, then let it settle down before taking a reading. Measure the droop from eyelet to eyelet with digital calipers. Richard will often compensate and give the droop and extra millimeter since the buggy will incur some wear and fatigue over long mains. He also suggests limiting the shocks internally to ensure the droop stays in its intended setting.