Comments on: A few considerations about the Special Racing Buggy and the re-release Buggy Champ and Sand Scorcher.

By: TomEG

TomEG — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:58:16 +0000

Paul: I disagree with you on the Super Champ not being a SRB. It’s not romanticism, it’s a fact. Most of the differences are simply based on hop-ups made by third parties for the original SRB’s. The fact that Tamiya did’t print the words “Special Racing Buggy” anywhere near the SS doesn’t mean a thing. It’s the last model in the SRB line, before moving on. Porsche didn’t write 911 on the original Turbo either, it’s still a 911 though. In the US they tried to distinguish it from the 911 by using the internal 930 designation, but everyone knows it’s a 911 Turbo nevertheless.

Admin:
In my eyes the flaws and faults of the SRB’s are also their strengths if you widen the perspective a bit, and don’t only look at competitive racing. Most of the SRB owners were not racers, but kids discovering the wonderful world of both RC models and physics/mechanics. I must honestly say i learned more from fiddling with my SS than I ever learned in any physics class in school. Take the steering ball ends for starters. They kept popping off, so I fitted some heavy duty screw-on Graupner ones, only to realise that now the steering rods just bent like straws. I then changed the rods to hevy duty versions as well, just to see the screws that fitted them to the steering knuckles broke off. I was just 12, but I had learned by doing that nothing is stronger than the weakest link. I’m sure I spent more time twisting my brain how to improve my SS than actually driving it. This was very good learnt lessons later on when I got more advanced buggies, like the Avante, Optima, Mid etc. I now knew the basics as to how thing worked, and it’s all thanks to the Sand Scorcher.

Tom, Norway

By: Jesse

Jesse — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:10:08 +0000

I just got a sand scorcher. I had the frog, rc10, blackfoot, optima in the 80′s. getting back into it, was bummed the newer cars seemed to require less build. The re-re Subaru brat brought back good memories of child hood, both building, paintying, and breaking and fixing my old cars. I am really excited to build the Sand scorcher.

By: admin

admin — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:53:44 +0000

The re-release Rough Rider and Sand Scorcher have hardened UVs so they are easy to get, for the rear bumper better keep looking in eBay.
Regards,
Admin

By: IW Superchamp

IW Superchamp — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:27:56 +0000

Great article, interesting read.
Just decided to get my 1983 SC working again, it is mostly complete and original. Any good ideas where to get parts?
I am looking for a rear bumber and rear UV Joint (they were hardened on the SC)..
Any good suppliers of parts?
Thanks again for a good read!

By: Thank you

Thank you — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:19:51 +0000

Thanks for voicing your opinions on these cars, including constructive and thoughtful criticsim. Too many vintage reviews fawn over the cars…keep up the good and the bad of these cars I say.

By: Dante77

Dante77 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:39:14 +0000

Great article!

In reply to Paul (loaded):

Unfortunately Rad (Awesome Alloys) is sold out of everything (I got his last 3 skid plates) and doesn’t know if he can pick up production in the near future.

By: Seth

Seth — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:42:13 +0000

Although I don’t have the original SS ever, but I got my re-release SS last month…
After I read the manual….and check the parts out…
All I can say….”couldn’t agree you more…”
especilly the poor motor cap(cover),I wonder…. how to locate the motor if the cover(cap) was crack ?
If the motor couldn’t be locate, what the hell I bought this “static RC” model for?

By: Paul (loaded)

Paul (loaded) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:42:58 +0000

Delighted to read such an honest and factual article. Part of the charm of the SRBs was that they were flawed, it is this very characteristic that helps us anthropomorphise them, but that also made them ultimately succeeded by improvements in the hobby. Also nice to see you rightly placing the Super Champ as an evolutionary decendent to the SRB, but not an SRB itself, this is the correct positioning of this car. All too many people nowadays romanticise that the Super Champ was an SRB, but it simply wasn't true. Regarding parts, myself I make both a cosmetic upgrade for the SRBs (chrome plated wheels using using stock material from the Scorcher, Buggy Champ Brat) and a chassis plate out of stiffer robotics grade carbon fibre, but using the exact dimensions of the original FRP one (I decided not to alter the specifications, just the material to keep everyone happy) and these seem to sell well. I will consider some of your ideas for other parts and produce them if economically and technically viable for me. Regarding the production of aluminium wheel covers, I am surprised you state that the best ones are from the Far East, as Awesome Alloys in the UK is regarded by many as the best producer of aftermarket alloy wheels. Very good article

By: Badboy (sweden)

Badboy (sweden) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:35:10 +0000

Ohhh… I forgot!!!
New harden steel rods in the front susp!!!

By: Badboy (sweden)

Badboy (sweden) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:55:50 +0000

Awesome review!!! I've allways loved the SRB's!!! Never cared bout handeling or speed!!! I just love the scale look of them!!! It would be cool with scale engine or new SRB BF goodrich tyres maybe? Some new decals, RR/BC with diff box art in other colours? I would kill for a set of MIP IRS-200 rear susp, set!!! That would make it way easier to make a cool Baja style bug with more scale looking rear susp!!!

Badboy