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Dec. 3, 2012, 6:30 a.m.
12/3/2012
By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com
Growing up in high school I was always the nerd on campus, however, with reality shows on TV such as American Chopper, Monster Garage, Overhaulin', and Pimp my Ride, I dreamed of being a master fabricator that could make such amazing pieces of work as the stars of these shows did.
I started by enrolling in welding class, but after catching my booth partner on fire and welding the welder to the table my teacher advised I take pottery instead. I enrolled in small engine repair and overhauled the family lawnmower. It looked like something straight out of the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction, but unfortunately ran backwards and had quite a clunk in the motor when I was done. My final attempt was by enrolling in metal fabrication class. My first assignment was to repair broken desk from the art room. I carefully fabricated replacements for the broken pieces and re-assembled the desk. The next hour the new kid was sent to the hospital for stitches after it collapsed on him while sketching a portrait and cut open his arm...and ruined the sketch.
Needless to say my hopes and dreams of becoming a master mechanic/fabricator/builder were slashed for life. I would never be the next Gas Monkey Garage or Orange County Choppers...or would I?
Hands down some of my greatest early R/C memories and good times were all thanks to one car. The legendary Losi XXX-4 1:10 4wd buggy. This beast has been dominating for years, but unfortunately is no longer available as a new kit. For Losi/TLR diehards, this is the only option of a 4wd buggy (at this time) if your looking to race the 4wd buggy class.
While searching the trusty internet, I found myself a "Race Ready Losi XXX-4" for sale. The buggy had been raced, but "taken very good care of and always freshened up and rebuilt before every race". Not to mention it includes the "option parts used by the pros". The pictures were a little blurry, but this thing sounds like the perfect entry back into 4wd buggy racing. After a slight bidding war, I won the car for $160.
The UPS man delivered me a box full of packing peanuts and this beautiful piece of...art.
(No worries because this car has been rebuilt before every race...I must have caught him just after the race.)
(Not many realize this, but rust is a speed secret used by only the nation's top pro drivers on hinge pins, slipper assemblies, and bearings.)
(Left - Those are not graphite diff covers, they are "PHIT" covers. Right - A note reminding me there is a broken hex on this axle.)
(Some guys anodize just tie-rods. This buggy is a limited edition "mud-stain orange" anodized plastic, rubber, AND tie-rods)
Fact of the matter is, I spent $160 on this beast and I have two options. Option A - donate it to someone I want to never see at the R/C track again, or Option B - restore this beauty to fit the advertising headline "Race Ready Losi XXX-4". Although a few people came to mind, I don't hate anyone enough for Option A...so that leaves me with Option B.
In true American Chopper, Gas Monkey Garage, Pimp My Ride, & Overhaulin' fashion, I will be doing a multi-part restoration on this car and in the end will HOPEFULLY have it race ready and set to hit the track in only 30 days.
The first race of the 2013 schedule is the Novak Offroad Race hosted by the Hobbytown USA HobbyPLEX in Omaha, Nebraska on January 4th. The event is sold out with 300 entries, BUT we are first on the waiting list for the 4wd buggy class...that is assuming the build is done and ready for the unveiling at the event.
Part 1 of "Project XXX" is complete as necessary parts and replacements have been ordered...
Stay tuned for "Project XXX - Part 2"!
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