Seth VanDalen with a Perfect TQ-1-1 in 4WD Mod at Minnesota Champs on Electrons

Hello everyone last weekend Seth and I traveled to the Minnesota State Champs race in Starbuck, MN. This is the one electric race the fast guys try to make every year. Seth was running the 2WD Mod Buggy and 4WD Mod Buggy classes.

Friday, practice day:

Seth and I worked to get the cars setup for the changing track conditions. Mostly finding a shock oil and springs we liked and sway bars to control it the corner with all the ruts. Tested Tires and found the combo we thought would be the best. Both cars looking good we headed to the RV for some sleep.

Saturday, Qualifying:

We were able to get a couple packs of practice on the track in the morning. Seth decided on a different tire for the rear of his Team Orion powered RB6 then most of his competition. Pro-Lines New Electron in M4 compound with M4 Transitors on the front, it was fast thru the corners but the buggy handled the bumps with ease. Unfortunately, he was not able to get a clean run in, so Seth would settle for the 4th qualifing position in the highly contested 2wd Mod class.

His Team Orion powered Hot Bodies D413 was super fast through the corners on Pro-Line M4 Transitors fronts and M4 Square Fuzzie Rear and could clear the triple double section in one leap clearing all five in one shot. This gave him a clear advantage as the rest of the field struggled to do so and all his competators forced to lay it up going triple double. Seth would set the fastest time of the day a full lap ahead of the rest of the field earning the TQ spot.

Sunday, Triple A-Mains:

2WD Mod Buggy

A1 Mod Buggy, Seth got a great start carving under AE’s Dan Hamman in the second corner and then slicing by Kyosho’s Kyle Holmberg 2 corners later, just seconds back from AE/PL driver Kraig Krueger. Seth would capitalize on a mistake from Kraig and take the lead. Now in front, Seth used the power provided by Team Orion and control from his Pro-Line Tires to propel him to victory.

A2 Mod Buggy, Seth moved up to 3rd when AE’s Dan Hamman crashed and set his sites on Kyosho’s Kyle Holmberg. They ran close together for a few laps keeping the leader in check. Seth looking for a way around the Kyosho driver ended up following to close and was collected when Kyle tucked a pipe trying to defend the inside. The pair would end up at the back of the field. Seth would work his way up to forth by the end passing Kyosho’s Kyle Holmberg in the last corner before the loop.

A3 Mod Buggy, Seth crashed on the first lap in the triple double and dropped to the back of the field. Virtualy ending his championship hopes. He would get back a few spots and crashed again in the same spot. Not getting the run he needed he relied on the first two A-Mains to decide his finishing spot. Losing the tie break for the 2nd spot and ending up 3rd over all.

4WD Mod Buggy

A1 4WD Buggy, Seth started out the pack of ten cars and traction rolled in the first corner to drop him down to 4th, he then stayed in line and made his move to 3rd when AE driver Marshall Skare opened the door. A few corners later he made a inside move over the triple double by jumping all five on Kyosho’s Kyle Holmberg and TLR privateer Hunter Holmberg to take the top spot back. From there he drove away from the field to take the win all while watching the battle for second place right in front of him.

A2 4WD Buggy, Seth started much better with a clean first lap and would start to gap the field. By the half way mark he had a 8-second lead and went on to win the race tone to tone. A perfect 1-1 to go with his TQ.

Seth and I would like to thank everyone for their support from friends and family to local track owners and hobby stores like King Kong Hobbies. Also Our Sponsors Hot Bodies, Pro-Line, Team Orion, VP Fuel even though this was an electric race, KoPropo without all of your support we couldn’t do what we do.