Reverting Back
Some days are tough. I’ve been working so hard on my Doctoral dissertation on how Thermonuclear Fusion effects my gas mileage during the winter that I have forgotten at times to have a little fun. Luckily for me Mike Rydwell at Exotek stepped in and gave me another purpose in life. Adding some bling and much needed weight to the back half of my well documented B5m.
In my two previous reports I lost a total of sixty-one grams and the lion’s share of those were right on top of the rear wheels. This time, ssshhhh, I am going to add some weight back over those yellow 2.4” Pro-Line wheels to not only get my weight distribution back to where it needs to be, but also to add a little machined, blue anodized beauty into my life.
Out of California and established in 2007 Exotek makes some luscious parts for all sorts of manufacturers and even ventures into the on-road and mini markets with both aluminum and carbon fiber goodies. In this installment, I will be concentrating on the front hinge pin brace, wing mounts, and wing buttons. With my bodies painted in Flo Orange, I gave Mike the choice of the blue or black that is offered. When I ripped open the box like it was Christmas morning, blue was awaiting me. A second order that I was hoping would show up today with the D mounts will have to wait for me to drool over and in the mean time I will try out the brass piece instead. The C and D mounts are being added not only for a little bit of weight but to tighten up the play that is present in the rear arms.
Installation was an absolute breeze. It’s almost as if they were made specifically for this Buggy. All jokes aside they fit perfectly and require no attention other than getting the screws into the holes. All told a total of nine grams were placed back onto the buggy, eight by the wing mounts and buttons and a single by the hinge pin brace. The arm mounts obviously added more but lets talk about Exotek here.
The real question; how do these parts work? Fortunately they’ve worked exactly as Mike intended them to. For the driver to mount them, drool over them, and forget about them while I have been missing my marks, but not the pipes, at The Ohio RC Factory. One thing I appreciate about the forums would be the people that are willing to tell you about a product without ever using it. Having run the parts a few times I can tell you from experience, upside down experience, that the wing doesn’t take any extra damage other than what I have given it by showing off that I don’t run a chassis protector. The Shock Tower is, wait for it, still in one piece, although I’ve seemingly tried to shatter it a few times. The screws, from Lunsford, keep the Pro-Line Trifecta Wing from bouncing around and giving me as much down force as I want, but can‘t effectively use.
Now, if I can just convince Mike to let me try out every other beautiful piece he makes I will be in heaven, but not with Jani Lane and Warrant.
