Do you see what I see?

After watching all these JDM Counter-Dori Videos, I really wonder how they get so much angle and control with their set up. So I decided to do a little research on the #1 CS chassis. The Alex Racing CER D08. I know it is kind of difficult to get one here in the USA, but I thought it might be helpful to see what they were working with. After some close inspection of these pictures, I see some key points that I have mentioned in recent post. So I think at least a few of my mods to my Cyclone are on the right track. Check it out and see if you see what I see.

If you spot something please post a comment on this post.
p.s. Is it me, or does this chassis look alot like the new Cyclone Drift Chassis coming out...intersting!

A new JDM Countersteer videos to subscribe to...

If your like me, you've been trying to hunt down more countersteer videos to try to learn more about how to set them up. Everyone knows about the great D-Like videos, but here is another guy I found in Japan. This time they are indoor.



This video even has a Cyclone in it. (Yellow JZX)
Check it out!

CS steering for my Driftmaster LCG

Well I guess I missed out on the CS 3day marathon at Arai this past holiday weekend, but I did manage to get some work done on my CS Driftmaster. After thinking long and hard I finally figured out how to achieve parallel steering and increase the overall steering angle (while having equal left and right steering feel)

This is what I came up with for the Yokomo LCG steering. Looks like it should work well for some CS Dori.


LCG Parallel Steering = Here you can see the spacers and extention I made for the inner steering arm. It brings the steering linkage past parallel, while avoiding the rear-front hinge pin holders. I also relocated the ball joint from the outter rear arm from under the arm to over. LCG Increased steering = Here you can see how I grinded the inner arms to clearance the servo linkage. And to get even more steering, I counter sunk the center ball joint on the inner steering arm as well.

The outer wheel has much more steering over stock now...

My Driftmaster LE SPL goes Counter-Steer too!

Like I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I was able to get myself some overdrive/underdrive gears for my Yokomo shaft drive Driftmaster (LCG). I'll have more details on that later, once I take it back apart for some pictures of all the modifications needed to get them to fit and mesh.
(WARNING!: This is not an easy drop-in upgrade. If you plan to do this it will take a lot of modifying to get the gears to mesh correctly.)

I also figured out a way to modify the steering rack to get rid of the Ackerman steering and make it more of a parallel set-up.

(One other note: if you are doing normal AWD drifting, keep your Ackerman steering! The parallel steering will make the front end push a lot in turn in. You need the inside wheel to turn more then the outside. Parallel steering is only ideal for a Countersteer setup!)

Anyways here are just some quick pictures of the chassis during the modifying process. (excuse the fuzzy iphone pictures. I want to take it all apart again to take some better install pictures)



The suspension is still set-up for normal AWD drifting. Check back for more updates!

CS Test at Arai #2

Well this weekend the CS Cyclone definitely handed much better. Counter steer and angle was good, but still the car transitions much faster then Katsumi's CS BD. Definitely did notice some good tips though. One was the rear toe. Strangely enough, this seems to have the opposite effect it does on a normal AWD drift car. By lessing the toe from 3 to 2 degrees, it actually added stability in my CS car. Very interesting.

Another item that I mentioned before, is non-Ackerman steering. Seems like this is pretty much the opposite as well. If you are thinking "that stuff is confusing!" I think that too! LOL.
But after playing with my CS car and normal AWD car, I think I am starting to get a better understanding.
( I found this online at RC TeK, I read this before, but after testing my cars with paralle and with ackerman, I think I am starting to understand it.) Give it a read if you have time...


At Arai this weekend, I also decided to give my Driftmaster LE a CS twist as well. Now that I have most of the parts, I will see if I can make it interchangeable. i.e. extra set diffs and gears to trade out if I want to try CS or regular AWD drifting. (I already figured out a way to get parallel steering in my LCG. (I'll have that later on the blog.)

So now there will be two simultaneous CS builds. Project CS Cyclone (Belt) and Project CS Driftmaster (SD).... updates soon!

Pre-Team Arai, May 14, 2005

Today a friend of mine asked me if I was still into RC Drifting. And funny thing, I told him, I am really into it right now. Honestly a few months back I was kind of getting a little bored, but working on this Counter steer style really rejuvenated my enthusiasm for the hobby.

I started in mid-2004, but really started getting into it, when I visited Arai in '05. Back then there wasn't even a Team Arai and I felt so much pride when I could do one good lap at Arai. Now, that I feel like I am almost starting over with the Counter-Dori, that I thought it would be cool to dig up an old video from 3yrs ago.

Another thing that is funny is, thinking back I really disliked a lot of things I really like now. Like Yokomo single ring tires, front one-ways, and solid rear diffs. These are things that make it really fun now!

(I'm driving the Chrome S15, Rob is in the White RX8, and Katsumi in the Red 86... I think)


Gotta give props to my old school mentors like Nate, Evan, Ben, Bob, Scot and the rest of the guys. Most of these guys don't RC drift any more, but I wonder if they saw this new Counter-Dori, if they would pick it up again?
I know Ben is back for some Counter-Dori !

Well tomorrow is another test day at Arai, hopefully, I will have something good to report on Monday!

Chop, chop, a new battery tie down...

After trying a few more things to balance out the corner balance, I decided to replace the stock plastic battery tie-down for something with a little more weight. I looked around for some material and came up with this old piece from a AEM fuel rail. Since it was nice and smooth, I thought it might make a good replacement.

So after a little chopping and grinding, this is what I got...

Finally an improvement

After trying out a bunch of suspension tricks. I decided to counter weigh my car. From past experience with my well tuned Yokomo Driftmaster, I decided to see where I was at on my Cyclone. To my surprise it was really unbalanced. I never really noticed it too much with a normal drift set-up but since I am still learning the driving technquice on countersteering, the imbalanced really seems to mess up the predictablity of the car in transition. The main reason seems to be, I am now using Lipos in my Cyclone (before I only used the Lipos in my Yok, and Ni in my HPI) . To help counteract the weight, I increased the number of 10g weights I had behind my battery. I ussually just used one, but now I think I have like 7...LOL!


But after testing it out today, I think this really made an improvement. The car is much more predictable and I have a lot more confidance swinging the car back and forth. Rear traction is improved and the counter-steer is definately still there too. I think I am on the right track again... ( I even moved my electronics around to help out on the balance)



Today I could easily do nice Countersteer figure 8s. (not at max counter yet though...)

Back to the tuning.

After watching more D-Like videos, I am determined to start tuning my Cyclone. At the last test, it seemed like the rear didn't have enough grip. So after trying a few suspension set-up tricks, I decided to try a slight gear ratio change. I am now trying a 23/33 (instead of the 32). I also changed the 64P to a more durable and slightly higher 80/17T gearing set up.

Well see how that goes.
I have also been playing around with the front steering some more. Seems like if I put the end ball links on top instead of the bottom, the Ackerman effect is less. So, I'll also give this a try too...
But, I did notice with the arms on top (instead of the bottom) there is more toe out when the front squats...

GReddy R35 GTR Replica complete...

Here it is after all the masking...


Pretty happy about how it came out =)