Hello Komodo

KOMODO Review –
So as luck would have it, I have in my possession, not one but two Gmade Komodo kits. One RTR, and one half built. I have wanted one of these RC’s for a while now, and I have two. Today I’m going to dive into first looks, and first run.

When I look at the Komodo I am impressed first off with the body, and the attention to scale detail. Gmade provides you with most scale items you’d find on a weekend warrior, mild trail truck. All ABS style plastic scale parts, as the body is a thick lexan mold. The frame is chrome, and shiny, not my favorite, but what can you do? The axles are light, and smaller than your SCX10 axle housings which is a benefit to wheelers that drive on big rocks. The links are short, but provide ample articulation for such a short set up. The wheel base is about 11″ from center hub to center hub.   

The electronics box is a great scale idea looking like an engine. There’s an enclosure to keep dirt and dust off you RX, and a platform to mount your ESC. The back has two braces and reusable zip ties to hold your battery into place. The drive shafts are that plastic you’ve come to know very well, and look like they maybe the first upgrade in my opinion. The transmission is all enclosed with plastic gears, with out an option for metal ones, this maybe the breaking point of this RC.
 
So, with both Komodo’s the shocks that came with the Komodo kit were swiped, and stock Axial shocks and RC4WD Kings were left on the frames, so I can not tell you about how good the Komodo stock shocks are or not. The stock tires and wheels came with one kit and none on the other. I have not used the stock tires or wheels as I write this, as they are sitting on the bench under another project. I decided to use the best stock set-up I had to give the Komodo a true honest review. I prefer to have traction, so I threw on my favorite Pitbull tires the Rock Beasts wrapped around Boom Racing’s Krait wheels.
 
For electronics I used the Axial AE-5 and my Spektrum. I charged up my 3S 2200 and headed to my wheeling spot at Hard’ack. At first first pull I knew I had a little speedster on my hands. She snapped the left front tire up, and I sighed as I knew I was in for a long day of learning how to drive with extreme torque twist again. I didn’t let it bother me to much, as I jumped the Komodo off the rocks and dirt mounds, and watching it launch with ease made me smile. I tooled around some of the usual spots and watched it struggle where I normally crawl right up. I had a few spots I wanted to hit to see how it faired in a wheelers play ground. 
  
I had some fun trying to get that long Ford body through the steep spots as the bed dug holes where you normally don’t deal with on a wheeler. Once I learned how to drive with a big body, lots of power, and torque twist I found myself smiling, as this little Komodo impressed me more and more. I was climbing spots very well, getting through area’s I shouldn’t have been able to go through. I think the extra horses may have helped with that! But alas, it was those same horses that ended my first run with a stripped gear. Whoomp whoomp. 
I have a list of upgrades that Gmade makes for the Komodo and will get them as soon as I can. I also will be trying the transmission flip to get the motor up front rather than in the rear to help eliminate the torque twist. It really is worse than any other rc’s I have wheeled. The only down fall that I have seen, and possible draw back is there are no metal transmission gears…. So, we shall see.   

First impressions are this is a cool, and stable rc! On a scale adventure rig I’d give it an 8.5 with a combination of scale appeal, rock solid performance on mild trails, and fun factor is why I give it a higher rating. 
For wheelers I give it a solid 4.5, it would be a 5 but not even a full battery and it stripped a gear. 
My plans are simple, take this adventure scale style rc and turn it into a capable wheeling machine. A few subtle changes and I think this Gmade Komodo can be a force on the big boy terrain. That is all based on hoping the transmission can handle the abuse. If not, another makers transmission may find it’s way onto this RC. 
Overall rating is a 6.5 I would recommend the G-Made Komodo to any RC’er beginner to vetran wheelers. I feel there is a ton of potential with the Komodo, and plan on proving that this summer! I’ll be posting updates and more reviews in the coming months. 

  

Boom Racing’s Knuckle Conversion.

Hey gang!! Well, it’s very rare that I blog about a part, or parts, but I feel that is going to change! I have a new product that I was excited to try out, loved the results, and decided it was blog worthy!

Boom Racing has delivered on a product that I think everyone needs to take a look at! I was trolling their website when I saw this little no big deal picture of some funny looking hubs, and links. I clicked on the description and all it said was, Front Hub Conversion for SCX10. So, I said. Well, that looks like it may be a sweet setup and may give me more steering. In the cart it went, a week later it arrived at my door step!

 

Boom Racing’s C-Hub Comversion

 
As you can see in the picture, I am attaching these new knuckles to my PHAT axle and aluminum C-Hubs. The install was harmless, as most are, and went together without an issue. The links, ball ends, all fit perfectly. I had them mounted up and ready for servo hook up in less than twenty minutes.

Oh, she can steer alright

Up next was installing the wheels and tires. I chose to use the new Krait Sandstones’s for this build, and Pitbull RCX Rock Beasts. “Smaller tires make better drivers” – Desmond Mooney 

One thing you want to remember is that the new knuckle arms are straight out, so your tire may rub the rodennds. To help offset that rubbing; using a wider hex hub may be on the list of needs. Check Traxxas, Axial, Boom, KNK Hardware, for some wider hexes.

Here below in this picture is the Boom Racing Knuckle Conversion, and the coveted XRMOD. The steering angles are close with XRMOD edging out with a full spring to spring touch, while Boom’s is just a touch shy of the full spring to spring touch.  Plus, the XRMOD has many more advantages than most steering set ups. 

Boom conversion on left, XRMOD on the right.

First impressions are everything with me.If anything these new Boom Racing Knuckles do, is help over stock steering and for a great price. I have used these hard, and at one competition already and they have not failed me yet. I am very happy and would recommend them to anyone looking for a budget benfit steering up grade! 

48 Hour Challenge part 2

Second update coming to you from the Vermont Scale RC Studio!!! Progress?? I think so!! I have been slacking hard this month, but with a new shipment of parts, I have been forced into build mode!

There have been a few changes, and with that comes new challenges! The best part of building a custom chassis, is figuring out where everything will go, and how it will all work.

  
  
With the CBE RC FAB Switchback chassis and Shock Gear towers on, and Boom Racing Transmission in and the Holmes Hobbies 13t Crawl Master bolted up, we move onto hanging the axles. 

For this years 48 Hour Challenge I decided to use some new products and see how they hold up to 48 Hours of constant abuse. I decided to use the PHAT™ axles from Boom Racing. Weighing in at 180grams, these steel axles will give me a forced COG. I am making this build a belly dragger, and to have a high center of gravity is a no go. 

  
For suspension I decided to run 90mm & 100mm Type I shocks from Boom Racing as well. I have used this shock setup once on another build and it has served well on the trails of Vermont and the Griptastic rocks in Nevada. I’m not 100% sure why this set up works well for my driving style, but it just seems to work well for me. 

We have the ride height set, and the shocks are exactly where I want them. The CBE RC FAB shockgear towers just rule the tune-ability factor! Digging them a lot, and I like that I can easly get to them to change shock postion if need be. 

  

Up next is battery the battery plate. With all the options on locations from the Switchback Chassis I was able to mount my battery in a place I normally couldn’t. I actually dig this spot a lot. Keeps the balance centered, and low. The BPC battery mount is my favorite by far and is staple piece in all my RC’s. All I did was mount the tabs from the plate too the top of the integrated link risers on thr chassis! Easiest mount to date!  

 
In the next install, we cover body, lights, and accesories!! The 48 Hour Jeep is coming together and ready for some action!

454

I wrote this in 2010, and thought I’d share it with you all .

 

454

I can tell you to the day to the time to the year why 454 is such a significant part of my life. It brings me to a moment in time where my father and I enjoyed a common interest and a love for machines, horse power, and we got along.

My father and I didn’t have a lot in common when I was younger. I mean we watched some football a little bit of racing and that was it.  He was from the old school and I wanted no part of it. Stubborn should have been his name, to this day he still holds that line. Though as miserable as his moods can be, he was always there for me, no matter what. As I write more and more I recover more memories of my father, good memories. Dad always made time for us, whether it be for practicing for baseball, taking us swimming at Metcalf pond, keeping us outdoors with fishing and hunting, playing with us or making us warm chocolate pudding on random nights. My father was the ONLY one that wrote to me once a week when I was sent away to Job Corps for 2 years at 16, but, that’s another story all together.

When I was living with my mom, dad would try and keep me involved in his life and keep me out of my mother’s hair for her sake. He always brought me to the Johnson Mud Boggs (JMB). This truly was the one thing I enjoyed doing with my father. There were no stupid questions, there was no stress, and we had a good time. The very humble beginnings of the JMB were amazing. Just a bunch of good ole boys and girls hanging around the mud pit in the middle of a corn field watching the competitors try there best to trudge their way through the 150ft pit of quagmire. There were some real intense moments of watching these trucks claw their way through the mud. Very few made it through, an occasional big tired high horse powered truck would make it through. This was an event one should truly witness first hand, up close and personal.

So the ensuing years at JMB changed, I can remember the first year they put up the fence. Just a bunch of telephone posts sticking up out of the ground about 4ft. This was our new place to watch the trucks. We were now about 20-25 yards from the actual mud pit up on a bank. This year there were some other changes as well. The truck-pits area where the competitors conveyed was across the mud pit parallel to the bank we sat on. It was a wall of RVs and tents. You really couldn’t see any of the trucks like you used to. The one thing that didn’t change was the mud pit. The pit was still an unruly slop pile for these trucks. We watched the competitors go as hard and as fast as they could. Try as they might they couldn’t make it through the pit. One by one they got the chain attached to the bulldozer and dragged out. It was getting a little stale; it looked like no truck was able to claw there way through the big mud hole. Some made valiant efforts with some high-speed attacks and earth throwing tires.

I hear a mumbling over the crowd as the announcer started talking over the loud speakers excitedly. My father leans over to me, slaps my head playfully as he was sitting behind me and says, “Get ready.” “Ok.” I replied goofily. I was not really paying attention, I do that a lot according to my father. The announcer was saying some kind of gibberish over the loud speakers, and then I heard it. WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble, WHOOM! Echoed through the air of the field we all sat in. My eyes grew wide with curiosity. I’ve heard some loud trucks, but never like this. “What is that?” I ask excitedly to my father. He replies with a cool smirk, “You’ll see.” WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble, WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble, as it coasted through the pit area. I couldn’t see it, I could only hear it and see the dust clouds it caused as it drove through the pits. WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble. My anticipation level was rising with every sound of that engine. WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble. I was shaking now I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to see that truck, and the excitement was almost too much for me. I was 16 and I never got goose bumps and chills like this. What is it?! I knew my father was getting excited as he slapped me on the back with a hoot. WHOOM! WHOOM! WHOOM! Around the corner she came, WHOOM! As she announced her presence, the crowd responded with a thundering howl! This truck was beautiful, Candy Apple Red 32’ Ford Deuce Coupe body, chrome pipes coming off the side of the engine, exhaust flying out of the pipes, WHOOM! She stated with authority. I have never seen anything like it before, it looked like a drag racer with paddle tires. The rig affectionately named “Deuces Wild” came to the staging line, WHOOM!! WHOOM!! You could not hear the announcer over the noise of this truck and the screaming from the crowd. My fathers screaming at me, “Don’t blink Trevor, Don’t blink!” “Why?” I said to myself? I wasn’t going to blink either way. WHOOM! WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble, as she cleaned out the carburetor. The flag man called her up to the line, WHOOM! WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble. She was set and ready to go. What was this truck going to do, it’s going to be bad ass either way! The flag goes up, and like slow motion in a movie he dropped the flag.

I honestly can’t put into perfect words as to what happened next. That truck took off like a rocket! WHOOOOOOMMMMMMM! WHOOM! Rumble, rumble, rumble rumble, rumble, rumble, WHOOM!! The pass was done!? Deuces Wild was through to the other side in seconds. My first words were “HOLY SHIT!” (Which I’m not sure my father heard.) As the whole crowd went ballistic! I looked at my father with disbelief on my face and that fool was on the ground laughing his ass off. “That was amazing!” I screamed over the crowd at him. He just shook his head in agreement while laughing. Rumble, rumble, rumble as Deuces Wild went back to the pit with her head held high. Not a spot of mud was on that truck, just the rear tires, the front ones were not even on the ground. As the crowd settled back down into a low roar the announcer came over the big speaker and said, “Did you see that? What just happened?” The announcer went on to tell us that Deuces Wild just set a new world record with that run. 3.2 seconds in 150ft of mud. Everyone screamed at her success in Vermont. We had claim to the title for awhile anyway. I return my attention to my father, he had a big ole grin on his face and I say to him, “What was that?” He replied with a glisten in his eyes, “That was a 454 big block with some serious motivation.” I just shook my head with uncertainty as to what a 454 big block was. He explained to me that it’s one of the biggest Chevy engines ever made and they were made to haul ass. I smiled at that, I told him someday I will have a 454 in my Chevy.

I guess on that day I looked up to my dad in a new way. Like a friend I guess, we were able to just talk and there was no awkwardness. The rest of the day he explained to me about all these new types of mud trucks that were there. He brought me down to the pits and we got to see some of the big trucks. Took some pictures and met some of the drivers. It was an amazing time. One I will always remember. The year they cancelled the JMB broke my heart on so many levels. That great bonding experience I had every summer with my dad was gone. All the conversations, friendship and goofing off we did were going to suffer greatly. I knew what was going to happen next. We would grow apart, I would become disinterested in spending time with him or any family member for that matter and want to spend more time with my friends. Now as an adult, I find myself reliving all the good times I had with my dad through writing. I will sit hear and type while I’m crying, laughing or getting mad and all the nice emotional releases that come with writing. This will be the first time I will let any of my family members read anything I write. It’s a start and maybe I will open up a little more and let some more family in.

In closing I want to thank you dad, Calvin (Butch) Norris Rushford for giving me life and freedom. You may have had a hard time with me growing up, you taught me valuable lessons that I use for my kids today that I didn’t see until I got older. You were firm and impossible at times, we may not have seen eye to eye, ever, but you are my father and I love you.

Ps Thanks for all the great times in the mud, be it in Johnson, Essex, hunting or trips in your old Jeeps. My heart lies in off-roading because of you. Love ya dad.

 

48 Hour Challenge Build part 1

It’s that time of the year where I start my build for the 48 Hour Challenge. Last year’s 48 Hour Challenge we used Axial Racing’s CRC JK Jeeps. These Jeeps were bone stoack, minus a few changes, like Pitbull Tires, battery relocation, and Team KNK Hardware. Some waterproofing and winches were added, and we went for it. We succeeded and so did the Jeeps. 

  
This year is a little different, and we are building new rigs, and some are bringing bone stock rigs. There were four drivers last year, this year, who knows!! 

This build series I’m doing is going to be the accumulation of past experince and new build setups. 48 Hours give’s you a long time to know what works, what needs to be changed, and what is total garbage. So, I am using some staple sturdy products, and trying some new stuff. I will start with the chassis, and start from there.

This years platform is based of CBE RC FAB, chassis called Switchback. I wanted to use this chassis for a few different reasons. The tuneability in this chassis is huge. It has tons of options for the builder in you. It can be used for the wroncho style builds, stocker, class 1, modified; so many options.

Switchback V1

This is the first version of the Switchback I am building off of, version two is almost released as of this writing. As you can see the chassis has a ton of tunibility and options for your building needs.

I also required some of CBE RC FAB’s newest release of shock towers. These new designs which I call – Ritz men – are beefy, big, and ready for real work. These towers are also made for tons of adjustability.  

 

With everything coming together fairly easily, I decided to make things a tad more difficult by adding a front motor/transmission mount design. I selected the R2 Transmission from RC4WD for these duties. I’m not 100% if these transmissions are capable of withstanding 48 Hours of abuse, but I am going for it. The R2 transmission bolted perfectly to the Switchback   chassis, and I was able to mount the shock towers right into the transmission too.  

 

RC4WD R2 mounted to the front.

  

The rear shock towers by CBE RC FAB.

 

So, with last year in mind, and remembering that the plastic was getting fatigued by the end of the 48 hours, I decided to go with metal links, 12.3″ solid one piece links to be exact from Boom Racing. The links are on their way. I like the one piece design for long runs, as rod ends and plastic wear down and may make the days longer by having to fix them. One piece, bolt up, and forget. 

I also have to have serious sturdy armor for the old Jeep body. So I went with ScalerFab’s pro series bumper. I am a fan of these bumpers, and how well they are built and how strong they are. 

Scalerfab.com pro series bumper

This is as far as I have gotten on this build. Waiting on some parts and pieces to get the next wave of building underway. Thank you for reading and following, and we’ll see you on the trails!

Wheels down, throttle open,
Trevor 
 

Taking a stand

The Year of the Wolf – Taking a Stand
We all have some kind of point in us that makes us finally have to take a stand on something we believe in, or pushes our backs against the wall, and we are forced to take a stand. Too many people are worried about their brand, or what others think, or are in fear of using their voice…. 
What makes us so afraid to stand up for the not so popular choice? Why should our belief in something be put to the test? Why do you feel like your stand doesn’t matter?? 
The masses are why. The sheep have a fear of their own; independence. So, they stay away from that scary mind-set, and they ridicule those that see something different than the rest. They hide behind the masses and cast stones, and hate with NO real substance other than fear and jealousy. Envy brings out the worst in everyone, even the so called best get bit by the envy beast. 
When you stand alone, it can be scary, it can be lonely when you look around and see you have no friends. This is where the change, the better part of your life is going to begin..
Not all is bleak as it is implied when you stand alone. This is where I’ve personally found a new lease on life, a free cleanse of dead weight and stress. When you stand up for what you believe in, you show a side of you that others can respect, and appreciate. So, then you will see some will stand with you, for you, and for your belief’s because they believe in you, and your reasons. You also can see the BS in people now, it gives you clarity and discernment. That to me is the best lens to have, keeps life simple.
Standing alone is NOT a punishment, rather it’s freedom, it’s a place to put your foot down, build your platform, and let everyone know who you are and where you stand! Yes, you may lose friends, but were they your friends to begin with? Yes, you may get judged, but don’t you get judged on a daily basis by just being you? What’s more important to you; what the masses think of you, or breaking free of the norm, and becoming the person you are meant to be? 
The choice is simple….
#theyearofthewolf #motivationalMovement #radiocontrolledeastcoast #community #love #brotherhood #familyiseverything #sheepareweak #stayoncourse #neverstray 

 

Mega – 6 Build-A-Blog #2

Last I left you, I was starting on my Shred The Ledge purpose built Mega-6, my version of what I would build to compete at the toughest course in the US. This build is stealing most of it’s life from my old build called Dos Notcher. No new name for this build yet, but I’m sure I’ll have one soon. 

 I wanted better steering for this big pile of metal and rubber, so naturally I went with the already in place XRMOD axle. Inside this gem lies locked OD gears, TJRC axle tubes, Vanquish Chubs and Knuckles, and RPM rod ends to complete the power portion of this axle labed by my friend Ben as “Currie Killers”.

XRMOD

 
Steering is done, and over. A high torque servo will get the call to move the Pitbull Madbeasts or Rock Beasts around. With the front basically all done, I turned my attention to the shocks. I wanted something that was easy to use, and predictable, and have a lot of tuneability. I dialed up Boom Racing and ordered three sets of the Boomerang Type I shocks in 100mm.  I enjoy these shocks a lot, and look forward to running them on my Mega-6. 

Boom Racing Type I shocks

The next thing I work on will be the transmission. I have a few idea’s of what I want, and how to achieve it, but I won’t bore you with the details of that. Just know, if you want a HD Machine, you will want HD power, and parts, so only the strongest will work for this build. I will keep you updated on that. 

That’s it for this Build A Blog series, short and sweet. A lot of ADHD people are saying, phew, glad that’s over! Haha Try writing it!! 

Check back soon!

Trevor

Parts used:

Boom Racing – Boomerang Type I shocks 100mm

TJRC Products. Find them on Facebook – Narrowed axle tubes for an XRMOD

Mega – 6 Build-A-Blog #1

I am starting to blog about my builds as best as I can keep up with. So today, I will start with my Mega-6 build. Mega-6 is a class specific 6×6 for the Shred The Ledge events.

I built a badass RC, called Dos Notcher for an event called The Fix hosted by the Recon G6. Now that the event is over, I parted out the build, and most of it has found it’s way onto my Mega-6 build. 

Dos Notcher in Nevada

With most 6X6’s the steering is my big issue, I like a rig to turn when I need it too. So with that in mind, the XRMOD is in place. With TJRC’s help, I was able to get my XRMOD on, and working flawlessly. I also put the OD in the front axles to help get a tad bit more fromt tire wheels speed.
Suspension was a concern as well. With so many options, different styles of driving, and limited flex compacitiy, I decided to branch out and try some different set-ups. The front was easy, stock locations, standard 90mm size will do the trick. The rear got a boat load easier as Woodchuck RC LLC, listened to what I wanted, and created the 4-Wood™ link set up. Basically it’s a two-way four link, so I can run a true four link set up on my rear axles. After setting that up, the rest was easy. 

WCRC’s 4-Wood™

 
With the 4-Wood™ link set up was a breeze. I used CBE RC FAB’s latest steel link risers to get that extra stability when climbing. I also used the CBE RC FAB shock keys to help with shock set-up. There is a lot of tubeability with these, and it is still under testing conditions.

CBE RC FAB Steel Link Risers

We also needed some body armor, and what better body armor is there than Scalerfab.com’s pro series bumpers?! I used their beefy front rock piercing badboy for The Fix, and because of it’s stud preformance is why it has found it’s way onto the Mega-6 build. Up next for it will be some sliders for some much needed undercarriage protection. 

Scalerfab’s Pro Series front bumper

For the next build-a-blog I will talk about the power plant, gearing, transmission choices, and winches. 

Thanks for reading, and feel free to ask questions,  leave comments or whatever. 

  
www.radiocontrolledeastcoast.com

 

The 48 Hour Challenge, Crawl for a Cause

The 48 Hour Challenge, Crawl for a Cause presented by: Radio Controlled East Coast

Words by: Trevor Rushford @vermont_scale_rc IG

Photos by: Anthony Kaplon – @torktastic IG

On Memorial Day Weekend, May 23rd – 25th, four people set out on an adventure, a cause, and a record. The Green Mountain State aka Vermont, held court for a 48 hour straight remote control endurance that would raise money for a local RC friend affected by cancer and at the same time, attempt to set a new Guinness World Record. The men that stepped up for the challenge are; Robert Kuck III (38), Kolton Rushford(15), Randy Berteau(38), and Trevor Rushford(40). The 48 Hour Challenge, Crawl for a Cause challenged the drivers mentally, physically, and emotionally, and they pushed through with grit and purpose.

Of course they couldn’t have done this biblical sized event without the help of Axial Racing!! Axial donated four solid SCX10™ 2012 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited C/R Edition platforms! These Jeeps had a tall order ahead of them, an ‘unrealistic goal,’ some thought, ‘not possible,’ others said, but the the 48 Hour Team believed in Axial’s products, and knew that these Jeeps were not only going to make history, but they were going to do so in STOCK RTR format.

The terrain was not some flat ground, race track, beach, or street… There was only one terrain that seemed right and fitting to hold this challenge; a ski resort. Bolton Valley Ski Resort actually. Bolton is home for a lot of people and companies like The 4X4 Center’s Michelin Winter Driving School. Bolton Valley is a place that cares about their community of Vermonters, so it was the perfect location to introduce the cancer community to the RC community. The plan was simple…To RC up and down the Mountain for 48 Hours straight. All the while picking the hardest lines, roughest trails, exploring the mountain like never before, and at the same time raising money for their friend Marc Breer! All of this was going to be true scale, the 48 Hour Team was not allowed to touch their Jeeps other than to fix brokn parts, or change batteries. If they got stuck, rolled over, the team had to winch, use their Bull Rope RC tow straps to tug, or flop over with no use of hands.

The beginning was easy and exciting as the boys started off the official 48 hours at 9:15am May 23rd 2015. Everyone that came for the first morning to support and wheel were ready to roll out with the 48 Hour team. The Axial SCX10’s were primed with their 10000mah Venom Battery packs, and were hitting the ground hard with their Pitbull tires. These Jeeps were climbing around the mountain with ease. The SCX10’s held their ground on the mountainous terrain the mountain offered. The 48 Hour Team started their first two hikes on what they call “The Fire Road.” It’s about a two-mile hike straight to the top where there is a windmill and watch tower. With over 5,000 acres to RC on, the 48 Hour Team were not going to run out of places to explore.

After a few battery packs through the SCX10’s the crowd started to whither down with the sunset. That’s when the 48 Hour team got to work. They suffered a little set back when Kolton Rushford rolled his ankle and could no longer walk the mountain. Upset, and derermind, Kolton asked The 48 Hour Team to set him up in a chair at base camp, where he wheeled the rest of the 48 hours on some rocks. Later, The team snacked on some dinner while changing batteries, turning the lights on, then rolled back up the mountain for the first night run of the 48 Hours.

“The first night was the hardest night,” said  48 Hour Team member Trevor, who nodded off while walking up the mountain. During the late night hours, Rob suffered, from what he called “old man knee syndrome,” and decided to hold up at base camp with Kolton. Rob wanted to last until the very end, so he took a few laps off from walking, and wheeled at base camp as well.  Which really helped the team with battery charging and food. With all that going on, Randy and Trevor continued the first night trek up and down Bolton Valley resort. The night was lit by Phoenix Design LED’s, and Axial pods. Randy and Trevor ran one trip up the mountain with just the lights on the Jeeps, no head lamps. “One of the coolest things I have ever done with an RC,” said Randy.

After the first night, the rest of the 48 Hour Challenge went by like a breeze. Rob rejoined the trek up and down the mountain as well as a lot of different people supporting the cause and team. The Axial SCX10 Jeeps held their own, and held it in true Axial fashion. They blasted through mud, water, rain, SNOW, temperature fluctuation, and extreme elevation changes. The stock 27t Axial Brushed motor pulled these Jeeps up and down the mountain with stock gearing and all for the full 48 hours. The beast AE-2 didn’t fade once as it pulled power from the Venom batteries all day and all night without breaking a sweat.

Not to drag-out the full 48 hours out here, we ‘ll say that the 48 Hour Challenge was a huge success!! With all four Team drivers hiking the mountain the last couple of hours with the SCX10’s, which was the icing on the proverbial cake. With approximately 96 miles on the Axial SCX10’s, Pitbull tires, Venom Batteries, CKRC Hobbies accessories,Team KNK Hardware, and Bull Rope Rc tow straps, the 48 Hour team was ready for the ultimate ending. With a pause at the top of the mountain to reflect on the full 48 hours, the boys took one last look around at the mountain. All the emotions caught up with them, all the reasons this was bigger than anything they have ever done individually came rushing to each of them. With some tears in their eyes, for their own reasons, the 48 Hour Team headed down the mountain one last time, soaking up the first real warm sunshine in three days. Even with sore muscles, swollen ankles, blisters, chapped lips and cracked skin, you couldn’t wipe their smiles off as they crossed that final line at 48 hours and 3 minutes; 9:18am May 25th 2015

In the end, the event raised a lot of money for the cause, and that was their main goal in the 48 Hour Challenge, Crawl for a Cause. The 48 Hour team received a lot of support from their local community as well as these sponsors which include: Pitbull Tires, Axial Racing, CKRC Crawlers, Venom Batteries, Team KNK Hardware, Bull Rope RC, Soul Crusher Graphics, JCM RC Customs, Woodchuck Designs, and Torktastic Media. These companies helped the entire 48 Hour Team throughout the process which started seven months prior to the Memorial Day Weekend event. The entire team wants to say thank you to every single person involved with making this dream become a reality. Cancer sucks, and if we all have a chance to help in anyway possible, what’s stopping us?

A huge thank you goes to Bolton Valley Resort for letting the 48 Hour Challenge achieve the goals, and to use their mountain for a play ground! Thank you to Axial Racing for being there to support the 48 Hour Team with these fine SCX10 C/R JK’s. The 48 Hour team is very pumped to have been apart of RC history while wheeling the FINEST RC’s on the market today!

Super PUMPED!!!

I haven’t blogged in a minute, so lemme get on that right now. I’m super pumped for so many reasons right now!! Let me try to explain it all to you with out to much ADHD style writing…. Good luck.
First, I do a lot for the rc community. Period. I do more than the average guy I’d say. I’m not looking for an attaboy or a pat on the back. I do this because I believe in this community, and I have a passion for this hobby. I never ask for anything in return, and I just do what I do.
But when something happens that makes me smile, I tend to down play it, or say thank you and move on. Today though, I felt different, I felt a feeling I haven’t truly felt in a while, something that may not seem right for the emotion, I felt justified. Not that I needed that feeling, or was even questioning why I was doing this, because I was doing RC regardless. 
I had been contacted about a RC race series I do called King of the Scalers aka KOS from a magazine called Vermont Sports. We talked via email, I answered some questions, sent some pictures and that was the last I heard, until tonight when I decided to go check out the website. After a few flips of the virtual paper, I stopped on page 14 in shock! Right there in the middle of the page was one of my KOS pictures and a write up about the event and RC in general…
I was floored of course, but then came this thought – “Man, my hard work has been noticed and was respected enough to be in a magazine. I am doing something right!” Not sure where that came from but it felt right, and I got a recharge of need to keep pushing!!!
So with that super awesome exciting news, to me, I am ready to take on the world!!! But I’m tired so, I’ll take it on tomorrow!!! Full steam!!
Also up this weekend is Shred The Ledge!!!!! This is the second annual year end event! Last year we were blown away with how many people came and stayed, and enjoyed it!! This year is a lot closer, meaner, bigger, and will be better! We have an estimate of 100-180 people, but most likely will have 50… Haha that’s the pessimist in me. I like being wrong about these things, it’s almost become a game I play on myself.
But with months of planning, preparing, and tearing it up this is about to go down and it’s hard to focus on anything but STL when you have to wait! This week is going by pretty fast, mostly because I’m to busy to notice anything other than all the work I gotta do, 
With that said, I need sleep, and the rest of the week needs my full attention. See you at Shred The Ledge, or at KOS, or any other event real soon!
Trevor