Schumacher Cougar SV2 - Advancing the 2wd science

In this next part of my Schumacher 'Drivers Diary' I will be taking a closer look at how Schumacher have tweaked the original, and highly successful Cougar SV kit. For those of you who may have either owned the original Cougar SV, or for those readers who have had the pleasure of watching one race, we all may ask the question "Just how do you improve on such an amazingly well produced platform". As we are all aware, Schumacher are definitely not a company who 'rest on their laurels' so to speak, and this latest addition of the National Championship winning chassis is bursting with cutting-edge technology that will give any racer, regardless of ability, the opportunity to experience decades of intense product development.

Who can argue with a buggy that looks this mean standing still?

As I begin my season long relationship with this specific Cougar SV2 kit, I couldn't help but notice the really tiny, and beautifully produced details as I built my shiny new buggy. As a good point of reference, here are the actual changes that Schumacher are very proud to promote have given the racing community the very highest specification Cougar to date. A total of  15 brand new refinements from the original Cougar SV!!

• NEW Hard anodised, laser etched, alloy chassis + 8mm longer. - Lower C of G, easier to drive.
• NEW Heavy duty, big bearing differential - Small diameter, lightweight unit offering low rotating mass.
• NEW 26 Piece red seal bearings - For longer bearing life.
• NEW Larger transmission bearings - Strong and reliable.
• NEW Interchangeable, CNC internal and external gears, with optional ratios - Optimise your gear ratios for all track conditions.
• NEW Strengthened rear wheel - Stronger, but still with industry standard wheel fitment.
• NEW Super strong steering levers, unique constant radius steering system  -  Offers true ackermann and linear steering response.
• NEW UJ Driveshafts - Longer bone and shorter axle for more traction - With the ability to disassemble.
• NEW Easy to assemble, rigid wing mount system - Stronger, with less wing flex.
• NEW Moulded gear cover - Better spur gear protection.
• NEW Super cool Alloy motor plate - Larger surface area offers better cooling and rigidity.
• NEW Sleek aerodynamic body and under tray design - New look and great functionality with minimum dirt pick up.
• NEW Rear wishbones - Offers more lower position shock mounting options.
• NEW Rear anti-roll bar - Better handling.
• NEW High Tensile Steel Turnbuckles.

Phew! That is some changes considering that the original Cougar SV is still fast as hell at the very highest level of competition. Having spent time with Tom Cockerill at the recent BRCA British Winter Open, and watching him put in some ballistic fast qualifying times with his Cougar SV2 pre-release proto-type, it would be foolish to think that we are all in for such dramatic improvements over night. Saying that though, when you actually analyse the list of advancements above, you can actually see that Schumacher are improving parts of the buggy that EVERY racer will see a benefit from, regardless of ability and experience.

The new chassis is a really wonderful example of quality aluminium crafting. Besides it's new super stealth look, the added 8mm length will bring the kit SV2 in line with the upgraded original SV chassis by adding that extra few millimetres to assist the buggy through bumpy section of track.

The added 8mm of length will see a benefit when you hit the rough stuff.

Any racer who has been anywhere near a Schumacher buggy over the last decade will be familiar with those super shiny purple topped shocks. In my humble experience they are still the nicest shocks to build on the bench. They go together perfectly and having built and rebuilt many many sets of these silky smooth beasts, I can safely say, they provide perfect adjustable operation, smooth non stick dampening action, and quick easy maintenance. The tapered springs on the Cougar SV2 are a really nice touch and whilst they undoubtedly help with some progressive spring performance, I would expect most racers who want to really 'dial' their kit into a specific surface to want the full spectrum of spring rates on hand in the pits.

Yes they are shiny purple and gold, yes they look lovely, and yes they work amazingly well. Top job Schuey!

The original Cougar SV saw most racers investing in several different top deck plates to help with 'flex tuning' whilst racing on different grip level tracks. The new SV2 gives a new level of rigidity in this area with a gearbox-to-top deck brace providing not just extra strength in the chosen area but also prosumably an option to run with the brace or without. It remains to be seen as to whether Schumacher will also bring out 'option flex' top decks for further tuning of rigiditry in this area of the buggy.

Added strength and rigidity provided by this turnbuckle style brace.

One issue that many racers I have spoken to found difficult to over look was the previous Cougar SV's method of covering and protecting the spur gear assembly. The previous method was by means of a moulded cover that was incorporated into the body shell. I myself found that this was a real 'sticking point' both metaphorically and in real terms with the shell getting snagged on the spur gear during removal of the body shell. Schumacher have come up with a really cool solution to this problem by providing not just a pre-cut bodyshell, that has the area in question nicely moulded to fit, but also a purpose designed spur gear cover that fits with just 1 small screw for easy maintanence work. A nice tiny feature of this area is how the rear body mount/shock tower spacer has a cute little slot machined out to assist with a very neat fitment of the spur gear cover...really nicely done guys :)

The new spur gear cover and a little view of the new alloy motor plate

Past owners of Schumacher products will be very familair with the really high quality machining and fitment tolerances with their race spec kits. I remember a few years ago whilst building a CAT SX II wondering why other manufacturers couldn't achieve such a perfectly harmonious fitment between the gearbox halves and their resting spot on the chassis. It's true to say that most of the major manufacturers are paying closer attention to consistant quality control in this area these days.Although I will say, until you have built a Schumacher buggy, and the SV2 is a brilliant example of this point, you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing such amazing precision. The SV2 allows the gearbox halves to 'nestle' perfectly in their resting position with the rear diff accessable by removing just 2 screws and lifting the rear assembly, wing, shock tower and all, straight out! No excuse for poor care at the rear end then folks ;)

The view that hopefully your fellow racers will be seeing more often than not.

The rear anti-roll bar kit that is included in the shipped SV2 fits in a traditional way to the rear wishbones by means of a 'mini turnbuckle' attatchment with plastic rod ends. The bar passes over the rear camber plate and is held in place by 2 very small plastic retainers. This method is both neat and easily accessible.

The refinements that we see in the new SV2 kit are both well thought out and practically designed to meet the demands of modern racers needs. Schumacher have become synonymous with precision manufacturing, easy to follow instructions, and driver friendly construction. The Cougar SV2 pushes the already solid format that Schumacher have created further...when we hear talk of modern super buggys, the Cougar SV2 seems to already fit that description straight out of the box.

So, the next stage for me and my SV2 is eagerly awaiting the pro-finished body shell to arrive and getting ready for the Cougar SV2's first official video appearance!!...stay tuned over the next few days as we get deeper into Project SV2 in the next installement of my Drivers Diary.

To get your hands on the new Schumacher Cougar SV2 visit: http://www.racing-cars.com