Anybody who has followed my RC journalism over the last few years will already know I have more than a bit of a soft spot for home grown talent. From the very top flight off-road racers to the cream of British RC manufacturers, I'm just a sucker for products and characters that have been forged on this fair rock we call home. Now this is not to say I don't regularly 'tip my hat' to our friends overseas. I like nothing better than seeing a juicy new RC product from any part of the globe. But there is just something really magical about seeing what bursts out of the talent and knowledge of a country who if we are honest with ourselves, has lost its ability to keep up when it comes to other industries as far as manufacturing goes. Now we all know that cheap labour, easy access to materials, and generally lower running costs have been the catalyst for Britain falling behind in the international manufacturing market. We just can't financially compete with eastern countries in today's price sensitive and vastly fickle consumer world. That's why it always excites me to see design innovation and quality non-mass produced products from British RC companies. Enter stage left the latest storm to hit the off-road racing radar, the Rudebits DB1 2wd buggy conversion.
Now my recent excitement about this thoroughly refreshing and strangely enigmatic product is definitely two fold. I love the idea that the terminal chassis parts are designed and made in the U.K. I am also very happy to see that international super giants Kyosho have been served up with what can only be described as a new strand of quality DNA. I am always blown away by the legions of die hard Kyosho fans who I meet. Racers who have followed the brand since the days of their market tussles with Tamiya in the late 80's, racers who swear by the quality and performance of the legendary manufacturers quirky and user friendly products. Racers who run 2wd, 4wd, Short course, and stadium truck....you guessed it ALL Kyosho.
So, what would happen if we created a fusion of those two elements?. British manufacturing of the highest quality and non- mass produced super cool, teamed with a pedigree of RC history that spans nearly 25 years from our bench mark setting cousins over in the land of the rising sun? The answer to that my fellow off-road nuts is the Rudebits DB1.
Part Kyosho RB5 2wd, part Kyosho Lazer 4wd, with a liberal dollop of Rudebits family quality and science squirted straight down the middle. Some might say a combination that MUST succeed?....let's see what we have so far....
Far from a 'cut-and-shut' of two already highly successful platforms, the Rudebits DB1 aims to create a mutant beast that not only benefits from the world renowned quality of Kyosho parts and running gear, but also blows a cheeky British raspberry at other platforms when you lift the lid on this unique concept. A shaft driven 2wd?...that's what I said....a shaft driven 2wd....oh and by the way, the motor is positioned in the front third of the chassis as well!!
In an age where european racers are pretty much sold on the fact that 2wd mid motor geometry is faster on tracks with high traction, consumers are really spoilt for choice when it comes to what to spend their hard earned cash on. Every manufacturer worth their weight in carbon (or aluminium for that matter) offers not just a 2wd mid motor 10th scale buggy but also cars that can switch between this layout and a more traditional rear motor layout. So, we snap back in sharp focus to the kit that arrived with me this week, and we can already tell that for this product to hit the market at this time, with such a different approach as far as motor position and donor car transplant requirements, we must be dealing with something fairly special? You bet your shiny red locking wheel nuts we are ;)
The DB1 was chiefly designed to push the very boundaries of all other buggy platforms where we see the motor position being in front of the driven axles. Tony Evdoka, Rudebits boss and head of sales and marketing for the DB1 products commented,
"This buggy was never designed with any other intention than creating the fastest 2wd car out there, we never intended to create a commercial product, but a really top quality, fast, and interesting platform that is designed and tested by racers for racers"
Tony and the rest of the highly experienced DB1 design and testing team are no strangers to high pressure, fast and competitive race environments. Alongside Tony in this truly home grown process are the likes of off-road racing legend Kev Lee and Southern racing star and engineering expert David Burton. Slap these already heavy weight racers together with the names that cause shivers on any rostrum including the almost 'robotic fast' Elliot Boots, and it isn't hard to understand how the DB1 has pretty much blown a hole in any track it has touched over the last few months since its release.
The DB1 is already causing a stir within the U.K and the team report that sales of the conversion have also been really encouraging across the rest of europe. With truly 'hands on' support from the team behind the design and production of the conversion kit it is really refreshing to see a platform that not only benefits from nearly 100 years of combined race experience, but also a collection of characters who just ooze that personal touch when it comes to customer support. Kev Lee, who is the boss of Inside Line Racing, carries a massive stock of every item that is needed to complete your shiny new buggy. His team over at Inside Line, that also includes his wife, the lovely Anna, are fast to respond to customer queries and really make you feel like every penny you invest with them is well spent. Kev is an official Kyosho dealer so there is no fear of ever feeling like you can't get exactly what you need both during your build process and when you begin to run the car in anger.
The man who really has got his hands deep in the science of the birth of the DB1 is David Burton. Working largely behind the scenes for the last year or so, David has pretty much hand designed the entire platform from scratch. The team were in no doubt that his vast experience and years of dedicated race input were set to give them the very best opportunity in creating the fastest 2wd buggy in the world. For those readers who had not already realised, the DB1 has been given its name from David Burton's initials...in other words...it is officially the David Burton 1, cool fact.
The total package that Rudebits have presented to the off-road racing scene so far is definately testimony to their professional commitment towards fast and top quality products. The DB1's arrival has certainly shook up the race scene over the close of the 2012 outdoor season. Tony Evdoka won the F2 vets tital no less than 24 hours before this article was published, and you guessed it folks...with the DB1. Elliot, Kev, and David have all put in very solid results with the car and the noise around the pits at each event has been a steady murmer of respect and interest. As I embark on a really exciting winter series with my own DB1 buggy, I can only imagine how this truly unique platform is going to develop as we welcome more and more discerning race fans to the Rudebits DB1 family. Stay tuned for the very best reviews and reports as we get all DB1'd up over the coming months.
To learn more about how you can own this truly unique 2wd conversion kit visit here: http://www.rudebits.co.uk/
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