RELEASE: 2nd week of September
RC MAKER presents the next evolution in touring car design, the SP1! A new development from one of the best touring car drivers and RC MAKER owner, Ryan Maker. With over 20 years experience in the hobby and 8 years in the design and manufacturing industry, Ryan has always dreamed of creating his own vehicle. What was once an unattainable dream has become a reality over the last 2 years after thousands of hours of work. Here is the SP1, a touring car that challenges established concepts with an ultra-low center of gravity through a strut design with coilover technology.
The SP1 is designed for everyone. A car that is easy to drive right out of the box and offers excellent durability. The SP1 can be customized to suit any driving style and track condition through a variety of setup options and accessories.
CHARACTERISTICS -
Horizontal push rod damper design for ultra low center of gravity 19mm high top deck for ultra low center of gravity Lower arm anti-roll bar design for ultra low center of gravity, easy changes and adjustments Minimized chassis width and length for less ground contact Centrally located pinion and motor mounts Centrally located chassis components to reduce moment of inertia Composite upper arms with adjustable caster through inserts Aluminum differential housing for maximum heat dissipation Aluminum spool housing with same belt as the rear differential Adjustable differential height and belt tension via composite eccentrics Integrated rear belt tensioner and central recumbent shaft with anti-slip bearings (for Modified) Double ball bearing inner driveshaft couplings for maximum efficiency and cornering speed Race proven double ratios Integrated adjustable active rear axle steering Quick release battery system with adjustment in all directions Hard coated steel drive system for maximum durability All major components made from 7075 aluminum and carbon fiber for minimal weight and maximum durability High quality metal protective ball bearings throughout Nickel plated high quality steel bolts throughout Includes carbon fiber front bumper mount and battery mounts Includes 13g and 19g brass central chassis stiffening weights High quality Bando 351 belts made in Japan High quality damper springs and bladders produced by AXON Japan Horizontal push rod damper design
The limitation of shocks has always been the high center of gravity due to the upright design of the shock. Our horizontal shock is parallel to the arm, greatly reducing the center of gravity. As the suspension compresses, the turnbuckle connected to the rocker arm pushes the inner shock outward, providing compression. As the suspension compresses, the outboard mounting point of the shock is also compressed, compressing the shock from both ends. All aspects of this suspension geometry are highly tuned to achieve a progressive nature, similar to a traditionally placed shock.
Adjustability of the dampers is still available, in addition to the spring and oil. By adding or removing shims under the upper rocker arm ball stud, the leverage that the movement of the chassis has on the damper can be changed, making the entire suspension (spring and damping behavior) softer or harder. Of course, a full range of linear and progressive springs is available for traditional tuning.
Ride height is still adjusted using the rings, and there is no adjustment option for the length of the rocker arm as we have already tuned this to the sweet spot. The system has been kept as simple as possible and is intended to be as user friendly as a traditional setup, with some additional adjustment options available if desired.
19 mm high top deck for ultra low center of gravity
One of the most obvious features of the SP1 is the height of the top deck. Lowering the height of the top deck lowers the centre of gravity dramatically as it lowers several other aspects of the car at the same time. The bulkheads, bolts and engine mount are all reduced in height and so is the centre of gravity. Lowering the top deck also reduces rigidity; so the thickness of the top deck has been increased to 2.25mm to compensate for this.
forearm anti-roll bar design
The anti-roll bars have been placed as low as possible to lower the center of gravity. This system also allows the anti-roll bars to be changed and adjusted easier than ever before. The tweak is adjusted via the ball head screw under the arm simply by turning or loosening the ball pin (while attached). The open design of the anti-roll bar mounts allows for very quick thickness changes between the 3 included thick bars.
Minimized chassis width and length for less ground contact
The short chassis reduces drag, yet centralises the weight of all chassis components to reduce moment of inertia. The suspension arms are tapered so that the chassis remains short, whilst maintaining a normal wheelbase. This moves all bolts, ball pins and couplings towards the centre of the car. This makes the car more agile and allows for quick direction changes and turns in the corners for maximum cornering speed. The chassis is also very narrow, at just 82mm, and the profile has been minimised to reduce drag in the corners.
Composite upper arms with adjustable caster through inserts
Our composite upper arms are a "fixed" design for caster. This option is more user friendly and forgiving than the dual adjustment design found on some cars. The SP1 still has a wide range of caster adjustment through 2 different offset inserts that can be rotated to achieve 4 degrees of reach at either end of the car. Negative spread is adjustable via the special screw in the arm with a 2mm hex. The front ball head inserts have a built in adjustable body stop to prevent the body panel from contacting the tire and reducing speed.
aluminum spool and differential
Our 7075 aluminum spool and differential offer great durability at a low weight. The differential uses a typical spider gear design with internal dual bearings to keep the outdrives straight and with low friction. The pulley is anchored in the differential to minimize pressure on the bolts and case and is kept round by the support of the differential case. The spool has a typical lightweight design with key-shaped, bolt-on outdrives. Similar to the differential, the pulley is anchored in the spool to relieve the bolts of braking and driving force. Both the spool and outdrives of the differential are made from hard coated steel for minimal wear.
Adjustable differential height and belt tension
2 differential heights and 7 belt tension positions are available with our composite eccentrics. The eccentrics can simply be rotated after the upper bulkheads are loosened and snap back into place. They sit slightly loosely in the bulkheads to ensure the car can flex in those areas when in use.
Integrated rear belt tensioner and central shaft with anti-slip bearings
The SP1 has an adjustable rear belt tensioner as well as a central anti-slip shaft tensioner which is only used in Modified racing. The central tensioner is adjustable in strength and prevents the belts from slipping on the central pulley when heavily loaded in Modified racing. However, these add friction so we recommend using them only for Modified.
drive shafts
All major driveshaft components have a hard coating to ensure maximum durability. The driveshafts themselves are a traditional design that is manufactured to a high tolerance. The internal driveshaft couplings minimize friction and wear in the drive system. They prevent the suspension from binding while the drive system is under load, allowing the suspension to operate freely when accelerating, braking or cornering. The bearings also minimize wear on the differential and spool outdrives, allowing the entire drive system to last longer. While they are a nuisance to install, they are absolutely a performance-enhancing element of the vehicle.
dampers and springs
The SP1's dampers are manufactured from high quality, low friction components. The damper body features a diamond-like coating for reduced friction and minimal wear. This is crucial to keep the damper function as smooth and consistent as possible, even under the heaviest loads. They feature a modern design with the bladder integrated into the damper body for easy and air-free assembly. The bladder itself is made from a soft material and is manufactured by AXON in Japan. The SP1 has a full range of optional linear and progressive springs, also manufactured by AXON in Japan.
quick-change battery system
Battery installation is an important part of the car as it is a heavy component. The SP1 features easy-rotating tabs for quick battery changes. The kit includes carbon fiber battery hooks that can be retracted and extended for different battery dedications. The forward/backward movement of the battery can also be adjusted via the eccentric battery mounts. Simply loosen and rotate the mount to different positions to optimize the position or movement of the battery.
brass weights
Weight positioning is particularly important on mid-engine chassis. The SP1 has centrally mounted front and rear weights that are positioned in front of and behind the engine mount. These are made from brass and coated black. These are included in the kit as they are crucial in getting the car to the right weight and are also necessary to optimise the flexibility of the car.
High-quality hardware
The SP1 is fitted with high quality bolts and bearings throughout. The bolts are nickel plated, which not only looks good but also provides a robust and corrosion resistant coating, which is especially important for riders in wet areas. All washers are made from 6061 aluminium with black anodising.
production
The SP1 features a variety of components manufactured in Australia by RC MAKER as well as in Taiwan and China. All parts are manufactured to exacting tolerances and inspected before packaging.
Support
As with everything from RC MAKER, there is a great support network behind the SP1. When the SP1 hits tracks around the world, there will be public collaboration between RC MAKER, customers and team riders. This ensures help with setup, assembly or any issues that may arise. RC MAKER is committed to providing the best support for your SP1, no matter where in the world you are.
