LOSI 8IGHT-E 2.0
RACE ROLLER
The electric revolution is influencing all aspects of the hobby, but the real power
struggle is taking place at local tracks around the country. To get the scoop at the
grassroots level, I asked a group of weekend warriors at Pin Shop Hobbies in
Oakville, CT about their experiences running electric.
TRACK TALK
JARED KELLIHER
Years racing: 2
You’ve raced nitro,
but bought an elec-
tric for this season.
Do think electric
buggies have an
advantage out on
the track?
Yes, I do. The power
demand is amazing;
you can drive any
track a lot smoother,
no matter how big
the jumps or tight the
track. I like it
because I put down
faster lap times and
I’m more consistent
this year.
How has driving an
electric buggy been
different from a nitro
buggy?
The power delivery,
it’s right there all the
time. And with that, I
found it easier to do
technical sections
smoother. They’re
awesome in my opin-
ion; they can put
down faster lap times
DAVE MAFFUCCI
Years racing: 11
Do you think nitro
and electric should
race together?
I do. They are the
same vehicle with
different power sys-
tems. If you have a
problem with that,
why is it okay to
have someone run-
ning a budget . 21
against someone
with a ported and
blueprinted, hand-
tweaked race . 21? If
the vehicle is the
same, how you
power it should not
matter in an open
class.
You run electric
exclusively, why?
Lots of reasons; it’s
cleaner, it’s easier, I
like the quickness, I
enjoy that it’s quiet. It
just makes more
sense to me.
Tracking down
problems is logical.
No more nitromares.
I ran nitro truggy for
two years, so I know
the dark side well.
JAMES BUTLER
Years racing: 5
You’ve just recently
switched from nitro
to electric; how do
they compare?
As far as track racing
and gearing for an
individual track, nitro
and electric are
almost on the same
level. I feel that the
electrics get a step
up when it comes to
some of the little
nuances that you
encounter with nitro
such as tuning, flam-
ing out, etc.
Do you think nitro
and electric should
race together?
This is a tough one.
As far as survival of
the sport, in regard
to club racing, I feel
they have to race
together. You would
have a split down the
middle and not have
enough racers to fill
spots on race day. If
we are comparing
apples to apples,
electric should prob-
ably be separated
from nitro.
Which is more cost effective, nitro or electric? We went on a shopping
spree to find out. With the exception of the nitro engine (we tried to stay
within a reasonable price range), we picked out the best of the best for
both buggies. There’s no doubt you could get both of these Race Rollers
rolling with far less money spent, but if you started with no gear and
completely outfitted both buggies like a pro, this is what you’d shell out:
8IGHT-E 2.0 8IGHT 2.0
$900 $650
Included $220
n/a $75
n/a $100
$200 $400
$320 $320
$110 $110
n/a $50
$185 n/a
n/a $80
n/a $10
n/a $15
$1,715 $2,030
Base price Race Roller
Motor/engine
Starter box
Starter box batteries
Servos
Transmitter w/receiver
Charger
Receiver pack
Battery
Fuel ( 4 quarts)
Fuel bottle
Glow igniter
Total
JIM HANSEN
Years racing: 1
As someone new to
racing, why did you
choose to get start-
ed in electric?
The sound and
smoke of nitro is
cool, but the electric
is simpler and clearly
just as fast. Electric
is much less intimi-
dating. The sound of
nitro, as cool as it
sounds, does get old
after a while. I imag-
ine the constant tun-
ing would too.
What else do you
like about electrics?
I can tell you that I
much rather corner
marshal for electric
buggies. Specifically,
I much rather get hit
by an electric than a
nitro.
MARK RONGE
Years racing: 2
How is driving an
electric buggy different from nitro?
Driving an electric
buggy kind of
reminds me of driving
the 1⁄10-scale brushless buggies. This is
most likely due to the
power these things
lay to the ground. The
lack of a clutch or
slipper means I am
always getting the
same amount of
power to the wheels
at a given throttle
input. No more blip-ping to get the revs
up around a corner.
In-air corrections take
some getting used to;
if you are using the
motor as a brake, the
result is much more
violent than mechanical brakes, but easy
to master. Much less
throttle is needed in
the air to make corrections, as the torque
output is instant.
Has electric been
easier on your race
budget?
I found that initially,
electric is more expensive than nitro to get
up and running. This is
mostly due to the batteries. However, over
time, the cost of the
batteries pay for themselves compared to
buying nitro fuel and
supplies. I believe in
the long run, electric is
cheaper to use.
STEVE PALMER
Owner, Pin Shop
Hobbies, Oakville,
CT
As a hobby shop
owner and track
operator, how has
electric 1⁄8-scale fit in
with your nitro class-
es and what sort of
impact do you think
will electric 1⁄8-scale
have on the growth
of racing?
I feel that the 1⁄8-
scale electrics have
fit in well with our
nitro classes as long
as they have manda-
tory pit stops that are
regulated by a track
official. I think elec-
tric will have a posi-
tive impact on the
growth of racing, as
long as the cus-
tomers are willing to
invest their money
upfront. Electric rac-
ing has shown to be
easier for beginners.
Are electric racers
mostly veterans
making the switch or
new racers?
I feel electric racers
are both veterans
and new racers. I
think some veterans
make the switch
when they are tired of
the maintenance of a
nitro vehicle. I also
see new racers start-
ing with electric to
give them more focus
on the driving, with-
out having to worry
about the tuning.
VERDICT
The electric revolution is not only here, it’s well under way.
Leading the charge are companies like Losi who give mainstream credibility to the class and offer consumers nicely
designed and well-supported products that are easy to find
online and in hobby stores. The Losi 8IGHT-E 2.0 is such a nice
package, you’d think it was designed from a clean sheet rather
than being an electric 1⁄8-scale buggy. The 8IGHT-E 2.0 all but
guarantees success at the track, and it certainly provides the
foundation; all that’s left is for you to drive it. It jumps great,
turns with authority and gives up nothing to the competition.
SOURCES
Hyperion distributed by MaxAmps.com maxamps.com
JR Racing distributed by Horizon jrradios.com
Losi losi.com
MaxAmps.com maxamps.com
Pro-Line prolineracing.com
Spektrum spektrumrc.com
