What is the definition of domination? Right now, it's Ryan Cavalieri and his Team Associated SC5M. Since its introduction in the summer of 2015 Ryan has not lost a race. With his 2016 ROAR National Championship, Cavalieri claimed his third National Championship in a row and claimed his fourth in the 2WD Modified Short Course class -- more wins in this class than anyone else. As a matter of fact, Team Associated remains undefeated in 2WD Modified Short Course National Championships. Dive in as we take a closer look at Ryan's SC5M and the details under the hood.
Inside Front End
The keen eye will spot the silver coloring of the #71009 Hard Front A-Arms along with the #91722 B6 Ballcups. The ballcups have proven to be smoother and more durable than the kit ballcups and work great with the Factory Team titanium ballstuds. To improve consistency, Ryan carefully glues the 4mm trailing axle inserts into the spindle to make the steering resolution more precise. Ryan also uses the optional #91637 54mm Gray Shock Springs to support the added weight of a short course truck. To set things off, Ryan custom colors his #1408 Factory Team Titanium tie rods gold for some added bling.
Aerial View
Here at left you get a great view of the very clean wiring setup and specific places for additional weight. Peeking out from underneath the battery is the #27304 Reedy LiPo Battery Weight Set to add weight right in the center of the chassis, yet keep it as low as possible. Ryan has also chosen to run his transponder all the way to the front of the chassis for every advantage in those photo finishes. Another small detail is the orientation of his ESC switch. By having it 90° from the direction of travel, it's less likely to turn off during a hard impact.
Outside Rear End
Again, Ryan has chosen to use many of the hard parts to stiffen up the flex of the truck, including the #71007 Hard Rear Tower, #71005 Hard Front Tower, and #71011 Hard Rear Arms. Ryan has also fine-tuned the weight bias using the #91523 Brass C Arm Mount. Ryan tuned his suspension using the #91640 72mm White Rear Springs.
Inside Rear End
Ryan has chosen to utilize the #91607 3-gear Gearbox to reorient the motor direction to provide less chassis roll for his SC5M. Behind the #91602 Black 3-Gear Motor Plate is the #91175 Factory Team VTS 3-Pad system. This helps control the power delivery, which is key in modified short course racing. If you look closely at Ryan's shock collars, you can see that he's notched them so it's easy to tell how much of an adjustment is made to the ride height. With ride height being such a sensitive adjustment, precision is key.
Body, Wing, and Tires
The JConcepts™ Illuzion Hi-Flow body is THE BODY to use on the SC5M. With its race-proven design and large rear vents, the body allows for the best jumping and handling while maintaining a realistic look. Additionally, the JConcepts Hazard +3mm front and rear wheels support the AKA™ Clay Typo tires that Ryan has used during this dominant streak of racing.
Gallery: Ryan Cavalieri's SC5M
