Traxxas Nitro Sport: instant nitro excitement

The Nitro Sport includes an air filter with replaceable foam elements, a 75cc fuel tank with priming bulb and stadiumtruck racing rubber. The stock tires aren't exactly competition oriented, but they will provide adequate traction on loose dirt, gravel, grass and asphalt-the stuff backyard bashers usually race on.

The Nitro Sport's cone-dish wheels look great and will accommodate all standard 2.2-inch truck tires. The truck has its own five-piece tool set, so you'll need only a few additional tools to maintain it.

TEST EQUIPMENT

The Nitro Sport is available ready to run, with or without a Traxxas TQ 2-channel radio system installed. Our test vehicle arrived with the radio in place, and Traxxas was kind enough to provide a sharp-looking, custom-painted body, so I was able to get "Thrashing" in a hurry. The clear Lexan body includes die-cut window masks to make painting a snap.

PERFORMANCE

I did most of the "Thrashing" in my front yard and along my street. It's amazing how many adventures you can find right in your own neighborhood with a nitro-powered stadium truck and a little imagination.

The Traxxas EZ Start electric starter system takes all the intimidation out of operating a nitro vehicle. I didn't need to use the EZ Start that much, because the engine runs so reliably; I just kept adding fuel, and the Nitro Sport kept running. I ran the truck on grass, cement, gravel and dirt. It seemed content on all the surfaces, but with little provocation, it showed a tendency to spin out. I also noticed that it wandered a little when getting off the gas. I'm sure that with a little tuning, however, the Nitro Sport will handle admirably. The TQ radio does not have steering dual rate or end-point adjustments, so chassis tuning is critical. Other than that, the truck was a lot of fun to drive and achieved impressive top speeds.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Traxxas Nitro Sport is perhaps the most user-friendly nitro-powered stadium truck available. It may not be a hardcore racing machine, but that isn't what it's intended for. It has the look and feel of a top contender, but it's an easy-to-start and easy-to-maintain sport-level vehicle.

The EZ Start starter performed flawlessly, as did the TRX 15 engine. I give the Nitro Sport the G-Man seal of approval and would confidently recommend it to all first-time gas R/C drivers.

*Addresses are listed alphabetically in the Index of Manufacturers on page 201.

Copyright Air Age Publishing Jun 1998
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