This past weekend I attended the Cactus Classic in Phoenix, Arizona, this was the first year that this event was not held outdoors, it was held indoors on what I was told was a 100% clay track inside SRS Hobbytown.

When we first arrived the complex was huge with an indoor Karting track, hobby shop, cafeteria and of course the rc track. We set up our pits on Monday, practice began on Tuesday.

Initially the grip was extremely high and we were running slicks. The setups that we started with were setups that we had tested at home on carpet with slicks, when we first hit the track they were very close, we made a few adjustments for the bumps on the track but the grip was very similar to the carpet. We made small adjustments and felt confident that we were on pace and on the right track. As practice continued the grip started to drop as the track dried out even though the track crew tried to keep moisture in the track, this kept us chasing the setup in both cars. At one point the grip was so low that both cars were not very good, we tried to make adjustments and just about that time the track crew decided to change the watering schedule which brought the grip back up. As practice ended we felt that the 2WD was really good and we were confident with that but the 4WD we hadn't quite been able to get the setup the way we wanted it.

Qualifying in 2WD went extremely well, the track crew did a really good job keeping the track damp which kept the grip up, we made a few small changes to the 2WD and I was confident in my car even though I just felt I was driving around the track cautiously trying not to make mistakes, I was fast enough to TQ all 4 rounds of 2WD.

In 4WD although my D413 was stable, I lacked steering but when I tried to put steering into the car the stability would leave. The first 3 rounds I struggled with setup, finally in the 4^th round I went back to what I knew and did a wholesale change and I was able to tq the final round in 4WD, unfortunately this was only good enough to get me starting 4^th on the grid.

When the mains started Sunday morning, most of the drivers in my 2WD main had already been on the track once and some twice driving other classes, I was very nervous starting in front with the best drivers in the worlds starting behind me, I made a mistake early on and lost the lead, allowing Cavelieri to take the win in A1. In A2 and A3 I wasn't going to let that happen again , I was able to stay calm and take the win in both mains without ever losing the lead, to take the overall win in this class. My car felt amazing the grip level that came out on the track seemed to suit my car perfectly.

In 4WD the mains went fairly well considering I started 4^th on the grid, I tried to be patient behind Tebo, Phend and Cavelieri. In the first main Cavelieri pressure the front runners causing them to make mistakes and I was able to move in to second, but wasn't able to push by for the win. In the second main pretty much the same thing happened as in the first except that I made a mistake dropping me down to 5^th where I would finish that main. In the 3^rd and final main Cavelieri sat out having won the first 2, in the beginning there was a freight train in the front with Tebo, Dakotah and myself, I tried to pressure but I ended up making a few small mistakes allowing the 2 front runners to pull away slightly. As they battled I was able to close the gap a bit but never posed a threat for the win and ended up 3^rd overall.

All in all I was disappointed with my 4WD, I just felt I was never able to get the setup exactly how I wanted it, constantly chasing the amount of grip that the track had which really surprised me because we have had such good luck with this car in the past. I walk away from this race having learned a lot and I will take this knowledge to the next race.

I want to thank all my sponsors for providing me with great equipment to compete with, HB/HPI, Proline, OS, Orion, Savox, A Main Hobbies, Muchmore, Lunsford, Upgrade, Avid, MIP, IERC, 110% Racing, MR33, LMR, Red RC, Live RC, Neobuggy. Thanks to my Dad, Mom and sister for all their support over the years, and thank you to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ without him I wouldn't be where I am today.