NeoBuggy’s new writer & contributor Stephen Bess shares his thoughts and feelings after driving the new Team Associated B5 & B5M buggys.

While I’m admittedly not a professional 2wd electric buggy racer, I have logged plenty of wheel time with the previous generation AE B4.2 at my local outdoor track and several of SoCal’s indoor tracks.  What’s immediately noticeable about the B5 platform’s on-track handling characteristics is its stability.

“the B5M is incredibly quick.  It’s the 2wd expert driver’s car for indoor…”

The B4 platform was always fast—who can argue with multiple IFMAR Worlds wins?—but in the hands of a club racer like me, it felt nervous and sketchy at times.  For more talented drivers, the B4 was all the buggy they needed.  At the wheel of the new B5 buggy, I felt more confident and considerably faster.

The rear motor car felt best to me during our limited track time, although one of my good friends and fellow journalist in attendance preferred the mid-motor car—and yes, we both drove the B5s on the same day, in spite of their silly claim of having an ‘exclusive first drive’ at SDRC.  The rear motor B5 car transitioned through corners more progressively, with the rear end sliding predictably and smoothly as traction decreased and speeds increased.  I never felt like the B5 wanted to bite back; it simply rotated, steered and accelerated on its way.

Such handling traits are more difficult to create than they sound.  Designer Bob Stellflue (Mr. Stealth Lube, as the AE guys call him) reinforced multiple times that his design objectives were to maintain the best parts of the B4 while improving the platform.  Predictable handling, increased steering and jumping ability were all addressed.  We should note that the rear motor car also had the B5’s flat front arms installed, which as Stellflue remarked, would give the car a more forgiving handling feel.

The mid-motor car was also impressive.  Though not as forgiving as my nitro-soaked throttle finger would have preferred, the B5M is incredibly quick.  It’s the 2wd expert driver’s car for indoor, high traction racing–a buggy that can be pushed hard, rotated hard, and flung around the track in a way that rewards precision and confidence.  On the indoor SDRC high traction track, the B5M felt right at home.

I’m confident that a full afternoon testing with this version of the B5 would result in faster laps than the rear motor car, but again we had limited time with both.  The B5M I drove was equipped with the gullwing arms, providing it with increased steering sensitivity and an athletic, sharp reaction time to inputs.

Both cars felt planted, and both cars also jumped incredibly well.  If I had to summarise the cars’ handling in one word, it would be “neutral.”  This is a wonderful adjective to attribute to ANY 2wd buggy, considering they are challenging to drive and often like to oversteer or understeer without an expert set up.  Having raced 2wd buggy in the past, I’ve always felt like each large jump could become the death of my buggy if jumped/landed incorrectly.

Occasionally a 2wd buggy will fly nose high or kick up the rear end without notice or reason.  With the B5 and B5M, both buggies jumped predictably, with level flight and a minimum of driver input required to land smoothly.  When the B5 cars land, they soak up the landings and are ready for throttle application immediately.  My B4 buggy never quite felt like that.  A definite improvement and one that drivers of all skill levels will appreciate.

I am eager to build a B5 and report on it here at NeoBuggy when I am able to get more track time under its wheels.

My initial impressions are that this will be a highly popular car, and that having two different optimized kits—the B5M for indoor and high traction surfaces, and the B5 for outdoor and lower traction surfaces—will be a successful venture for Associated.

Most club racers tend to spend a great majority of time at their local tracks, meaning they will set up one car and run it an entire season that way with only minimal changes.  Associated believes that few racers want or need a “convertible” rear motor/mid-motor car in one box, and after driving both versions, I tend to agree.

Pick one, build it, and hit your local track.  Associated did its homework with this car, and if initial impressions mean anything, the B5 and B5M have quite the bright future.

Stephen Bess