The first three renditions of Team Associated’s B44 4WD buggy had won three of the last four IFMAR World Championships, so it was easy to assume that when the B44.2 Factory Team was found to be discontinued on the company’s website back in early July they already had a replacement in the works. In fact, it seemed an almost certainly after Steven Hartson won last year’s grand gala at A Main Hobbies’ Silver Dollar R/C Raceway in a battle for the industry’s highest honor that came down to a last lap crash. Hartson’s buggy had been outfitted with an aftermarket aluminum chassis and adapters to run gear differentials from a different buggy, hinting at what the future would hold for the most dominant buggy of the last half decade plus.
Prior to its Fall 2014 release, Team Associated’s Michael F. Glass offered to meet me at my local indoor track, SDRC Raceway in San Diego, CA, to not only check out one of the first production-ready photo models but also take engineer Kody Numedahl’s personal rig out for a few spirited runs - complete with turn marshals. Project designer Tim Tunnerman tagged along as well to answer any questions I had about the car, and help Kody keep the car safe from Michael’s itchy driving fingers.
WHAT IT IS
Rather than start with a clean slate, Team Associated started with the long-proven B44.2 and simply made changes - big changes - to cope with the changing world of off-road races. After all, when the original B44 was designed, brushed motors and nickel-metal packs ruled the roost! Speeds have increased, tracks have grown, and drivers are more aggressive than ever.
Sexy slab
The impeccably machined and hard-anodized aluminum chassis is the biggest change on the car, which helped to lower the car’s center of gravity and improve durability. The components that bolt to the chassis were redesigned to bolt to the center of the plate, in order to offer symmetrical torsional flex for more consistent handling. The centralized motor mount can be rotated 180 degrees, allowing the car to be built for saddle or shorty packs, which greatly changes the car’s overall weight balance.
Solar system drivetrain
Planetary gear differentials are now used in the front and rear bulkheads, rather than ball units, and a third replaces the VTS slipper clutch assembly (which can be installed if you so choose). Steel is used for the planetary gears, as well as the front and rear ring and pinion. CV-style axles are used throughout, spinning on ball bearings.
Magic mounts
The floating servo and motor mounts stand above the chassis to minimize any effect on torsional flex. An improved motor mount slider makes gear mesh changes easier.
Delightful dampers
Factory Team V2 12mm big bore shocks are used at all four corners. The shocks are smoother, have greater travel, and increase traction compared to the smaller previous generation shocks.
Included bits
Though no tires are included, you do get a set of white wheels and JConcepts’ Finnisher X-Flow body with a 6.5” high downforce wing. Team Associated throws in Factory Team blue clamping aluminum rear 12mm hexes, blue titanium turnbuckles, aluminum servo mounts, aluminum shock pivot balls, and a rear anti-roll bar assembly.
WHAT IT DOES
It took all of about three corners to feel like the B44.3 fit my driving style, and SDRC’s tricky Top Gun Shootout track layout, like a pair of Under Armour compression shorts. Both Kody and Tim created the gear differentials, and especially the center differential, with the car’s cat-like composure. All four tires feel like they’re spinning the exact proper speed at the same time, ensuring neither the front nor rear end steps out of line - the car simply goes where you want, regardless of how buried the trigger may be.
Turn-in was smooth, but immediate. Rather than push or skate sideways, the B44.3 just yawed and hauled off. Even the most angry, ham-fisted corner exit resulted in freight train-like forward momentum. With the steering wheel cranked in order to stay right on the inside of the corner, the car would find grip and shoot off like it had been fired from a slingshot. Again, the center diff helped to control the car pitching fore and aft, maintaining a much flatter attitude under hard acceleration, hastened late braking, or traversing jumps wide-open. Even when flat-landing in the tough double-double, the B44.3 landed with a plush stance that’s a vast improvement over the B44.2.
WHAT I THOUGHT
The B44.3 feels so far removed from any of its predecessors that it’s impossible to compare and contrast them. It accelerates harder, turns better, jumps and lands more smoothly, and out-classes every previous B44. I was blown away with how well the car drove, and how quickly I started turning very fast laps.
You will be, too.
8/142014
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