What were the most desirable motors in the 80s-90s?

[Bimdapogs]

I have collected a number of older motors from deals. Mostly Tamiyas, and a few Kyoshos. They really make fantastic shelf pieces!

I only started this hobby a few years ago and I'm curious to know what were the motors of choice in the 1980s through the 90s? I do realize this is a considerable span of time, but what were the popular motors back then for racing? Some background story would be nice. I'm more interested in off-road motors but feel free to mention onroad motors.

[murphy3428]

Race Prep,Trinity

[tulsa]

and team checkpoint and twister.

[greene-r74]

My motors of choice in stock class were Green machine, green machine 2, Slot machine, slot machine 2, Midnight, Midnight 2-pro. Kyosho had a popular motor. Don't remember the name of it though. It had a red and gold striped label. I think it was just called the super stock 27. Also the Losi revolutions motors were popular. Some others that I remember but didn't use were. Race Prep, check point, Peak Performance. I remember a lot of pink motors.

[murphy3428]

you can find out all about Race prep in this link http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=14385

[Eau Rouge]

I believe it was largely regional, as to what was the "hot ticket" for racing at any given time. Usually, it was dictated by what local sponsored guys had—everyone bought what the fast guys won with.

When I first started racing in the mid 80s, the American-made original Big Jim Checkpoint motors were light years faster than anything else on the track. They always were held in very high regard for me, which is why I still have a case full of them in my small collection.

As I progressed in racing, locally, everyone ran either Trinity or Revtech later in the 80s. Locally, Wimpy, Race Prep, Twister and Black Magic were also popular. On the pavement or carpet, CAM motors were rockets, but not used so much elsewhere for some reason. The owner of CAM was an oval guy, so you saw a lot of his motors on Super Speedways.

I still have my motor collection—mostly Checkpoints and Revtechs, but a few Twisters in there as well.



Stock motors? They were all the same with different decals on them, and the brush of the month. Take your pick.

[Eau Rouge]

Oh, I know I have posted these before, but they are still like jewelry to me...

[Dirtdiver]

I liked Trinity motors for offroad in the mid-late 1980's.

I never knew Twister motors came with capacitors pre-installed based on the motors in the bag. Was Twister the first to do this?

[Eau Rouge]

Lots of motors came that way. That red Revtech on the top right of the second photo is NOS just out of a package as it came form Neil.

[THEYTOOKMYTHUMB]

Quarterflash was theee stock motor around here late 80's. Sorry, no pic.

[shodog]

Oh, I know I have posted these before, but they are still like jewelry to me...

I love those checkpoint motors. I have a couple myself. here is one of them on my Sand scorcher




In my neck of the woods, Tamiya technigolds were held in high esteem. they had a lot of torque so you could gear them for speed.

[bearrickster]

[quote="shodog"]I love those checkpoint motors. I have a couple myself. here is one of them on my Sand scorcher

quote]
wow that doesnt look like any Sand Scorcher I have ever seen.

Very nice Rig, is their anything Tamiya on it?

[shodog]

Very nice Rig, is their anything Tamiya on it?

There sure is, the tires and the front body post.

[bearrickster]

There sure is, the tires and the front body post.

I would like to see it with the body and all. its real nice and 4wd right I have never seen that before

[call-911]

Yeah, going with what Doug was saying it was pretty much what the local hobby shops were pushing or what the fast guys at the track were running. I still love my Fantom mod motor with the machined aluminum endbell. It's identical to the black motors Doug has in his case above.

For Off-Road....

Stock
===========
Race Prep
Trinity
Revtech

Mod
===========
Revtech
Black Magic
Trinity
Checkpoint