2000 Car Action car of the year

Radio Control Car Action, Aug 2000

SERPENT IMPULSE

WHY IT WON.

While the Serpent Impulse deserves raise for its high-quality manufacturing and capable racetrack performance (and these were certainly factors in our selecting its, the number-one reason we picked the Impulse as our Car of the Year is its evolutionary chassis layout and the way it is already shaping the face of nitro touring car racing.

Before the Impulse appeared, nitro sedans were little more than electric car retreads. Frankly, no one complained; the cars were (and are) fast, fun to drive and reasonably durable. The designs weren't "broke," so to speak, so no one was "fixing" them.

Serpent had a different take an pavement performance, however, thanks to its many years at the top of the vitro on-road food chain with its Impact and Vector endurance machines. These state-of-the-art on-road racers are the "parents" of the Impulse, and they have donated their essential design elements to the Serpent tourer. The list is long: large-diameter pivot-ball suspension, 3mm 7075 CNC chassis, sealed gear differentials and a 3-belt drive train with varied belt and pulley sizes are just some of its highlights (see "Car of the Year Features" for details). While other manufacturers have tried to add some of these features, none have combined them all and constructed them as robustly. Cars appearing after the Serpent are another story: the Impulse was an eyeopener for many, and the newest top-of-the-line vitro TCs are following its lead with thicker chassis and more adjustable, on-road-inspired suspensions. For us, that's wat makes the impulse our Car or the Year: not only is it a good car in its own right, but it also stands to improve the entire bree. That can only help the nitro TC scene,

and that's more fun for all of us.