As of January 2002, VETEQ 02 Edition has replaced VETEQ 901001. For further information, click on the related product 'VETEQ 02'. The information on this page will remain here for future reference, and will provide you with valuable information about the first edition of the VETEQ.
Introducing the VETEQ, the next generation chassis for the new millennium. Just one look at the car makes you want to press the suspension up and down to see the pushrods do their complex job. This car, designed with the elite driver in mind, blows the word 'conventional' away and words like 'radical' spring to mind. Serpent, never one to rest on their laurels, has pulled out all the stops to create the ultimate RC car. New innovative features include:
1.Monocoque chassis
2.Inboard Suspension
3.Innovative steering system
4.Adjustable front suspension angle-of-attack
5.Ultra low centre of gravity
6.Low polar force
A new innovation to model car racing is the ultra stiff, monocoque style chassis construction. Consisting of 5 plates and integrating the engine mounting blocks, this immensely strong assembly ensures maximum strength and stiffness which in turn allows the suspension to work more efficiently.
A return to the innovative design that Serpent pioneered in model cars many years ago – inboard suspension. New technologies and materials and some radical thinking have allowed the integration of this suspension system to today’s car. Using a pushrod and rocker system allows ultra efficient use of the shock absorber. This system also enables progressive suspension, which means that the shocks get harder the further they are pressed. This restricts the car from ‘bottoming out’ under braking.
You will notice that the steering servo isn’t where it should be. You will find under the radio tray. This is to achieve a low centre of gravity. This meant that a new steering system had to be developed for this car. Getting away from the traditional servo saver we decided to use a stronger more efficient system. This produced a stronger servo saver and enabled a better steering geometry, whilst still keeping a low centre of gravity and enabling the position of the steering servo to be optimised.
This new feature allows the user to adjust the attack angle of their front upper wishbone. It can be used in the standard flat position or can be placed into an alternative angle, which creates an anti-lift front end. This allows the car to stay level under acceleration due to the forward facing wishbone angle, and in addition to the drive from the front wheels, the forces from the car are met with opposing forces so anti lift is achieved.
This car has the lowest centre of gravity of any in its class. Everything has been optimised to ensure all the weight is put down low. The car was designed around the engine and battery in their lowest possible position. The engine is so low that the base chassis plate has to be made from a front and rear piece, so the engine could fit between them, and the engine mounts serve as a major structural item. The steering servo mounting has also been optimised and all other radio items have been mounted below the radio tray.
The polar force of this car has been lowered due mainly to a redesigned fuel tank, which has been lowered and shortened, and which is also wider so the weight has been further brought to the centre point of the car. Also because the fuel tank is more central the weight distribution of the tank when full won’t change when the fuel tank is empty.