Serpent

Our GEO-MATRIX suspension system manual for the SRX8GTR models is now online.

The SRX8GTR models are fully equipped with the all new Serpent Geo-Matrix™, a indexed suspension geometry platform that delivers 25 precise, repeatable setup positions using rotating square inserts. The insert’s can be rotated in 90 degrees increments, creating an orientation-based indexing system that will give you a defined suspension geometry setup.

Using the standard settings as a starting reference position you will be able to fine tune the car's handling for virtually every track condition you will ever face.

With this system, adjustments to anti-squat, toe-in, roll center, kick up, and track width can be made easily and accurately.
When winning matters, the Serpent Geo-Matrix™ Insert System delivers precision, repeatability, and confidence in every setup change.

Downloads:
https://serpent.com/download/600077-srx8gtr-ec-gp-manual

Jose Almonte wins Roar Nationals GT Title!

The 2026 Roar On road Nationals are done and what an event it was. I would like to start by saying thank you to the whole group of people who made this event possible.

The Groove R/C Raceway WHAT A TRACK!!!!!!
I highly recommend everyone who hasn’t been able to make it to this track to go and enjoy it because this track is simply amazing, thank you Dan, Nick and everyone involved.

ROAR Racing Thank you for making sure everyone had fun even though the weather was terrible for 2 days you guys did an amazing job working things out.

Now on to the racing part:
As everyone knows I normally run my 2 favorites classes, Nitro Sedan and Nitro GT.

I made it to the track Tuesday Morning with a plan of finishing the break in of my GT engines for the rest of the day.
Goal accomplished, by the end of the day I ended up clocking some fast 16.2 lap times.

My Serpent SRX8 GT R car was ballistic fast since day 1. I was able to win all Qualys, TQ and Win the event, setting also the fastest lap time of the whole event in the class.

In Nitro Sedan it was a bit different. I had a fast and reliable Natrix Evo car since the get go but unfortunate incidents prevented me from getting a better qualifying position, i started the main 7th and i was able to finish 4th with an injured car.

Overall a great event for me and my teammates, props to Juan Gascot who was able to finish 2nd behind me and Pablo Tejada who finished 5th in the GT class demonstrating how good out platform is.

Alex Esser, Greg Esser Thank you for the great job pitting for me in the main. That National Championship is also yours. You guys did a fantastic job making sure i was able to go in and out of pits as fast as possible.

Carlie Lopez Thanks for all the help in Nitro sedan, you getting better and better as a pitman every time out Gracias Bichote!
From a little island called Dominican Republic

Last but not least i would like to say a big thank you to all the companies who support me in a daily basis.
You guys are awesome!

Jose Almonte
Team Serpent

https://serpent.com/info/

Thilo Baldes joins the Serpent X26 team!

This is what Thilo had to say about it:

“I’m really looking forward to my first race with the Serpent X26 and am very grateful to Serpent for their support. I’m convinced that Dominic Greiner, together with Serpent, has developed a very competitive car.”

Thilo Baldes
Team Serpent

https://serpent.com/info-detail/thilo-baldes-joins-the-x26-team

Billy Easton reports the 2026 Wicked Weekend.

2026 Wicked Weekend 23-26 July

The 2026 Wicked Weekend, one of Race Time Entertainment's premier events in the USA, marked my first major race in nearly ten years. I was excited to see how much the competition had evolved during my absence and to race Serpent's updated SRX8 Gen4. While it builds on our previous platform, the Gen4 has developed its own distinct personality that can only be fully appreciated under race conditions.
Practice would start for me on Thursday night from 8-10 PM, and then again from 7 AM to 12PM on Friday. This year I chose the latter practice as it gave me more time to work on the cars, prepare tires and survey what other top drivers were doing. The practice went ok for me, trying a variety of setup options and tires. There were moments in practices were I could hang with top drivers for a few laps and then I would crash out. I mainly contributed this to the long layoff and very demanding conditions on the race track. The track was very bumpy, with major holes, but there were also many smooth sections that were very high grip.
There were many issues to overcome, including the rain, which flooded our pit, and altered the track condition even more, as if it was not hard enough. The tracks become quite damp, with the rain pouring down for the remainder of the Friday. This basically forced many to use different treaded tires and even softer compounds. It was obvious that many top level pros found the bar type tires to be the fastest , made mainly in soft compounds. Unfortunately for me, I did not have the bar tires and for sure not in the correct compound for the condition, so I had to run soft compound tires in very dense tread patterns. This seemed to be the best for me.
After the qualifying had started, it was pretty easy to see that although I was more than competitive in the over 40 class, my skill level in the pro class was not quite where it used to be. As the race went on though, things were improving with the car setup, and also my driving so the gap was closing in all classes I raced. In 40 plus nitro buggy, I could run easily at the top of the field, which was the same in 40 plus e buggy. I was able to grab a couple of tq’es in those classes, but ultimately qualified 2nd in 40 nitro, and 3rd in 40 e buggy. In the pro class I was hovering around 15-20th. Not great, but not bad for nearly a 10 year break.
As for the nitro buggy, this was really a case of refining the setup, which was already quite close. I tried many rear end changes, but settled on one that was fastest, with the minimum amount of difficulty. The front end actually felt pretty consistent and was for the most part pretty good. Based on what I saw, more rear refinement would have helped, but that is what these events are for.
In e-buggy , was a bit more challenging, not having a new version and really running my old car from 2018. I really did not leave myself here with a good starting setup. This class was more difficult for me, as I was dealing with electronic issues, as well as a setup I really was not all that fond of. It just seemed loose in the rear most of the event, so that I will need to work on.
In the over 40 E buggy was the first main I would run. This started off good, and then went to really bad, and then I found myself trying to make a run for the lead. As I closed on the leader with 2-3 minutes to go, My Speedo thermally shut of. So that was over. A bit disappointing, but its racing.
In the over 40 nitro buggy, this really could not have gone any better. The tires I chose for the main were Dialled RC V13’s in Green compound, which honestly felt really good on the track. The SRX8 Gen 4 from the start was really quite good too drive. I easily made may way to the lead and honestly did not really look back. It was not until the later portion of the race, say 20 mins or so, where I could see the tires getting hot or the rear suspension was not as stable. I stayed focused and simply tried to bring it home, staying out of trouble.
In the pro nitro buggy main, I actually drove pretty well, but had too many mistakes which naturally cost you time. I wouldn’t say my best performance, but it was good for more track time, and gave me more time to evaluate the car. I think I finished near the back, of that B final, but I had some good battles with drivers. At least I didn’t finish last, so that’s a take away.
Overall, it was a successful weekend. It was great catching up with old friends, getting back into top-level competition, and taking home a trophy after such a long break. More importantly, the event confirmed that the SRX8 Gen4 has a very competitive foundation. Its cornering efficiency and balanced handling stood out all weekend, and with continued testing and refinement I believe there is still more performance to unlock. I'm looking forward to building on what we learned at Wicked Weekend.

Sincerely,
Billy Easton

https://serpent.com/products/ser600024