After the nostalgic journey of restoring my old Tamiya Grasshopper and Hotshot, it was time to dive into something modern, faster, and a lot more powerful. While the vintage buggies brought back memories, I knew I wanted to experience the advancements in RC technology. That’s when I turned my attention to the Redcat Earthquake 8E—a monster truck built for bashing and packed with brushless power. This time, I wasn’t just restoring an old friend; I was stepping into a whole new level of RC madness.

Why the Redcat Earthquake 8E?

By 2011, the RC landscape had evolved significantly from when I first got into the hobby. Brushless motors had taken the world by storm, offering increased speed, efficiency, and power compared to their brushed counterparts. I was looking for something that could handle rough terrain, jumps, and high speeds—something that could take the bashing and come back for more.

After some research, the Redcat Earthquake 8E stood out. Not only did it offer the robust performance I was craving, but its 1/8 scale size and 4WD drivetrain made it perfect for off-road adventures. It was a leap from my beloved Tamiya models, but the allure of modern technology and raw power was irresistible.

Unboxing the Beast

The Redcat Earthquake 8E came well-packed and ready for action. Right out of the box, I could feel the difference. This wasn’t a lightweight, nostalgic buggy—it was a full-blown monster truck, ready to tear up dirt, gravel, and anything in its path.

Here’s what I got with the Earthquake 8E:

• A powerful brushless motor capable of high speeds
• A solid 4WD system, perfect for off-road bashing
• Pre-installed electronics, including a waterproof ESC
• Big, chunky tires ready to grip any terrain
• 4S Power through two 2S batteries wired in series

I couldn’t wait to get it running.

The Brushless Advantage

One of the biggest upgrades with the Earthquake 8E over my previous RC cars was its brushless motor. The leap from brushed to brushless is massive. Here are a few of the advantages I immediately noticed:

• More Power: The brushless motor offers significantly more torque, which means faster acceleration and higher top speeds.
• Greater Efficiency: Brushless motors are more efficient, converting more of the battery’s power into forward motion rather than heat.
• Less Maintenance: There are no brushes to replace or commutators to clean, making the motor more reliable in the long run.

This was the type of performance I’d only dreamed of with my older RC cars. The Earthquake 8E’s motor could push the truck to high speeds without breaking a sweat, something that would have been impossible with my vintage buggies.

First Bash: Putting the Earthquake 8E to the Test

As soon as I had the Earthquake 8E charged up, it was time to take it out for its first run. I headed to a nearby dirt lot, eager to see what it could handle. And it did not disappoint.

From the very first throttle squeeze, the Earthquake 8E launched forward with a roar. The 4WD system allowed it to grip the loose dirt with ease, and the brushless motor provided the kind of power that left me grinning ear to ear.

I put the truck through its paces—sharp turns, full-throttle runs, and big jumps off dirt ramps. It handled everything I threw at it. The shocks absorbed the landings, the tires dug into the dirt, and the chassis remained solid, even after several hard crashes.

Lessons in Bashing: Durability and Upkeep

While the Earthquake 8E is built for bashing, that doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. After a few hard landings and rollovers, I found myself having to make a few repairs—nothing too drastic, but it was a good reminder that even the toughest RC vehicles need maintenance.

One of the things I learned quickly was the importance of having extra parts on hand. During my first few bashing sessions, I cracked a few pieces of plastic, which meant heading back to the workbench for some repairs. Thankfully, Redcat parts are relatively easy to find, and repairs (once parts were in hand) could easily be handled on my bench.

The Battery Experience

The Earthquake 8E runs on a powerful 4S LiPo setup, and this was another massive upgrade over the NiCd batteries of my older models. The LiPo battery provided extended runtimes, faster charging, and, most importantly, more power.

However, running a brushless setup on LiPo batteries means keeping an eye on battery health. I quickly learned the importance of using a balance charger and storing the batteries correctly to extend their lifespan.  I have batteries that are dedicated to my Earthquake 8E that have lasted for years with proper charging and storage.

Is the Redcat Earthquake 8E Worth It?

After years of bashing with the Redcat Earthquake 8E, it is currently in storage, awaiting my move to North Carolina in the Summer of ‘25 when I will once again have space to bust out all my RC cars.  While the Earthquake is my nostalgic basher, and I have a special project lined up for making my Axial Exo-Terra buggy into a beach roamer, I’ve also started eyeing the latest from Redcat Racing the Kaiju EXT as the ⅛ scale replacement.  I can confidently say that this truck is worth every penny I’ve sunk into it.  If you’re looking to dive into brushless power. Look at Redcat Racing’s line.  The Earthquake 8E has been fast, durable, and a whole lot of fun. Whether you’re hitting jumps, tearing through dirt, or just pushing the limits of speed, the Earthquake 8E delivers.

This truck showed me what modern RC technology (at the time) was capable of, and it opened up a whole new world of bashing that I hadn’t experienced with my vintage models.

Conclusion: What’s Next?

The Redcat Earthquake 8E was my gateway into the exhilarating world of brushless bashing, pushing it to its limits and uncovering the raw power and durability of modern RCs. While restoring my Grasshopper and Hotshot reconnected me with my RC roots, the Earthquake 8E introduced me to the cutting-edge capabilities that define today’s RC technology.

Looking ahead, my RC journey takes an exciting new direction as I delve into rock crawling and scale vehicles—where precision, technical driving, and attention to detail take center stage. As I continue to explore these areas of the hobby, future posts will weave together memories from my past RC adventures with fresh insights as I dive back into the ever-evolving RC world in 2024 and beyond.

Stay tuned for a mix of nostalgia and new discoveries as I navigate the intricacies of the RC hobby space. Whether I’m revisiting old favorites or diving into new upgrades and models, this journey is far from over—it’s just beginning.

— Coby R