I used to think Audis were just quirky, overpriced Volkswagens. Then I watched rally racing and realized something profound: horsepower doesn’t win races—traction does. The Audi Quattro wasn’t just another AWD car; it was a radical rethink of how power gets to the ground. From frozen test courses in Finland to modern RC builds on my workbench, this car represents innovation, perseverance, and the willingness to try something no one else thought would work.

I set out to prove you could hit 40 MPH with a brushed motor Arrma Fury on a budget. Spoiler: I maxed out at 24 MPH in 25-degree weather. After buying a bone stock brushed Fury and another with a burnt-up ESC, I upgraded the brushed motor, replaced brushes, and experimented with different pinion gears. The goal? Hit that furious 40 MPH mark without going brushless.

The takeaway? If you want high speed, buy brushless from the start. The brushless Fury is only $30 more than the brushed. Yes, you'll need batteries and a charger (another $115), but it's worth it if racing is your goal. That said, upgrading a brushed motor is therapeutic and educational. If you can score a brushed Fury under $150, it's a great platform to learn on. Just know what you're getting into.

You've upgraded your RC car, but is it actually fast? Racing your buddy is fun, but it doesn't give you objective data. That's where the SkyRC GNSS comes in—a dead-simple GPS speed tracker that works anywhere in the world. It's tough, easy to mount, and pairs with your phone in seconds. The downside? You can't export the log files, which is frustrating for data nerds like me. But at under $70, it's still a solid tool for tracking your progress. If you want to know whether your brushed motor can really hit 40 mph, this little black box will give you the answer.