[Kevin Sevcik]

direct drive from the CIMs is definitely not going to work, they don't have enough torque straight out. What would really help is a description of your drivetrain. What gearing are you using? What size wheels? Are you sure there isn't any binding in the drivetrain somewhere?

That was my first assumption about what was wrong with your drill motor drivetrain, as metal shavings shorting the motor would mostly completely kill it, not kill it after 10 feet.