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October 8, 2014

Matsukura cruises to unchallenged TQ in Florida

Naoto Matsukura has cruised his way to an unchallenged fourth consecutive 1:12 World Championship TQ wrapping up qualifying in Florida early with another fastest run in the fourth of the six scheduled qualifiers. The Yokomo driver was again the only driver to turn 53 laps of the Minnreg Hall making it four from four by taking Q4 from rapid American Donny Lia who set a new track record with an 8.822 lap time. Matsukura’s Yokomo team-mate Masatsugu Ido would complete the Top 3. Such was Matsukura’s pace that over the 8-minutes he ran a full lap more than that of fourth place finisher Hideo Kitazawa.

Continue reading this report here or our full event coverage here.

October 7, 2014

3 out 3 for Matsukura in Florida

At a somewhat subdued 1:12 World Championship, only 44 drivers contesting the longest running electric category World Championships, Naoto Matsukura made it three out three in qualifying at the Florida event. Round 3 of qualifying saw the Yokomo driver again top the times as he became the first & only driver to run 53-laps over 8-minutes to put himself on provisional pole for his quest for a fourth consecutive title. With 3 from 6 rounds to count the only way the Japanese driver can now be denied becoming Top Qualifier is for one driver to top all three remaining qualifiers, the last of which takes place tomorrow morning. Behind Matsukura the continually improving Marc Rheinard, who was 4th in Q1 and 3rd in Q2, set the second fastest time with Hideo Kitazawa completing the Top 3.

Continue reading this report here or our full event coverage here.

October 7, 2014

Matsukura opens 1:12 Worlds with TQ run

Defending Champion Naoto Matsukura opened qualifying at the 1:12 World Championship in Florida with a TQ run, the Yokomo driver setting the pace over fellow Japanese driver Hideo Kitazawa and Masatsugu Ido. Having convincingly stamped his authority on practice yesterday to be top seed for qualifying, an early crash put Alexander Hagberg out of contention, the Xray driver eventually ending up 11th at the end of the first of the six 8-minute qualifiers.

Continue reading this report here or our full event coverage here.

October 5, 2014

On the Grapevine – Sicily

On the Grapevine - Sicily

How was it allowed to happen that an entire industry was put at risk for 12 days. I mean the track for the 15th running of the 1:8 Offroad World Championship must have been the most written about bits of land to host an r/c race but no one raised the human risk associated by its proximity to Europe’s most active volcano!!! Had Mount Etna acted up it could have been the final nail in the coffin for 1:8 Offroad. Having said that the mass deaths caused by the rivers of molten lava would surely mean an amazing future for the sport as the highly qualified online RC experts would finally get the calling they so much deserve to fill all job vacancies. For all the negative pre-event press that was published and on which those online experts fed like piranhas the World Championships in Sicily from where i saw it was, as IFMAR events go, a decent meeting. Although not a good benchmark to be working off, the event was a huge improvement on Argentina two years earlier.

Continue reading On the Grapevine here

October 4, 2014

The Worlds according to Ruona – Worlds afterthoughts

Better late than never? I guess that is my theme for this entry as we all recover from the long world championship event. It seems everyone got sick after the event too which has led to a long recovery and hang-over. I ask my myself immediately following the 60 minute A-final event. So if you win on Sunday or in this case on Saturday, do you sell on Monday? That is why we are all there right? A promotion to help ignite sales of the product. Everyone should be lined up to buy all the latest product that was on the winning ride starting with the Hot Bodies D812….right?

Continue reading Jason’s Worlds afterthoughts here

October 4, 2014

Protoform Gen3-C body & Lexan body cleaner

Protoform have released a lightweight version of their Gen3 oval body, the Gen3-C. Produced with the best in quality .025 polycarbonate, compared to .030 polycarbonate used on the Gen3-D it comes equipped with spoiler mounting hardware, protective film, window masks and a decal sheet. Also from PF is their new Lexan Body Cleaner to keep your bodies looking their best. This low odour, specially-blended formula is great for removing scuffs, tire marks, dirt and other minor battle scars from a hard day at the track.

View more new product images here

October 4, 2014

Protoform Strakka-12 1/12th body shell

Protoform is taking aim at 1:12 Stock and SuperStock classes with their new 1:12 race body, the Strakka-12. Modelled after an all-new racecar contending in the WEC series, the Strakka-12 is a reduced downforce alternative to the ultra-successful AMR-12. This race body will help your car slip around the track efficiently without scrubbing too much all-important corner speed. Modified racers looking for a less downforce on super high grip tracks can also use the Strakka-12, attaching the add-on Gurney Flap marked out in the back of the body. The Strakka-12 fits all EFRA, IFMAR, BRCA, ROAR and JMRCA body specs. Available in both light weight .020” lexan for experts and regular weight .030” for novices, it comes with protective film and includes window masks and a decal sheet.

View more images of the Strakka-12 here

September 30, 2014

Stepping Out Of Stock

Contrary to what many of you will think, my inspiration for this column came not originally from me thinking about an R/C race, but about full-size racing. I was reading an article (and the subsequent comments beneath it!) recently, discussing whether top driver should be ‘forced’ to move up the racing ladder, or prevented from competing at certain levels based on their results. For those of the guys who race regularly with me at a track, you’ll all groan at the following – specifically this came about whilst I was watching NASCAR, where a number of the sports top drivers compete in their ‘second tier’ series too, primarily to promote sponsors or gain additional seat time or track knowledge. I realised there was a lot of synergies to R/C racing, with the same discussion flaring up seemingly every year about the state of “Stock” class racing.

Continue reading Oli’s column here