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August 22, 2024

Niko Saarinen crowned Finnish 1:8 Onroad Champion

Mugen Seiki driver Niko Saarinen is the 2024 Finnish 1:8 Onroad National Champion, the title being decided at the fourth & final round which took place in Hyvinkää over the weekend. Three drivers went into the final race still with a chance of the overall with drivers counting 3 from the four races with Pekka Koivula leading the standings from Niko Saarinen and the defending Champion Jere Saarinen. The race was run in tricky conditions with the track changing from wet to dry. Practice was run on a drying track but luckily when qualifying came around the track had dried up allowing for 2 rounds in the dry before the rain returned. Based off the dry runs it would be Niko Saarinen who took the TQ, from Panu VehniäinenI and Jere Saarinen. The main final was driven in drying conditions meaning everybody had to be very careful to not push over the limit. Niko took the early lead followed by VehniäinenI while there was a collision on the straight between Jere, Joona Lempiäinen and Koivula, which forced the Champion to change tyres due to a broken rim and while Lempiäinen required a bodyshell change. After 20 minutes Niko was till leading followed by Vehniäinen until the second placed driver ran into transmission problems and was forced to retire. Allowing Niko to take the win ahead of Jere with Lempiäinen completing the podium, overall Niko’s Max Power engined Mugen took the title ahead of the similar O.S powered car of Koivula. Also driving a Mugen, fitted with a Max Power engine,the outgoing champion complete the Top 3 ahead of the Infinity of Lempiäinen with Vehniäinen’s Mugen 5th.

Source: Teemu Saarinen

August 22, 2024

Mugen MBX8R ECO 2-Piece Carbon Battery Box

Mugen Seiki Europe’s parts brand MSE Performance Parts has introduced a 2-Piece Carbon Battery mount for the Mugen MBX8R ECO 1:8 Electric Buggy. Machine from high quality carbon fibre, the mount fits two 2S lipo batteries and is a upgrade from the standard plastic mount that comes with the MBX8R ECO kit.

View with battery installed here

August 8, 2024

Thurston crowned British Champion with 5 in a row

Alex Thurston is the new 2024 BRCA British 1:8 Circuit National Champion, the YMC Racing supported driver claimed the title with a perfect season of 5 wins from 5 races. With round 5 of 7 taking drivers to the centre of the country and to the Wombwell Circuit, Thurston would take his Ielasi Tuned powered Mugen Seiki to the TQ ahead of the Shepherds of out going champion Tim Wood and Andrew Hastings. In the process of his Q4 FTD, Thurston claimed a new track record with a fastest lap of 16.02. In the half hour final Wood would keep Thurston on his toes but a late push in the final minutes allowed Thurston to build as gap he could maintain to the finish to make it 5 from 5 by a margin of 6-seconds. Behind Wood, Hastings completed the podium 2-laps down. The title win sees Thurston retake the title he had previous held for three years in a row in 2022. The penultimate round of the 2024 championship will see drivers return to Halifax, having hosted previously Round 5, on September 7/8th.

Image: Alex Thurston [Facebook]

July 8, 2024

Todd crowed 1:8 Euro B Buggy Champion

Young Spanish talent David Todd is the new EFRA 1:8 Buggy European B Champion. A title that counts former World Champion Davd Ronnefalk and 2024 World title favourite Juan Carlos Canas among its past champions, the Mugen driver won the 20th running of the championship which was hosted by the RCSax track in the South East of Spain where it would be an all Spanish podium. In qualifying it was the Tekno of Iker Tellez who on tie break secured the overall TQ from Todd as both drivers end the four rounds on 2-points each. In the Semis, Tellez would drop to third in his encounter as the Team Associated of Manuel Iniesta Hernández took the win while Todd won his Semi to secure pole position for the 45-minute Main final. A good battle between the Top 2 would eventually see Todd deliver the title ahead of Iniesta Hernández with the Xray of third place qualifier Hugo Ibañez completing the podium. France’s Matisse Peyre would be the top visitor taking his Xray to fourth position.

Image: David Todd [Facebook]

July 2, 2024

Thurston makes it 4 out of 4 at British Nationals

Alex Thurston’s impressive 2024 BRCA 1:8 Onroad British National Championship season continued as he made it four from four at the Halifax track over the weekend. In qualifying it was the Shepherd of reigning Champion Tim Wood who secured the TQ with the fastest time from the four rounds of qualifying. 1.2-seconds off the new nitro track record set by Wood, Thurston would line up P2 for the half hour final with his YMC Racing Mugen Seiki with Karl Dransfield’s Shepherd completing the Top 3. A great battle between Wood & Thurston would see the championship leader eventually coming out on top with Wood just holding off team-mate Dransfield. The win puts Thurston on 402 points out of a potential maximum of 404. With three rounds still remaining, and 5 to count, Thurston will be aiming to get the title wrapped up at the fifth round at Wombwell on August 3/4th. Wood won in Wombley last year en route to the title but a year early it was Thurston who took the win at South Yorkshire track.

Image: Alex Thurston [Facebook]

June 19, 2024

Mugen Seiki MSB1 Pin Replacement Tool

New from Mugen Seiki is this Pin Replacement Tool for use with its MSB1 1:10 2WD Buggy. The Japanese manufacturer has produced the 2.5 Pin replacement tool following a lot of requested for the option. It is used to replace the φ2.5 pins used in the drive shaft of 1:10 electric buggies used by all brands with Mugen also offering replacement φ2.5×9 pins in a pack of 10 pieces.

View operation here

May 30, 2024

Mugen Seiki MSB1 Friction O Ring & Shock Springs

Mugen Seiki has released new option Friction O Ring and Shock Springs for their MSB1 1:10 2WD Buggy which was released earlier this year. The Soft option Friction O Ring is intended to be used for gear differential. Sold as a pack of 10 pieces, they are made of softer material than the kit standard B2322C O Rings and provide a smoother action making the buggy drive easier. Also new is a 5 Dot Front Shock Spring which is one stage harder than the previous strongest front spring offering. A new 4 Dot Rear shock spring is one level harder than the current strongest Riya Spring.

Source: Mugen Seiki [mugenseiki.com]

May 27, 2024

Kurzbuch wins ENS season opener

Mugen Seiki’s Simon Kurzbuch opened the latest season of the Euro Nitro Series with maximum points, the former World Champion winning the 1:8 category from the TQ position. The first of the four round championship took drivers to the Ettlingen track in Germany where qualifying would see both Kurzbuch and the Capricorn of reigning ENS Champion Toni Gruber post two TQ runs each over the four qualifiers. On tie-break it was 2023 World Championship Top Qualifier Kurzbuch who lined up on pole for the 45-minute final ahead of Gruber with the Infinity of Teemu Leino P3. Able to establish an early gap over his rivals, Kurzbuch would cruise to victory by over a lap from Leino, Gruber having retired from the race just after half way distance. Bumping up from the B-Main to line up 11th on the grid, 1:8 Onroad legend Lamberto Collari would work his way through the field to complete the podium for Infinity. In 1:10, Melvin Diekmann got his title defence off to the perfect start taking his Capricorn to the TQ & win ahead of the Infinity of former Champion Jilles Groskamp with France’s Quentin Leroux taking the final step on the podium.

Image: Simon Kurzbuch RC [Facebook]