French company RC Concept have announced the signing of Yokomo’s Tom Cockerill to their team for 2016. The UK frontrunner and 2015 IFMAR Worlds finalist will bring his speed and knowledge to the company and he joins swift team mates such as the recently announced Lee Martin and Reno Savoya.
Source: RC Concepts [rcconcept.net]
Xray have introduced a carbon fibre steering brace for the XB4 buggy. Machined from 2.0mm high-quality carbon fibre the brace connects the two steering posts and it is meant to improve steering and jump landing on the expense of making the car less stable at the same time.
Source: Xray [teamxray.com]
HB Europe have announced the signing of Morgan Renzi to their nitro on-road team. The Italian will campaign the company’s R8 1/8th nitro on-road car and he plans to attend at all major races in Italy while also providing technical support for HB racers with the help of Alessandro Sabbatini.
Source: HB Europe [hbeurope.com]
Picco Europe have introduced the new Team Spec 2016 TB 5-port nitro off-road engine. As strong and durable as the original Team Spec engine the TB variant features a 5-port long stroke design for strong bottom end power, it sports a Swiss-made rear ceramic bearing as well as an updated front bearing for even better durability. Also new is a redesigned cooling head which is larger in size for improved cooling efficiency and cool looks. The engine already proofed its performance by taking the TQ at the recent Padova Nitro World Cup in the hands of Marco Barrufolo and it is available very soon.
Source: Picco Europe [racing-experience.fr]
MIP have introduced the Roller Pucks shiny drive system for the Losi Ten-SCTE short course truck. Building on the design features of the MIP Pucks system the Roller Pucks utilise large diameter metal bushings in favour of the standard small diameter pins to make for improved wear characteristics as the Roller Puck material is softer than the hardened steel outdrives. Included in the set are a pair of shiny CVD bones, two Pucks outdrives, metal pucks and it is usable with the Losi Ten-SCE 1.0, TLR Ten-SCTE 2.0 as well as the Losi Ten-Rally X.
Source: MIP [miponline.com]
Zen Racing have announced that the 1/8th scale racer Andy North will join the team for the 2016 season. Andy, the current British Open Champion and veteran Mugen driver, will focus on local races this year but he will very likely return to national events soon. Andy had the following to say:
I am very privileged to be asked by Paul and especially David Spashett of Zen Racing to test the ARC 8.0 chassis of which I have accepted to race in the 2016 British racing season. I firstly have to thank Mugen Seiki Europe and especially Stefan for their direct supporting after the Ted Longshaw era of which I have been racing Mugen products for the last 14 years and since the MRX3 incarnation. I am however good friends with David Spashett and Pitman Richard Sheriff on a personal level away from racing which makes this deal even more special to me and a no brainer going forward. This year will also see me become a Dad for the first time in April so my racing will be limited to local races in the short term but I expect to complete the full championship come the end of the year since nitro racing is in my blood. I am very much looking forward to working with all the Zen Racing Team and producing good results.
Source: Zen Racing [zen-racing.co.uk]
Italian company WRC have introduced a new adjustable roll damper for the F-One formula car. The design revolves around the inner piston that can be equipped with one to three rubber O-rings in order to adjust the friction of the damper with the single O-ring offering the least and the triple O-ring specification offering the most friction. Additional fine-tuning is possible by using highly viscous oils or greases. The damper not only fits the F-One but many other formula cars with a single roll damper.
Coming from Xray and made for the XB2 line of 1/10th 2WD buggies are two brass front bulkheads. Available as 26 degree and 23/29 degree variant the bulkheads not only help to adjust the front wishbones kick-up angle, they also add 46g of weight to the front most part of the chassis which can result in more on-power steering compared to running the standard composite blocks. Both bulkheads come laser-etched for easy identification with the 23/29 degree part requiring the use of the optional 23/29 degree aluminium front arm mount.
View the 23/29 degree bulkhead here
