December 11, 2023

Rivkin & Phend turn RC teachers for a day!

They are two of the biggest names in offroad racing and represent two of the biggest manufacturers on the international stage but last week both Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin and TLR’s Dakotah Phend became RC teachers for a day as part of two different events.  Two time World Champion Rivkin was taking part in the launch of Hobbywing Tech Explorers.  Held at World Championship venue Hobby Action Raceway, it marked the first collaboration with a school outreach program.  Rivkin touched on his journey with RC, overcoming challenges, and dreaming big.  He also discussed the mechanics, electrical aspects, and disciplines of the hobby, along with the incredible values it’s brought into his life – from friends, mentors, and unforgettable experiences.  On his social media Rivkin said he was ‘So thankful to have had the opportunity to hold my first public gathering and launch a new program with Hobbywing North America called Tech Explorers! Meeting and seeing these kids remind me what it was like when I first laid eyes on RC cars.  I want to personally thank Larry and Hobby Action RC Raceway for letting us utilise the track and rental cars.  I’m totally looking forward on doing many more of these!’   Phend brought his 1:10 Electric and 1:8 Nitro buggies to a middle school as part of a career day where he shared his story with pupils.  On his Facebook page he posted, ‘I was able to be apart of career day earlier this week at Angola Middle School.  I went over how I was able to turn a passion into a career.  There are a lot of great and unique opportunities in today’s world!’.  It is great to see both drivers promoting RC racing in this way and well done to everyone involved in inspiring the future generation.

View Mr.Phend taking his class here


December 11, 2023

Gandin wins Miami RC Grand Prix

While the 1:12 World Championships was being decided in Cocoa, Florida, further south in the state the annual Miami RC Grand Prix was taking place where Italy’s Jonathan Gandin took the big win in 1:8 Onroad.  The Ielasi Tuned team driver took his Infinity to the TQ with the fastest time and only 16-lap 4-minute run from the five rounds of qualifying at the former World Championship hosting Homestead RC Raceway.  Behind it was Serpent’s Bryce Butterfield who set the second fastest time to line up P2 for the 45-minute final ahead of Infinity’s Francesco Tironi, Capricorn’s Thilo Diekmann and the Xray of Filippo Domanin.  In the final, Butterfield was an early retirement going after 12-minutes, but upfront Gandin was in charge albeit being kept honest by young Domanin who set the fastest lap of the race.  Completing the podium Tironi would finish 3rd ahead of the Capricorn of Florida racer Diego Morganti.  In 1:10 Sedan, it was Top Qualifier DJ Apolaro who took his Infinity to the win.

Image: Ielasi Tuned [Facebook]


December 9, 2023

Kemp sees off late Rheinard attack to win A1

Kemp Anderson held off an intense late attack from Marc Rheinard to win the opening A-Main of the IFMAR 1:12 World Championship in Florida.  Starting from the pole, Andersson would initially gap the field as second place starter Michal Orlowski was occupied with trying to keep a hard charging Rheinard at bay, the pair swapping paint but holding order.  Approaching the mid point of the 8-minute Orlowski would find his rhythm, the Schumacher driver closing Anderson’s over 1-second gap down to nothing.  Coming on to the straight, the Polish ace would make a pass for the lead on the inside of the Awesomatix driver but his car shot to the outside and he hit the boards.  With a tweaked car he was then passed by Rheinard.  Having survived the Orlowski challenge, now Anderson was ready for a second attack on his lead this time from the reigning World Champion.  The German was all over and even got in under his team-mates car but in a display of why he is a 5-time World Champion was able to back out of it quick enough that they both continued with minimal disruption.  While Rheinard would make a second attempt at taking the lead, Anderson kept his nerve to take a popular win, while 5-seconds back Orlowski completed the Top 3 some 7-seconds ahead of Alexander Hagberg in P4.

Continue reading here


December 9, 2023

Bittydesign Mini-Z 1:28 bodies

Bittydesign has announced three new bodies designed to offer Mini-Z enthusiasts a wider choice according to their preferred style: Supercar, Touring and FWD.  The Italian manufacturer has scaled down their three best-performing 1:10 bodies by adapting the proportions in order to allow perfect installation on 1:28 scale chassis.  The three body styles meet every need: for maximum performance the ARES-1 is the best choice, for a touring there is the Eptron and for a real front-wheel-drive race car look with enlarged ‘TCR’ style wider fenders there is the CA45.  Made with high quality 0.8mm polycarbonate, the bodies are universal and fit all 1:28 scale chassis with 98mm wheelbase.  Sold clear with protective film outside and a pre-cut decal sheet and window masks, the kit includes a set of screw/nuts/washers to fix the rear wing.

View individual bodies here


December 9, 2023

Anderson is 1:12 Worlds Top Qualifier

After a thrilling final qualifier at the IFMAR 1:12 World Championship in Florida, Awesomatix’ Kemp Anderson is the overall Top Qualifier for the 21st running of the sport’s longest running electric category.  Having kicked off Day 2 of qualifying at Beachline Raceway with a TQ run in Round 4, Anderson would go into the sixth round vying for pole position against racing heavy weights Marc Rheinard and Michal Orlowski.  Top Qualifier at the last World Championship, Orlowski’s quest to repeat that result came to a spectacular end after just one lap as he wheelied his Schumacher, the impact breaking a body hanger.  Now it was just Anderson and defending World Champion Rheinard in the shoot out.  With two TQ runs to his credit, a third TQ run would give Rheinard the top spot.  Anderson on the other hand needed to TQ in a new fastest time.  A small mistake by Rheinard meant the German had to push hard to get back on terms with the rapid Anderson but that would lead to a much bigger crash that ended his challenge.  While rivals were no longer a worry, Anderson knew he was now against the clock needing a new fastest TQ time.  While the pressure was enough for his father and newly elected IFMAR President Eric Anderson to stay in the pits, the rest of the those attending the event lined up around the track.  Despite the intensity of the biggest moment of his racing career, Anderson delivered with a time 2.5-seconds quicker than the previous best set by Orlowski securing a very popular home TQ for the host nation.  With all three drivers having two TQ runs each, overall it will be Orlowski who starts second with Rheinard lining up P3 ahead of Alexander Hagberg with Donny Lia competing the top half of the grid.

Continue reading here


December 8, 2023

Anderson opens Day 2 of quali with TQ run

Having knocked on the door yesterday, Awesomatix’ Kemp Anderson finally delivered a TQ run as he opened Day 2 of qualifying at the 1:12 World Championship by topping Q4 ahead of Xray’s Alexander Hagberg.  Opening qualifying yesterday at Beachline Raceway with a TQ, Michal Orlowski would be one of two big retirements in the 4th of the 6 scheduled qualifier as the Schumacher driver broke his car a minute into the run.  Next to go was overnight TQ holder Marc Rheinard, the Awesomatix driver stripping a spur after riding curbs.  This left the battle between Anderson and Hagberg, the Swede closing on the American in the closing stages, the gap just under a second at the end of the 8-minutes.  Like Hagberg, getting promoted to the top heat grouping for Day 2, Donny Lia would run his fastest qualifier so far to complete the Top 3 ahead of fellow US racer Stuart Mason.

Continue reading here


December 8, 2023

Power HD signs Large Scale racer Rodewald

Servo manufacturer Power HD has announced the signing of top large scale racer Sven Rodewald from Germany.  The reigning 1:6 Large Scale 4WD Offroad European Champion, 6 X time National Champion, Multiple European Finalist, and multiple LS Touring Car GP Race finalist, Rodewald will be using Power HD’s high end GTS-6 & GTS-7 servos in his 1:6 Offroad and 1:5 Onroad Cars.  Racing for chassis manufacturer MCD, on his deal with Power HD he said, ‘During the last year I tried the Power HD GTS-6 and GTS-7 servos, and it was a pleasure to use them! The whole time the servos performed just great! Im happy to join the Power HD factory team for the upcoming season!’

Source: PowerHD [chd.hk]


December 8, 2023

Greiner rejoins Serpent for electric racing program

Following his announcement earlier this week that he was retiring from nitro competition after 15-years, former nitro World Champion Dominic Greiner is set for a electric touring car race program with the news he has rejoined his former sponsor Serpent.  Greiner won his 2016 World 1:10 Nitro Touring Car World title with Serpent and will now try his hand at electric racing with the manufacturers X20/24 electric touring car.  Commenting on the announcement said, ‘I’m very happy to join back to my family Serpent and very excited to use and help the team with the X20/24.  As I decided to stop nitro I thought electric is the best option I have, and as I saw the first pictures from the new 1:10 electric car it was an easy decision to use Serpent.  I’m pretty sure the car has a lot of potential, could test it already indoors on the carpet and was very surprised and happy about the performance. I want to thank Joaquin and Mr. Lau for the warm welcome back.’

Source: Serpent [serpent.com]


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