February 7, 2007

HPI Firestorm optionals now available

HPI Firestorm optionals

I like the Firestorm from HPI, its wicked fast and looks really trick too, and now it can go faster and look nicer thanks to a new line of optionals that have been made available for this 1/10th stadium truck. You can now get 2 different pre painted bodies for the car, blue one shown above, as well as new tires including special versions for sand as already available for the Baja 5B. There is also some aluminium strengthening pieces for beefing up the suspension as well as a new clutch bell housing and some ultra slick titanium nitride shock shafts.

Check out all the new optionals here.

Source: HPI Europe [hpi-europe.com]


February 7, 2007

Kyosho and Sirio partnership close to an end?

Kyosho and Sirio

We have been hearing this rumour for a while now and from a number of sources, the fact that the partnership between Kyosho and Star Motor Engineering, makers of Sirio, was strained and may even be coming to an end. Things started to be mentioned when World Champion Lamberto Collari didnt renew his contract with the Italian engine manufacturer and jumped ship to Novarossi, followed relatively closely by fellow World Champion Adrien Bertin who left his job at Sirio and moved to Team Orion in Switzerland. Rumour has it that Francesco Tironi, a Collari protegé, has also left his position in the company but this hasnt been confirmed as yet. All the previously mentioned racers are heavily backed by Japanese manufacturer Kyosho and seems like too much of a coincidence to be not related to their engine and car sponsors relationship going sour.

Now i dont pretend to know why this could be happening but the shift could see Team Orion and their range of CRF Wasp motors taking over the supply of motors to the Japanese teams drivers with Bertin and fellow Kyosho team driver Josh Cyrul already running these motors and the unannounced news that another top European Kyosho racer, that we havent mentioned, will also jump from Sirio to Team Orion in the coming weeks. We will watch and see how this unfolds and update you when we hear more.


February 7, 2007

Masao Tanaka signs to Motonica for 2007

Masao Tanaka signs to Motonica

Top Japanese racer and multiple World championship podium finisher, Masao Tanaka has been confirmed to race for Motonica for the 2007 season. Tanaka had previously tested the Motonica prior to last years 1/8th Nationals, but decided for the Mugen as he didn’t have time to learn the car, but obviously he liked the car enough to decide to race with it for the 2007 season. Tanaka has been out of a sponsored drive since Ninja motors were pushed upon Mugen team drivers last year which forced Tanaka to make a decision between staying with Mugen or with Kawahara where he works, who just happen to be the Novarossi importers for Japan, he chose to stay in employment. Whats also interesting is the close relationship now between Motonica and Novarossi, with suggestions that they are both pushing to build an all Italian dream team which could possibly include 7 time World Champion Lamberto Collari.

Image: Eco Model [ecomodel.it]


February 7, 2007

Chris Tosolini signs for Team Br00d

Chris Tosolini signs for Team Brood

Multiple US National Champion Chris Tosolini has signed to Team Br00d and will use their batteries and motors from this weeks Snowbird Nationals onwards. Chris up until this move used Checkpoint cells and motors and made the decision to move over to his new sponsor after giving its products a trial run at the Novak US touring car champs event last month.

Source: RC Tech [rctech.net]


February 6, 2007

GRP/Ninja Fast Link System update

GRP/Ninja Fast Link System

We showed this fast link system from GRP back in December and then you saw it again at Nurnberg, well now we have gotten the official word, this time from Ninja, with regards what types and versions of this springless system will be available. According to the word on the MID site, the new FL system will be made available for 2.1cc and 3.5cc circuit motors as well as for 3.5cc and 4.6cc motors for off road. The circuit pipes will be available with a choice of 3 different length manifolds whilst the off road pipe systems will have a choice of 2 lengths of manifold.

Source: MID [mid-mugen.de]


February 6, 2007

New Ninja .12 and .28 motors

Ninja Motors

MID Mugen in Germany have announced the release of these 2 updated motors from Ninja, the .12 touring car motor (MR12 T01A) and the .28 truggy motor (MR28 M01A), in time for the 2007 race season. The new motors are similar to the .21 buggy and circuit motors that were released near the end of last year in that these new motors also now have been upgraded and sport the ‘A’ suffix at the end of their product number which mostly equates to better tolerances amongst the parts that will improve performance and reliability.

Source: MID [mid-mugen.de]


February 5, 2007

Billy Easton signs to OCM Racing & TQ fuels

Billy Easton signs to OCM Racing & TQ fuels

US driver and former World Champion, Billy Easton, has signed to race for OCM Racing USA and TQ racing fuels. According to the report by Neo Buggy, Easton will not only be the teams star driver but will also head up the North American teams research and development for both brands.

Source: Neo-Buggy [neo-buggy.net]


February 5, 2007

Hot Bodies present some Hot Bodies

Hot Bodies

Hot Bodies have announced that along with their new kits that they launched at the toy fair that they will also be getting back into the bodyshell business. They will release a new updated Moorespeed Mazda 6 bodyshell for 1/10th scale 190mm racing that features several aerodynamic tweaks for more high-speed steering and a longer profile for improved straight-line stability. Also coming out is a new competition body for 1/8th off road that features an aerodynamically-tuned cockpit, sweet speed lines and a sharply angled rear panel. And finally a body for 1/12th circuit racing, a new class that HB will enter, that takes design concepts from a full size LMP car and sports front canard winglets to its super low-slung design and a massive rear wing.

Check out the other new shells here… content