Red RC » Industry

June 23, 2007

Team Br00d releasing their Factory team?

Team Br00d dropping Factory team

We are hearing a rumour out of the US that custom motor building firm Team Br00d has run into some financial problems and as a result is having to release its contracted factory drivers. We hope that these difficulties wont affect the production of their motors, and their other business concerns, but we believe it has left many top drivers looking for new motor sponsors. According to the team list on the companys website this could affect factory drivers Travis Amezcua, Billy Easton, Mike Blackstock, Travis Schreven, Ralph Burch, Chris Tosolini, Jarrod Langlois, Jarrod Scott & Dakotah Phend, some of which have only recently signed to the company. We hope to bring you more details about this situation when we hear them.

UPDATE: According to Eddie O on RC Tech yesterday, he says that Burch and Tosolini are staying put for the time being and Schreven will also be representing Br00d at next months Nationals.

UPDATE 2: We were contacted by Team Brood to clarify their situation and it seems that all is very well with the business, with a lot of infrastructure upgrades recently implemented and lots of additions to the companys inventory. There has been some changes in their team, as we heard, with these changes mostly affecting their paid team drivers, but they will retain the services of Travis Schreven as well as Burch and Tosolini for the time being. Team Brood also stated that they had added some members to their team line-up but that the list on their site is yet to be updated. Good to hear.

June 22, 2007

Rick Hohwart leaves Peak Racing

Rick Hohwart, top racer and founder of Peak Racing released a statement on the RC Tech forum announcing that he had no longer anything to do with Peak or Team Orion and has left the company he founded back in 1985.

I want to inform everyone on R/C Tech that I no longer work, race for, or have anything to with Team Orion/Peak Racing. … I will still continmue racing for Team Associated, but will now use LRP speedos, LRP BL motors, and Reedy batteries. I’d like to personally thank everyone who supported me and Peak Racing in the past. I started the company way back in 1985 and without my loyal customers and sponsors, I would have been out of the R/C industry long ago. R/C cars are my life, and I will continue working somewhere in the R/C industry. I am just not exactly sure where at this time.

Source: RC Tech [rctech.net] / Image: 4wdrc [4wdrc.com]

June 21, 2007

Serpent are Hiring

If you have ever wanted a job working in the RC Industry, helping to shape the image of one of the industries leading model car brands, then look no further.

Due to our expansion into different racing classes, as well as maintaining a leading position in our current markets, Serpent are looking for a 2nd Graphic Designer to come work in our marketing team at our headquarters near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.If you are interested in working in a friendly and casual work environment, that is always open to new ideas, and you meet the requirements as laid out in our full job description then please don’t hesitate to apply.

You can read the full job description here.

Source: Serpent [serpent.com]

June 8, 2007

Gil Losi Jr – Interview

Gil Losi Jr - Interview

In the middle of March the surprise announcement was made that Gil Losi Jr had left the company that bore his family name to go and head up the design team at competitors Kyosho America. Xtreme RC Magazine caught up with Gil shortly after the move to find out the real story behind the move and what lies ahead for him in his new position.

Click here for the PDF of the interview. All text and pictures by Derek Buono from Xtreme RC Mag.

Source: Xtreme RC [rc411.com]

May 25, 2007

Kyosho buys Team Orion – Confirmed

Kyosho buys Team Orion

We exclusively informed you last week that Kyosho had bought Team Orion, and now it has been confirmed – “Team Orion, with 20 years experience as the maker of the some of the world’s best electric and nitro power systems, has joined forces with Kyosho, the maker of the world’s finest radio control models. Other than an eventual relocation for the respective Team Orion facilities, the same key people will be in place making all the same products that have made Team Orion such a dominant force in the market. The combined strength and extra resources that result from the partnership will present new opportunities to expand the Team Orion product line.” In the picture, taken at the Shizuoka Hobby show last week is Mr Masayuki Susuki, Kyosho president alongside Philippe Neidhart (center) from Team Orion and Joel Johnson from Kyosho USA.

Source: Team Orion [teamorion.com]

May 20, 2007

JBRL Hot Bodies Arrive & Drive

Hot Bodies and the Jimmy Babcock Racing League have announced the chance to win a 1 year Sponsorship on the same team with Travis Amezcua and Atsushi Hara. The sponsorship equals up to $3,500 worth of merchandise but Hot Bodies will not however pay entry fees, travel, food or hotels, still a very sweet deal.

Do you have what it takes to be on the world class Hot Bodies racing team with Travis Amezcua & Atsushi Hara? Here is your chance to showcase your driving talent and earn your spot on the Hot Bodies team! Hot Bodies has teamed up with the premier nitro off-road series, Jimmy Babcock Racing League [JBRL], to host the Hot Bodies Arrive & Drive Race Series in conjunction with the JBRL Nitro Offroad Series. This is a test of driving skill where all you do is arrive, drive and we take care of the rest! And we mean the whole enchilada! Ten identically prepared Hot Bodies Lightning 2 Sport buggies will be provided for the racers to compete with. We are looking for the best undiscovered talent of the Sportsman class drivers to step up to the Hot Bodies team.

Click here for more information.

Source: RC Car [rc-car.com]

May 19, 2007

ROAR create LiPo powered Demo class

ROAR

Back at the end of last year, ROAR (US governing body) announced that LiPo cells would not be allowed to be used at their sanctioned events as a power source. Well 6 months on and it seems that ROAR has changed its opinion of the new cells, as well as brushless motors, by announcing that the 2007 ROAR Off Road Electric Nationals has added a LiPo/Brushless demo class. What is interesting about this demo class is that it is for 1/10th 2wd trucks, all brushless motors are allowed and the A-main final will be 20 minutes long, which should make for some good racing.

Source: ROAR [roarracing.org]

May 18, 2007

EXCLUSIVE – Kyosho buys Team Orion

EXCLUSIVE - Kyosho buys Team Orion

Following on from what we had heard earlier in the week, we can now confirm to you that the 2nd announcement to be made by Kyosho is that they have purchased Team Orion. From what we hear the deal means that the Japanese company now owns Team Orion Europe, Japan and USA, and we presume Peak Motors too, and that they also now own the CRF engine project. Our source in Japan also confirmed that they saw a group photo being taken which included Joel Johnson (head of Kyosho USA), Masayuki Suzuki (president of Kyosho) and Philippe Neidhart (former owner of Team Orion) which would suggest that all 3 will be involved in some way within the new companies. We hope to bring you the official release when we get it.