December 2, 2022

Ongaro leaves AKA after 5 years & 2 World titles

Reigning 1:8 Offroad World Champion Davide Ongaro has announced that he is to leave tyre sponsor AKA.  The Italian has worked with the American brand for 5-years and in that time claimed the sport’s great prize not once but twice winning back to back World titles in 2018 in Australian and earlier this year in Spain.  The factory Team Associated driver made the announcement on his social media saying, “Here we are, we have reached the end of 2022 and with this post I wanted to communicate that for next season I will no longer be part of the AKA team, it has been 5 years full and full of emotions, full of positive results, but also of results where we struggled a bit, but that’s part of the game. Having won 2 world titles and knowing that you have made a part of history with AKA was truly a unique emotion, but unfortunately our paths diverge and it is time for a new challenge. I wanted to thank EVERYONE, truly EVERYONE without excluding anyone, you have been part of me and you will always remain in my heart, both mine and my family’s, I learned so much and I am grateful, we will surely see you again on track. Simply THANK YOU. Stay tuned, super excited for a new adventure… DAVIDE”.

Source: Davide Ongaro [Facebook]

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November 29, 2022

JConcepts Stadium truck Smoothie 2

JConcepts has introduced the Smoothie 2 stadium truck tyre.  Ooccasionally outdoor clay surfaces become so tacky or free of dust and debris that a total slick tire is an advantage. For years drivers have sanded, ground, and hand sculpted tires in search of that elusive slick carcass, now, JConcepts has the Smoothie 2.  Released as a 2.2” bead mounting diameter, the Smoothie 2 mount straight to the latest generation of stadium truck wheels for that all important reactive feel. After analysing the dynamics of stadium truck racing, JConcepts took a new approach. The design team minimised the overall diameter to improve slick track driving characteristics while maintaining stadium truck legality. The carefully profiled slightly thickened tire carcass rolls through the turns with efficiency while the maximum smooth surface area grips the specialty surfaces like no other. The Smoothies include Dirt-Tech inserts which have made an immediate presence on the racing scene since their release. The identifiable gray colour with custom sculpted features, are blended in to the insert material which provide racers a durable option capable of being used in medium to extremely high-traction conditions.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

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November 28, 2022

‘Rising Star Program’ awarded at USIC


First started in 2018 as an initiative at the Canadian National Championships, the ‘Rising Star Program’ was awarded for the first time to an American driver over the weekend when it was decided to make a surprise announcement at the legendary U.S. Indoor Champs in Cleveland.  Very passionate about the program, Ryan Combden of Team Zombie Canada, together with some other passionate RC sponsors, made the late decision to award the program to a driver during the USIC.  The panel watched unaware racers as they went about their racing, paying particular attention to how they interacted with others.  One driver to really stand out was Riley Drennen, his hard work and desire to learn really catching their attention.  Only in his first year of racing, the 20-year is working two jobs while still going to school and this dedication struck a cord with the panel.  As the latest recipient of the Rising Star Program, Riley was presented with a very impressive package from the program sponsors and USIC race promoter Scotty Ernst.  As he gets ready for the 2024 season, Riley received a new kit from Destiny, new power from Team Zombie Canada, new motor and tires from Motiv and Gravity RC,  a new esc from Tekin and a new body from Bitty Designs.

Source: Team Zombie Canada [Facebook]

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November 28, 2022

Schumacher Winter Series Rnd 3 – Report

The third round of the Schumacher Indoor Winter Series presented by the Louth Radio Control Car Club took place on Sunday and with 45 entries it was another good turnout.  Four rounds of qualifying would pitch a six car field for the finals. After the first two rounds it was Schumacher pilot Alex Brocklebank who looked like he may walk away with it, q2 was close between himself and Xray driver Chris Lovey separated by 8 thousandths of a second. Chris would fight back and take TQ in round 3 and 4 and set the fastest time in the process. Callum Chapman and his Vulcan RC Xray t4 showed consistency and pace only being a few seconds back of the leading pair. Another Schumacher driver of Dan Burks would build during the day improving his round results to take 4th on the grid. Matt Cook and his Mugen would leave it until the finals qualifying rounds to solidify his place in the a final, ahead of the Awesomatix of Dan Leonard. So with the top six drivers sorted it was heads down for the single legged final.

Continue report here

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November 28, 2022

Maifield wins US Open Championships on Tekno debut

Having officially announced his switch to Tekno RC on Friday, Ryan Maifield was straight down to business with his new fleet of cars as he took part in the US Open Championships at Adobe Mountain RC Speedway in Phoenix, Arizona.  In qualifying Maifield secured the TQ in nitro buggy, nitro truggy and e-Buggy.  With the event attracting 130 entries,  the first race up for Maifield was the 45-minute Nitro Truggy Main which he was able to win ahead Camden Lime and Spencer Rivkin.  In eBuggy, Rivkin would deny Maifield a clean sweep as he took his Associated to the win in the dying moments of the 10-minute final.  Back to Nitro and Maifield was able to cap off his first race weekend in Tekno colours with a convincing win in the 1-hour Buggy Main ahead of Tanner Dennehy and Camden Lime.

Image: Tekno [Facebook]

 

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November 27, 2022

Sam Isaacs does double at U.S. Indoor Champs

Sam Isaacs has done the double at the 42nd running of the U.S. Indoor Champs in Cleveland, the Awesomatix driver taking home the win in both Mod Touring Car and Mod 1:12.  In Touring Car the title was decided by a single A-Main.  Starting second on the grid, Isaacs went to the front on lap 2 as Top Qualifier Keven Hebert plummeted down the order.  Behind, Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski followed Isaacs home to claimed second with Kemp Anderson’s Awesomatix close on his bumper completing the podium.  Fourth would go to Alexander Hagberg who crossed line in front of his recovering Xray team-mate Hebert in P5.   1:12 would be decided by triple A-Mains.  Having secured the TQ, Isaacs took A1 from Donny Lia who came through from 5th on the grid.  A2 who see Lia go one better and win from Hagberg as Isaacs finished 4th behind Orlowski.  With one final 8-minute encounter to decide things, Isaacs led A3 when it counted most having relinquished the lead to Lia for 3 laps earlier in the race.  While Ollie Payne took second in A3, overall it was Lia second, Anderson third and Orlowski 4th.

Stock Image: U.S. Indoor Champs [Facebook]

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November 27, 2022

Volker claims first win of ETS title defence

Reigning champion Ronald Volker has secured the first win of his ETS title defence as he took victory at the opening indoor race of the season in Germany today.  Having secured the overall TQ from Marc Rheinard, the Mugen driver would lead home his title rival in the opening A-Main encounter and win again in A2, this time from Lucas Urbain, to become the fifth different winner in as many rounds.  With Awesomatix’s Rheinard going on to win A3 to secure second overall, the duo now sit equal at the top of the points standings.  Round 4 winner Urbain completed the podium in Munden ahead of Apeldoorn winner Yannick Prumper and Aigen winner Christopher Krapp.  Overall it is Yokomo’s Krapp who holds third in the points with one round remaining in Daun in January, where last year Volker took the win and title.

Image: ETS [Facebook]

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November 26, 2022

Hebert claims TQ at U.S. Indoor Champs

Keven Hebert is the Mod Touring Car Top Qualifier at the U.S. Indoor Champs in Cleveland, Ohio.  The 42nd running of this legendary indoor race, which has attracted over 350 entries, the Xray driver laid down the fastest time of the rocket round qualifying format in the third of the four rounds of qualifying.  The Top 3 times would in fact all come from Q3, with Awesomatix’s Sam Isaacs securing second on the grid with a time 6/10th off that of the Canadian.  Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski was a further 1/10th of a second off locking the European visitor into 3rd on the grid.  With 47 races making up a packed schedule each round, Kemp Anderson would top the final qualifier with his fastest run but he stays P4 on the grid ahead of the Xray of Alexander Hagberg with Chase Lemeiux completing the Top 6.  In Mod 1:12, it was Isaacs who took the TQ with the fastest time in Q4 ahead of Anderson.  Hagberg will start third followed by Ollie Payne, Donny Lia and Orlowski.

Image: Keven Hebert [Facebook]

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