October 29, 2022

2023 Mile High Indoor Championships – Announcement

The organisers of the annual Mile High Indoor Championships held at 5280 Raceway in Lakewood, Colorado, have announced the date for the 2023 event.  Set to take place April 14 to 16th, the long running electric onroad event has not only been attended by America’s top drivers but also a number of international factory drivers.  Alex Hagberg, Drew Ellis, Paul Lemieux, Sam Issacs, Max Machler, Kevin Hebert, Eric Anderson, Brian Wynn, Mike Hanulec, Craig Xavier, Scott Jakes, Ralph Burch, Kemp Anderson and even international voice of RC Scotty Ernst have contested the race.  The 13th running of the MHIC, the previous three years have seen the event sell out in under 5-hours so watch out for the opening of registration in late December.

Source: MHIC [milehighindoorchamps.com]


October 26, 2022

2023 Charity Race – Announcement

The 2023 edition of the popular ‘Charity Race’ will be held at the RC Landia indoor carpet track in Scandiano, Italy on 11th – 12th February. A race that includes Ronald Volker, Marc Rheinard, Bruno Coelho, Alexander Hagberg and Viktor Wilck as previous winners, this is the 12th running of the event which has raised thousands of euros for local charities. he event will cater for 6 classes: Touring Modified, Touring Stock EFRA, FWD and GT for 10th scale, while LMP Open Modified and GT12 for 12th. Entries will be capped at 120 pit places and the Organisers, Team La Gang, will hold the traditional charity raffle for the good cause. Registration for the the ‘Charity Race’ will open on MyRCM in due course.

Source: Team La Gang [teamlagang.it]


October 25, 2022

JMRCA 2022 All Japan Touring Car Statistics

Having reported yesterday on Akio Sobue’s victory at the 2022 JMRCA All-Japan Championships over the weekend, our friend & expert on all things Tamiya Kenneth Södergård over at Blog Kentech has compiled interesting manufacturer statics from the first hosting of the National Championships since 2019.  Combined figures from both the Super Expert and Open classes show Mugen (19%) to be the car of choice with Japanese brands dominating the market.  Iconic brand Tamiya, while no longer fielding an international factory team, is still very much alive in competitive touring car as the second most popular brand with only 3% less share than Mugen.  Touring car newcomers, and stars of the recent ISTC World Championships getting both their drivers in the A-Main in Italy, Axon was the third biggest brand just ahead of Yokomo.  In contrast, the two big brands in European touring car race scene, Xray and Awesomatix, both each only made up 5% of the entry.

Source: Kentech [kentech.wordpress.com]


October 24, 2022

Rivkin is ‘Master of Dirt’

The 8th annual Trinity Masters of Dirt took place over the weekend with Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin being crowned the overall ‘Master of Dirt’. Held at Beach RC & Hobbies in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the race sees driver race over three classes for the ‘Master’ title.  The reigning 2WD Buggy World Champion completed a clean sweep of 2WD Mod Buggy securing both the TQ & win which combined with 2nd in Mod Truck and 3rd in 4WD Buggy crowned him the Modified division ‘Master of Dirt’.  In Mod Truck it was Associated’s Dustin Evans who took the win while Dakotah Phend took the 4WD Buggy win ahead of Aydin Horne.  In the Stock division it was Team Losi Racing’s Brennan Schimmel won was the ‘Master of Dirt’.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]


October 24, 2022

Coelho wins as Essex Winter Series returns

The opening round of the popular Essex Winter Series took place over the weekend with newly crowned World Champion Bruno Coelho taking the win.  A series that has attracted some of the biggest names in Electric Touring to the UK in the past, after its forced Covid break it was the Xray team who were the star entries as the indoor carpet series made its return – Martin Hudy and Francesco Martini also making the trip.  Topping all four qualifiers, Coelho would secure the TQ ahead of newly crowned British Champion & Xray team-mate Kyle Branson.  Capricorn’s Alex Thurston complete the Top 3 on the grid ahead of Schumacher’s Andy Murray who won the battle of the car designers as Hudy secured fifth.  In the single leg final, Coelho took an easy win with over 3-seconds of an advantage over Branson with British 1:8 Nitro Champion Thurston completing the podium. In Stock, Xray’s Zak Finlay took the win from the Schumacher of Billy Fletcher.

Image: Kyle Branson [Facebook]


October 23, 2022

Kurzbuch announces Team Shepherd departure

Former 1:8 Onroad World Champion Simon Kurzbuch has announced his departure from Team Shepherd.  The Swiss driver leaves the German chassis manufacturer after representing the brand at the top of the sport for 12 years.  In 2015, Kurzbuch & Shepherd achieved the ultimate prize in the sport when he was crowned World Champion in Brazil.  Other highlights of the partnership include the 2018 European Championship and a string of titles during the height of the Euro Nitro Series.  Announcing he will leave Shepherd on social media, he said, ‘It all started 2010 with the club race at our home track. I drove the first time my Shepherd Velox, it was so exciting. Today it ends, with the club race at my home track I’m so excited for the “last dance” with my Shepherd Velox! But it’s much more. Almost half of my life I’ve been going through a crazy adventure and I’m so f##king thankful for every single moment! Thanks to the whole Schäfer family and PiccoBello, Beat and Käthi, who brought me on this way to meet so many people (Sorry to not name you all but you are in my heart!), winning every possible title in this category – I have tears in my eyes because it was so great and we will always remember it – forever ever! Every End is a beginning of something new – cant wait to tell you more about!’  An official announcement on his new team is expected in 2-weeks time.

Source: Simon Kurzbuch [facebook.com]


October 13, 2022

Minidrom Ettlingen seeks support to prevent closure of famed track

A favourite among some of the best racers in the World, German track Minidrom Ettlingen is looking for the support of the RC community as plans for a Biogas Plant look set to see the track closed by 2024.  The club has been operating for 40-years and the track has attracted some of the best racers from around the global to the city of almost 40,000 through events such as IFMAR World Championships, EFRA European Championships, Euro Nitro Series and the ETS.  Built on land owned by the city, the ground has been earmarked as the site for the new 50,000 ton organic waste fermentation plant.  The club is looking to highlight the value of the track to local tourism in terms of hotels, restaurants and suppliers and on a wider level how vital the track & its strong club are for R/C racing in Germany and also Europe.  Red RC have been guests of the club for many races there over the years. The racing has always been entertaining and the club have always looked after us well.  We also love the banking around the track which makes for great spectating.  Already World Champions Dominic Greiner, Simon Kurzbuch and Robert Pietsch, among others, have got behind supporting the club.

You can support the club in their quest to ensure Minidrom Ettlingen remains a favourite track among racers for years to come by signing the online petition which can be found by clicking here.


October 11, 2022

Lewis Hamilton endorses RC racing for diversity & inclusion in STEM

An interesting feature by F1 broadcaster Sky Sports on the great work being done by RC Vision who are championing our sport and the need for diversity and inclusion in STEM. RC Vision is a social venture working to engage young people who are underrepresented in motorsports careers and STEM industries using the exciting sport of radio control car racing. Having cut his teeth in racing through RC, it is great to see 7-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton showing support for the work being done.

Source: Sky Sports F1


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