Red RC » Racing

October 24, 2022

Sobue crowned JMRCA All-Japan Champion

Akio Sobue is the new Japanese Touring Car National Champion. Last held in 2019, Naoto Matsukura taking the win on that occasion, the JMRCA All-Japan Championships returned following Covid at the Greenpark Speedway in Hanno City. In qualifying, Sobue would take the opening three of four qualifiers to secure the TQ ahead of factory Yokomo driver Souta Goto who topped Q4. Next up where the Infinity pairing of Ryosuke Yamamoto and former champion Jin Sawada. The Top 5 in qualifying was completed by Sobue’s Axon team-mate and World Finalist Hayato Ishioka. In the finals, Sobue took A1 but an early incident in A2 left the World Championship podium finisher with a fourth as Yamamoto took the win. For A3 it was back to business for Sobue as he set the fastest lap to win by 1-second and with it claim the JMCRA title for a third time (2015, 2017). The podium was completed by Yamamoto and Goto.

Source: Axon [team-axon.com]

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 22, 2022

JConcepts Slam-Tech inserts

The new Slam-Tech inserts by JConcepts are a new light-weight alternative for RC monster truck racing. Tyre inserts can be just as important as a performance tyre, and in many instances, proves to assist handling in the most difficult conditions. From a competitive standpoint, jump landings are extremely important, but perhaps most important in the monster truck community where the slightest advantage can produce a huge victory in a single racing pass. In testing, using a hard, closed cell type material in the tyres creates smoother rolling speed, more balance in the tyre and helps minimise rebound in the tyres off jump landings. The Slam-Tech is a new generation of insert with molded exclusive materials with radial details found on off-road racing inserts. Traditional open cell inserts weigh ~38gms each, while the Slam-Tech inserts weigh in at ~24gms each. This lowers the rotating weight of any RC monster truck by a considerable amount thus providing more acceleration, better in-air control, less un-sprung weight, and less overall weight. The inserts are compatible with JConcepts tyres such as the 2.6” Renegades, Knobs, Launch, Racer, and Runner.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

October 22, 2022

JConcepts Firestorm Racer/Runner Monster Truck tyres

JConcepts have added two new tyres to their Monster Truck range. The ‘Racer’ tyre is a twist and a turn off the popular Firestorm tire providing a new cutting-edge option. In the past, the only way to modify scale monster truck tires was to slice and cut by knife, taking up to as much as 40 hours per tire. The JConcepts Racer tire has those trimmed sections built into the RC tire pattern featuring crisply “chiseled” carcass removal and heavily back-cut lugs. The sidewalls have been chamfered, removing overhung tread to provide a light-weight design capable of driving through high-traction turns with a freeness that helps quicken the rotation. The tyres are crew-cut to maintain performance in all the right areas while maintaining low-profile with a wide-body base. The ‘Runner’ tyre has a completely lowered lug to create the low-profile stance making it desirable on the racing scene. The lugs have a front and rear edge so they can dig in both directions without throwing too much free dirt.

View Runner tyre here

October 20, 2022

US Carpet Offroad C/ships Spec Tyre Announcement

The US Carpet Off Road Championships has announced the spec tyre suppliers for this year’s running of the Cleveland, Ohio, based race. Started in 2021, the week after the legendary US Indoor Champs On Road race, the 2nd edition takes place on December 1-4 with world famous announcer Scotty Ernst in charge of proceedings. While the USCOC event has open tyre classes, for its Spec tyre classes Ernst is proud to announce their partnership with Schumacher and JConcepts. Buggy classes will use Schumacher Tires with the Truck classes running on JConcepts. For 2WD it is the Cut Stagger front and Cactus rear that will be used while 4WD uses the Cactus Fusion 2 front and Cactus rear. In Truck classes it is a Swaggers and Pin Downs combination for both Short Course and Truck.

Source: USCOC [carpetoffroad.com]

October 18, 2022

JConcepts Mono 1.9″ | 1.7″ RC10 wheels

JConcepts has released the Mono wheel that is now available for the RC10 Classic vehicle in era correct 1.9” diameter. The popular dish style wheel is now available for the RC10 Classic. JConcepts has identified all the key points of the 1.9” diameter wheels and positioned them so racers can now have popular Mono flair built for the classic design. The base style of the Mono wheel revolves around the time-tested dish look which has been around since the beginning of RC Racing, but, this time, designed to fit the legendary RC10 vehicle. The JConcepts wheel is built in an extremely durable material with a racing look that combines the winning combination of racing from yesteryear, and competition of today. The Mono front wheel accepts the 3/16” x 5/16” flanged bearing or bushing found on the original and Classic RC10. Available in white, black, and florescent yellow colour with a shiny face appearance.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

October 18, 2022

JConcepts 3.5 x 46mm Fin Titanium turnbuckle set

JConcepts has introduced new 3.5mm Fin turnbuckle sets designed specifically for style, durability, and performance. The base of the design is centred around a .143” titanium hex size which gradually tapers down into a 3.5mm thread base design which accepts the new Team Associated #92308 ball cups. The focus of the styling surrounds the lengthened adjustment hex area and the “finned” cuts that rotate about the centre. The Fin turnbuckles are lightweight, and the original design brings out the glamour and quality that makes titanium one of the most sought-after exotic materials in the world. The JConcepts turnbuckles are produced with left- and right-hand threads with the left being conveniently marked for easy orientation. The turnbuckle sets are available in two colours, stealth black and burnt blue with the latter having intentional sporadic colouring ranging all around the blue spectrum.

View more images here

October 18, 2022

Team Associated RC8T4e Team Kit

If nitro is not your thing Team Associated also have you covered for Truggy racing with the release of the RC8T4e Team Kit. The big features of this 1:8 electric platform are a new chassis layout featuring two saddle pack-style battery configurations. Both configurations include a centrally mounted centre differential and in-line centre driveshafts for superior drivetrain efficiency and equalised chassis balance. Four battery configurations to choose from: Two 2S shorty LiPo batteries for lowest CG and exceptional weight bias. Two full size “saddle pack” LiPo batteries for lowest CG and exceptional weight bias. One 4S shorty LiPo battery for simplified setup and more centralised weight bias. One full size LiPo battery for simplified setup and more centralised weight bias. Like the nitro variant, innovative front-end geometry with new 8° steering blocks are paired with a new wider upper suspension arm pivot for improved steering balance and predictable handling in all conditions.

View additional new features and images here