November 1, 2019

Spektrum Smart LiPo hardcase battery packs

Coming from Spektrum’s Smart series are two new 100C LiPo hardcase battery packs. New to the range are a 7.6V 6300mAh LiHV shorty battery pack as well as a 14.8V 5000mAh 1/8th scale battery. When a Spektrum Smart LiPo battery is connected to a Spektrum Smart charger, unique parameters and health of that Smart LiPo battery upload from the Smart memory microchip integrated into the battery. Through the charger, drivers can view and set preferences, such as charge rates, so that all they have to do to charge the pack every time is press the charger “Start” button. The Smart technology takes care of the rest. The packs come in protective hardcases that utilise 5mm bullet-type connectors.

View the 4S battery here


November 1, 2019

Blockhead Motors stainless steel parts tray

Blockhead Motors from Japan have introduced their all-new stainless steel parts tray. Featuring the iconic BM turtle logo, the parts tray not only looks the part but it also helps to organise parts during building, setup or maintenance, not only of Tamiya cars, something Blockhead Motors are well known for. the tray comes in a polished shiny finish and it is available now.

View more images here


November 1, 2019

Exotek release new fan mount accessories

Exotek have introduced several new accessories to make fan mounting easier. First up is the V2 variant of the company’s popular 1/8 Exo fan mount that features a larger double screw mounting bar. The mount allows to attach optional high powered 40mm and 30mm fans as the mounting bracket has multi-mount features that allows the fan to be securely affixed to the motor can in tight spaces. The extra modular design means with a few adjustments owners can mount a fan securely in any 1/8th scale truggy and most E-buggies and the mount positions the fans 10mm to 14mm away from the motor can. This proper spacing helps insure the fan does not lose power due to magnetic interference from the motor. A fan that is placed too close to the motor can actually stop spinning as the driver applies maximum throttle due to the fact that the motors stronger EMF can slow or shut down the fans EMF. The mount was designed for the use with high power 40mm and 30mm fans and standard 1/8th scale motors with 39.5mm to 40.5mm diameter and it comes in polished and anodised black or blue for a factory look.

Continue reading here


November 1, 2019

Infinity International RC Speedway awarded 2021 World Championships

The 2021 1:8 Onroad World Championship is going to Japan, with the newly opened Infinity International RC Speedway having been awarded the blue ribbon event of RC Racing’s original and oldest class.  News of the decision by the sport’s governing body IFMAR came at the 22nd running of the 1:8 Onroad World Championships which are currently taking place at Steel City RC Speedway in Fontana, California.  Built by Infinity owner Kenji Taira and having hosted its grand opening just two months ago, the track is located close to the famed Suzuka Formula One circuit.  Before becoming Infinity International RC Speedway the track previously existed as the Hokusei Circuit and was run by the Sahashi family, a well known name in World Championship circles because of the famous racing brothers Tadahiko and Yuya.  Tadahiko became World Champion the last time Japan hosted the 1:8 World Championship in 2013.  With Rody Roem winning his World title there in 1985, this will be third time the land of the rising sun will host the Championships and while the date for 2021 is still to be decided it is expected the month of October will be chosen.


November 1, 2019

World Champion Balestri finally gets TQ run in Q4

Defending 1:8 Onroad World Champion Dario Balestri finally produced a TQ run setting the fastest run in the final qualifier of the day at Steel City RC Speedway.  Having topped seeding, the Infinity driver became the fourth different driver to top qualifying today seeing off Q2 pace setter Simon Kurzbuch by just 5/100ths of a second.  Continuing his improving results, JJ Wang claimed the third quickest time to finish just ahead of a much improved performance from his Mugen team-mate Shoki Takahata.  Also finishing out today’s action with his best run, two more qualifiers to run tomorrow following yesterday’s wind cancellation, Francesco Tironi set the 5th fastest time ahead of Infinity team-mate Jeffrey Rietveld.  After posting a TQ run in Q3, Dominic Greiner’s follow up attempt was full of driver errors leaving the Serpent driver 10th fastest.  Having opened qualifying with a TQ run, Naoto Matsukura had a disappointing finish to the day as a crash in Q4 put him out.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.


November 1, 2019

Greiner hits the top at World Championships

We might have had to wait an extra day for the qualifying action to start at the 1:8 World Championship but the first three rounds have certainly delivered variety with Dominic Greiner the latest driver to put in a TQ run.  Having not even featured in Q1 with the 22nd fastest time, in Q2 the Serpent driver made a huge leap forward with a P2 thanks to the set-up of team-mate Jeff Hamon and now the former 1:10 World Champion has become the third different driver to TQ.  While he topped the fastest group, top seed Dario Balestri again had to settle for second with team-mate Jesse Davis completing the Top 3.  JJ Wang improved on a strong showing in the morning to set the fourth fastest time, his best so far, followed by Hamon and Dutch driver Rick Vrielijnck. Having TQ’d the previous qualifier, Simon Kurzbuch return to form was short lived as he would suffer a stripped belt after just two laps.  Impressing in seeding putting himself in the fastest heat, young Italian Jonathan Gandin looked set for a Top 3 run as he swapped times with Balestri until he ran out of fuel on his final lap.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.


October 31, 2019

Kurzbuch finds his groove to take Q2 at Steel City

Simon Kurzbuch appears to have finally found his groove after taking the second round of qualifying at 1:8 World Championships in California.  Only 5th in the opening round, the Shepherd driver would pass Q1 winner Naoto Matsukura on track to top the times by 8/10th over his long time Worlds rival Dario Balestri who again had issues with engine tuning.  The second of today’s 4 round of qualifying would also see a marked improvement from Dominic Greiner who from the second fastest heat set the third quickest time ahead of Matsukura.  Backing up their impressive Q1 performances Jeff Hamon and Jesse Davis ran the 5th and 6th fastest times respectively.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.


October 31, 2019

Matsukura from Balestri in opening Qualifier

Naoto Matsukura has taken the opening round of qualifying at the 1:8 Onroad World Championships at Steel City RC Speedway.  After high winds forced the cancellation of the start of qualifying yesterday, the first of the now reduced to 4-minutes qualifiers saw an Infinity duel for top spot.  Shadowing his Infinity team-mate & top seed Dario Balestri throughout the run, Balestri having about half a second advantage, Matsukura was handed the TQ run when the reigning Champion started to run out of fuel on the final lap.  Running the second fastest heat, Jesse Davis would make it an Infinity Top 3 followed by fellow Australian Jeff Hamon who also ran in Group 11 of 12.  While crossing the line third fastest in the top heat, Simon Kurzbuch had to contend with a P5 for the first of his 6 qualifying attempts with Mugen’s JJ Wang completing the Top 6.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.