This year’s JMRCA All-Japan 1/8th Nitro Off-road Championships were held in the Chiba prefecture over the weekend. Kyosho’s Naoto Matsukura would take the TQ spot after the qualifiers in front of team mate Kazuya Tanaka. In the final Kazuya would then hold the upper hand, adding another national championship to his belt following his nationals win in 2012. TQ holder Naoto would end the main on the runner-up spot.
Source: Kyosho [kyosho.com]
Following last weekend’s EFRA AGM, the European governing body has announced the (provisional) dates for next year’s European Championships. The season kicks off in April with the 1/12th scale Euros that are again being held in Trencin, Slovakia while the Summer season starts with the 1/8th On-road and 1/8th Off-road B Euros in May and June respectively. The Nitro Buggy Euros A in July starts a month of a total of seven European Championships including the Electric Touring Car, 1/10th Electric Buggy and 1/8th On-road A while the 1/8th E-Buggy and 40+ Euros round out the calendar in September. Several classes also saw clarifications or additions of existing rules with the EFRA now clarified on the status of EFRA A and B licences and the allowed drivers for the respective Euros. The 1/8th E-Buggy class saw an amendment of the existing bodyshell rules with the bodies now have “to have a real car shape” and they have “to be able to carry the EFRA Numbers at the front and both sides as high as possible”. As for the electric on-road side of things EFRA has added a 1/10th 21.5T Formula class that will be part of the European Championship and that is run with “open” 21.5T motors and blinky speed controllers. Full AGM details can be found here.
Click here to view the provisional race calendar
Traxxas have introduced their all-new X-Maxx electric RTR monster truck. Starting with a white sheet of paper the X-Maxx is not just a bolstered-up E-Maxx but a totally new, and larger, design based on a modular 4WD chassis with the interlocking design keeping the motor and gear drive together as a unit to virtually eliminate gear-crunching chassis flex. Also the design provides easy access to critical components, making any needed maintenance or repairs a snap to perform. The all-new motor mount design cradles the motor so it can’t flex on the mount while gear mesh is held firmly in place by keyed pins.
Multiple World and National Champion, Atsushi Hara has announced his departure from off-road chassis sponsor SWorkz. Having joined Speedmaster Hobby Company, parent brand of SWorkz, at the beginning of 2014 and having a three year contract, Atsushi has terminated the contract effectively of October 31st. The reasons remain in the darkness and Hara so far left open what his next move will be. Atsushi states:
I have to announcement about terminate contract for SWorkz in between myself on 31st October 2015. I’d like to thank SWorkz owner Scott Yang and SWorkz USA team manager Marty Korn. It was great opportunities to start build for new brand SWorkz with them. I have such a great time to working with them and I had a lot of experience for many things. I never forget over my life those are great time for me. Also, Thanks to all of SWorkz distributors and SWorkz fans are great support! It will make me a big motivation for all time.
For the first time the Western Australia titles were held outside the metropolitan area in Kalgoorlie, some 580km from the Capital, Perth. In the Nitro Buggy Kyle Francis took the win in the main final after an eventful 45 minutes. Coming from the 3 spot on the grid, Kyle got caught up in someone else’s crash, dropping him to 11th. Slowly the comeback started and he began gaining positions and the gap to the first placed driver was 18 seconds. A few laps later and it was back to 15, then 12. Kyle had the fastest car out there, it was just a case of keeping it on four wheels and having enough time to reel in the leader. Another 10 minutes passed and the gap was down to 6 seconds, then 3 seconds. The race commentator was getting excited.
Seen for the first time at the recent IFMAR 1/10th Buggy World Championships JConcepts now officially introduce the Warrior bodyshell for the Team Associated B5M buggy. The design is focussed on the unconventional 8-window cab with rollcage details with an unique split front window, protecting the cockpit from the occasional aerial assault of lap traffic. The rear upper pods are pronounced, heavily drafted and blended to the chassis side-guard covers, allowing plenty of electrical clearance inside the shell. The body is an experienced racer too, featuring useable vents positioned throughout providing air-intake or escape packages for the skilled and crafty driver. Fully committed, the Warrior body features cut-lines for either Team Associated 3 or 4 gear transmission layout and the body package contains two 6.5″ Finnisher rear wings with cut lines and pre-dimpled locations for drop-fit mounting on the Team Associated B5M. Masks are included for all forward and side facing window panels and JConcepts decal sheet round out the package.
Coming soon from Yokomo is the all-new Zero HV brushless steering servo line. Developed for on-road, off-road and drift car use the standard size BL-SHV (0.07s/25.0kg-cm) and the low-profile BL-LHV (0.06s/15.0kg-cm) feature machined aluminium heat-sink cases and titanium gears for best possible durability while the brushless motors make for a high performance. Both servo utilise a standard Futaba servo arm spline, they feature etched graphics and will become available in November.
KO Propo America have introduced the RSx2 Power HC limited edition servos. Coming as signature limited red version with red anodised centre case and Jared Tebo’s signature and also as limited blue version the servos offer the same specifications as the standard Power HC with up 31.6kg-cm of torque and 0.11s transit time at 7.4V input.
