Coming from Darkside Designs are new carbon fibre shock towers for the Yokomo YZ-2 and the Kyosho RT6. Starting with the Yokomo-related shock stay, the short turf/carpet rear tower was developed for the use with YZ-2T front shock bodies and it is made of 4mm carbon fibre. Using the shock tower will lower the overall centre of gravity for quicker cornering in high-bite track conditions.
Xray have introduced their new fully adjustable battery holders for the T4 touring car. Their design allows to move the batteries front and aft by 4mm as well as left and right in order to fine-tune the car’s weight balance. The battery mounts do away with the need to run the battery tape under the chassis, instead it is run as a loop which prevents the chassis from becoming tweaked while also ensuring a more secure battery pack mounting and optimised chassis flex. The battery holding system is available in a lightweight carbon fibre and aluminium variant as well as a heavier brass and carbon fibre version, the latter adding 7.5g of weight which comes in handy when running lightweight battery packs.
Reflex Racing have introduced the new RSD hard-anodised aluminium flex chassis for the Team Associated TC7.2 touring car. The chassis was developed to be used in conditions of high grip asphalt, hHot weather and low to medium bite carpet. The shape and design of the cut outs on the chassis allow it to flex considerably more than Team Associated’s alloy chassis along the centre and bulkheads and the hard anodising prevent the chassis from bending too easily. When used with the RSD Spec top deck the TC7.2 will flex even further than with the stock unit and make this chassis a viable alternative to carbon on asphalt under almost all conditions. The main plate is made in the USA from premium Thyssenkrupp alloys and locally anodised.
The LA Speedway club in Landshut, South Germany hosted their International Easter Buggy race this past weekend. In the 1/8th Nitro Buggy class the win in the 30-minute A-main went to Team Associated driver, Alex Schmitt, some seven seconds in front of SWorkz’s Micha Widmaier. Mugen’s Carsten Keller came in 3rd while Patrick Schweinzer and Michael Nalukowy rounded out the top 5 results.
Image: LA Speedway Racing Club [facebook.com]
The Fururing Raceway in Furulund, Schweden held their Easter Race this past weekend in 1/8th nitro and electric classes. Kyosho’s Jessica Palsson was in control of things in the nitro class, taking the overall TQ after a clean sweep and also bringing home the win in the 45-minute main final with a 2-lap margin on HB Racing’s Hampus Berg. Young Ludwig Albertz (Kyosho) came in 3rd to round out the podium some four laps down.
Image: Jessica Palsson
The Protoform Nitro Grand Prix was held at Steel City RC Speedway win Fontana, California over the weekend. The event attracted some of the country’s fastest nitro on-road racers as well as guests from Australia, Italy, Japan and Thailand and in the premier 1/8th IFMAR IC Track class it was Australia’s Jeff Hamon with the overall TQ, however brake issues in the 60-minute main final meant the Mugen driver wasn’t able to hold the top spot, having to let Infinity’s Lamberto Collari go. Jeff however managed to defend the runner-up spot from 2nd place qualifier, Infinity’s Takaaki Shimo from Japan.
Made for Xray’s T4 touring car platform is RC-Cox’s new adjustable battery mount. Constructed from carbon fibre and black anodised aluminium, the battery mount allows to shift the battery pack forth and back as well as left and right in order to achieve a proper weight distribution with both low and high weight LiPo battery packs. Carbon fibre tabs locate the battery, doing away with the need to use fibre-reinforced tape and allowing the battery to slightly float which does away with unwanted chassis tweak. The set is usable with the 2016 to 2019 variants of the T4.
The recent 2019 edition of the Psycho Nitro Blast brought together some of the US’ fastest off-road racers and with over 700 entries and 24 hours of practice, it was a mind blowing experience for many. In the 40+ Nitro Buggy class A-main Paul Ciccarello led of the of the race but in the end it was veteran racer, Greg Degani with the win from Paul on the runner-up spot. Donald Elliott would round out the top 3.
