Italian company Hot Race have announced the forthcoming release of a new line of 1/8th buggy tyres. First up will be three different treads, called Miami, Bangkok and Rome, named after milestone cities in Hot Race’s history, that will be on show at the World Indoor Championships at IBR Padova. The tyres are ready to hit the market at the beginning of January 2016 and more details will be available soon.
Source: Hot Race Tyres [hotracetyres.com]
The Speed One Race 2015 was held this past weekend at the C-Netic track in Indonesia. The event attracted both local talent as well as internationally experienced drivers such as Renaud Savoya, Zac Ryan, Ben Panic and Yuichi Kanai. And it would then be HB’s Renaud Savoya who would dominate the event by taking the TQ, the pole position for the A-main and also the win in the 60 minute final encounter while scoring the fastest lap in the progress. Kyosho’s Zac Ryan would end the main one lap down on Renaud while Adrian W. (Mugen) rounded out the top 3 result another lap down.
Tekno have announced the release of IFMAR and EFRA legal fuel tanks for their NB and NT line of 1/8th nitro off-road vehicles. Made for the NB48.3 and NT48.3 kits, the new tanks include a mechanism for securing and sealing the fuel line entry, making them IFMAR legal, and they also feature redesigned supports for the tank lid. The new fuel tanks are now also stronger and more consistent while remaining compatible with the original NB48 and NT48 vehicles. The tanks are available in a 125cc size for the buggies and 150cc size for the truggies.
View the truggy fuel tank here
The opening round of the International Indoor Off-road Cup held at the Dutch Model Indoor Oss track attracted some 100 drivers to compete in several electric off-road classes. In the 2WD Buggy category Bart Mullink came out fastest after the qualifiers in front of Wesley van Helmond, Tom Maquel and Olvier Speith. After having tyre problems in A1 Wesley van Helmond (TLR) stroke back in A2 and he would ultimately take the overall win from Oliver Speith (Schumcher) in second and Tom Maquel (Team C) in third place.
Image: Wesley van Helmond
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.
