March 22, 2009

Robert Batlle takes round 1 in Spain

Robert Batlle takes round 1 in Spain

The opening round of the Spanish 1/8th scale buggy championships took place this weekend in Alhaurín de la Torre in Malaga. Qualifying saw Angel Roque Gambero take the TQ spot from Dani Vega in 2nd and Robert Batlle in 3rd and following the semi finals it would be Juanma Vera that would start the 45 minute final from pole position with Batlle lining up 2nd and Vega 3rd. After only 1 lap, Robert Batlle was able to take the lead following problems for the pole man and only during his pit stops would he again give up that lead. Robert would go on to win by 15 seconds from eventual 2nd placed finisher Borja Hernandez, with Antonio Jesus Gomez Salmeron taking 3rd, the top 3 all ending the race on the same lap.

Source: News RC [newsrc.es]

March 22, 2009

Cavalieri take 4wd Mod at Cactus Classic

Cavalieri take 4wd Mod at Cactus Classic

The 23rd Annual Cactus Classic was held this past weekend in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. The weather was perfect all week reaching up to the mid 80’s and the event attracted all the major race teams from Kyosho, Team Associated, Team Losi, Yokomo, Tamiya, and X-Factory. In the 4wd Modified Class it was Team Orion’s Ryan Cavalieri and Jared Tebo who were on fire throughout qualifying. In the first round Tebo set the TQ, while Cavalieri then went on to TQ rounds 2 and 3, with Tebo coming back to TQ the 4th and final round with an amazing run, being the only driver all weekend long to make it by for the 12th lap. The tie break went to Tebo when the laps and times were added together, with Cavalieri lining up on 2nd on the grid. In A-Main 1 Tebo led from start to finish with Cavalieri finishing in 2nd, only a few seconds back, and Ryan Maifield in 3rd. In A-Main 2 Tebo and Cavalieri once again battled it out but Cavalieri went on to make a late race pass and take home the win from Tebo in 2nd with Maifield in 3rd. In the final A-Main Tebo got a good start and set a fast pace with Cavalieri staying close and not making any mistakes. Cavalieri got around Tebo with a few laps to go and held on for the win from Tebo in 2nd, with Maifield once again bringing home 3rd.

Source: Team Orion [teamorion.com]

March 20, 2009

Mugen Seiki MBX6T Truggy kit

Mugen Seiki MBX6T Truggy kit

Mugen Seiki Racing have announced the upcoming release of the MBX6T 1/8 scale nitro powered Truggy kit based on the championship winning MBX6 buggy. The Mugen engineering team has created the MBX6T which will follow the same exceptional handling, strength, durability and overall performance of the MBX6 Buggy, with special features such as hard coated big bore shocks with adjustable collars, graphite front and rear shock towers, hard anodized machined chassis with optimum balance and weight distribution, lightweight drive system, every area of the MBX6T was designed with performance and durability.

Click here for the full details and more pictures

March 19, 2009

Schumacher Cat SX LiPo options

Schumacher Cat SX LiPo options

Schumacher have released a number of new optional parts for their Cat SX buggy, a car which we reviewed a while back. First up is an alternative LiPo friendly chassis, that improves the location of the batteries when using cells such as LRP/Nosram/Orion, which typically have the location bumps on the bottom. For flat type batteries that don’t have the cell bumps in the case there is the new battery strap that uses double sided impact pads to locate the flat type battery’s without the need to use regular LiPo locators which would normally be glued to the bottom of the battery. The new strap comes off with ease and allows the battery’s use in other models more easily. Finally there is a new LiPo friendly top deck that allows the easier use of a 4mm connector lead actually through the hole in the top deck directly into the battery eliminating clearance issues for LiPo packs without leads. All items are manufactured using Schumacher’s aero grade carbon fibre and are now in stock.

Click here to see the other items

March 18, 2009

Tamiya TRF511 4wd buggy

Tamiya TRF511 4wd buggy

Seen for the first time at the toy fair at the beginning of February, Tamiya have now released the full details on the follow up to the TRF501X electric 4wd buggy, the TRF411. The car features a new more efficient belt drive system, improvements to the centre of gravity, balance and maintenance as well as further setup options added. The batteries and other heavy items have been optimized for better weight balance to improve stability in the air for better jumping and landing. In addition the car sports new centre bulkheads, new upper link mounting points, new front and rear bulkheads for easier maintenance of the differential and an all new body shell.

Click here for more details

March 18, 2009

Adam Drake dominates Losi Winter series Rd2

Adam Drake dominates Losi Winter series Rd2

Team Losi’s Adam Drake took the win last weekend in both 1/8th buggy and truggy at round 2 of the Team Losi Winter series hosted by Revelation Raceway in Ontario, CA. In the buggy class Adam won by less than a lap from pole man Andrew Kortz who finished 2nd, with Josh Wheeler in 3rd, while in truggy Adam won from pole position ahead of his team mate Kyle Johnson. Losi’s Bill Jeric was on hand to race and support the event and was not only able to TQ, but take home the victory with his Dynamite powered Losi 8ight 2.0 in the buggy beginner class.

March 17, 2009

JConcepts Hyper 9 & X2 Hi-Flow shells

JConcepts Hyper 9 & X2 Hi-Flow shells

JConcepts have released 2 new bodyshells for the Jammin X2 and the Hobao Hyper 9 buggies. The Hyper 9 is new and unique and demands a body which is just the same and JConcepts has responded with the latest Illuzion body specifically designed for the Hyper. The Illuzion “Hi-Flow” styling presents a smooth yet detailed design while incorporating many of the features from the original Hi-Flow body. Special consideration has been made for the Hyper 9 considering the air filter, side guards, battery box and extra clearance around the throttle and break linkage. The Hi-Flow body for the Jammin X2 buggy is a fresh hit and provides confidence inspiring looks to the driver. In addition, JConcepts has taken the frustration out of the stock body design and has eliminated the front nose piece for extra durability and functionality around the front body mount.

Click here for more images

March 16, 2009

Team Azarashi Womoog B-Max4 shell

Team Azarashi Womoog B-Max4 shell

Team Azarashi, the off road body specialists have shown photos of their Womoog prototype shell for the European and Japanese Championship winning Yokomo B-Max4 EP buggy. The body offers high levels of stability and a cool new look and the photos here show the almost final version, with only small modifications needing to be made before the body’s release in the near future.

Click here to see more photos