July 31, 2011

Lamberto Collari takes 2011 European title

Lamberto Collari takes 2011 European title

The EFRA 1/8th scale on road European Championships were held this week Mini Circuit Ville de Luxembourg, in Luxembourg. Europe’s best drivers came together to battle it out for the title, which was won last year by newly crowned World Champion Robert Pietsch. Qualifying was topped by this year’s World Championship runner up Dario Balestri driving for Capricorn ahead of Mugen star Pietsch in 2nd, while 9 time World Champion Lamberto Collari was 3rd and top Xray driver Erik Dankel was 4th. With no direct qualifiers everyone would have to make their way through the semi finals before that could fight for the win. Pietsch and Balestri would win their semis but a faster Semi A saw Balestri take pole ahead of Michele Romagnoli in 2nd and Ilia Van Gastel in 3rd, while Pietsch would only start from 4th on the grid for the 45 minute A-main just in front of Collari. The final saw close running at the front with Balestri, Ilia Van Gastel and Robin D’Hondt all sharing the lead. Problems for Balestri as well as Pietsch would knock them out of the race and what would be a race of attrition only 5 cars would finish the final with Lamberto Collari emerging as the winner for Kyosho just 6 seconds ahead of Serpent driver Van Gastel in 2nd, with Mugen team driver Rick Vrielijnck finishing in 3rd, 2 laps further back.

View the final results here


July 31, 2011

O.S. 21XZ-R Speed & 21XZ-R VII engines

O.S. 21XZ-R Speed & 21XZ-R VII engines

O.S. have introduced two new 21XZ-R engines for 1/8 scale on-road racing with both featuring superb runtime. Engineered for added horsepower and faster lap times, the 21XZ-R Speed performed well at the 1/8 Scale On-Road Worlds in Miami, Florida with Team drivers coming home in 4th and 5th place with production models. The motor features a redesigned crankcase and carb to produce smoother transitions and higher speeds while the 21M slide-valve carb features 4 adjustable control settings, including a low-end metering needle for improved torque and fuel economy. A more-balanced conrod reduces vibration and wear. Equipped with many of the same performance features as the .21XZ-R Speed ABC, the 21XZ-R VII offers explosive acceleration and top-end for race-winning potential at a more economical price. It combines aggressive timing with easy starting so drivers can unleash its race-winning potential right out of the box, while the cylinder liner boasts 7 scavenger ports and three exhaust ports. Both engines are available in early August.

View the full engine specs here


July 29, 2011

Serpent 966 TE radioplate set & fuel tank

Serpent 966 TE radioplate set

Included in the 966 TE kit, this new radio plate set is also available for use with the regular 966. Featuring a two piece top deck made from strong 2.5mm thick bi-directional carbon fibre, the front stiffener is separate, but connected to the main radio plate with a trackrod. The flex can be adjusted by through the use of 2 screws, while he rod will then control the flex. Testing has shown a more effective flex response is achieved in the front part of the car. Also new for the 966 is the durable heat-stable composite tank with sintered bronze filter. The new tank features the same tank-cap as the Serpent Cobra cars, with angled tip for faster & easier refills, excellent sealing with improved shaped silicone rubber seal, heavy duty spring. The pressure nipple is now in the back of the cap, so it does not touch the sharp body sides.

View the radio plate set here


July 29, 2011

C.Andy’s 1/12th scale conversion kit

C-Andy's 1/12th scale conversion kit

New from C-Andy’s is this 1/12th scale conversion kit. As you can see it has a pretty unique rear pod, with the motor mount making up the back bone of the assembly. The aluminium engine mount doubles up as a heat and it simple shape makes it very stiff and robust. The central damper is mounted directly to it as are the side damping tubes together with the lower pod plate. At the rear the hand made carbon bridge not only looks awesome by does a great job of mounting the aluminium rear axle bearing blocks. Slotted holes make it possible to set the ride height of the car. Extremely light and stiff, the conversion kit will be available in a limited edition of 10 pieces and is intended exclusively for the experienced rc car driver.

View more images of the conversion here


July 28, 2011

Arrowmax RX8 48T pulley

Arrowmax RX8 48T pulley

To complete their set of transmission belt gear pulleys for the Xray RX8 chassis Arrowmax have released the 48T rear main pulley. CNC-machined from high-quality 7075-T6 aluminium it runs very true and features a hard coating for long life while the weight reduction holes on the sides also allow heat to dissipate from the belts and debris to fall out.

Source: Free Max [freemaxmp.com]


July 28, 2011

Marc Fisher joins Serpent

Marc Fisher joins Serpent

Serpent have announced that top German driver Marc Fischer has joined their team. The former Corally driver made the change after testing the Serpent 411 TC car a few times and having known the S120 well from the many races with Markus Mobers in the past few years. Fischer will be racing the German Nats, EC 1/10 and 1/12, ETS races, LRP and DHI Cup, as well as the 2012 WC with Serpent cars. The former European Champion will also assist Serpent with development and testing.

Source: Serpent [serpent.com]


July 28, 2011

Fábio Ramos wins Portuguese Regional Rd4

Fábio Ramos wins Portuguese Regional Rd4

The 4th round of the Portuguese Regional championships for 1/10th 200mm took place last weekend in Lisbon. In the semi finals it was Fábio Ramos who took the win in semi-final A, having battled for the top spot all the way to the last lap with Bruno Pereira. Jorge Brito won semi-final B followed by Pedro Sousa and Filipe Rodrigues. In the final there was a big battle for the podium, with the positions changing every lap. Bruno Pereira crashed 3 minutes from the end gifting the first place to Fábio Ramos, followed by Filipe Rodrigues in second and Bruno Pereira finishing in third. The result gives Filipe Rodrigues (TeamZero) the Portuguese Regional Championship with one round still to be run.

Source: TeamZero [rcteamzero.webs.com]


July 28, 2011

Vertigo Perfomance tyres

Vertigo Perfomance tyres

Vertigo Performance tyres have been in touch to tell us about their all new line of high performance on road foam tires. Made using the highest quality foam from Japan, which is cut with water jet to eliminate pressure or heat during this process, only the centre part of the sheet is used and glued together using a new automated system for consistency. The new foam comes mounted on new ‘Titanium system’ rims which offer the right amount of stiffness and flexibility of the rim for optimum traction. Available in 1/8th and 1/10th 200mm front and rear in multiple shores.

View the 1/10th tires here