The Vortex MR8 and MR8L are Team Orion’s new 1/8 sensor brushless racing motors. They are equipped with sensors for perfect throttle control and a 4 pole rotor for improved performance. Available in two versions, regular length for buggies and XL for truggies and monster trucks and in a wide range or windings.
Based on the TLR 22 Buggy Kit, the Losi 22 RTR has all of the performance characteristics of its racing cousin but with a few minor differences in materials used and what is included. The Losi 22 RTR is equipped with all the components needed to have fun driving anywhere, or to be raced competitively. It can also be easily upgraded to the TLR 22 standard. The 22 RTR is equipped with the same suspension geometry and durability as the TLR 22 and uses a serious electronics package by using a Losi brushless sensored motor and speed controller that can be raced in competition. This RTR is piloted by Spektrum technology via the DX3E radio and SR300 receiver and to control the steering a Losi extra high torque servo is provided to give the 22 RTR a precise and optimum steering response. The 22 RTR comes built in the rear motor configuration only, but the parts can be purchased to convert the chassis to a mid motor configuration.
View the full feature list and more photos here
Team Orion are proud to welcome the next super star to their international racing team, with Dustin Evans joining their list of driver. The US driver, who won the 2011 International Off-Road Race of Champions earlier this year with a Team Orion Vortex VST Pro Modified motor, is going to use Team Orion motors and speed controllers at the upcoming World Championships in Finland. He will use the all new R10 Pro Brushless System to power his Team Losi cars.
Source: Team Orion [teamorion.com]
This past weekend Round 2 of the Alberta RC Pro series was held at Medicine Hat, Alberta. The track layout was new for this year, with many saying that it was a driver’s layout with some very technical and challenging jumps. Ty Tessmann’s OS powered D8 & D8T equipped Proline tires adapted to the changing track, from wet due to the rain Thursday night to blue groove as the weekend progressed. Ty was able to TQ all 3 rounds of Expert buggy, Expert truggy and 4WD pro Short Course, and went on to win all 3 mains. In Expert buggy he won from Wayne Mah and Cory Drachenberg, while in Expert truggy it was Peter Toszer and Patrick Rogatschnigg who completed the podium.
View the buggy & truggy podiums here
World Champion Cody King traveled to France and Germany over the last two weeks, and picked up a couple electric 1/8 scale titles in the process. In France, Cody attended the Kyosho Masters event in Sucy-en-Brie just outside of Paris. After a rough qualifying and trouble in A1, Cody won A2 to force a final battle in A3. Linus Thern was leading, but with just a few minutes to go, Cody would take the lead and cruise to victory with his Team Orion powered MP9e. In Germany, the turn out was impressive, with near 40 entries for the electric 1/8 buggy class. Qualifying was better for Cody, taking the TQ honors. The electric format here was a semi and a main, so everything came down to the last run of the day. With Sweden’s David Ronnefalk in hot pursuit, Cody would grab the lead and set a blistering pace to take the win. This would give Cody two electric titles in two weeks on European soil.
Round 1 of the Finnish Championships was held in Jyväskylä last weekend, a nice technical track. In qualifying Jarno Siltanen was showing the pace by winning 2/3 rounds and taking TQ, followed by JQ in 2nd, Ari Heinonen in 3rd and Simo Ahoniemi on 4th place. In the semi finals there was no big surprises, Jarno took an easy win and secured the pole position followed by JQ, Teemu Leino, Matias Kuusinen, Simo Ahoniemi and Tomi Salonen. In the Main final, there was a close battle in the beginning between Jarno, JQ and Teemu. After some minutes JQ had technical problems, which left Jarno and Teemu in the front followed by Ari in 3rd and Simo in 4th. After 15 minutes of racing Jarno started to pull away from Teemu and half way trough the race Ari faced problems and retired. In the final laps of the race there was a close battle for fourth place between Petri and Matias, on the last lap it was Matias who made an awesome overtaking maneuver on the triple jump by overtaking Petri with the highest jump in the race and took the fourth place by half a second in front of Petri. Jarno took an easy win for Mugen followed by Xray driver Teemu in 2nd and Simo, also driving a Mugen in 3rd place.
The 4th round of the French 1/8th scale buggy Nationals was held last weekend in St Quentin in the very north of the country, close to the Belgian border. Qualifying saw round 2 and 3 winner Yannick Aigoin carry forward his great form with this nVision powered Losi 8ight by taking the top qualifying position, with his brother, Kyosho/Novarossi driver, Jerome Aigoin taking 2nd spot with Agama driver Jerome Sartel taking 3rd. Following the semi finals the top 3 order remained unchanged with Yannick starting from pole position for the 45 minute encounter while UK guest driver Elliot Boots would line up 4th. Yannick would go on to take the win in the final by the small margin of 4 seconds over Jerome Aigoin in 2nd. Edouard Hugon took the final podium spot, less than a lap back in 3rd.
Source: RC Mag [rcmag.com]
The Bill Bridges Benefit race was at “The Track” in Carleton, Michigan this past weekend. This is Bill’s home outdoor track in the summer and the classes raced consisted of both electric and nitro with the event attracting more than 300 entries. It was amazing to see so many racers and manufacturers come together for this great cause. Racing started at 9am and the mains finished just before 2am. The event raised a substantial amount of money which will help Bill and his family in the months to come. The event itself saw a double win for Losi/Novarossi driver Adam Drake in both buggy and truck with Jason Jakubczyk doing the double in the electric class taking his Kyosho/Orion combo to wins in the mod buggy and SCT mod classes. The event also saw the winners of both Adam’s 8ight and Dustin’s TLR22 picked and it was Pat Schreffler and Dean Ferrari respectively that took them home. Bill’s wife Chrissey had this to say “I want to thank everyone that came out to the benefit race this weekend. We are beyond blessed to have you in our lives and to be able to call you friends. A heavy burden has been lifted off of our family. It meant so much to Bill to see so many people rooting for him. This race did wonders for his spirits!! RC Racers pulled together for an amazing event!! We will be forever grateful!!”
Source: TLR [tlracing.com]
