June 1, 2009

Richard Hicklin wins BRCA 1/8th Rd3

Richard Hicklin wins BRCA 1/8th Rd3

The 3rd Round of the BRCA national series was held at the Wombwell circuit, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The weather forecast for the weekend was for clear blue sky and hot summer temperatures which made sure that the damp tires where never a consideration for once. During Saturday practice it was Mark Green again setting the pace from a close chasing pack of Andy North (Mugen), Neil Diver (Volex), Richard Hicklin, Tim Wood and Pete Hastings (Serpent). With time restrictions due to the local residents enforcement policy, it made practice less than usual and ensured a busy track throughout the day. It was however apparent that the track at the end of the straight was starting to break up over the bump and it was therefore decided by the committee to form a chicane to slow the cars down. This was to become a further challenge to the drivers with regards to learning how quick to go through it, further set up refinement to allow the car to quickly change direction and gear ratio changes due to the main straight becoming considerably smaller.

Continue reading the report


June 1, 2009

Diggity Designs XLR8-V2 Conversion

Diggity Designs XLR8-V2 Conversion

Diggity Designs new XLR8-V2 is a carbon fibre and aluminium conversion kit for the Associated TC3 and TC4. The V2 has a newly designed chassis, top-plate, LiPo brace and battery strap for optimzed LiPo and brushless racing. The chassis is narrower with the weight on the battery side moved back to level out the balance of the motor and electronics. The motor cutout is open to allow mounting of any brushless motor, while the LiPo brace can be mounted in one of three positions to help balance the kit out from left to right without adding lots of weight on the battery side. The V2 has a 2.5mm chassis, top-plate, LiPO brace and battery straps (instead of 3mm that is included with the original XLR8) along with 3mm front and rear shock towers. The new chassis and top-plate will help improve performance for asphalt but still keep its performance at top level for carpet racing.

Click here to see more photos


May 31, 2009

Groskamp & Janssen secure Dutch ETS glory

Groskamp & Janssen secure Dutch ETS glory

A-Main number 2 has decided the outcome of the Dutch round of the 2008/2009 Euro Touring Series with Jilles Groskamp and Rob Janssen repeating their opening leg victories to secure the overall win here at the impressive Apeldoorn facility. Groskamp again took an easy win with his Tamiya TRF416 World Edition this time over the Corally of Marc Fisher and the Xray of Bart Wubben.  The only driver to run a sub 16 second lap, Groskamp made it look easy as behind him a number of great battles were fought out.

Continue reading the report here.


May 31, 2009

Steen tops Q5, Groskamp secures TQ in Holland

Steen tops Q5, Groskamp secures TQ in Holland

Kyosho factory driver Steen Graversen became the fifth different driver in as many rounds to TQ a round of qualifying here in Apeldoorn but it is defending ETS Champion Jilles Groskamp and his Tamiya that will start from pole.  Dane Graversen recorded the fastest 5 minute run of the weekend with his Orion powered Stallion thanks to a fresh set of tyres and cooler track conditions.  Having changed motor for the run Graversen is now much happier with the top speed of his car and said he tried to drive safely so as to not punish his tyres too much as he will have to run them again in the A Main.  Lining up fifth on the grid his aim is to try and hold station in the final for a Top 5 finish.

Continue reading the report here.


May 30, 2009

Moore tops fourth qualifier in Holland

Moore tops fourth qualifier in Holland

Factory Hot Bodies driver Andy Moore has ended Tamiya’s domination of qualifying here at the Dutch Euro Touring Series by taking the fourth and final qualifier on day 2 of the event. After difficult runs in the second and third rounds, the former World Champion had little choice but to use up his second set of qualifying tyres so as to ensure himself a place on the grid for tomorrow’s big race. Despite a half spin on his second lap the new Sweep rubber allowed the Hot Bodies driver to take control and record a time of 19 laps in 5:05.48, the third fastest run of the day. In the same predicament as the British driver, Xray’s Bart Wubben was also forced to run his second set of tyres but this time, his first run on new tyres failing to net a good time, the Dutch National Champion managed a strong second place to put himself in strong contention for a place in tomorrow’s A Main.

Continue reading the report here.


May 30, 2009

Groskamp TQs first Dutch ETS Qualifier

Jilles Groskamp action

The opening qualifier for the fourth round of the Euro Touring series here at Apeldoorn in the Netherlands has been completed and it is first blood for defending champion Jilles Groskamp. Intially it was Corally team driver Marc Fisher who set the pace but the German dumped allowing Groskamp to pip him for TQ honours. The Tamiya/Speed Passion driver described his run as ‘clever’ saying he didn’t push hard at the start as practice had shown run time would be an issue especially with everyone running new tyres. Fisher, whose GM powered car is proving very fast in a straight line, put his dumping down to a brand new pack of cells which he said could have done with a few extra charge cycles.

Continue reading the report here.


May 29, 2009

Tamiya set early pace at ETS Rd4

Jilles Groskamp

Factory Tamiya team-mates Marc Rheinard and Jilles Groskamp are topping the lap times here in Apeldoorn with the pairing seperated by just 1/100th of a second.  Debuting his new ‘Marc Rheinard’ outdoor tyre additive this weekend, Rheinard set a fastest lap time of 15.76 with Groskamp posting 15.77.  Having run old tyres in the morning Groskamp ran new tyres this afternoon and says his TRF416 was ’super good’.  The Dutch driver has also found a good set-up which allows him to run good times on his second outing with the controlled Sweep tyre.

Continue reading the report here.


May 28, 2009

Grainger wins Schumacher BTCC Rd3

Grainger wins Schumacher BTCC Rd3

The third round of the Schumacher BTCC took place over the weekend at the excellent Halifax facility in the north of England. One again there was a good entry and another dominant win for Chris Grainger with his new Mi4 in the modified class. With the BRCA national at the same venue in a few weeks time the BTCC provided some excellent running for those in attendance. Chris TQd ahead of Olly Jefferies and Elliot Harper and remained ahead during the finals with a second in the first leg and a dominant 1st, 10 seconds ahead of Olly in the second leg.

Continue reading the report