July 28, 2009

Titanium Racing Xray Pivot balls

Titanium Racing Xray Pivot balls

Titanium Racing have released these new F1 grade Ti6AL4V titanium double shoulder pivot balls to fit the modern range of Xray touring cars. A direct replacement for the stock items, they are precision manufactured, polished and colour anodized and are 50% lighter than the standard items.

Source: Titanium Racing [titaniumracing.com]


July 27, 2009

Mark Stiles wins Summer Shootout Rd3

Mark Stiles wins Summer Shootout Rd3

Sunday 19th July saw round 3 of the Action Model Centre supported 1/12th scale ‘Summer Shootout’ take place at Chesterfield, the home of 1/12th scale racing in the UK. The driver line up was one of high quality, despite the fact that 1/12th scale racing is relatively quiet over the summer in the UK. Pre-event favorites included the Hot Bodies pairing of Mick Farrell and Chris Smith, Corally’s Andy Sawyer and Serpent’s Peter Craig. Joining them in the hunt for victory was Mark Stiles, who has recently switched from Hot Bodies to the V-Dezign team. Mark immediately got off to a good start with his new chassis, being fastest in all 5 rounds of qualifying and took TQ by over a lap ahead of Mick Farrell and Chris Smith. Mark got a clean start in the A-final and went on to comfortably lap the entire field with an almost faultless run. Mick Farrell recovered from an early crash to finish 2nd, while Peter Craig improved on his 4th placed grid slot to complete the podium. With 3 of the 4 rounds completed, Mick Farrell heads the championship table by virtue of having competed in all of the rounds. However, a top three finish at the 4th and final round on 6th September would see Mark take the overall title.

Source: V-Dezign [v-dezign.net]


July 26, 2009

Euros joy for Wischnewski, heartbreak for Balestri

Euros joy for Wischnewski, heartbreak for Balestri

There was a dramatic outcome to the 2009 EFRA 1:10 200mm European Championships here in Gubbio, Italy this evening, with heartbreak for race dominator Dario Balestri and total joy for new Champion Dirk Wischnewski. Starting from pole Balestri’s Novarossi powered Team Magic was untouchable allowing the defending back to back Champion to lap the entire field, but in the final 10 minutes of the race the Italian suffered gearbox problems ending his quest for a hat trick of titles.

Read the full report on our event site here.


July 26, 2009

Euros Final grid complete – Big names missing

Euros Final grid complete - Big names missing

The Semi Finals have been run and the 6 drivers who will join the four direct qualifiers has been decided.  In the Semi B Manuel Huber took a relative easy win over Dirk Wischnewski but the Semi A was a far more dramatic affair. Serpent’s Michael Salven lead for over half of the 20 minutes encounter but with 7 minutes to go and with a healthy lead his engine cut. This handed Mugen’s Guiseppe D’angelo the lead but he too flamed out with less than 3 minutes to go. Having benefited from the demise of Mark Green’s out of control Serpent 733 to move in to second, Martin Hudy came through to take the win from Gerhard Kandelhart. The other two qualifiers based on the next two fastest race times from both Semi Finals were Alexander Hagberg and Giorgio De Felici who come from the Semi B.

View our full event coverage here.


July 25, 2009

Balestri secures Pole position in Italy

Balestri secures Pole position in Italy

Dario Balestri will start tomorrow’s EFRA 1:10 200mm European Championships from pole position after the fourth and final round of qualifying failed to see any improvements from the front runners, Serpent’s Jilles Groskamp being the biggest improver going from 42nd after round 3 to a Semi Final place with 13th. Fastest for the round, which was overall slower due to the higher track temperatures, was Jerome Renaux who lines up a very impressive second on the grid.

View our full event coverage here.


July 25, 2009

O.S. 12XZ ABC 12F Slide engine

O.S. 12XZ ABC 12F Slide engine

The new O.S. 12XZ ABC 12F Slide engine features newly designed major parts that are designed to max out low- to mid-speed torque. Sporting a new crankshaft that features a counter-balancing shape and a more efficient intake port, the connecting rod is made of a new material, and the crankcase has been strengthened. Improvements have also been made to the liner ports, inner head and the 12F slide valve carb and it is supplied with a high-performance RP6 plug.

Click here for the specs list


July 25, 2009

Balestri ups pace in Gubbio

Balestri ups pace in Gubbio

He said yesterday evening before leaving the track he would go faster and that exactly what the defending champion Dario Balestri has done here this morning bettering his overnight TQ time by 3 seconds. The factory Team Magic/Novarossi driver said his car was good in the cooler conditions but traffic in the pitlane during his fuel stop cost him some time. Aiming to claim a hat trick of European titles on home soil, the Italian thinks it will be very difficult to improve in the final qualifier as the temperature starts to rise here in Gubbio.

View our full event coverage here.


July 24, 2009

Champion ends 1st day of qualifying on provisional pole

Champion ends 1st day of qualifying on provisional pole

Dario Balestri is the overnight TQ holder here in Gubbio, Italy, thanks to his time from the first of today’s two qualifiers. The reigning champion said that cooler conditions made for higher traction in the second heat and during his warm up laps he had to adjust the front camber on his Team Magic to avoid traction rolling. The change reduced the amount of steering and as a result he was unable to better his earlier time although he did come close with a time less than 4/10ths off. Very happy to be returning to his hotel this evening as the provisional pole sitter, the factory Novarossi driver paid tribute to his mechanic Danilo Pucci who’s very fast refuelling helped him to achieve the time in what is very close competition. With one second separating the current Top 3, Balestri is confident he can better his time tomorrow.

View our full event coverage here.