March 21, 2008

Hot Bodies Cyclone TC chassis

Hot Bodies Cyclone TC

HPI Japan have announced the Cyclone TC, the latest version in a long line of successful touring cars released under the Hot Bodies brand. Instead of being a completely new platform, the TC is just a refined version with better performance, easier adjustment and stronger parts and incorporates a number of parts previously released as optionals in the kit as standard. The new 2.5mm carbon fibre chassis plate has been designed to take the recently released plastic battery holders, while the front upper deck appears to be taken from the carpet conversion but has been made from 2mm carbon fibre. The rear upper plate is also 2mm thick but has been made from FRP material. The rear of the car has been supplied with a revised ball differential while the front sports a one way/solid front axle that comes with pins to change between the two options. The rear wishbones now feature optimised lower shock mounting positions and a neat feature on the front and rear anti roll bar push rods is that they are now to the bar from the top and so can have their length easily adjusted. The car also seems to be supplied with updated shock towers and I am sure other features but this is all I can work out from the Japanese translation.

Click here to see more chassis pictures… content


March 21, 2008

Much More droop gauge & blocks

Much More droop gauge & blocks

Much More have released some new additions to their current line of touring car tools with the introduction of a new droop gauge and chassis blocks. The blocks are 20mm in height, perfect for providing enough clearance to measure even the lowest of droop settings, while the gauge can accurately measure the setting in 0.5mm increments from -5mm to 10mm. Both the gauge and blocks are available in your Much More standard blue, black or purple and can also be used with 1/8th scale circuit cars.

Click here to see the other versions… content


March 19, 2008

BRCA 1/12th Nationals Round 6

BRCA 1/12th National Series

The final race of the 2008 1/12th National series was run last weekend by the Chesterfield Auto Racing Society, who were celebrating their 25th anniversary as a National Host this year. Newly crowned Mod Champion Andy Griffiths, who was sitting on 4th position in qualifying overnight, just managed to secure pole position for the final in Sundays final round, with HB team mate Mick Farrell lining up in 2nd position. Andy managed to get away cleanly in all three finals, and went on to take a relatively comfortable victory in each race to secure top spot at the meeting with a perfect score, his 5th win from 6 rounds.

Source: Mirage [mirageracing.com]


March 19, 2008

LRP TCM Updated Battery rules

LRP TCM Updated Battery rules

The organisers of the 11th annual LRP Touring Car Masters, thats taking place in the Rhein-Neckar-Hall in Eppelheim near Heidelberg from 28th to 30th March have updated their rules regarding the batteries for the Masters class.

Because of multiple requests by drivers the batteries on the 2008 EFRA list are also allowed in the Masters class. The 2008 Efra list is actually effective for races from 1st April 2008 but many drivers already bought these new batteries so we decided to allow them. Go to the LRP site in the link below to find the 2007 and 2008 Efra lists as PDFs. Batteries you can not find on these lists or batteries with other heat shrinks are not allowed in the Masters class.

Source: LRP [lrp.cc]


March 18, 2008

Square made Tamiya TRF416 options

Square made Tamiya TRF416 options

Japanese company Square have recently released some new option parts for the Tamiya TRF416. Starting with this pair of C-hubs, they have been made from blue anodised machined aluminium thus adding stiffness to this area without adding much weight. Also for the front of the car is a pair of machined aluminium steering blocks, which like the C-hub parts, makes this area very stiff without adding much weight while giving the user the choice of a 3rd steering rod mounting point.

Source: Square [rc-square.com]


March 18, 2008

Niclas Nilsson wins SSIC title

Niclas Nilsson wins SSIC title

Serpent are reporting on the final, and title deciding round, of the South Swedish Indoor Championship (SSIC) that took place at the Malmö indoor track last weekend where the Serpent S400 of Team Serpent Sweden driver Niclas Nilsson enjoyed victory to become the overall Champion in Modified EP Touring. On the large but tight high traction track Nilsson was able to take TQ as well as setting some of the fastest lap times ever run on the Malmö track en route to the overall victory. Daniel Carlsson finished runner up with Rasmus Thulin completing the podium.

Source: Serpent [serpent.com]


March 18, 2008

LeMieux & Dumas take US Carpet titles

ROAR TC Mod podium

The weekend gone saw the best on road electric racers in America get together at the Hobby Town, Hobby Plex in Omaha, Nebraska for the ROAR Carpet Nationals. The blue ribboned classes were the TC and 1/12th mod classes but there was many more classes supported at the this event in both scales. In Touring Mod, it was Xray racers Paul LeMieux and Barry Baker that were the men to beat throughout the event, qualifying 1 and 2 and then going on to take the top steps of the podium with Paul winning from Barry and Mike Dumas finishing in 3rd spot. In the 1/12th scale it was another great race for Mike Dumas, the Speed Merchant racer was top qualifier and managed to win 2 of the 3 A-mains to take the win in front of Paul Ciccarello in 2nd with Josh Cyrul rounding out the top 3.

Click more for the results from both mod classes… content


March 17, 2008

Exotek EXO3 Micro RS4 Conversion

Exotek EXO3 Micro RS4 Conversion

Exotek Racing have made a limited release conversion for the HPI Micro RS4, the car that is said to have started the whole micro craze. This is the next step in the evolving EXO chassis, released thanks to HPI starting up the HPI Challenge races again in 2008. Cleaner and lighter layout for a more efficient performing chassis, it has been designed for use with LiPo cells and Mamba/Tekin brushless motor systems and is available in 140mm or 150mm wheel base. The EXO3 also has the most advanced and smoothest rear suspension to date on the MRS4 thanks to the VCS oil shock and 5 link swiveling rear pod.

Click here for more photos… content