Serpent have announced the soon release of the Viper 977 Evo2 1/8th nitro on-road kit. The car will feature a revised rear suspension geometry and new shock absorbers with all parts also becoming available separately to upgrade existing 977 cars. The release is scheduled for the first week of September and more details along with images will become available shortly.
Source: Serpent [serpent.com]
Spanish company MD Racing have announced the signing of Luxembourg’s Jaques Libar to their team. Having used a range of different brands this season Jaques now found a new home at MD Racing and he has the following to say about the opportunity:
I’m really excited to join MD Racing Rc Team to be running their brand cars. After several different cars that I tried over the season the MD Racing MDF14’16 got me the best feeling. I want to thank Vicente Machancoses at MD Racing RC and Thomas Schröder at RcTeile.de for the opportunity to represent the team, and look forward to achieving more great results with them.
Source: MD Racing [mdracingrc.com]
The 2016 U.S. World Nitro Cup will be held from December 7th to 11th at Fullthrottle R/C Raceway in Kissimmee, Florida. The events starts off on Wednesday with open practice and the opening qualifier will be held on Friday morning while the day will end with a poolside social at the host hotel in the evening. 2016 classes are 1/8th Open, Masters, Sportsman and 2WD pan car as well as 1/8th GT 5-port, 1/10th Sedan and a 4WD 1/8E promoter class. More information about the event are available here.
Japanese company Team Bomber have released a first teaser image of their “US-style” front end for the Yokomo YRX12 pan car. Designed to replace the somewhat unique double shock front suspension with a standard reactive castor assembly the prototype of the conversion uses plastics similar to the ones Morotech is currently campaigning. We bring you more information and images as soon as they become available.
Source: Team Bomber [ameblo.jp/teambomber] & RC Monkey [rcmonkey.jp]
Coming from Tamiya are several new option parts for the club-level TA07 Pro touring car such as the 37T aluminium ball diff set and the front direct coupling set. Using the ball diff in place of the standard gear differential will make for a more stable handling while its durable construction allows to use both stock and modified motors. The front spool set gives the car a sharper initial acceleration and more stability under braking. It also contributes to a lighter-weight chassis. Also new are the aluminium steering arm set, the aluminium steering bridge as well as the front and rear carbon fibre damper stays all of which add rigidity, improve steering and suspension efficiency and up overall looks. The release is rounded out by an aluminium counter pulley, an 18T aluminium centre pulley as well as a titanium screw set.
MIP have introduced the Pucks gear differential outdrives for the Team Associated B6 and B5 series vehicles. The outdrives are compatible with the current Team Associated 2WD gear differentials part #91703 and #91461, and make it possible to use MIP’s current AE Pucks or Roller Pucks system.
Source: MIP [miponline.com]
ARC USA have announced the signing of KO Propo Grand Prix winner Brandon Cho to their team. Brandon will campaign the 2016 ARC R8.0 1/8 scale nitro kit at major national races in the US. His first race is next month as he defends his title at the 2016 KO Propo Grand Prix. This is what Brandon has to say about the deal:
I am ecstatic to be joining Team ARC USA. The ARC R8.0 is an excellent car and the parts are made with great quality. I would like to thank Jones Chu, and also Willie Chung and Paul Dabao at Hobby Authority Distribution for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to many great results!
Source: Hobby Authority [hobbyauthority-dist.com]
This past weekend the sixth and final round of the Swiss 1/8th Nitro Buggy National Championship was held in Gland on a grass track with lots of smooth jumps. Right from the start Patrick Hofer (Team Associated/Reedy) laid down some very quick laps, ending the practice rounds with the fastest lap but come the qualifiers things changed a bit as the track started to get more bumpy with the grass breaking up, revealing more and more dirt. The fight for the TQ spot was on between Jeremy Pittet (HB Racing/Team Orion) and Patrick with the better end for Jeremy who took the TQ after the four rounds of qualifying. The two semifinals again were and all-Jeremy-and-Patrick affair with the better end for Jeremy who would start from the pole position into the 30-minute A-main. Patrick though would take maximum profit of an ultra-fast refuelling during his first pitstop that would promote him into the lead that Hofer would hold onto until the chequered flag. Jeremy would end the race on the 2 spot from third placed Joachim Kallen (Xray/FX). With the win at round six Patrick secured himself his second 1/8th national title in a row.
Thanks to Patrick Hofer for the report.
