Automodelisme.com have the exclusive news that top French racer Jerome Sartel has signed to race for Xray from 2008 onwards. Leaving behind a successful time racing for Crono, Sartel will be considered the replacement for Yannick Aigoin who left for Losi a few months ago. As Xray is imported by RB Products in France, Jerome will run RB motors and will be using ProLine tires for grip.
Source: Automodelisme [automodelisme.com]
Kyosho drivers Cody King, Tyler Vik, and privateer Jeff Nicol made it a Kyosho 1-2-3 sweep in the Truggy class at the Kyosho Fall Classic last weekend. Cody King had TQ, but an early race tangle near the starting grid surrendered the lead to Kyosho driver Ryan Lutz. Lutz lead the majority of the main, but King maintained pressure, and slowly chipped away at the leaders cushion. After the final pit stops, the two were side by side on the track, and then King took control with about 5 minutes to go. With King a mere 10 seconds ahead, and only 3 minutes to go, Lutz had a mechanical problem, and dropped out. Lutz still had accumulated enough laps to land in 5th place.
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Xray have announced the release of the improved and refined M18T Pro, a re-designed version of the popular M18T made with higher-performance racing in mind. The progressive design embodies an enhanced driving experience from the race-oriented high-performance graphite chassis and top deck, through to the lengthened wheelbase, the world-renowned Hudy Spring Steel driveshafts and much much more.
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Hot Bodies racer and current Japanese National Champion Atsushi Hara has won the final round of the Thailand Buggy Party, held last weekend in Pattaya, Thailand. Hara took the top qualifying spot for the race and in the 60 minute final he took the lead from the start and lead the full distance, finishing 3 laps ahead of 2nd placed local driver, Meen V. racing for Xray with Mugen racer Charlee in 3rd. The overall Championship was decided based on the best 6 results out of 8 rounds and this meant to title went to Kyosho racer Panit in both the buggy and truggy classes. The monster truck class title went to Paphon from Traxxas Thailand.
Source: Nitro Party [nitroparty.com]
Team Associated have released a number of new parts for gas off road racers, including new exhaust systems and parts for the RC8. First up is the Factory Team 1/8 scale muffler, which features a 3-chamber design that provides a great combination between bottom end punch and top end performance and is available in both polished and non stick, easy to clean, black. Associated also offer a new off road manifold which is available only in non stick black. For the company’s RC8 buggy, there is a front and rear chassis brace that helps increase chassis stiffness, a great tuning option for high grip conditions where you want to reduce chassis flex. Includes nylon locking insert for added security.
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If you have ever wanted to put big block power into your 1/10th scale HPI Firestorm truck, then New Era will help you do that with their newly release big block conversion. The kit which includes a billet aluminium forward engine mount, a billet aluminium rear engine mount and a steel throttle return spring makes installing .21 or larger sized engine very easy. It even fits bigger motors with the car shown in the pictures fitted with a pull start Ofna .28 engine.
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Robitronic have announced the release of new sealed ball bearings, in standard sizes, for off road racing. Available with either steel or ceramic balls, both types are fitted with rubber gaskets to prevent dirt entering the bearing and damaging them. All bearings come pre oiled for high rpm usage and fit a variety of applications with the 5x10x4mm ball bearings ideal for use as clutch bearings. Robitronic now also sell ceramic balls in both 2.4mm and 3mm diameters and are supplied in a pack of 12, making them ideal for ball differentials.
Source: Robitronic [robitronic.eu]
The 2nd round of the Israeli League was run last weekend at a wet Hot-Wheels race club, and despite the rain there was still quite a lot of grip. The drivers also had to contend with a new track layout which combines fast and slow chicanes as well as a long straight and after qualifying it was Yaniv Sivan that had taken the TQ spot. From the start of the final it was Yaniv that took the lead followed by his brother, and winner of round 1, Nir Sivan while the battle for third went on behind them between Golan Levi and Yaniv Levi. This battle contined all the way till the end of the race with Golan taking the final podium spot behind eventual winner Yaniv Sivan, while Nir Sivan took 2nd.
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