July 11, 2007

Protoform Frizbee body – Update

Protoform Frizzbee body

Following on from the news that Protoform will release a new 1/8th scale body, the Frizbee, comes more pictures from ElliotCanada on RC Tech. The picture we had before of the clear unpainted body didnt allow us to see the unique details around the back of the engine before, and if you look at the pictures you will see that there is trailing aerodymanic aids just behind both the motor head and air filter. I presume this is to reduce airflow distortion caused by the engine and INS box before it reaches the rear wing, but whether this really makes a difference is to be seen on the track, although early reports suggest that this body performs well so they must be doing something.

Click to see more pictures… content


July 10, 2007

Cristiani & Smacchi win Trofeo Novarossi

Cristiani wins Trofeo Novarossi

Last weekend at the fast Fiorano track in Italy, close the Ferrari test track, was the 2007 running of the Trofeo Novarossi for 1/8th and 1/10th 200mm cars. The race was attended by a lot of fast Italian drivers who were also joined Japanese Motonica racer Masao Tanaka and current European B Champion Jernej Vuga amongst others. After qualifying, which was run on Saturday night and Sunday morning, it was local Serpent ace, Andrea Cristiani, that took the pole position ahead of Mugen driver Stefano Solaroli with Italian National round 3 winner Dario Balestri in third and Andrea Pirani rounding out the top 4.

The start of the 30 minute main saw some problems for Balestri which dropped him down the order meaning he had to go on a recovery drive, while the leading group pulled away. Cristiani was hardly pressured throughout the race, despite Balestri setting blistering lap times trying to recover, and could take the win by 1 lap from Solaroli in 2nd with another Serpent in 3rd driven by Giordano Agostinelli. The 1/10th scale race saw a win for Giorgio Smacchi who finished 3 laps ahead of the following pairing of Rocco Ania and Andrea Zucchi, who finished in 2nd and 3rd, only 3 seconds apart.

Click to view the final results… content


July 10, 2007

Corally release lots of Phi Optionals

Corally Phi Optionals

Corally have announced the release of number of new items for their RDX and RDX Phi 190mm touring cars. First up for the Phi are 4 new bulkheads which feature an all new lighweight design that incorporates a lower center of gravity while the design features a milled down surface to allow the use of an extra secure mounting of the newly improved clamps. Those new clamps feature countersunk screw holes to allow the use of an extra screw for fastening the couplers much tighter, to avoid dislocation during impact. And finally Corally have released some new duraluminium turnbuckles which are lightweight, strong and come in 4 different lengths.

Click here to see the other products… content


July 10, 2007

Mueller takes Rd4 of Swiss 1/8th Nats

Mueller takes Rd4 of Swiss 1/8th Nats

Last weekend saw the 4th round of the Swiss 1/8th scale Championship take place on the Lostallo track, host of this months European 1/8th scale Championships, and our man Mattia Pesenti was once again in action with his Novarossi powered Motonica and he has provided us with this report.

Saturday was a really warm day, about 35 degrees, good traction but not so many drivers maybe because of holiday. The biggest problem for all was the fuel comsuption and everybody work on it with different mufflers, harder tyres, etc. Personally I tried 4 or 5 different types of muffler and manifolds but the problem was: LESS fuel consumption LESS power!

Read More… content


July 9, 2007

Max Carbon setup tools

Max Carbon setup tools

Central RC in Japan have started selling this amazingly cool range of setup tools from Max Carbon. First up is this carbon fibre setup board which has been constructed using aluminium honey comb sandwiched between 2 layers of carbon, making it a very strong, stiff but extremely light setup board. The board is 390mm × 480mm × 11mm and weighs only 500 grams, and at that size can be used with anything up to 1/8th scale circuit cars. Next up are these carbon fibre downstop blocks which again are extremely light thanks to their carbon construction and they compliment the ride height gauge which has been made from solid carbon fibre and can measure heights between 15mm and 2mm. These parts are available right now but they dont come cheap with the board costing over $300, the downstop blocks costing over $130 and the ride height gauge coming in around $50.

Click here to see the other products… content


July 9, 2007

2007 HPI Winter Champs – Video

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Following on from our brief report last Saturday from the previous weekends HPI Challenge held at the Sydney On Road Model Car Club comes the video compilation from that event. The race was won by Mugen racer Chris Reade and you can view the action from the A-main in the video above.

Source: Rube Dude [rubeduderc.com]


July 9, 2007

Cabezas wins Spanish 1/8th Nats Rd3

Cabezas wins Spanish 1/8th Nats Rd3

Serpent are reporting on their site about the 3rd round of the Spanish 1/8th scale Championships that were held at the weekend on the Vigo track. In qualifying it was Mugen racer, and round 2 winner, Josue Artiles that took the pole position ahead of an unlucky, but quick, Oscar Cabezas driving for Serpent in 2nd with another Serpent, that of Carlos Peracho in 3rd. In the final the pole man Artiles was one of the first retirements after 22 minutes and this opened the way for Cabezas, who was one of the few front runners not making a tyre stop, to easily take the win, 1 lap ahead of Sergio Montesinos in 2nd with José A Casás in 3rd 5 laps further back.

Click to see the final results… content


July 8, 2007

Rony Racing Serpent 960 parts

Rony Racing Serpent 960 parts

Rony Racing from Japan have released information about new products they have announced for the Serpent 960. First up are these aluminum rear roll center pivot pin inserts that come in 3 different roll center positions, and are sold in silver and red. Also from Rony is this 3.5mm thick carbon fiber rear shock tower that is not only stronger than the original part but also offer more tuning capabilities with the addition of an extra hole.

Source: Rony Racing [plala.or.jp/rony]


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