With winter coming Kyosho has announced its new 2024 zip up hoodie. A simple design that just features the Kyosho logo on the front, the hoodies are available in three colours including of course the Japanese company’s trademark red. Also available in navy and black, they are offered in sizing from S to 3XL and will be available later this month.
Source: Kyosho [Facebook]
New from US Drag Racing specialists Exotek Racing is their TX Drag Slash carbon fibre chassis conversion set. The Lightweight ‘Street Eliminator’ drag chassis conversion set is intended for use with Traxxas Drag Slash, 2WD Slash or Bandits kits and vonverts your Drag Slash to be race ready for the ‘Street Eliminator / Slash No Prep’ race class. It provides the legal 13″ wheelbase to fit under the hottest new no prep bodies that are on the market. This pro chassis conversion set features a 4mm thick glossy carbon fibre chassis deck, centralized servo mounting for improved balance and a simplified direct to servo steering for less slop and reduced weight. The kit contains a 4mm thick rear gear box riser to lower the chassis ride height. You also get multi position shorty lipo mounting to adjust for wheelie/ no wheelie balance as well as multiple weight balance options to maximise grip on the street or on the track. Includes steel hex hardware which require high quality metric 2.0 & 2.5mm hex tools.
View conversion set components here
After making a number of social media posts that forced Nova Engines to issue a statement to clarify some ‘very confused’ rumours, Novarossi has today published a much clearer statement about the rebirth of the iconic Italian engine brand. The statement published on the Novarossi World Facebook is from Massimo Rossi, the grandson of Ugo Rossi founder of the Rossi Company and who’s brother Cesare Rossi was the driving forced behind Novarossi in its heyday. Apologising for the previous Novarossi posts made on the matter, Massimo outlines the new generation of Novarossi engines will be entirely produced in Italy with the first engines ready for sale in mid 2024.
Reedy has introduced a new ‘Driver Edition’ of its Sonic 540-M4 series of motors which was created with input from their international racing team. The 540-M4 Driver Edition is technically identical to the standard 540-M4, but is instead equipped with the popular #27447 rotor. This rotor is the lowest strength option, which is reported to improve throttle feel and consistency, resulting in better overall race times. Four versions featuring the most popular “dirt” winds will be available initially, with the potential for more to follow. All Sonic 540-M4 versions are ROAR, EFRA, BRCA, and IFMAR approved.
Source: Reedy [associatedelectrics.com]
ROAR, the the sanctioning body for RC racing in the United States & Canada, has announced the track locations and dates for its National Championships in 2024. The season kicks off with the 1:10 Carpet Onroad Championship at 997 RC Raceway in Pennsylvania on March 7th-10th and will see a further 6 events held across the year. A powerhouse nation in the world of offroad racing, the 1:10 Offroad Nationals will take place in April at Beach RC & Hobbies in South Carolina with the 1:8 Nitro Offroad one month later at HRCR in Idaho from June 19th-23rd. While the venue for the Paved On Road Championship is set as N-Control RC Racing Circuit the date is to be confirmed while for nitro onroad ROAR is still actively looking for a host track.
View full National Championship calendar here
In a significant driver announcement, Toni Gruber and Capricorn have agreed a new contract that will see the German ace continue with the Italian chassis manufacturer for the 2024 and 2025 nitro onroad seasons. After 4-years with Shepherd, Gruber joined forces with Patrizio Rossi’s team for the 2023 season with the 27-year-old going on to have an outstanding season. In 1:10 Nitro Touring he secured the European Championship title which he then followed up with the TQ and a podium finish at the 1:8 Onroad European Championships. Adding his first ENS Championship title in 1:8 and then becoming the 1:8 GT World Champion in Australia with Hong Nor, he was to be title contender at the 1:8 Onroad World Championships. Having made his first World Final appearance at the previous World Championships in the United States in 2019, in Japan he was in the mix from the start and after one of the most intense and heavily stacked Main Finals in the category’s history he finished Runner-up just 7.5-seconds off Dario Balestri after 1-hour of racing. After such a season the continuity with Capricorn and also engine sponsor Ielasi Tuned should see Gruber become even stronger in 2024.
Source: Toni Gruber [Facebook]
One of Europe’s most iconic 1:8 Offroad races and one which since it was first held in 2006 has established itself as the race to open the annual nitro buggy racing season in Europe, Montpellier Grand Prix has announced details of the 2024 event. The 18th running of the French Classic will see the race run over 4-days and the dropping of the Warm-up race. Set to take place from February 8-11th, the changes come as host club Mini Bolide Montpellierain try to ensure all competing drivers enjoy the same amount of track time with the addition of Thursday dedicated to timed practice rounds. Having introduced eBuggy last year the even will again crown an electric champion in 2024. In Nitro, World Champion Davide Ongaro will go for three in a row. Registration opens December 2nd.
Source: Circuit du MBM [Facebook]
Hong Kong electric onroad chassis manufacturer Xpress has announced the release of an entry level version of its M-Chassis, the Arrow AM1S. Launching the shaft driven AM1, which is a M-Chassis size version of its Arrow AT1 1:10 electric touring car, back in June, the AM1S kit has been made more economical through the use of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) for the Main Chassis and Top Deck instead of carbon fibre. The car also gets a more tradition shock tower set-up using FRP shock towers. The AM1S features 4WD Shaft Drive Floating Gearbox System with a sealed transmission gearbox with drive via composite instead of aluminium propeller shafts.
