September 18, 2017

BRCA Touring Car Series finale – Report

The final round of the BRCA Touring Car Series was hosted by Cotswold Model Car club and despite two of the classes already being decided this did not distract from a classic race meeting. The Modified class had already been decided in favour of Xray driver Olly Jefferies, but he was attempting now to win all five rounds of the series. In qualifying he was pushed hard by Schumacher’s Elliott Harper but Jefferies took TQ. In the two leg finals the crowd were treated to some tense close racing as Harper joined by Chris Grainger (Team Associated) piled the pressure on Jefferies. Harper was rarely more than a cars length of the bumper of Jefferies for both finals but Jefferies held on to take the win ahead of Harper and Team Associated’s Matt White.

Continue reading the report here


September 18, 2017

Radtec white low-friction touring car belts

Coming from Radtec is a range of white S3M low-friction belts for many of today’s 1/10th electric touring cars. Available are 507/169T, 510/170T, 513/171T and 516/172T front as well as 180/60T, 186/62T and 189/63T rear belt that fit cars such as the Yokomo BD8, BD8SV, Serpent 4X/S411, Xray T4, Awesomatix A800, Destiny RX-10S and Infinity IF14. The Japanese-made and Radtec-branded belts will greatly improve the overall drivetrain efficiency due to offering as softer feel and lower friction than most standard black belts.

View a rear belt here


September 16, 2017

Kurzbuch set to defend title after Semi win

Simon Kurzbuch is set to defend his World title this evening in France, the Shepherd driver winning his Semi Final to progress to the 1-hour final that will decide the winner of the 21st running of 1:8 Onroad World Championships.  Starting from pole in the second of the Semi encounters have lost out on the TQ to Dario Balestri and the Super Pole to Naoto Matsukura, Kurzbuch would win the 30-minute encounter from Jilles Groskamp and Silvio Hachler with the fastest race time to secure 3rd on the grid.  Winner of the first Semi ahead of fellow Japanese driver Shoki Takahata, Takaaki Shimo will line up third ahead with Takahata completing the top half of the grid ahead of Groskamp, Hachler, Alberto Picco, Alessio Mazzeo and Lars Hoppe.  Coming into the event as one of the pre-event favourites along Kurzbuch and Balestri, there was cruel luck for Bruno Coelho.  Starting from pole the Xray driver was in clear control of the race until he suffered a suspected partial engine seize at the end of the straight. While the engine fired back up in the pits he title hopes were done.  Also suffering similar faith was former World Champion Adrien Bertin.  With the large French crowd fully behind the HB driver, cheering loudly his every pass, he worked his way to the front leading for a time but with 8-minutes to go his engine stopped.  A heartbreaking end to what was to be the veteran racers retirement from competitive racing.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.


September 16, 2017

Semi final line-up complete for 21st WC

The 21st running of the 1:8 Onroad World Championships is down the final 22 drivers with the 1/4 finals completing the line up for the two Semi finals which will decide the 8 drivers to join Dario Balestri and Naoto Matsukura in the fight to become the World Champion.  In the first of the 1/4 encounters it was JJ Wang who took the win ahead of Takaaki Shimo after the 2015 Vice Champion was given a penalty for bad refuelling. Behind them John Ermen was holding third but the ARC driver came under intense pressure from 2013 World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi in the final laps.  With the Serpent driver all over the Dutchman the pair made contact at the final corner with Ermen ending up on the grass.  While Ermen protested the result, after watching video footage of the pass officials deemed the result would stand with Sahashi progressing to the Semis.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.


September 16, 2017

Avid Triad dual colour wing buttons

Avid have added new colours to their range of Triad wing buttons with the dual black/gold and black/blue variants. Coming in at 0.3g each, they are very light of weight and with the new dual colour anodising they also add visual impact. The buttons are designed for use with an M3 flat head screw which is common on both 1/8th and 1/10th scale vehicles.

View the black/blue wing buttons here


September 15, 2017

Xray T4 2018 electric touring car kit

Xray have introduced the 2018 version of their highly popular T4 1/10th scale 4WD electric touring car. Like in recent years Xray have carried out some subtle updates and revisions to the platform with the most noticeable change to the 2018 variant being the all-new Ultra Low Profile ULP shock – probably the shortest coil-over dampers to find on a 1/10th touring car. 4mm shorter than the SLP the ULP were developed to lower the CG of the car even more to further improve handling. With the ultra short shocks the T4 is meant to stay flatter, making it easier to drive through chicanes in high-grip conditions and making the car more resistant to traction rolling, letting the driver carry more speed through high-traction sweepers while the steering response and cornering speed are significantly improved as well.

Continue reading here


September 15, 2017

Bittydesign TC body marker line kit

Coming from Bittydesign is the TC body marker line kit for 1/10th touring and 1/12th pan car body shells. The set includes a black permanent marker and an Ergal pen holder that, once the pen is inserted, allows to draw straights lower cutting lines of 6mm to 9mm of height. This ensures clean and repeatable cutting lines and easier and more accurate body preparation.

View another image here


September 15, 2017

Matsukura claims Super Pole in Monteux

Naoto Matsukura will feature in the final of the 1:8 Onroad World Championships in Monteux, France tomorrow after the Infinity driver won the Super Pole shoot out to directly join Top Qualifier Dario Balestri on the grid.  The first time Super Pole has been used at the 1:8 World Championships, having been introduced at last year’s 1:10 Worlds in Italy, Matsukura would come out best of the four drivers setting the fastest lap from reigning World Champion Simon Kurzbuch who was last to run his 6-laps.  Also taking part, Super Pole open to the drivers who qualify 2nd through 5th, Bruno Coelho would set the third fastest single lap ahead of Jesse Davis who was first to go and set a time.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.