Red RC » R Off Road

October 30, 2023

Bernadzik is Australian Champion

Alex Bernadzik is the new Australian 1:8 Nitro Buggy National Champion. Racing at the MORBC track, the venue of the 2018 1:8 Buggy World Championship, the Team Associated driver took the RCRA title with victory in the 1-hour final of the SpeedyRC supported championship. In qualifying it would be Kyle Ward-McBride who secured the TQ after he went fastest in 3 of the 5 rounds at the same track where he did his National Championship double in 2015. With one TQ run a piece, Bernadzik and Aaron Dexter completed the Top 3 in the qualification ranking, 74 drivers taking part in this year’s Nationals. While Ward-McBride would win his Semi from Dexter, an unlucky run for Bernadzik would see him finish 5th putting him 12th on the 15 car grid for the final. Coming from the back it wouldn’t take Bernadzik long to get to the front and with Ward-McBride retiring after 12-minutes, he cruised to the win by a comfortable 4-lap margin over the Tekno of Caleb Noble and Sworkz of Christian Wolhuter. In eBuggy, Noble would reverse that result taking the title from the Queensland driver with Jayden Edmunds’ Team Associated third.

Source: RC Race Media [Facebook]

October 28, 2023

JConcepts 20th Anniversary grid apparel

JConcepts has released the Grid t-shirt and hoodie as part of their 20^th anniversary season celebration. After a successful 2023 campaign, the team from Groveland, Florida has prepared a new graphic displaying an alternative anniversary logo combined with an updated background to bolster the design. The viewer’s eye carefully locks in on the grid design in blue, while the fresh JConcepts logo pops in bright white printing. On the sleeve, the racing checkerboard design provides the winning fit and finish to the design. The stealth black shirt produced in 100% cotton fabric has a comfortable feel while the stealth black hoodie, pullover sweatshirt is produced in 50/50 fabric, has a comfortable feel, and is available in sizes ranging from small to triple extra-large.

Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]

October 23, 2023

Landén doubles in Swedish National Cup – Report

Over the weekend the second & final round of the 1:10 Buggy Swedish National Cup was held in Borås where it was Team Associated driver Alexander Landén who completed the series double. The largest indoor event for a long time in Sweden, the race attracted 63 2WD and 43 4WD drivers who arrived Saturday morning to a freshly built layout for the series decider. In 2WD, right from the start it was quite clear that Landén seemed to be the one to beat this time. Locking out all four qualifying rounds we also had the opportunity to test some new ideas on the setup during the fourth round, which improved the car even more for the finals. Behind Alexander, Xray drivers Hampus Berg and David Ronnefalk would line up 2nd and 3rd on the grid. Alexander secured the win by taking the first two rounds with relative comfort, being the only driver scoring 19 lap runs. Hampus Berg won the final leg and by that securing second and third place went to Otto Ausfelt (AE) tied on points with Ronnefalk. This also meant that Landén was crowned the overall Series Champion.

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October 23, 2023

Phend is 2023 Masters of Dirt Master

The ninth annual Masters of Dirt took place at BeachRC in South Carolina over the weekend where Dakotah Phend was crowned the overall Master of the event for his combined results in 2WD & 4WD Buggy and Stadium Truck. Attracting over 450 entries, qualifying for 4WD saw three different drivers post TQ runs with TLR’s Brennan Schimmel the overall Top Qualifier on tie break from team-mate Phend with Team Associated’s Aydin Horne securing P3. In 2WD, Phend secured pole having TQ’d Q2 & 3 from new World Champion Tater Sontag whose TLR topped the opening round. Rivkin’s Associated completing the Top 3. With single 10-minute A-Mains, Phend led 2WD from start to finish as Schumacher’s Broc Champlin came through from P5 to finish just ahead of Rivkin. With the event concluding with the 4WD A-Main, it was Rivkin who came through for the win over 3-seconds up on Ryan Maifield and Phend with both Schimmel and Sontag non finishers. In Stadium Truck, Phend took both the TQ and win with Rivkin and Horne completing the podium.

Image: Masters of Dirt [Facebook]

October 23, 2023

Kinwald Klassic double for Gonzales

1Up Racing/Team Associated driver Matthew Gonzales completed the double at the Kinwald Klassic at Hobby Action in Arizona over the weekend winning both 2WD and 4WD Buggy. The fourth annual running of the race that is held in honour of Offroad RC great Brian Kinwald and helps raise funds for the Crohn’s Foundation, qualifying at the recent World Championship host venue would see Gonzales reign. Securing the 2WD TQ in the final round of the three qualifiers ahead of Kyle Davis who also set his fastest time in Q3, in 4WD it was a similar story as he took the TQ ahead of Riley Wortman. In the finals, Gonzales continued his form winning A-Main encounters to win 2WD from Scott Spear while in 4WD 4WD Wortman and Davis completed the podium. After his sterling work with the track preparation and maintenance for the World Championships last month, Jake Thayer was back enjoying his racing taking the TQ and win in 17.5 2WD Buggy.

Image: 1up Racing [Facebook]

October 20, 2023

2024 Asian Buggy Championships calendar announced

Scotty Ernst has announced an expanded calendar for his Asian Buggy Championship with the 1:8 Offroad race series set to travel to New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia in 2024. Red RC travelled to the Philippine Masters earlier this year where we reportred on World Champion Davide Ongaro taking victory for the opening round of the inaugural Asian Buggy Championships. New Zealand kicks things off the second season when the Countries RC Car Club host Round 1 on February 8-11. An event that has become famed across the World for its outstanding hospitality and welcoming atmosphere, the Philippine Masters is the second stop on the calendar on April 18-21. Round 2 of the 2023 calendar, Australia also returns with Pine Hills Dirt Racing again the hosts in July. Extending the ABC’s reach, an overall point series be introduced for the new season, Indonesia will conclude the action with Westside Raceway hosting the final round in early September.

View 2024 Calendar here

October 17, 2023

Moritz Lautenbach joins Sworkz

Better known for standing in for his father Jurgen as LRP tech support at various races, but also an experienced racer, Moritz Lautenbach has teamed up with Sworkz to run their buggies in 1:10 offroad. Having raced for 7-years with Schumacher, the German driver’s electronics knowledge will be a bonus for SWORKz with Lautenbach driving the new S12-2EVO and the S14-4C this season as part of his own racing program. On the announcement Max Sonnleitner said: “We are very happy to welcome a familiar face to the SWORKz team. I am sure he will fit perfectly into our family and make his way!”

Source: Sworkz [Facebook]

October 13, 2023

Ronnefalk joins Xray

Xray has announced that the 1:8 Offroad World and multiple European Champion David Ronnefalk has joined their factory team. The Swede’s program with the Slovakian manufacturer will see him race not just 1:8 and 1:10 offroad but all 1:10 Touring car classes. Having departed Mayako after 2-years stint with the brand, commenting on his move to Xray Ronnevalk said, “I’m very excited and happy to announce the news of me joining XRAY. It’s no secret what this brand is capable of in terms of its development program in creating quality products achieving the best results. I’m really looking forward to be a part of this process and to work close with the team to achieve our common goals. I feel very confident starting the new chapter of my career together with XRAY, I’m sure we will be able to make great things happen together. Can’t wait to start to work and meet up with everyone again.”

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]