Red RC » R Off Road

March 18, 2011

2011 Cactus Classic – Thursday update

The 2011 Cactus Classic is taking place this weekend at the Scottsdale RC Speedway in Arizona, USA. This annual electric race attracts top drivers from around the world and this, its 25th year, is no exception with top Europeans such as Lee Martin, Hupo Honigl, Joern Neumann, Marc Rheinard and Viktor Wilck joining the top US stars to battle it out for this year’s titles in 4wd, 2wd, SC and Truck. With 430 entries, making 48 heats it is making for a long day for everyone and the blazing heat is also taking its toll. Open practice has been underway since Wednesday and the drivers are closing in on their final race setups ahead of Friday’s first 2 rounds of qualifying. Red RC will be reporting from the event throughout qualifying through to Sunday’s A-mains so stay tuned.

View Thursday’s image gallery and Short Course video here

March 17, 2011

Losi reports from 2011 JBRL Electric Series Rd1

This past weekend Southern California racers gathered at Hot Rod Hobbies for the first round of the 2011 JBRL Electric Series and Losi sent us this report. As always, round 1 has a large turnout and this year was no different with 280 entries spread throughout the various classes. With TLR being the headline sponsor for this year’s series, many local team drivers were in attendance. In qualifying Losi Project Manager Keith Whisler set the TQ’s in both Sportsman Stock Buggy and Sportsman Stock Truck. In Modified Buggy, TLR Team Driver and Project Manager Frank Root took the TQ over a field of world class drivers. Root was running the new TLR 22 in mid motor configuration in preparation for the upcoming Cactus Classic. In the Sportsman mains Whisler took advantage of both his TQ positions and completed the sweep of both classes. To take the wins, Whisler used Xcelorin ESC’s and batteries, the Spektrum DX3R, and Losi tires in his TLR vehicles. In Pro 2, Losi finished with 3 XXX-SCT’s in the top five. In a very close race with several position changes, TLR Team Driver Casper finished with 3rd place, TLR Team Manager Kevin Gahan in 4th and Losi Project Manager Ryan Dunford rounding out the top five. In Pro 4, TLR Team Driver Mike Truhe finished 2nd driving the new Losi TEN-SCTE. Fellow Team Driver Aaron Lane fought hard through the entire race to finish 4th with his TEN-SCTE. Round 2 of the TLR sponsored JBRL will be at OC/RC on April 2nd, 2011.

Source: TLR [tlracing.com]

March 16, 2011

Cavalieri leads Associated’s challenge at EOS pilot event

Two time World Champion Ryan Cavalieri is to contest the ‘Euro Offroad Series’ pilot race with Team Associated confirming that one of the biggest names in off road racing will travel to Sweden for the April 1-3 event. The 24-year-old reigning 4WD US National Champion will team up with former European Champion Peter Pinisch and Petit RC Race winner Paul Bradby as part of the Team Associated challenge in Tomelilla where they will go head to head with official team entries from Losi, Tamiya and Team Durango. Last week Team Losi Racing confirmed 2011 Reedy International Race of Champions winner Dustin Evans will make the trip from Colorado to contest the indoor clay event. Commenting on the latest big name driver announcement, EOS Race Director Scotty Ernst said:

We are so excited that Team Associated are sending Cavalieri to our pilot event and together with Losi confirming Dustin Evans’ entry it is a massive endorsement for the EOS and what we are trying to create for 1:10 Off Road in Europe. The quality of the entry is going to make for great racing and with most of the top guys also doing Short Course Truck I think we can really showcase this class which back in the US has done great things for our hobby.

Read the full release here

March 16, 2011

Alex Hardt switches to Novarossi

Reigning German Junior Champion Alex Hardt has made the switch to Novarossi for the upcoming season. German Novarossi distributor, Shepherd Micro Racing, will be supporting this young talented driver with the latest Novarossi off-road engines. Alex will race all important national races as well as some selected international events like the European Championship A, the Neo11 Race and the International Warm-up in Bischofsheim. His goals are well defined:

I would like to defend the German Junior Champion title and achieve a top result at all races that I attend. I choose Novarossi engines because the performance is outstanding. After a few test it was clear that I can achieve my goals for the 2011 season with these premium engines. Shepherd Micro Racing supports me in the best way possible and I’m looking forward to working together with them closely.

Source: Shepherd [team-shepherd.com]

March 15, 2011

1:8 Offroad Nationals Warm-up race

The guys at Thunder Alley RC Raceway were in touch to remind everyone about the 1:8 Offroad Nationals Warm-up race that will take place from the 1st to the 3rd of April. The event has already attracted much interest with former World Champion Atsushi Hara signing up as well as Teemu Leino, Ari Heinonen from Finland along with Ty Tessman from Canada who will be joining the usual gaggle of top drivers from California, neighboring states and beyond. The race is open to both buggy and truggy in both Open and Pro and you can find out more information and sign up by going here.

March 15, 2011

Ryan Lutz dominates Psycho Nitro Blast

Last weekend the Psycho Nitro Blast event took place in Unadilla, Georgia, USA. The indoor dirt track drew 468 entries spread over the various classes. Team Durango’s Ryan Lutz dominated the Pro Buggy class with his DNX408 against stiff competition, taking the TQ and win. Ryan also won Pro Truggy.

View Ryan’s full report here

March 14, 2011

Jörn Neumann takes clean sweep at JBRL Rd1

The 1st Round of the 2011 JBRL Electric Series was held at Hotrod Hobbies, California with 280 drivers turning out for the event. Team Durango drivers Hupo Hönigl and Jörn Neumann were in attendance to participate in 2WD, 4WD and Pro 4WD Short Course. Gerd Strenge was also their to support both drivers. It was a very long day of racing with 2 Rounds of Qualifying and 1 Final. In 4WD it was a close battle between Hupo and Jörn for the TQ spot, with Jörn taking the TQ spot. In Pro 4WD Short Course the brand new DESC410R was the car to beat. Again Jörn took the TQ, 2nd place Hupo and 3rd Chad Bradley. In 2WD Frank Root took the TQ spot by 1 second over Jörn with the Prototype DEX210 and 3rd Mike Truhe. 4th place was teammate Hupo also with the Prototype DEX210.

Continue reading the report here

March 14, 2011

Yuichi Kanai wins Team C Buggy Cup

The Team C Buggy Cup took place last weekend at the FT Buggy Track in Guangzhou, China and it attracted 120 drivers from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Taiwan, Hong Kong and of course China. After 5 rounds of qualifying it was former World Champion Yuichi Kanai from Japan that would take the TQ spot. In Sunday’s 45 minute A-main, Kanai was challenged early on from Team C driver Eason Chi, who took the lead after Kanai made a mistake at 5 minutes. Kyosho factory driver Kanai settled down, found his rhythm and was able to get back into the lead a few minutes later and extend his lead to 2 laps by the end of the race. Hot Bodies driver Ping from China took the 2nd spot with Wen Yi from Singapore taking 3rd with his Mugen.

View some more images here