Qualifying underway at ‘The Dirt’
They are a world force when it comes to 1:8 Off Road racing and arriving here at the Nitro Pit for ‘The Dirt’ Nitro Challenge it is easy to see just why the current World Champion is an American. Race organiser Joey ‘The Dirt’ Christensen’s track creation for the 12th running of his big event is impressive with all the top drivers here in Arizona loving his work. The track is situated in a motorsport complex that features tracks for pretty much everything including full size Short Course, Motocross, Drag racing down to a pretty cool looking BMX course. The first big 1:8 Off Road event on the annual US race calendar all the major manufacturers are here with their star drivers looking to secure ‘The Dirt’ title and get their 2011 outdoor season underway with a high profile win. Catering for four different classes, today it is three rounds of qualifying for 1:8 Truggy and 1:10 Short Course with 1:8 Nitro and EP Buggy making up Friday’s qualifying schedule.
The first round of Truggy qualifying has been completed with Kyosho’s Jared Tebo and Cody King setting the early pace in what was an ultra close run. Seven minute qualifiers, Tebo recorded 10 laps in 7:41.235 compared with King’s 7:41.391 and reigning champion Ty Tessmann’s 7:41.824 whose Hot Bodies was third fastest. Tebo, whose right leg is in a brace following a recent operation, said his Kyosho was a little under geared for the opening round but was really happy with performance of the new forward cab bodyshell design he and Cody are running here. Cody, who says he likes the track a lot, was pleased with his opening run but expects the track to get much faster later in the day. The World Champion paid compliment to the track team who he said are doing a good job keeping the track damp enough between runs.
Tessmann, who is without his HB team-mate Jesse Robbers this weekend, said his truggy was really good but he needs to tidy up his driving. The Canadian said the track is real good but would be even better without the moguls, a section he doesn’t like at all.
Chasing their fourth successive ‘The Dirt’ win in the blue ribbon Buggy class Team Associated come here riding high from their success at Motorama last week. Fresh from his Buggy/Truggy double in Pennsylvania, Ryan Maifield set the fourth fastest time in Q1 but was frustrated by a back marker who tried racing him. Preferring the track layout over last year, Maifield said his Reedy engines are also a lot better developed than 12 months ago which is a big help over the many jumps. Team-mate Ryan Cavalieri, who set the 6th fastest time with a nine lap run, said he is a little rusty with the truggy and is still trying to get his nitro finger back. Complaining of his wheels being out of balance, which caused him problems off the jumps, he said with a fresh set of rubber he should be more competitive in Q2.
Heading the Mugen challenge recording 10 lap on the way to the fifth fastest time was Dylan Rodriguez. Making the A-Main here last year in both Truggy and Buggy, the 17-year-old from Vegas was happy with his MBX-6T and feels with a few less mistakes and a fresh set of Pro-Line Holeshots he can build on that performance. Hoping to making the big race again this year, he feels the track design should make for some really good racing.
Over in the Team Losi camp it is Matt Castellano who was the best 8ight-T setting the 7th fastest time. Having not raced Truggy since the US Nationals last year Castellano described his run as clean other than some issues with traffic something his senior team-mate Adam Drake had problems with leaving him down in 11th. Mike Truhe described his truggy as ‘awesome’ and set the fastest lap for the round with a 44.804 but too many driver errors meant he ended up only tenth fastest.
Elsewhere Tamiya USA lead driver Lee Martin has announced he has moved from Novarossi to OS engines. Making his first big US race appearance since signing with Tamiya USA for the 1:8 Off Road race programme, the UK driver will actually still run Novarossi engines in his truggy due to lateness of the new engine deal which was only agreed earlier this week. After the first round of the qualifying Martin is 15th fastest.
Event image gallery coming soon.