June 22, 2014

‘From Race Control’ – Day 5, Finals

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Having survived 4 days of hot & humid Texas weather, the 17th running of the US National Championship comes down to today. Last night the track got a natural watering when it rained in Hutto and the skies over Thornhill Racing Circuit this morning look like they might be ready to provide some additional dampening of the dirt. First of the champions to be crowned will be Truggy, the 9th champion of the class being decided over a 45-minute Main. With 12 drivers directly qualifying for the race the 15 truck grid will be completed by the Top 3 bumping up from the B-Main. For Buggy, the first Nationals being held in 1998, all drivers looking to battle for the title will have to come through the 30-minute Semi Finals with the Top 6 finishers from each progressing to the 1-hour Main.  The 15 buggy grid will be completed by the three drivers finishing outside the Top 6 with the fastest race times over the 2 Semis.

June 22, 2014

New in the pits

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Walking around the pits here at the 2014 ROAR gas offroad nationals we caught up with Hitec’s Billy Tompkins, who introduced us to their latest high end radio called Lynx 4s. The transmitter will be available for purchase with a receiver to be chosen between two options: together with the Axion receiver the radio would provide a very fast transmission, with a latency of 4ms, while the Tachyon receiver would feature a GPS system and telemetry capability. A 30-model memory – expandable with the aid of a Micro-SD card, 7 assignable switches, left handed capability and a fully adjustable ergonomics would complete the list of main features for the new Hitec flagship car radio.

trifecta

Next we met up with Daniel Adams from Pro-Line. He had a new wing to show us, named the Trifecta after the three big vertical fins that are its distinguishing feature. Its completely new design is meant to maximise look and performances, while the fins in particular are meant to confer more side stability to your car especially throughout long fast sweepers. It also comes with two different whickerbills that will help you adjust the downforce.

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After a lot of experiments, studies and testing about aerodynamics, Carson Wernimont got all his feedbacks together and designed, together with his father Russ, a new bodyshell. Characterised by very tall sides that end up becoming vertical fins, it is shaped to make the buggy more stable and aggressive at the same time, and will be available mid-july for the MBX-7 owners.

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June 22, 2014

Tessmann takes final qualifier

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Ty Tessmann concluded qualifying at the 17th running of the US National Championships with a TQ run, the former champion topping the Buggy time sheets for a second time at Thornhill Racing Circuit in the fourth & final round. While the overall TQ was decided in Q3, TLR’s Dakotah Phend repeating his 2013 feat due his two 10-lap rounds, Tessmann would end up equal on points with his rival to take second overall and pole position for the second of the Semi Finals. Behind Tessman, Q4 would be the best qualifier for Ryan Maifield with the Team Associated driver posting a second for the round. Having been on the TQ pace for most of the run, Phend would end up third after an error on the penultimate lap.

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Tessmann described the run as ‘loose’ adding ‘I think that is just how it is’. Posting the fastest lap of the round with a 45.481, he said his OS Speed powered D8 12 ‘did everything as he expected it to do’. With the track ‘blowing out’, he said the traction is coming up in some spots due to the ruts adding if it continues to break up it ‘should be fun tomorrow’. Asked if the deteriorating track would force him to make any set-up changes he said for now he had no plans to make any changes but he would make the final decision on that after the Semi practice run. If he does have to change the buggy he is confident they already have a good idea what direction to take.

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Opting to not change his RC8.2 from how it was in Q3, Maifield said it was comfortable to drive and he believes it’s a competitive Semi Final car. Running JConcepts blue compound Crossbow tyre again, he will leave everything the same for tomorrow. Set to start in the same Semi as Phend, having qualified 3rd overall, he said his approach for tomorrow is to ‘stay with the lead group and see how it plays out’.

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Phend said the track is getting more & more difficult to drive making it particularly hard to be consistent. On target for his third TQ run, he said luckily the round didn’t count for anything as he spun out and then ended up stuck in the piping. While the track is becoming more tricky, he said he is happy with how his 8ight is dealing with the conditions but if the bumps get worse he might make a few small adjustments to the set-up.

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Posting his fastest run time in Q4, equaling his Q3 P4 result, Ryan Lutz said he lost a bit of time when he caught a group of 3 cars and then having just passed them got a jump wrong leading to bit of a ‘commotion’. Ending qualifying 6th, the Team Durango driver said he has a few things he wants to try in the Semi practice to improve his DNX8 Prototype. With the buggy ‘dumping a little on the front’ he said they will try to figure out how to support the front end better.

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Also setting his fastest time in the last qualifier claiming fifth for the round, RC America team driver Josh Wheeler would see his time docked a lap. Having thought qualifying was to start at 10:00 this morning as it did yesterday, he was wrenching in his trailer when the first qualifier, which he was supposed to be marshalling, got underway at 09:45. Late to his spot, he was handed a 1-lap penalty to be applied to his fastest time. The World Championship finalist said the run could have been better but he hit traffic.  Starting behind Ryan Cavalieri he said he caught the Associated driver and held up, he then had to let Lutz past. With the pace ‘so close’ he said pulling over caused him to lose further time although he would eventually retake Lutz later in the run. Despite his penalty, Wheeler still ended qualifying 8th overall behind Cody King and ahead of Cavalieri.

Q4 Buggy times – Top 10
1. Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed – 10/7:41.609
2. Ryan Maifield – Associated/Novarossi – 10/7:43.820
3. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 10/7:44.125
4. Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha – 9/7:00.262
5. Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 9/7:01.307
6. Carson Wernimont – Mugen/OS Speed – 9/7:02.05
7. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing – 9/7:04.190
8. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 9/7:04.298
9. Adam Drake – TLR/Novarossi – 9/7:05.917
10.Billy Fischer – TLR/Novarossi – 9/7:09.781

Overall Buggy Qualifying Ranking – Top 16
1. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 0 pts
2. Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed – 0
3. Ryan Maifield – Associated/Novarossi – 5
4. Carson Wernimont – Mugen/OS Speed – 6
5. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 6
6. Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha – 8
7. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing – 12
8. Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 13
9. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated/Orion – 13
10.Billy Fischer – TLR/Novarossi – 16
11.Dylan Rodriguez – Mugen/OS Speed – 19
12.Michael Truhe – Serpent/TOP – 20
13.Adam Drake – TLR/Novarossi – 21
14.Tyler Vik – Xray/FX – 22
15.Barry Pettit – Mugen/OS Speed – 23
16.Mark Pavidis – TLR/OS Speed – 24

View our event image gallery here.