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Video – Buggy Qualifying Rd4
New in the pits
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.
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.
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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Tessmann takes final qualifier
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.
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.
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’.
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.
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.
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
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Chassis Focus – Carson Wernimont
Chassis – Mugen MBX-7
Engine – OS Speed
Fuel – Flashpoint
Tyres – AKA Enduro Soft
Radio/Servos – Futaba
Body – RWD (Russ Wernimont Design)
Remarks – Mugen’s 17-year-old rising star is running an MBX-7 that features a full set of titanium screws and turnbuckles, that together with carbon fibre shock towers and a complete set of aluminum transmission parts make for a lighter drive train. Carson also opted for using a pair of rear aluminium hubs. The car is also equipped with Wernimont’s very own bodyshell which he will release for general sale in the near future.
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Phend does TQ double at US Nationals
Despite the best efforts of defending Truggy Champion Ty Tessmann, Dakotah Phend completed the TQ double at the US National Championships in Hutto, Texas. Needing to take the final qualifier, Tessmann did just that but on tie break the HB driver, who is chasing a hat trick of titles in the class, lost out by 3/10ths of a second to Phend. A rough round for Phend, the Q1 & 2 pace setter only 4th fastest, it was Kyosho’s Cody King who would post the second fastest time behind Tessmann. Also enjoying his best round of qualifying, Xray’s Josh Wheeler completed the Top 3.
Phend was understandably happy to do the double, their being some confusion when Tessmann was originally announced as having taken the overall TQ. Posting the fastest lap of the final qualifier, the Team Losi Racing star said going to a harder compound of Pro-Line’s Holeshot tyre made his 8ight T easier to drive with it ‘not as on edge in the corners’. Suffering a couple of small bobbles he said in the end it was traffic that ‘messed up’ the qualifier with him losing over 3-seconds on the penultimate lap. Looking to the 45-minute A-Main, the Michigan teenager said with the track making everyone very similar on pace starting out front was a big advantage and his aim was not to make any mistakes. Happy that his truck is well set-up for the longer race he said the only change will be his tyres to Pro-Line Blockade, deciding the compound nearer to tomorrow’s final.
Despite coming so close to repeating his 2013 TQ, Tessmann was happy with his final qualifier. Describing his truck as ‘good again’ like in Q3, he said he ‘found a clean way to get around the track’ with the run being free of any mistakes. ‘Not going to change anything’ for the final on his namesake edition of the D8T, he will run a different tyre, switching like Phend from Holeshots to a set of Blockades.
King said they have been working hard on their set-up and making a ‘shock package change’ for the last qualifier the difference in his Reds Racing powered STRR Evo was ‘night and day’. Very happy with how the truck felt, the Santa Ana driver said he was really looking forward to the final saying other than going to a bigger pin tyre he would run the track as is.
Posting the 9th fastest time in the morning’s Q3 after driving ‘a little too conservative’, Wheeler said his P3 run came simply from pushing harder. Happy with the performance of his OS Speed powered XT9, he said he can easily drive the truck a long time at a good pace and so he is pretty confident for the final. Asked if he would make any changes for tomorrow’s final he replied he was going to ‘ride the horse that brought (him) here’.
Fifth fastest in Q5 would go to Ryan Lutz with Kyosho’s Jared Tebo completing the Top 6 just 4/10ths off the Durango. Lutz described his truck as ‘loose’ with the rear end keeping wanting to come around on the exit of the corners. Having made a change to the diff oils for Q3, he said for the final he will revert back to the set-up he ran yesterday.
Q4 Truggy times – Top 10
1. Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed – 10/7:37.678
2. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing – 10/7:41.723
3. Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 10/7:41.927
4. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 10/7:42.759
5. Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha – 10/7:43.692
6. Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 10/7:44.153
7. Austin Blair – Kyosho/OS Speed – 10/7:45.680
8. Adam Drake – TLR/Novarossi – 10/7:46.372
9. Josh Glancy – TLR/Novarossi – 9/7:00.966
10.Jeremy Kortz – Agama/Werks – 9/7:01.584
A-Main Truggy Grid (3 to bump up from B-Main)
1. Dakotah Phend – TLR/Orion – 0 pts
2. Ty Tessmann – HB/OS Speed – 0
3. Carson Wernimont – Mugen/OS Speed – 6
4. Josh Wheeler – Xray/OS Speed – 8
5. Cody King – Kyosho/Reds Racing – 8
6. Ryan Lutz – Durango/Alpha – 9
7. Ryan Cavalieri – Associated/Orion – 9
8. Ryan Maifield – Associated/Novarossi – 9
9. Michael Truhe – Serpent/TOP – 12
10.Jared Tebo – Kyosho/Orion – 13
11.Jeremy Kortz – Agama/Werks – 17
12.Austin Blair – Mugen/OS Speed – 18
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