October 9, 2013

Chassis Focus – Atsushi Hara

Wed-HaraMRX5-1

Car: Mugen MRX-5
Engine: O.S. Speed
Fuel: Cosmo
Tires: Zac Project
Bodyshell: Protoform R18
Radio/Servos: Futaba

Two-time World Champion Atsushi Hara is running the Mugen MRX-5 here in Japan and apart from extra chassis weights and lightweight front wheel axles it is a standard car. Starting off using the same setup as Japanese National Champion Takaaki Shimo, Hara has changed little to the car, only deciding to run a blue front spring in place of the grey all round, something he says gives more steering when the traction is high but which doesn’t work in the low grip conditions found today. 2001 World Champion Kenji Osaka is Hara’s pitman for this race but not having driven 1/8th onroad for over 10 years Kenji had one run with the car prior to this event to get back the feeling for the class, something he says has changed a lot since he last raced.

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October 9, 2013

Chassis Focus – Jilles Groskamp

Wed-GroskampVelox-2

Car: Shepherd Velox V8
Engine: Maxima
Fuel: Maxima
Tires: Hot Race Tyres
Bodyshell: Protoform R18
Radio/Servos: Sanwa

Current European Champion Jilles Groskamp is running a pretty standard Velox V8 from Shepherd, the same car he used to win his title in Halifax with. In terms of changes from the kit car he has added 145 grams of brass to the chassis plate around the fuel tank to get it as low down as possible, while on the rear he has chosen for Mugen rear bodymount height adjusters as they allow him to set the body higher than the standard part. His car is set very soft in terms of the anti-roll bars, and shock springs, the TC World Champion using the company’s touring car green spring all round, while using harder shock oil to help deal with the bumps.

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October 8, 2013

Chassis Focus – Tadahiko Sahashi

Tues-Sahashi977-9

Car: Serpent 977 Viper
Engine: Picco Boost
Fuel: Cosmo
Tires: Zac Project
Bodyshell: Protoform R18
Radio/Servos: Sanwa

Tadahiko Sahashi is running the Picco powered Serpent 977 Viper with a number of the available aluminium options installed for strength and looks. Ending up on top of both of today’s qualifiers Tadahiko says a change to harder suspension parts earlier in the event helped prevent it from sliding around on the non sugar watered track and apart from that has done little to change away from his standard setup for this track. Having tried the Blitz shell he found it lacking steering on this track and so he has changed back to the very popular Protoform R18 for his qualifying runs.

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October 8, 2013

Chassis Focus – Takaaki Shimo

Tues-ShimoMRX-5-1

Car: Mugen MRX-5
Engine: O.S. Speed
Fuel: Cosmo
Tires: Zac Project
Bodyshell: Protoform R18
Radio/Servos: Futaba

Japanese National Champion Takaaki Shimo is running a standard Mugen MRX-5, the same car he won the Nationals/Worlds warmup race here in Kei Tune with some months ago. With the track not being sugar watered for this event, like it was previously, his setup has needed to be adjusted. Firstly the car was too loose on track and with some adjustments he stopped the rear from stepping out but then it had too much grip and not enough steering. The multiple Worlds podium finisher has reduced both the front and rear toe and this has given him the steering he wanted. To power his car Shimo is running the all new O.S. Speed 2101 R, which was only released 2 weeks ago.

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October 7, 2013

Chassis Focus – Andy Moore

Mon-MooreHB-1

Car: HB R8
Engine: Maxima
Fuel: Maxima
Tires: Zac Project
Bodyshell: Protoform R18
Radio/Servos: Sanwa

Former Electric EP Touring car World Champion Andy Moore is one of four drivers here running the as yet unreleased HB. Having raced the car previously at the recent KM cup on the same track, he said conditions are different to the last time he ran here and so he has had to make some small tweaks to get more steering into the car as he says the rear end is now planted. The car is still undergoing final development with Andy receiving new harder rear suspension parts for this event but no date has yet been set for the release of the R8.

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October 7, 2013

Chassis Focus – Meen Vejrak

Mon-MeenKM-9

Car: KM Racing K8
Engine: O.S. Speed
Fuel: Cosmo
Tires: Zac Project
Bodyshell: Protoform R18
Radio/Servo: Airtronics

The reigning 1/10th 200mm World Champion, Meen Vejrak is one of a number of top racers running KM Racing’s new K8 chassis. Having been one of the car’s development drivers he has done many laps of the Kei Tune track in preparation for this event. In terms of setup Meen says because the traction is slightly different to how it has been in the past, most probably due to the large number of drivers running on the track, he has made some shock oil and piston adjustments to try to get more steering in the car. The car is expected to be released to the public following the World Championships.

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