June 19, 2014

Chassis Focus – Ty Tessmann

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Chassis – Hot Bodies D8T “Tessmann Edition”
Engine – OS Speed
Fuel – Nitrotane
Tyres – Pro-Line Hole Shot X2
Radio/Servos – Airtronics/Savox
Body – ProLine Bulldog
Remarks – The defending champion in the class, here at the Thornill Racing Circuit Ty is running a production version of his very own “Tessmann Edition” D8T from Hot Bodies. In addition to that, his truck features a brand new molded radio tray that was designed to suit all the D8 platforms. The car is also equipped with a full set of Lunsford titanium screws.

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April 13, 2014

New in the Pits – MIP B5 Bi-Metal CVAs

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MIP have some shown us some pre production versions of their all new stock class 17.5 Bi-Metal CVA shaft assemblies for use with both rear and mid motor Team Associated B5 buggies. The shaft is made from 7075 aluminium for light weight and features their well known replaceable puck system, while the CVA joint is made from hard to wear steel. Both parts are keyed and are screwed together and work with the standard Associated wheel axles. The final versions will be hard anodised and the complete set comes with the aluminium diff halves, dogbones, CVA joints, puck system and all fasteners and offer considerable weight savings to the drivetrain with the dogbone being 33% lighter than the kit version and the diff halves 44% lighter.

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April 12, 2014

In the Pits – Mid motor RC10

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The brainchild of Dan Lopez, this mid motor Associated RC10 took a month of long hours to produce and is made using an original 1985 RC10, with a later stealth transmission, as the donor. The rear transmission has been rotated 180 degrees around the drive line and using a new custom chassis plate with side plates donated from the ’85 car, as well as a longer layshaft to allow the motor to be mounted closer to the centre line, the car was made. The new chassis allows the use of the shorty, in linear, horizontal or even a saddle pack and Dan finished the car off with a JConcepts Finnisher body.

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April 12, 2014

Chassis Focus – Steven Hartson

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Chassis: Team Associated B5M
Motor: LRP X20 8.5T
Batteries: LRP 4500 Shorty
ESC: LRP Flow Works Team
Body: JConcepts Silencer
Tires FR/RR: JConcepts Dirt Webs (Gold)
Radio/Servo: Futaba 4PK SR/XP1015
Remarks – Current 4wd World Champion Steven Hartson is running the Associated B5M here in Tacoma with a new line of harder plastics throughout. The dark grey material is to make the car more responsive in the corners by removing flex in the chassis and components, allowing the suspension do all the work. Other changes made to the car is to remove the central cross brace to the front of the battery which, combined with a shorty battery pack, allows the speedo and receiver to be mounted further back in the car and along the centreline providing more traction and making the front less edgy. In terms of setup Steven is using his same setup, tires and tire sauce from his home track OC/RC.

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March 15, 2014

New in the Pits – JConcepts

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JConcepts are showing off a number of new items here in Scottsdale, the most visible of which is the new Silencer bodyshell for the new Associated B5M. Being used by the majority of the Associated team, this super low high speed body comes supplied with their 6.5″ high clearance wing. Also for the same car is a new carbon fibre battery brace which is available in two versions, all black carbon and a black and white carbon fibreglass version, which when combined with the machining edges offers a great factory look.

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On the tire front there are new DirtWebs for Short Course, their successful Brian Kinwald design making the switch over from 1/10th buggy to the larger SC class and so far they have proved to be very successful on this hard pack high grip surface with Ryan Maifield currently holding TQ in the class here in Scottsdale after 2 rounds running the new tire. Also new are the company’s 60mm Bullet buggy wheels, available in 7 different versions for the different cars on the market from Associated, TLR and Kyosho, which use the new industry standard 1/8th scale bead.

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Finally from JConcepts are the new grey Dirt Tech machined inserts which have increased durability over their blue versions and which feature alternating deep and shallow cuts across the top surface on the rear and the 4wd front insert, a feature brought over from what Brian Kinwald has been doing to his inserts recently. A 1/8th scale version of this insert was run by Ryan Maifield at the Nitro Challenge a few weeks ago and all versions should be available soon.

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March 15, 2014

New in the Pits – Centro CT4.2

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Driven by Billy Fischer, the Centro CT4.2 is making its Cactus Classic debut with the Novak driver only receiving the prototype car last week. Having to make custom body mounts to fit his old TLR body shell, the car originally came with the Associated T4.2 front end but Billy has changed to the T4.1 front end which he says makes the car smoother in the corners. The main benefit of the truck over the standard Associated truck is that it is mid motored, using the same gearbox as the C4.2 buggy. This makes the car more stable in these high grip conditions by helping keep the front end of the car on the track. Billy tells is that there is no word on when or if the car will be released.

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