July 29, 2010

New in the Pits – Part 2

New in the Pits - Part 2

Reds Racing are here with their latest ZR12T touring car engine. Released earlier in the year, this Mario Rossi tuned engine features an updated porting designed specifically for this track and conditions. Reds Racing have also presented their all new glow plug that uses an INOX pin, new plug body material and a platinum coil that all makes for a plug that performs better t in hotter temperatures.

New in the Pits - Part 2

Kyosho are present with team drivers Adrien Bertin and Takaaki Shimo who are using an updated version of the V-One RRR chassis. The new parts consist of a new two-piece radio plate, separated at the front for more flex as well as a new rear shock tower with the holes moved 1mm more towards the centre for more roll. The result is a car that has more steering in the corners and Japanese driver Shimo has put the parts to good use as he currently lies 3rd overall in qualifying.

New in the Pits - Part 2

Seen before in CAD form on our site, Sirio have their new .12 Power Clutch System V in action here. The new clutch system features ‘reversed’ clutch fly weights that increases the performance and acceleration of the engine and is in use by factory Sirio driver Francesco Tironi and Reds Racing’s Giuseppe D’Angelo.

New in the Pits - Part 2

Factory Team Magic driver Mario Spiniello is here using the latest wheels from Hot Race Tires. The only driver using the Italian brand here in Texas, they feature an all new spoked wheel design that comes in soft white material or the harder carbon reinforced black material.

View our event image gallery here.

July 27, 2010

New in the Pits – Part 1

New in the Pits - Part 1

We have finally arrived in Houston and going through the pit lane we have come across a number of new products, most stand out item being the Serpent DLS system. This new system uses links that through a simple rocker system ensures that when the car rolls both the rear tires remain evenly on the track on both sides. This gives consistent handling and provides more grip in the corners. The system was given to all Serpent drivers present, with the majority of the team drivers using this new system, with the exception of Chris Tosolini who stays with the standard 733 rear end.

New in the Pits - Part 1

German company Orcan have their new low CG cooling head in use here. A much flatter and lower design than the conventional cooling head seen on engines, in testing it actually cooled the engine better and because the weight is now a lot lower, the chances of grip roll when the traction comes up is reduced. This new system in use by all the Orcan drivers including Dirk Wischnewski.

New in the Pits - Part 1

New from LM, makers of the Sirio engine, is this optional chassis plate for the Mugen MTX-4. Seen on the car of Francesco Tironi it is 3mm thick, yet is wider than the standard plate and is said to provide a better feeling mid corner. The engine mounting has also been changed and now uses 4 fixed position holes which gives the perfect mounting position for the gear mesh, making it simpler to mount of dismount the motor.

View our event image gallery here.

July 10, 2010

New in the Pits – Team Durango

sat-durangohupototal_small

Team Durango is at the European Championship with Hupo Hönigl, Gerd Strenge and British driver Kevin Brunsden to give the production prototype of the DNX408 1/8 scale nitro buggy its first major race outing. According to Strenge, who designed the buggy, they are running pretty much the final kit design here in Portugal and are now ready to go into production.

sat-durangohupofrear_small

We have covered the car before on our site, but looking at the car up close, one of the neat features is the position of the receiver battery pack which routes underneath the rear centre dogbone rather that beside it or even in the front part of the chassis as seen on other buggies. This makes for very centralized weight distribution and helps make for agile handling characteristics. The super slim chassis design features wider and more inclined side pods than usual and the matching narrow body shell which appear much taller and sleeker than the average 1/8 scale body shell.

sat-durangohupofront_small

Talking to Stenge the team hasn’t got to terms with the challenging conditions of the Guarda track. According to Hupo the rutted surface makes it hard to find a good line, lap after lap, as a lot of the holes appear before you take off for jumps. After a difficult time in qualifying the 2009 finalist is confident that he can do better in the finals today as the conditions are the same for every driver and therefore chances are that the team can get it together and bump up into the Main race.

View our event image gallery here.

July 7, 2010

New in the pits – LRP

TuesLRPS8BXREvo_small

LRP has the new S8 BX R Evo buggy here with redesigned chassis layout in terms of weight distribution. The Radio tray is now of a split design with the battery compartment beside the steering servo rather than in the receiver box as seen on the previous buggy. It also features a revised front and rear shock tower geometry, a more forward mounted engine and an updated reactive caster front suspension. The buggy is being driven here by by Jörn Neumann, Moritz Gaul and Jamie Booth.

TuesLRPZR21XSpec2_small

The LRP team is also running the new ZR.21X Spec 2 engine which is easily identified by the newly designed cooling head. The head features a bowl-shaped design, large holes for better heat dissipation and lower weight as well as a ribbed combustion camber insert. The ability to dissipate heat could become vital with the current weather situation and very high temperatures here at the track. The 7+1 port engine is being run by Team Durango driver Hupo Hönigl as well as Jörn Neumann and others.

TuesLRPZR21XSpec2

In combination with the ZR.21X Spec 2 engine the LRP team uses the Enduro-46 exhaust system that allows for less fuel consumption and considerably longer run times compared to the previous system. The exhaust stinger is reinforced to prevent it from becoming bent during a side impact. LRP also has a new tyre insert with them that promises improved traction and durability due to the ribbed design and purposeful hardness of the foam. Talking to the LRP team they are not quite sure yet if the new insert is going to be used at the Euro’s as everyone expects the track surface to brake up and become bumpy requiring a softer insert over the new harder blue ones.

View our event image gallery here.

July 1, 2010

New in the Pits – Part 3

Corally RDX Phi Prototype

More new items in the pits, with Corally debuting their prototype RDX Phi here this weekend. The new car being used by their factory team sports a narrower LiPo only chassis, as well as now separate rear bearing blocks and motor mount, which was a single unit in the previous car. A longer top deck connects the front and rear of the car with flex options in the form of additional mounting screws front and rear which can be removed for soft or left in for a stiff setting. The tops of the bearing holders now hold the pivot ball for the upper camber links, removing them from them their original place on the shock towers. The car doesn’t yet have a name and depending on its performance here, may or may not go into production.

Serpent S401

Serpent are also debuting their new touring car chassis, the S401. All new down the middle, the car retains its wishbones, uprights and steering blocks but that’s about it. A new super narrow chassis is the backbone of this car, with new blocks front and rear enclosing the 2 gear differentials. The motor mounting block is also new, mounted only to the chassis plate and the anti roll bars are mounted higher, pivoting at both extremes of the car. The car is in the final prototyping stages and is seen here not in its final guise.

View our event image gallery here.

June 30, 2010

New in the Pits – Part 2

Futaba 4PK Super

Lots of new releases in the big pit tent here in Burgdorf at the ISTC Worlds, starting with the new Futaba 4PK Super. This updated version of the very popular transmitter and corresponding receiver, features faster response times over the previous version as well as a new multi direction menu controller which is highlighted with an awesome ring of red light. Another feature of this new radio is the ability to control rear wheel steering, something of interest for rock crawlers. Due for release in a month or so.

KO RSX Servo

KO Propo have their new RSX servo, which will come in 4 versions. Coming with either a plastic or metal casing, each type is available in high torque or high speed versions and are suitable for either touring or 1/8th buggy. Expect them to be in the shops in a few months.

Kyosho TF6 Lipo Chassis

We bumped into Shin Adachi who was carrying around his TF6 with an all new prototype LiPo chassis plate, which like others in the pits have the battery slots removed for a clean look and more even flex. No word on when it will be released.

Schumacher Mi4LP options

Schumacher have some new parts for their Mi4LP in the shape of a new rear shock tower that has 2 additional shock mounting holes allowing for a more lay down angle. They also have new rear upper link mounting plates which offer a new mounting position, one of plates also sports an additional hole at the rear that allows the anti-roll bar to be mounted higher in the car and pointing towards the front of the car, with the connecting rods mounted to the front of the wishbone.

Much More Prototype ESC

Much More are here testing their new prototype electronic speed controller. Its so new it doesn’t even have a name and we know very little about it it other than it has a gold anodised metal casing, is very low and comes supplied with a cooling fan, which in this case is mounted next to the ESC, not on top as in most other speedos.

View our event image gallery here.