November 1, 2019

Chassis Focus – Shoki Takahata

Chassis – Mugen MRX6 Prototype
Engine – OS Speed R2014
Fuel (handout) – VP Racing
Tires (handout) – Hotrace
Radio/Servos – Sanwa M17/Sanwa
Body – Xtreme Super Diablo

Remarks – Mugen’s star Japanese driver, Shoki is running a prototype MRX6. The same car as the one being raced by its designer Robert Pietsch and features different shocks, caster set-up and weight distribution. Other key differences with the car are the new front upper arms and uprights with eccentric aluminium inserts which give more solutions with steering angle as well as a different roll centre. At the back of the car they are running 0.8 pitch gearing and there is the option to use a standard rod or upper arm.  Shoki’s car is also fitted with a topdeck carbon stiffener at the front from Yurugix.

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November 1, 2019

Chassis Focus – Thomas Desmaries

Chassis – WRC GTX .5
Engine – Kabuto R21
Fuel (handout) – VP Racing
Tires (handout) – Hotrace
Radio/Servos – Sanwa M12/Savox
Body – Xtreme Diablo

Remarks – Driving for Italian manufacturer WRC, Thomas’ GTX.5 is mostly standard except for the harder off colour front and rear arms specially produced to deal with high traction conditions. Otherwise the only other key items on the car are the optional aluminium servo saver and the brass battery plate.  To dial the car into the Steel City RC Speedway track, Thomas has mounted weights to the front bumper.

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November 1, 2019

Chassis Focus – Jonathan Gandin

Chassis – ARC Prototype
Engine – Novarossi Mephisto
Fuel (handout) – VP Racing
Tires (handout) – Hotrace
Radio/Servos – Sanwa Exzes/Savox
Body – Xtreme Super Diablo

Remarks – Running a prototype from ARC, this young Italian is showing great speed with it.  The car Jonathan is using features a number of changes with biggest of which is the short wheelbase with the front end 6mm further back and the rear reduced by 2mm.  The car also has a narrower chassis, a low mounting radio plate, new rear drive shafts, new smaller pitch gearing and a modified rear hinge pin bracket.

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October 31, 2019

Chassis Focus – Jeff Hamon

Chassis – Serpent 989
Engine – Max RP9.5 WC
Fuel (handout) – VP Racing
Tires (handout) – Hotrace
Radio/Servos – Sanwa M17/Sanwa
Body – Protoform X15

Remarks – Jeff is running Serpent’s new 989 which he describes as ‘pretty standard’ but like all drivers he is doing what he can to stiffen up the car for Steel City RC Speedway’s ultra high traction.  With the grip something he has ‘never experienced before’ and having ‘never flipped an 8th scale before’ due to having too much grip, to the adapt the car for the conditions he is running optional carbon inserts in the rear arms and the optional front top deck brace.  While the 989 comes with an aero front bumper, he has reverts to an ‘old school’ version saying it helps to make the car less aggressive.

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October 31, 2019

Chassis Focus – Alessio Mazzeo

Chassis – Xray RX8
Engine – Max
Fuel (handout) – VP Racing
Tires (handout) – Hotrace
Radio/Servos – Sanwa/Sanwa
Body – Xtreme Super Diablo

Remarks – Xray’s lead onroad nitro driver, Alessio is running the Slovakian manufacturer’s RX8 platform on which they are testing some new parts for the 2020 edition of the car.  Asked what was new on the car, the likeable Italian replied, ‘We are testing something new for next year.  I don’t want to point out the new parts.’ Jokingly adding ‘those with a sharp eye will spot some of them in the photos’.  That sounds to us like a challenge for our site visitors!

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October 31, 2019

Chassis Focus – Lamberto Collari

Chassis – Infinity IF18
Engine – Max
Fuel (handout) – VP Racing
Tires (handout) – Hotrace
Radio/Servo – Sanwa Exzes ZZ/Sanwa
Body – Xtreme Diablo

Remarks – Lamberto is running ‘a completely standard’ IF18 but his car does feature stiffeners and extra weights he would not normally use in an attempt to try and adapt it for Steel City RC Speedway’s super high traction levels.  A drivers who has experienced more World Championships than most, the 22nd 1:8 Onroad World Championship’s ‘very unique’ grips levels has seen the 9-time Champion get creative and cut up an old radio plate to make stiffeners for the car.

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