New in the Pits – JConcepts

JConcepts have introduced a number of new items here at the World Championships in Las Vegas, starting with 2 new bodyshells, called the S2 and the Strike 3. The Strike 3 is a development of the body used by Spencer Rivkin to win the US Nationals earlier this year, a design that sees increased height at the rear for more downforce while reducing the chamfers on the side of the body compared to the Strike 2. The addition of a kick up to the back of the body to cover the hole in the rear shock tower provides clean air to the wing, while up front there is a small front scoop included to help increase front downforce.

The S2 for the TLR 8ight 4.0 is being run here by factory driver Ryan Maifield, the first specifically designed for the 4.0 using design cues from the popular S2 1/10th body. The side scoops have built in fins for stabilisation with ribs built into the front of the shell for looks while also helping to strengthen the body in key areas. This body also comes with a front scoop which is mounted directly to the shock tower, fitting between the front shocks, with Maifield testing this shell at the Fear Farm before this event and was happy with the results.

Finally from JConcepts are these new Rehab tires, which are a smaller pin version of the Detox tire, a tire that won this year’s ROAR Nats, Silver State and Psycho Nitro Blast. With Cole Ogden currently running them it is a tire that works best as the track dries and gets bumpier, with durability to make it a good semi final tire.

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Chassis Focus – Spencer Rivkin

Chassis – Team Associated RC8B3
Engine – MX B4
Tyres – JConcepts Triple Dees
Fuel – MX
Radio/Servos – Sanwa / Reedy
Body – JConcepts ‘Strike 3’

Remarks – Current US National Champion is running his MX powered Associated RC8B3 with a new bodyshell from JConcepts called the Strike 3. The body makes the car more neutral and therefore more balanced on the track. Starting with his base setup, the only adjustment he has made was to make a change to the rear hub which helped it rotate more as well as give the rear more support. Running Triple Dees and Hybrids throughout practice, the 4wd World Champion will most likely go with Hybrids come qualifying.

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Chassis Focus – Yannick Aigoin

Chassis – Xray XB8 2016
Engine – Ultimate M4R Ceramic
Tyres – Pro-Line Blockade M3
Fuel – Sigma
Radio/Servos – Sanwa / KO Propo
Body – Prototype 2017 body

Remarks – Former European Champion Yannick Aigoin has come to Las Vegas with the latest XB8 from Xray. Powered by the Ultimate M4R power plant, the car is fairly standard apart from a new prototype bodyshell and the use of XB9 lower rear arms together with narrower lower suspension blocks. The idea is that the longer arms are better over the bumps but that comes at the loss of traction. Using his base XB8 setup here, he has only adjusted the anti-roll bars front (softer) and rear (harder) and went from 6 to 8 holes in the shock pistons. Having tried Pro-Lines Switchblade and ElectroShot tires so far in practice, for round 1 of qualifying tomorrow he plans to go out on Blockades.

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New in the Pits – Mugen

Making its debut here from Mugen for their MBX7R buggy are two new items, the first being new larger volume differentials that help the car accelerate better and improve the cars performance over the bumps. The new diff cases have more volume while the outdrive shafts have been increased in diameter from 5mm to 6mm meaning the crown gears have also been updated to accommodate the larger size. Also for the same buggy is an updated chassis plate that is identical in shape to the kit chassis but sports a bigger bend angle on the sides of the plate which helps to increase its overall stiffness. No date was given for release but we were just told that its coming soon.

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New in the Pits – Pro-Line

Pro-Line have introduced a number of new parts including this update to their lexan Trifecta wing with the release of the Trifecta ‘Light’. Featuring the same benefits as the original lexan wing in terms of weight, this has been further reduced by removing the need for the separate trim strip and mounting hardware, which in turns increased durability but removing the holes for the screws which has a tendency to break from crashing. The trim strip is now formed by bending the lexan over which also helps create a rigid structure.

Also from the US company come the much talked about ElectroShot tire, a mash up between the Electron and Holeshot with the goal to make the tire work like the Holeshot but last longer making this more of a final tire. Sporting the central pattern from the Electron, the outer parts utilize the pins from the Holeshot.

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