August 8, 2016

Track Focus – Miniautodromo Internazionale M.Rosati

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Track Name – Miniautodromo Internazionale M.Rosati
Club – Club Automodellistico 5Colli
Country – Italy
Location – Gubbio
Direction – Anti-clockwise
Surface – Asphalt

A somewhat surprising fact given the country is the spiritual home of nitro racing, Italy plays host to its first 1:10 200mm IFMAR World Championships this week with the picturesque medieval town of Gubbio the location for the 7th running of the nitro touring car Worlds.  Built in 1982, Miniautodromo Internazionale M.Rosati is certainly a track worthy of this World Championship with teams and drivers praising the facility.  Named after one of the instigators of the track build Mario Rosati, the track has undergone just one layout change when the section in front of the permanent grandstand was added in the 90’s. Government owned, the track is operated by Club Automodellistico 5Colli, a club of around 40 nitro racing members which took over the track in 2002 with the 5Colli reference to the five hills which over the look the the track.  Since then the track has been resurfaced 3 times the most recent being in 2009 when a very fine asphalt used.  With its most significant previous race being the 2009 European 200mm Championships, a race which 7 years on competitors still talk about due to its professional organisation & presentation, the club haven’t rested on their laurels with extensive work having been carried out for hosting of the Worlds.

An electronic pass entry systems is going down well with drivers, their passes opening access barriers at either side of the pit area which has new covered pitting space for 200 drivers. A completely new race control and press centre complete with a block of toilets has only been constructed for the event.  Two key features of the track are the raised pitlane and a rather clever system for getting dead cars back to pitlane.  The recovered car is placed in a tray and delivered to the end of the pitlane via a track crossing, eliminating the need for a runner to cross the main straight.

In terms of racing on the track, reigning World Champion Alexander Hagberg described the layout as ‘a typical Italian nitro track, wide open’.  The Xray driver who won his title at the very different covered Huge RC track In Thailand added, ‘it’s still pretty demanding in terms of car set-up trying to get high speed steering’.  Describing the track facility as ‘one of the best in the World’, the Swede said ‘the chicane in the middle is a place you can win or lose a lot of time’.  Asked about the track he said, ‘the surface is getting old and there is less grip than at the Euros but the traction level is still medium’.  Hagberg was runner-up at the 2009 European Championship behind then team-mate Dirk Wiscknewski.  Making his first trip to Gubbio, 2012 World Champion Meen Vejrak, who also won his title in Thailand but at the RC Addict track, described the track as, ‘totally different to Thailand’ adding ‘the facility is fantastic’.  A more high speed layout than he is used to he said the surface however is the same as his home track of RC Addict in Bangkok and that made it ‘easy to set-up (the) car’ on his arrival for the International Driver Practice days.

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August 8, 2016

Chassis Focus – Jilles Groskamp

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Chassis – Creation Model Infinity prototype
Engine – Novarossi Mito .12 Ceramic
Fuel – Runner Time
Tires (handout) – Hotrace
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – Protoform SRS

Remarks – Reigning ENS 1/10th 200mm Champion Jilles Groskamp is proving very fast in early practice here in Gubbio where he is running a Novarossi powered Infinity prototype, after having only tested the car for a total of four days prior to the event. Although it obviously sports outsourced suspensions and transmissions, the prototype designed by former HB designer Miyashita is pretty far along in development with chassis, radio tray, bulkheads, shocks and all the machined aluminium and carbon parts made by the Japanese company.

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July 9, 2016

Chassis Focus – Davide Ongaro

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Chassis – Mugen MBX7R
Engine – LRP ZZ.21C
Tyres – Procircuit Road Runner Blue
Fuel – Nitrolux
Radio/Servos – Sanwa/Futaba
Body – Ultimate MBX7 Pro Buggy

Remarks – Best of the Mugen pack in qualifying, finishing 4th overall, Davide Ongaro is running an MBX7R equipped with a few option parts from Fastrace, such as kevlar side guards, +5mm rear shock mounts and 20g rear chassis weight. He is also using steering ballcup reinforcers and clutch by DKT, the latter sporting a steel flywheel. The aerodynamics is taken care of by an Ultimate Pro Buggy bodyshell and a Pro-Line Trifecta wing.

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July 9, 2016

Chassis Focus – Renaud Savoya

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Chassis – TLR 8ight 4.0
Engine – RC Concepts MC5R
Tyres – JConcepts Reflex
Fuel – Runner Time
Radio/Servos – Spektrum / Highest
Body – JConcepts Silencer

Remarks – 3 time European Champion Renaud Savoya is running the 4.0 version of the 8ight from the American manufacturer. The Frenchman’s car is equipped with aluminium steering knuckles and rear uprights, aluminium servo saver arm, machined top servo saver plate and a rear 20g chassis weight. He is using a full JConcepts aerodynamic setup with the Silencer body and an Hybrid polycarbonate wing.

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July 8, 2016

New in the Pits – Fast Race and Hot Race tyres

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Piero ‘No Fuffa’ Cresta from Italian company Fast Race showed us some interesting new products he has on display here in Spain. In the tools department we were shown new black and gold hex drivers as well a precision scale that features a 3D printed differential housing, handy to gauge the oil quantity in the diff. New for both the Mugen MBX7R and the Associated RC8B, and available in different colours, are 3D printed receiver battery boxes, while just for the MBX7R are new Kevlar mud guards to be mounted to the rear arms.

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Despite being a newcomer in the offroad scene, Hot Race tyres is making good progress and is showing well here in Spain due in part to their new Amazzonia tire. Created to answer the need for a low wear tire, the Amazzonia features small square pins laid out in a very tight pattern so as to improve their longevity. The shape of the tire features rounder edges compared to the rest of their line, and sports reinforced side walls.

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July 8, 2016

Chassis Focus – Bryan Baldo

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Chassis – Mugen MBX7R
Engine – Ultimate M4R
Tyres – Procircuit Road Runner Blue
Fuel – Nitrolux
Radio/Servos – Sanwa /Power HD
Body – Ultimate MBX7 Pro Buggy

Remarks – One of the event organisers here on his home track in Redovan, Spanish front runner Bryan Baldo is running an MBX7R equipped with a carbon servo saver plate and some Fastrace options such as the 20g rear chassis weight, carbon battery mount and +5mm rear shock mounts.

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