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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New in the Pits – AKA & ProCircuit

New in the pits from AKA come their DoubleDown tire. Positioned to be a halfway point between their Zipps and Impact tire it benefits from the handling of the Impact with the longer wear of the Zipps, a tire which was created for abrasive surfaces. Available in mid November, the new tire will work better in dustier conditions.

Also a new tire from Spanish company ProCircuit, is the all new Claymore tire. A mini pin design it is designed for clean hard packed surfaces and has more forward traction and is easier to drive on bumpy surfaces thanks to new internal structure. Being used by most of the ProCircuit drivers here in Vegas, it is not set to be released until the new year.

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Chassis Focus – Joern Neumann

Chassis – Serpent Cobra SRX8
Engine – MX B2
Tyres – Pro-Line Electroshot
Fuel – MX
Radio/Servos – Sanwa / K-Power
Body – Serpent High downforce

Remarks – Serpent driver Joern Neumann is running the new Serpent Cobra SRX8 with a new chassis that features more flex and optional 13 degree optional C-hubs for more steering. Also using new version 3 springs, the German driver is still fine tuning his setup having not raced on this track since the Silver State, when the track surface was completely different. Still needing more rotation in the car he has tried to go softer on the front roll bar as well as trying different tires, using Pro-Lines Fugitive, Holeshot and Electroshot, but feels he will go with settle on the new Electroshot.

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