December 5, 2015

Chassis Focus – Spencer Rivkin

Chassis: Team Associated B5M CE
Motor: Reedy 7.5T
ESC: Reedy Blackbox 410R
Batteries: Reedy 5300 Shorty
Radio/Servo: Airtronics/Reedy
Body – JConcepts Warrior

Remarks – Current World Champion Spencer Rivkin is running the new Associated B5M CE with a number of JConcepts optionals installed. Coming here with his base dirt track setup he has made only a few small adjustments including changing from the JConcepts S2 body to the Warrior which he feels has a little better steering. He is also using the new JConcepts Stabilizer wing that he says gives the car a lot more grip and as the name suggests is very stable. In terms of tires he is finding that his gold compound Dirt Webs are working better as they wear and in terms of preparation he is removing the outside row of lugs of the rear tires to give more surface area which in turn gives more rear grip.

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December 5, 2015

Chassis Focus – Ryan Maifield

Chassis: TLR 22 3.0
Motor: Orion 7.5T
ESC: Orion Vortex R10.1
Batteries: Orion XS4000
Radio/Servo: Airtronics/Spektrum
Body – JConcepts S2

Remarks – Current JConcepts Indoor National Series Champion Ryan Maifield is making his race debut with the production version of the TLR 22 3.0 that he helped to develop. The new car which was announced last month has a new 3 gear transmission, as well as the possibility to use the more standard 4 gear configuration, and a new chassis plate to accommodate the sideways mounted battery which all allows a much different weight bias to the previous car. Other new features include updated front A-arms that allow the shock position to be changed without the need for the shock to be adjusted and also sport the new optional outer arm pin position which along with the new front caster blocks allow for variable length arm adjustment. Comparing this to its predecessor he says it now corners better, is faster as well as being easier to drive. Other new items on the car are the final production version of the new S2 body shell from JConcepts which made its debut at the Worlds in Japan and a new Stabilizer rear wing, but more information on those items later.

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October 9, 2015

Chassis Focus – Yusuke Suguira

Chassis: Kyosho Lazer ZX6
Motor: Muchmore Fleta 5.0
ESC: Muchmore Fleta Pro
Batteries: Muchmore 4500
Radio/Servo: Sanwa
Body – Lightweight Kit body

Remarks – Current 4wd pace setter Yusuke Suguira is running his Kyosho Lazer ZX6 with a number of option parts on the car. Having tested extensively at the Yatabe Arena’s permanent astro track in the lead up to this race he is running his base setup here in practice with just a few small tweaks. In terms of new parts on the car Yusuke is using new shock towers front a rear that have higher shock mounting points that allow the car to run a lower ride height while maintaining the shock’s full travel. The chassis also has a rear stiffening brace for better flex characteristics and finally there is an unspecified update to the car’s drivetrain.

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October 8, 2015

Chassis Focus – Bruno Coelho

Chassis: Xray XB4 16
Motor: LRP 5.5
ESC: LRP Flow
Batteries: LRP 4500
Radio/Servo: Sanwa
Body – Kit body

Remarks – European Champion in 1/10th 200mm and surprise 2wd pace setter at the opening round of the EOS, Bruno Coelho was fastest in free practice and 2nd after controlled practice here in Japan with the all new Xray XB4 16.  The car, which is the final production model, sports an all new aluminium chassis plate with no top deck, the latter being replaced with carbon braces mounted to the centre of the chassis plate. The weight in the car has been moved forward by moving the motor and electronics closer to the front, the result being a car that carries a lot of speed in the corners yet is very easy to drive. Other changes include new front wishbones with different inner pivot pin position, reinforced gearbox cases front and rear and an all new bodyshell.

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October 8, 2015

Chassis Focus – Ty Tessmann

Chassis: HB D413
Motor: Orion VST2 Pro 4.5
ESC:Orion R10.1
Batteries: Orion 4o00
Radio/Servo: Futaba/Savox
Body – Pro-Line Type R

Remarks – Current 1/8th scale World Champion Ty Tessmann is running the HB D413 with a number of option parts to make it work better on Astro. The backbone of the car is the new 6mm longer chassis plate and thicker top deck to make the car stiffer. In the drive train the centre diff has been changed out with an as yet unreleased slipper put in its place which is better in high grip conditions. In the front there is a new ball raced aluminium steering rack while both front and rear there is new diff cases that have higher hinge pin mounting points that allow the car to be run with lower ride height without changing the car’s resting geometry.

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October 8, 2015

Chassis Focus – Michal Orlowski

Chassis: Schumacher CAT K2
Motor: LRP 5.5
ESC: LRP Flow 3.8
Batteries: LRP 4500 Shorty
Radio/Servo: Sanwa/KO Propo
Body – Kit body

Remarks – Reigning 4wd European Champion Michal Orlowski is running the all new CAT K2, which was debuted at the opening round of the EOS in Germany a fortnight ago. Coming here with a new battery and electronics layout, the battery mounted in line with the chassis has made the car much easier to drive compared to sideways. Starting practice with the same setup from the warmup, he has added more rear toe in to make the car easier to drive and played around with tires and front tire gluing to get rid of the edgy feel.

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