New in the Pits – JConcepts

JConcepts are showing off a number of new items here in Scottsdale, the most visible of which is the new Silencer bodyshell for the new Associated B5M. Being used by the majority of the Associated team, this super low high speed body comes supplied with their 6.5″ high clearance wing. Also for the same car is a new carbon fibre battery brace which is available in two versions, all black carbon and a black and white carbon fibreglass version, which when combined with the machining edges offers a great factory look.

On the tire front there are new DirtWebs for Short Course, their successful Brian Kinwald design making the switch over from 1/10th buggy to the larger SC class and so far they have proved to be very successful on this hard pack high grip surface with Ryan Maifield currently holding TQ in the class here in Scottsdale after 2 rounds running the new tire. Also new are the company’s 60mm Bullet buggy wheels, available in 7 different versions for the different cars on the market from Associated, TLR and Kyosho, which use the new industry standard 1/8th scale bead.

Finally from JConcepts are the new grey Dirt Tech machined inserts which have increased durability over their blue versions and which feature alternating deep and shallow cuts across the top surface on the rear and the 4wd front insert, a feature brought over from what Brian Kinwald has been doing to his inserts recently. A 1/8th scale version of this insert was run by Ryan Maifield at the Nitro Challenge a few weeks ago and all versions should be available soon.

Image Gallery

New in the Pits – Centro CT4.2

Driven by Billy Fischer, the Centro CT4.2 is making its Cactus Classic debut with the Novak driver only receiving the prototype car last week. Having to make custom body mounts to fit his old TLR body shell, the car originally came with the Associated T4.2 front end but Billy has changed to the T4.1 front end which he says makes the car smoother in the corners. The main benefit of the truck over the standard Associated truck is that it is mid motored, using the same gearbox as the C4.2 buggy. This makes the car more stable in these high grip conditions by helping keep the front end of the car on the track. Billy tells is that there is no word on when or if the car will be released.

Image Gallery

Chassis Focus – Ty Tessmann

Chassis: HB Racing D4’13
Motor: Team Orion 5.5T VST
Batteries: Team Orion Carbon Pro 4000 Shorty
ESC: Team Orion R10 Pro
Body: Pro-Line Type R
Tires FR/RR: Pro-Line Transistor X2 / Suburbs VTR X2
Radio/Servo: Airtronics M12 / Savox 2274

Chassis: HB Racing Prototype
Motor: Team Orion 6.5T VST
Batteries: Team Orion Carbon Pro 5500 Saddle
ESC: Team Orion R10 Pro
Body: Pro-Line Bulldog
Tires FR/RR: Pro-Line Transistor X2 / Suburbs VTR X2
Radio/Servo: Airtronics M12 / Savox SC-1251

Remarks – Current National Champion Ty Tessmann is also running a stiffer car compared to when he last run the car at the Reedy race. Both cars are set with less pack in the shocks, changing from 2 holes to 4 holes and running a heavier oil. Having run a number of tires earlier in practice Ty has settled on the new Transistor fronts and Suburb VTR in XT compound on both his cars, liking the precise feel which is very consistent. On his 4wd he has mounted the rear wing in its lowest position for less roll while on the 2wd prototype, which is made up of a Centro rear end and a Kyosho front end, he is now using an aluminium chassis plate in place of the standard carbon version because it is stiffer helping to reduce the car’s overall grip and what is such a grippy surface.

View our event image gallery here.

Chassis – Carson Wernimont

Chassis: Schumacher Cougar KF
Motor: Reedy Sonic Mach 2 7.5T
Batteries: Reedy 5700 saddle pack
ESC: Reedy Black box (production sample)
Body: Kit body
Tires FR/RR: AKA Pinstripe / Deja Vu
Radio/Servo: Futaba 4PK / Futaba BLS551

Chassis: Schumacher CAT K1 Aero
Motor: Reedy Sonic Mach 2 6.5T
Batteries: Reedy 5700 saddle pack
ESC: Reedy Black box (production sample)
Body: Kit body
Tires FR/RR: AKA Pinstripe / Deja Vu
Radio/Servo: Futaba 4PK / Futaba BLS551

Chassis: Schumacher 2wd SC Prototype
Motor: Reedy Sonic Mach 2 6.5T
Batteries: Reedy 5700 saddle pack
ESC: Reedy Black box (production sample)
Body: Kit body
Tires FR/RR: AKA Pinstripe / Deja Vu
Radio/Servo: Futaba 4PK / Futaba BLS551

Remarks – Schumacher team driver Carson Wernimont has been combatting the grippy track surface, and reduce chassis roll, by stiffening the car’s suspension. He has also tried running a stiffer anti-roll bar but that hasn’t worked so he reverted back to his standard ARB stiffness. As well as playing with different tires patterns and compounds, settling on the all new AKA Pinstripe and Deja Vu combo, to reduce rear end grip he trimmed his LMR rear wing lower. Also being run by the 17 year old is a prototype Schumacher 2wd short course truck. He has been running the car for 3 weeks now, having received the chassis at Motorama, and he is very pleased with it so far. Still very much a prototype, based on the Cougar KF, we are not allowed to take any body-off photos.

View our event image gallery here.

Chassis Focus – Jared Tebo

Chassis: Kyosho Ultima RB6
Motor: Team Orion 7.5T VST2
Batteries: Team Orion Carbon Pro 4000 Shorty
ESC: Team Orion R10 Pro
Body: Kit body
Tires FR/RR: Pro-Line Scrubs X2 / Suburbs X2
Radio/Servo: KO Propo EX-1 /KO Propo RSX2

Chassis: Kyosho Ultima ZX6 prototype
Motor: Team Orion 6.5T VST2
Batteries: Team Orion Carbon Pro 4000 Shorty
ESC: Team Orion R10 Pro
Body: Kit body
Tires FR/RR: Pro-Line Scrubs X2 / Suburbs X2
Radio/Servo: KO Propo EX-1 /KO Propo RSX2

Chassis: Kyosho Ultima RT6
Motor: Team Orion 6.5T VST2
Batteries: Team Orion Carbon Pro 5500 Saddle
ESC: Team Orion R10 Pro
Body: JConcepts Finnisher RT6 mid-motor truck body
Tires FR/RR: Pro-Line Ion
Radio/Servo: KO Propo EX-1 /KO Propo RSX2

Remarks – Like every other driver here 2wd World Champion Jared Tebo has been adjusting his cars to cope with the high traction conditions, trying to find the balance between steering in the corner and preventing it from flipping over. Switching out his sponsor AKA’s tires for those from Pro-Line for this very specific track surface he has also done the standard set-up changes for high grip such as lowering the car and stiffening up the shock oil and springs.

View our event image gallery here.

Chassis Focus – Ryan Maifield

Chassis: Team Associated RC10 B5M
Motor: Reedy Sonic Mach 2 7.5T
Batteries: Reedy SQ 5500
ESC: Reedy Black box (production sample)
Body: JConcepts Silencer
Tires FR/RR: JConcepts Dirt Webs Orange
Radio/Servo: Airtronics M12/Associated 1313

Chassis: Team Associated RC10 B44.2
Motor: Reedy Sonic Mach 2 6.0T
Batteries: Reedy Wolf Pack 4800
ESC: Reedy Black box (production sample)
Body: JConcepts Finnisher
Tires FR/RR: JConcepts Dirt Webs Orange
Radio/Servo: Airtronics M12/Associated 1313

Chassis: Team Associated SC10 Rear Motor
Motor: Reedy Sonic Mach 2 7.0T
Batteries: Reedy Stick pack 7000
ESC: Reedy Black box (production sample)
Body: JConcepts Hi Flow
Tires FR/RR: JConcepts Double Dee Orange/Dirt Webs Orange
Radio/Servo: Airtronics M12/Airtronics

Remarks – Ryan Maifield is running Team Associated’s recently released B5M here at SRS, the mid motor version of their all new platform suiting the high traction sugared surface here in Scottsdale. With the car so new, only being released in the last few weeks, the team has little track time with it and so are trying a lot of new things, with a focus on the front end which is much more adjustable than the B4 platform. On top of the car is JConcept’s all new B5M Silencer shell, something being used by the majority of the Associated drivers here who are running the car this weekend. For the 4wd and 2wd SC Ryan is running his standard set-up here for these conditions referring back to last year’s set-up when he won the 4wd class.

View our event image gallery here.