November 13, 2014

Chassis Focus – Nicholas Lee

Chassis – Xray NT1 2014
Engine – Novarossi Keep-On 12 3LS
Fuel – Maxima
Tires (handout) – Matrix
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – SRC Spark
Remarks – Nicholas Lee from Singapore is running the latest NT1 from Xray with the optional 4mm chassis plate as well as harder graphite bulkheads. Having tested at the track prior to the event, the set-up he found back then was not working when he arrived here for the event itself and so changed to that used by team mate Alexander Hagberg. Having run without changes throughout practice he tweaked it further, giving the car a longer wheelbase and putting putty in the front diff in place of oil. A change of body from his regular Protoform shell to the Spark from SRC gave him more mid corner steering however it makes the car quite twitchy.

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November 12, 2014

Chassis Focus – Tadahiko Sahashi

Chassis – Serpent 748 Natrix
Engine – Picco EMX WC
Fuel – Cosmo
Tires (handout) – Matrix
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – Protoform P37
Remarks – 2013 IFMAR 1/8th World Champion Tadahiko Sahashi is running the Serpent 748 Natrix with the same new smaller and lighter diffs and gearbox as team mate Greiner but has chosen not to run the new front brass weight/suspension bracket. On the rear of the car he is using a new shock tower from Japanese Serpent distributors Asuka Create which while the shock mounting points are the same has narrower and lower body post mounts which helps the rear of the car roll better. Tadahiko is also making his big race debut with the new EMX WC engine from Picco, which is an all new long stroke configuration for better mid range power. For setup he is using what he runs in Japan but with the front upper wishbone brackets mounted higher to stop the car from flipping. Other items such as the diffs and shocks are the same but the addition of 25 grams of weight in the front of the car and 30 grams to the bottom help the car to push, again trying to combat the traction roll.

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November 12, 2014

Chassis Focus – Teemu Leino

Chassis – HB R10
Engine – Novarossi Keep On 12 3LS
Fuel – Maxima
Tires (handout) – Matrix
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – Protoform P37
Remarks – Top seed after controlled practice and previous World Championship top qualifier Teemu Leino is running a slightly updated HB R10. The car sports new lower shock towers and ‘big bore’ shorter shocks, a 1mm larger diameter than the previous versions, the results of which is lower centre of gravity something that is critical here in Thailand. Having tested here prior to the event, since arriving for the race he has changed to slighter softer shocks and reduced camber to help reduce traction.

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November 11, 2014

Chassis Focus – JJ Wang

Chassis – Mugen MTX6
Engine – Novarossi Virtus 12S
Fuel – Maxima
Tires (handout) – Matrix
Radio/Servo – KO Propo
Body – Protoform P37
Remarks – JJ Wang’s Mugen MTX6 is sporting some new track specific parts in the form of new upper front wishbones which allow the car to be set with zero caster as well as new split lower front bulkheads which are softer than the standard single piece. The US driver is running the car stiff in terms of flex with soft springs and damping making for a soft suspension setup and like everyone is running 40 gram weight in the front of the car, under the foam bumper.

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November 11, 2014

Chassis Focus – Alexander Hagberg

Chassis – Xray NT1 2014
Engine – Orcan RS
Fuel – Maxima
Tires (handout) – Matrix
Radio/Servo – Sanwa
Body – Protoform P37
Remarks – Factory Xray driver Alexander Hagberg is racing the standard NT1 2014 with a few option parts and the package is working very well with the Swede only one of 2 drivers to so far break into 13-second laps. Like all the racers here, trying to stop the car from traction rolling is the goal and to do so Alex has mounted the thicker 4mm chassis plate, has mounted 50 grams of weight in the front of the car and has put putty in the front diff. He is also running with very little caster and is using very soft electric touring car springs front and rear. In terms of body he has chosen the Protoform P37 and has opted to use the harder rear wing which makes the car stable thanks to the increased downforce it produces. An interesting part of the package concerns the engine, his Orcan RS mounted with a very low cooling head which lowers the car’s centre of gravity yet doesn’t effect cooling, back to back testing with this setup and a regular cooling head shows a big benefit in handling. Also on the car is a large capacity type of inline fuel filter which helps the tune of the engine and improves fuel consumption by making the engine-tune leaner quicker than without it.

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November 11, 2014

Chassis Focus – Patrick Schaefer

Chassis – Shepherd Velox V10 Pro
Engine – Sonic X12
Fuel – Maxima
Tires (handout) – Matrix
Radio/Servo – KO Propo/Futaba
Body – SRC Spark
Remarks – Shepherd designer and owner Patrick Schaefer is running some track specific parts on his Velox V10 Pro here in Bangkok. First up is a new thicker 4mm top deck which offers less flex and along with a new front brace, new single piece engine mount and extra hard wishbones helps to stop the car from flipping. The car also has a new Ackermann part for the servo saver which sees the mounting points only 8mm apart. For setup he is running 125 grams of extra weight on the car comprising of a brass battery plate and various weights spread around the front half of the car with 40 grams of weight on the bumper alone. Having tried to reduce the steering to stop it from flipping Patrick is now trying to dial back in more steering and will try a lighter front diff oil. In terms of bodies he is running an SRC Spark which he says is compromise between the Protoform P37 and VRS-N giving more infield steering however it is very tricky in the high speed corners

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