September 27, 2013

New in the Pits – JConcepts

JConcepts have debuted a lot of new parts here in Chico for the 2wd Centro C4.2 conversion. At the rear there is a new aluminium block and wing mounts, in blue or black, that help stiffen up the rear as well as a carbon fibre shock tower that features an additional row of upper pivot arm mounts. On top there is an updated Finnisher body for the C4.2 which is longer than its predecessor to suit the car’s longer chassis and there is a new rear wing which has been designed to take advantage of the positioning of the wing on the mid motored car. For 4wd there is a new, as yet unnamed, body for the B44.2 that is designed to improve cooling by creating areas in the car that allow airflow in and out as well as a refined design that creates better airflow over the rear wing.

Image Gallery


September 26, 2013

New in the Pits – Pro-Line

Making their Debut here in Chico are three new body shells from Pro-Line Racing. The US company together with their team drivers Ty Tessmann and Lee Martin have developed these new shells. Ty has developed the Type R, a 4wd body that is currently running on the Canadian’s yet to be released D4-13 but will be available for other cars in the near future. The design is less cab forward than the Bulldog giving less steering and has some nice design features like the inward sloping sides. Lee has developed the Phantom range of bodies for 2wd mid motor and for 4wd which feature a sloping rear of the shell which creates better airflow to the wing.

Image Gallery

View more images of the bodies here


September 26, 2013

Chassis Focus – JR Mitch

mitchcf

Car: TLR 22-4
ESC: Tekin
Motor: Tekin
Batteries: Team Orion
Radio/Servo: Spektrum

JR Mitch is one of 9 drivers at the IFMAR 4wd World Championships running the newly announced TLR22-4. A long time in development the final production versions have only just gotten finished in time for the Worlds and so a lot of drivers this morning are still busy adding electronics to their vehicles. The same basic configuration as the XX-4 it has been modernised and the team drivers who have tested the car previously are super positive about their performance and and all are looking forward to getting the car on the track in Friday’s practice. JR is running a mixture of Tekin and Orion products in his car this week as his electrics sponsor Trinity didn’t have their products submitted in time to be approved for the IFMAR event.

Image Gallery


September 26, 2013

‘From Race Control’ – 4WD Registration Day

Track

Today is officially the registration day for the 4WD Buggy World Championships with no on-track action, the first cars including the new TLR22-4 and HB D4-13 not set to hit the track till tomorrow’s practice rounds.  For most competitors today is a bit of a rest day and an opportunity to reflect on the 2WD Worlds which came to a later than planned conclusion last night.  While normally today would see the track team go about changing the track layout in accordance with IFMAR’s rule of different tracks for each event, following the rain issues during the 2WD event the track will not be changed after an unusually wise decision by IFMAR to allow it stay as is.

Ty Work

The A-Main Hobbies track team have done a superb job over the last three days and last night despite IFMAR’s no longer requiring a layout change track designer Kevin Jelick said he planned to still try to make changes.  Speaking to Kevin this morning however he said the surface has held together extremely well and so rather than take any risks they will leave it as is.   After watching last nights finals he said they will make just one modification to the track and take the edge off the down ramp on the table top at the end of the straight.  This he hopes will result in a few less crashes at the beginning of races.  Other than that he said his crew will just do general maintenance on the track.  As off 10:00 local time the pits are pretty much empty with Ty Tessman & Ryan Cavalieri the only big name drivers at the track.

View our event image gallery here.