Red RC

December 13, 2023

’23 1:12 World Championship Chassis Focus Index

Last weekend 1:12 concluded the 2023 IFMAR World Championship calendar in Cocoa, Florida. While the entry may have been small, at the front of the field things were ultra competitive as some of the biggest names in the sport battled it out to win the smallest scale and the original electric World Championship. A beautifully presented track, Beachline Raceway was the battle ground with the TQ going to Awesomatix’ Kemp Anderson ahead of Marc Rheinard and Michal Orlowski – each taking 2 TQ runs from the six rounds. In the finals we witnessed next level driving skills as painted was swapped in battle before Schumacher’s Michal Orlowski finally became a World Champion. In 1:12 Spec, Awesomatx’ Max Machler did the double taking the TQ and the manufacturer’s first ever World title. With the Schumacher team running a different front end on their car specifically to suit the black carpet in use, we didn’t get to take our traditional ‘World Champion Chassis Focus’. Over the event however we did however photograph 10 cars from four of the six different manufacturers represented at the 21st running of the championship and we have compiled them all here in our latest Chassis Focus index.

View Chassis Focus Index here

December 13, 2023

Reedy Sonic SP5 Euro-Spec motor

Reedy has released a new Euro-spec version of its Sonic SP5 stock motors. Due to slight difference between European and US rules, a small change to the factory build sheet is required. Only the heat-transfer epoxy coating has been eliminated in the Euro-spec version. Otherwise, both versions are identical. The performance of the SP5 starts at the heart of the motor–the stator. Designed in-house, the stator’s profile is intended to achieve maximum torque and power output without sacrificing RPM. High-quality copper magnet wire, sized to the maximum that the rules allow and wound with care to keep resistance near the legal minimum, is a key factor in achieving maximum performance. An oversized collector ring not only dissipates heat, but in conjunction with thick solder tabs, reduces resistance and power loss.

Source: Reedy [associatedelectrics.com]

December 13, 2023

IFMAR World Champion Manufacturer Stats

With the 1:12 World Championships in Florida last week marking the conclusion of another season of World Championships for RC racing’s World Governing Body IFMAR, they have issued an updated list of World Champion Manufacturer stats. With 2023 the 46th year of the federation, which ran its first World Championship in 1977, it is the manufacturer that won that 1:8 Onroad title that holds the honour of the most winning manufacturer in the sport. Thanks to Davide Ongaro kicking of this year’s World Championship calendar with victory at the 1:10 4WD Offroad World Championship at Hobby Action in Arizona, Team Associated have amassed 32 World titles. That impressive achievement gives them double the titles of joint second placed Japanese companies Yokomo and Kyosho. Interestingly this year two new names were added bring the list to 30 manufacturers past and present. Thanks to Toni Gruber’s win at the 1:8 GT Worlds in Australia, Hong Nor is now a World Champion manufacturer. Although a well established electric onroad manufacturer for over a decade, Awesomatix claimed its first World title in Florida with their own team manager ‘Mad Max’ Machler lifting the 1:12 Spec World title at Beachline Raceway making the newest World Champion manufacturer.

View World Champion manufacturers list here

December 13, 2023

T-Works Duo-purpose Turnbuckle Adjustment Tool

New from T-Works is this Duo-purpose Turnbuckle Adjustment Tool. Featuring a 4mm wrench and a 1.6MM Pin, the black anodised tool can be used for adjusting T-Works 64 Titanium Black Coating Turnbuckle Sets and Awesomatix turnbuckles.

View tool in use here

December 13, 2023

Kocher to race for Hong Nor GT team in 2024

1:8 GT World Champion manufacturer Hong Nor has announced the signing of Swiss racer Michael Kocher for its 2024 line-up. Kocher is best known for his collaboration with Italian designer Andrea Contarini in bringing the Raptor 1:8 GT chassis to market and in particular for racing the non production nitro version of the car at the 1:8 GT World Championships in Australia this year. Now joining the Taiwanese brand, Kocher said, “I am very happy to join the Hong Nor family and factory Team for upcoming season. I started 4 years ago in GT8 Nitro Racing. I had the chance to cooperate with an Italian designer and produced my own racing car brand – Raptor Racing. After 3 years of building cars for customers, I didn’t spent much time on the track. I think it’s time to start a new journey. During the Worlds held in Australia this year, I had the chance to test with different cars. Among all the cars I’ve tested, I had the best experience with Hong Nor’s X3GTS 2023 World Edition, fast and easy to drive. After a really nice meet with Hong Nor’s two bosses – Tony Chen and Hsiang Lin, it was clear to me to go forward with this great brand. Hope the winter season pass soon, and I could be back on the track with the car. See you on the track.”

Source: Hong Nor [hongnor-racing.com]

December 13, 2023

Team Associated RC8B4e Weight Bias Chassis

Developed during 2023 as their drivers wanted the option to shift weight rearward on lower grip ungroomed tracks, Team Associated has released the FWB/RWB Weight Bias Chassis for its RC8B4e 1:8 eBuggy. Racers can tune the RC8B4e’s weight bias using two motor and centre differential positions with the FWB/RWB chassis and adapter. Forward is the original location for maximum steering, and the rearward location gives more rear grip and lightens the front end for low grip or bumpy conditions. Customers will need chassis and the FWB/RWB Adapter with 96.5mm Dogbone Set to update their RC8B4e to the new chassis system. The #81581 104mm centre dogbone from the original kit is used with the new parts. The replacement 96.5mm centre dogbone set is sold separately for spare parts (it’s included in #81645). Also notable, the new chassis design installs the drivetrain in the reverse orientation from the original kit, and this provides a positive torque reaction that will aid in rear grip on power.

View FWB/RWB Adapter with 96.5mm Dogbone Set

December 13, 2023

Protek Hoodie, beanie & iron-on patch

Keep warm in the pits and on the drivers stand this winter racing season with the 2024 Hoodie and Beanie from ProTek RC. Elevate your style and show your support for the high-performance RC brand with the 2024 ProTek RC hoodie which is made from 50% Cotton/50% Polyester in a Classic fit with double-lined hood and centre pouch pocket. Made from 100% Acrylic fabric, the grey beanie is embroidered with the 2024 ProTek RC logo on the front and is offered in a ‘one size fits most’ for a comfortable and stylish fit. Finally, if you have your own favourite gear or apparel and want to show your ProTek RC allegiance, check out the new ProTek RC stacked logo iron-on patch.

View beanie and patch here

December 13, 2023

Avid ‘In Betweens’ Silicone Oils

Avid Racing Concepts has added to their popular Silicone Oil Line with the highly requested “In Betweens”. Adding 375, 425, 475, 525, 575, 625, 1K & 9K CST to the range, their silicone shock and diff oils are certified and laboratory tested by Ultimate Racing using the linear viscosity measurement of centistokes (CST). Each 75ml sized shock oil bottle is printed with the conversion of CST to both the AE and the TLR weight system.

Source: Avid [avidrc.com]