November 29, 2024

Schimmel & Sutherland announce TLR departure

Just days after Team Losi Racing made an announcement on its ‘New Vision’ for 2025 and the introduction of their all-new 2025 Ambassador program, IFMAR World Championship Finalist Brennan Schimmel and leading US Stock Offroad racer Nate Sutherland have each separately announced via their social media their departure from the iconic offroad chassis brand.  Both drivers highlighted the manufacturer loosing its ‘team dynamic’ in particular over the last year, no doubt the departure of the popular figure Thomas Tran a contributing factor.  Joining TLR five years ago, Sutherland, a winner at the recent Florida Carpet Championship, stated he ‘wasn’t planning on leaving’, the Iowa driver also confirming his departure from one time RC racing powerhouse Pro-Line tyres which was bought by TLR owners Horizon Hobby four years ago.  22-year-old Schimmel, took direct aim at the TLR’s owners, saying that the ‘company let the team down and dumped its core people like they had no value, like they didn’t exist.’  With TLR’s very low profile presence at this year’s IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship in Spain fuelling much talk in racing circles about their future commitment to competitive racing, lets hope we are not witnessing the demise of a brand that was created by one of the great pioneers of RC racing, Gil Losi Snr, and which has played such a major part in the history and great rivalries of offroad racing.

Read each driver’s announcement here


November 29, 2024

T-Works MBX8 | 7 Steel 97mm CVD Set

Aftermarket parts and accessory manufacturer T-Works has added these Steel 97mm CVD Set for the Mugen Seiki MBX7 and MBX8 1:8 Buggy platforms.  The drive shaft is lengthened by 3mm helping prevent them from coming out of the diff cups during extended suspension travel.  T-Works claim the longer shafts make for safer and smoother power transmission system while also improving the transmission efficiency.  The CVDs are sold as a pair.

Source: T-Works [rc-tworks.com]


November 28, 2024

Axon TC10/3 High Big Bore Shock5 Conversion

Axon has announced its latest new High Big Bore Shock Conversion for its TC10/3 1:10 Electric Touring Car, the latest conversion denoted as ‘Shock5’.  This damper upgrade package was developed by the Japanese manufacturer for the recent IFMAR 2024 ISTC World Championship in California.  The new design and performance will further lower the centre of gravity and improve driving performance.  Features of the Shock5 Conversion include a 4mm lower centre of gravity achieved with new short shock and exclusive low damper stay.  This provides stable cornering performance and sharp feel.  They have also adopted new O-rings with Low friction micro O-ring II installed.  The use of special polymer blended silicone greatly suppresses expansion caused by silicone oil and improves performance stability.  Another feature is the interchangeability with continued use of the following parts from the Shock4 conversion – Upper cap, Spring dial, Diaphragm, Piston E-ring and 6mm Hex ball.

View side by side comparisons here


November 28, 2024

T-Works Team Winter Jacket 2025

Just in time for the cold months ahead T-Works has released its new 2025 Team Winter Jacket.  Made from waterproof, windproof and anti-abrasion fabric, the jacket provides you with all-around protection.  Featuring double locked temperature insulation technology, the combination of graphene’s efficient thermal conductivity and high-quality cotton material not only improves the warmth effect, but also increases the comfort of wearing.  An inner thermometer and pocket design add to the overall functional versatility and a personalised removable and replaceable armband allow you to show your unique personality.

Source: T-Works [rc-tworks.com]


November 28, 2024

MST S15 Pandem 1:10 Drift Bodyshell

Another iconic Japanese car culture body shell from RC Drift car manufacturer Max Speed Technology (MST) who have announced this 1:10 S15 Pandem.  With a 257 mm Wheelbase and 198 mm Front/200mm Rear width, the body is a replica of the Pandem wide body kit Nissan Silvia S15 which first went into the production in 1999.  Formed as a single unit to ensure precise and authentic detailing while significantly reducing the complexity of shell assembly, ABS accessories include side mirrors, wipers, front and rear light buckets, and exclusive S15 ducktail spoiler.  Already offering a range of body shells of iconic cars like the recently released EVO5, MST will confirm a release date for the S15 shortly.

View more images here


November 28, 2024

Yokomo SO3.0 2WD Buggy

Yokomo has announced the upcoming release of their latest 1:10 2WD Buggy offering the SO3.0.  Coming 15-months after the launch of its predecessor the SO2.0, the Japanese manufacturer claim their newest competition buggy offers even better performance on high-grip surfaces and is capable of cornering at higher speeds.  Key changes to the new car are a longer main chassis which provides a sense of stability, while the front weight loading and other features improve ground contact and bring out the vectors that propel the machine forward in the corners.  The motor mount has a lower centre of gravity, and the front and rear shock towers have been modified with aerodynamics in mind to establish a sharper ride.  The suspension arms, front/rear hub carriers, gearbox, bulkheads, and other parts are all graphite molded parts for a higher response when driving.

View more images & kit features


November 28, 2024

Team Associated RC10 Team Car Gold Edition Kit

Continuing its series of re-releases of RC10 kits, Team Associated has announced the Team Car Gold Edition Kit of its iconic 1:10 2WD Buggy.  Originally released back in 1990, the RC10 Team Car was an upgraded version of the base model RC10 Championship Edition (6011), which was also released that same year.  The RC10 Team Car was the latest state-of-the-art, 2WD off-road racing buggy in the world and was the first RC10 to feature the Stealth ATC Transmission, hard anodised shocks with PTFE coating, and updated suspension geometry.  At the 1990 Off-Road ROAR Nationals, Team Associated finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd using these new parts. Cliff Lett took first place at the Nationals, which didn’t surprise anyone, but the big surprise was Brent Wallace and J.D. Beckwith, both who finished 2nd and 3rd at the very first race using the new Stealth transmission.  There were many similar reports of equal success from racers all around the world after using the Stealth transmission in their older RC10’s.  Later, some of these parts would eventually be included in the RC10 Team Car kit.

View Kit features & more images here


November 27, 2024

2024 1:10 Onroad World C/ship Chassis Focus Index

Exactly 10-years after it hosted its first World Championship, the very unique Huge RC Circuit in Bangkok, Thailand was once again the challenging battle ground for the 10th edition of the IFMAR 1:10 Onroad World Championship.  A track thats high traction challenged even the very best drivers in the world, following more than a week of action it was Infinity’s Jilles Groskamp who came out on top and in doing so became only the second driver ever to win both an Electric and Nitro Touring Car World title, the other driver being Naoto Matsukura who was once again in the mix this year.  Having already written about the official manufacturer stats in our race coverage, during our time in Bangkok we managed to photograph 11 cars from 5 different manufacturers which will have now compiled together for our latest event Chassis Focus index.

View Chassis Focus Index here