December 12, 2023

Reds Racing 721 Scuderia Pro Gen4

Reds Racing has introduced its latest 3.5cc offroad engine designed, the 721 Scuderia PRO Gen 4.  The engine boasts Reds Racing’s revolutionary 3 needle carburetor, only available on Gen 4 Scuderia engines.  This carburetor not only facilitates superior tuning in diverse conditions but also ensures a more consistent and linear power delivery. Each carburetor is equipped with a special sealing ring, enhancing both sealing and tuning stability.  The 721 Scuderia Pro Gen 4 is a high-torque engine crafted to significantly reduce fuel consumption. Its features include a long-stroke geometry of 16.2×16.9 mm, 7 scavenger ports, and a single exhaust port cylinder sleeve that collaborates with the crankcase, delivering enhanced low-to-middle-range torque.  The 721 Scuderia PRO is hand tuned undergoing meticulous hand-tuning by M. Rossi, including a silicone-filled, balanced, and tuned crankshaft.  Each engine is individually inspected and compression checked by Mario and Marco Rossi.  Other features include a double seal front bearing engineered for heightened durability and idle stability and Reds 9 balls rear ceramic bearing which enhances overall performance.

View technical specs here


December 11, 2023

Rivkin & Phend turn RC teachers for a day!

They are two of the biggest names in offroad racing and represent two of the biggest manufacturers on the international stage but last week both Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin and TLR’s Dakotah Phend became RC teachers for a day as part of two different events.  Two time World Champion Rivkin was taking part in the launch of Hobbywing Tech Explorers.  Held at World Championship venue Hobby Action Raceway, it marked the first collaboration with a school outreach program.  Rivkin touched on his journey with RC, overcoming challenges, and dreaming big.  He also discussed the mechanics, electrical aspects, and disciplines of the hobby, along with the incredible values it’s brought into his life – from friends, mentors, and unforgettable experiences.  On his social media Rivkin said he was ‘So thankful to have had the opportunity to hold my first public gathering and launch a new program with Hobbywing North America called Tech Explorers! Meeting and seeing these kids remind me what it was like when I first laid eyes on RC cars.  I want to personally thank Larry and Hobby Action RC Raceway for letting us utilise the track and rental cars.  I’m totally looking forward on doing many more of these!’   Phend brought his 1:10 Electric and 1:8 Nitro buggies to a middle school as part of a career day where he shared his story with pupils.  On his Facebook page he posted, ‘I was able to be apart of career day earlier this week at Angola Middle School.  I went over how I was able to turn a passion into a career.  There are a lot of great and unique opportunities in today’s world!’.  It is great to see both drivers promoting RC racing in this way and well done to everyone involved in inspiring the future generation.

View Mr.Phend taking his class here


December 11, 2023

Gandin wins Miami RC Grand Prix

While the 1:12 World Championships was being decided in Cocoa, Florida, further south in the state the annual Miami RC Grand Prix was taking place where Italy’s Jonathan Gandin took the big win in 1:8 Onroad.  The Ielasi Tuned team driver took his Infinity to the TQ with the fastest time and only 16-lap 4-minute run from the five rounds of qualifying at the former World Championship hosting Homestead RC Raceway.  Behind it was Serpent’s Bryce Butterfield who set the second fastest time to line up P2 for the 45-minute final ahead of Infinity’s Francesco Tironi, Capricorn’s Thilo Diekmann and the Xray of Filippo Domanin.  In the final, Butterfield was an early retirement going after 12-minutes, but upfront Gandin was in charge albeit being kept honest by young Domanin who set the fastest lap of the race.  Completing the podium Tironi would finish 3rd ahead of the Capricorn of Florida racer Diego Morganti.  In 1:10 Sedan, it was Top Qualifier DJ Apolaro who took his Infinity to the win.

Image: Ielasi Tuned [Facebook]


December 11, 2023

Maifield completes clean sweep at U.S. Open Fuel C/ships

Tekno RC’s Ryan Maifield became the first Pro driver to complete a clean sweep at the annual U.S. Open Fuel Championships which held at Adobe Mountain R/C Speedway in his home state of Arizona over the weekend.  Attracting almost 250 entries, qualifying would see Maifield take the TQ in the Open classes of Nitro Buggy, eBuggy and Nitro Truggy before wrapping up the perfect weekend with wins in all three finals.  In Nitro Buggy he took the win ahead of Kyosho’s  Ryan Lutz having a 3-lap advantage at the end of the 1-hour in encounter.   Ryan Pavidis would complete the podium driving his Sparko buggy.  In eBuggy, the single 10-minute Main saw Maifield led home the Sworkz of Spencer Heckertt by over 7-seconds with Lutz finishing 3rd.  In the 45-minute Nitro Truggy Final,  it was the Mugen of Frankie Contresas Jr who followed Maifield home.

Image: MOD Media Live [Facebook]


December 10, 2023

Orlowski is finally a World Champion

He has been a heavy weight in electric onroad and offroad for the last decade but today was the day he finally took the sport’s biggest prize, Michal Orlowski is the 2023 IFMAR 1:12 World Champion.  Having secured the overall TQ at the previous edition of the sports oldest World Championship category but missing out on the win to Marc Rheinard, today the Schumacher switched the 2020 order taking victory at Beachline Raceway ahead of Rheinard and 2018 World Champion Alexander Hagberg.  With Top Qualifier Kemp Anderson winning A1, ahead of Rheinard and Orlowski, a win in A2 by the Polish ace set the stage for an A3 title showdown.  With a highly anticipating crowd looking on having experienced some mental defying display of racing skills in the first two A-Mains, A3 was to start with a bang literally.  On the tone Anderson’s car didn’t leave the line and starting directly behind Rheinard a huge impact in the rear of the stricken car.  The race effectively decided on the spot as No.2 starter Orlowski was able to break clear followed by Hagberg who did have the pace to mount a challenge for the lead.  While Rheinard tried to continue his car was badly tweaked and he eventually pulled up.  Unfortunately for Anderson, despite showing his massive talents in qualifying and A1, the A3 DNF together with his A2 DNF meant he goes into the IFMAR history books as the 6th place finisher.

Continue reading here


December 9, 2023

Orlowski gets elbows out for A2 win

It is all going to come down to A3 at the 1:12 World Championship in Florida, with Michal Orlowski taking the win ahead of defending Champion Marc Rheinard.  Having won A1 with a flawless race, Kemp Anderson came crashing back to earth in A2 when he ran wide on the opening lap resulting in contact with Orlowski.  With Anderson coming off worst, finding himself at the back of the field, the contact delayed Orlowski enough for Rheinard to go to the front.  Quickly gapping the rest of the field, the European pairing held station until the race reached mid distance and Orlowski got his elbows forcing an impressive pass on his great track rival but good friend off track.  Then with a minute to go, Rheinard mounted a challenge to take back the lead but looking to set-up a last lap pass he would get to much kerb causing the back of his Awesomatix to step out and allow Orlowski to breath again and take the win with a faster time than that set in A1.  With Anderson eventually retiring from the race having buried his car under the track boards as he tried to make a comeback, 2018 World Champion Alexander Hagberg completed the Top 3 over 8-seconds back with Donny Lia fourth.

Continue reading here


December 9, 2023

Kemp sees off late Rheinard attack to win A1

Kemp Anderson held off an intense late attack from Marc Rheinard to win the opening A-Main of the IFMAR 1:12 World Championship in Florida.  Starting from the pole, Andersson would initially gap the field as second place starter Michal Orlowski was occupied with trying to keep a hard charging Rheinard at bay, the pair swapping paint but holding order.  Approaching the mid point of the 8-minute Orlowski would find his rhythm, the Schumacher driver closing Anderson’s over 1-second gap down to nothing.  Coming on to the straight, the Polish ace would make a pass for the lead on the inside of the Awesomatix driver but his car shot to the outside and he hit the boards.  With a tweaked car he was then passed by Rheinard.  Having survived the Orlowski challenge, now Anderson was ready for a second attack on his lead this time from the reigning World Champion.  The German was all over and even got in under his team-mates car but in a display of why he is a 5-time World Champion was able to back out of it quick enough that they both continued with minimal disruption.  While Rheinard would make a second attempt at taking the lead, Anderson kept his nerve to take a popular win, while 5-seconds back Orlowski completed the Top 3 some 7-seconds ahead of Alexander Hagberg in P4.

Continue reading here


December 9, 2023

Bittydesign Mini-Z 1:28 bodies

Bittydesign has announced three new bodies designed to offer Mini-Z enthusiasts a wider choice according to their preferred style: Supercar, Touring and FWD.  The Italian manufacturer has scaled down their three best-performing 1:10 bodies by adapting the proportions in order to allow perfect installation on 1:28 scale chassis.  The three body styles meet every need: for maximum performance the ARES-1 is the best choice, for a touring there is the Eptron and for a real front-wheel-drive race car look with enlarged ‘TCR’ style wider fenders there is the CA45.  Made with high quality 0.8mm polycarbonate, the bodies are universal and fit all 1:28 scale chassis with 98mm wheelbase.  Sold clear with protective film outside and a pre-cut decal sheet and window masks, the kit includes a set of screw/nuts/washers to fix the rear wing.

View individual bodies here