November 28, 2023

Tessmann dropped by Xray

Former 1:8 Buggy World Champion Ty Tessmann has announced he has been dropped by Xray and their US distributor RC America.  The Canadian driver will depart after a 7-year stint with the Slovakian manufacturer whom he joined after a lengthy stint with Hot Bodies.  Posting confirmation of the much rumoured news, fuelled by the recent signing of his former HB team-mate David Ronnefalk, on his social media, Tessmann said, ‘There have been a lot of rumors about my future with Xray. For the last 7 years I have raced for and been committed to Xray and RC America, my Dad and I helped develop the Xray offroad cars, and grow the Xray brand in North America, and we have had a lot of successes over the last 7 years with their cars’.  Listing his achievements with the brand which included the TQ & 2nd at the 2018 1:8 World Championships in Australia, he continued, ‘That being said I will not be continuing with Xray for 2024 and beyond, this was not my choice, but Xray and RC America have decided to not renew my contract. I would like to thank Xray and RC America for the opportunity and support over the past 7 years.  Stay tuned for an announcement on what 2024 holds for me.’

Source: Ty Tessmann [Facebook] 


November 28, 2023

2024 JConcepts INS & Dirt Oval Nationals – Announcement

JConcepts has announced the schedule for the 14th season of its very popular Indoor National Series and 2024 Dirt Oval National Events.  The INS and NCTS series’ are combining in to one to create a 5 race super series across both dirt and carpet surfaces.  The 2024 calendar will consist of 3 dirt tracks and 2 carpet tracks starting the year at the famed Trackside Hobbies and Raceway and ending the festivities at the always amazing Hoosier RC Hobbyplex.  The carpet events will take place at the extremely popular RC One Racing facility before heading to the beautiful Island Speedway in Muscatine, Iowa.  For the first time, there will be 2 events in the Summer with one being at the superb HobbyTown HobbyPlex in Omaha, Nebraska.  JConcepts is also be increasing the emphasis on Dirt Oval racing and moving to 3 Dirt Oval Nationals starting with the Speed Weeks Dirt Oval Nationals at Lil Cochran in February before moving to the Summer Dirt Oval Nationals at Auburn RC in July and finally the Winter Dirt Oval Nationals at PT’s RC Raceway in November.  The events provide drivers with an array of classes to choose from to compete nationally or on a race by race basis.

View 2024 schedule & classes here


November 28, 2023

Associated RC10 Protech Body and Wing Re-release

Team Associated has announced that the body used on the original RC10 1:10 2WD electric buggy is available again.  It fits the RC10 classic, RC10 re-release, and upcoming RC10CC Clear Classic car.  The body comes with window masks.

Source: Associated [associatedelectrics.com]


November 27, 2023

1:12 Worlds Broadcast team announcement

With just over a week to go until the start of the IFMAR 1:12 World Championship in the United States, Elite Productions has announced the team that it will use to bring its livestream broadcast of the 21st running of the title that will be decided at Beachline Raceway in Cocoa, Florida.  Elite Productions became a reality through the efforts of Lance MacDonald who skilfully assembled individuals from diverse areas of RC Racing, uniting their talents to produce top-tier events.  Heading the Worlds broadcast will be Keenan White who is better known as Lefty the Great and the person behind ‘The No Name RC Podcast’.  With over 30 years in the sport, commenting on the announcement Lefty said, ‘It is an honor for me to be apart of the upcoming IFMAR 1/12 World Championship coming up in December.  It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Elite RC Production crew as we strive to bring RC Raving enthusiasts the best possible coverage we can. I am excited to see some of the best racers in the onroad genre of RC battle each other in the carpet coliseum that is Beachline RC Raceway! Good luck to all the competitors and let’s get ready for some epic racing! Red RC is also excited to be making the trip to Florida next week to cover our fourth & final World Championship event of 2023.

Meet the rest of the team here


November 27, 2023

Tamiya TA08R 1:10 Electric Touring Car

As part of its early New Year releases, Tamiya has announced the TA08R 1:10 4WD Electric Touring Car kit.  The TA08PRO receives the limited-edition treatment in the form of the TA08R by adding a plethora of key Hop-Up Options right out of the box along with a few parts only available in this edition.  The kit gets new a new 2.0mm carbon fibre upper deck thats connects front and rear bulkheads for pitch rigidity and utilises a 630-ball bearing at the rear for roll rigidity.  New front and rear aluminium upper arm mounts provide enhanced rigidity.  A new aluminium motor mount has two screw-attached, upper deck attachment points.  The rear body mount are also new and uses carbon fibre plates and aluminium posts, and limits body wobble and ensures stable rear traction. Body mount extensions allow attachment of bodies of different heights.  New additional ribs on the lower deck limit its deformation for superior suspension performance and help limit damage after unexpected crashes.  Finally, new aluminium wheel hubs limit wheel deformation and ensure stable tire grip.

Source: Tamiya USA [tamiyausa.com]


November 27, 2023

Aerox 5.6mm Offset Alloy Servo Arm

Schumacher Racing has introduced a new Aerox Alloy Offset Servo Arm suitable for a wide range of Touring Cars but equally capable in Offroad cars too.  Offset by 5.6mm it has holes positioned at 17 and 19mm distance from the centre of the spline.  Machined from high quality 7075-T6 alloy and with a black finish it comes with a high tensile steel clamping screw.  An M3 nut is captured in the underside for easy fitting with the arm available in popular 23T Sanwa and 25T Futaba options.

Source: Schumacher [racing-cars.com]


November 27, 2023

Harris is ’23 RCRA Australian LS National Champion

Australia’s Large Scale touring car young gun Cooper Harris has won the 2023 RCRA Australian National Championship.  This year’s RCRA National title was decided at the Radio Racing Cars S.A. Inc. track in Littlehampton, South Australia and in qualifying it was reigning Champion Andy Bishop who secured the TQ ahead of Harris and Craig Hawkins in 3rd.  With a clean and competitive half hour final, the battle for the win lasted the entire race with 17-year-old Harris posting the fastest lap on his way to securing 1st place with his Mecatech Fwo1 SWB powered by Abbate engine and PMT Tires.  Joining Harris on the podium was MCD driver Andy Bishop in 2nd with third place going to George Tsakanias driving a Genius chassis.  Next year Australia will host the IFMAR Large Scale World Championship from October 20th to 27th in Sydney.

Source: Cooper Harris [Facebook]


November 27, 2023

Jacinto & Dela Cruz crowned Philippine 1:10 Offroad National Champions

In a major boost for the offroad racing scene in the Philippines, after a long absence the country hosted National Championships for 1:10 Offroad with the event attracting a record entry for a Nationals.  With over 100 entries for the 2-day event at the Circulo Verde track in Manila City, home to Asia’s biggest annual offroad event the Philippine Masters, in qualifying it was Sworkz driver Dino Jacinto who took the 4WD TQ with the 2WD honours going to Jomil Dela Cruz at the end of the three rounds of qualifying.  In the triple finals, Jacinto would win the opening two encounters to secure the title early ahead of Dela Cruz and Tyler Cheung.  In 2WD, Dela Cruz would also convert the TQ into the title albeit needing the win in A3 to do so.  He was joined on the podium by Rains Viola and A2 winner Gerome Ling.  The event also marked a major improvement for the track with its new oiled surface a game changer.  More and more racers/hobbyist are enjoying the track with it now having good grip anytime of the day and most of all, it’s rubber friendly.  The existing layout and surface will be used for 2024 edition of the Philippine Masters which takes place on April 18-21.

Image: Edward Sio [Facebook]