Team Azarashi have shown some early photos of their Womoog body shells designed to fit on both the Hot Bodies Cyclone D4 and the Tamiya TRF501X. As with previous versions of this body, these too will offer high levels of stability and a cool new look and the photos here show the almost final version, with only small modifications needing to be made before the bodies’ release in the near future.
Seen at the toy fair on the Traxxas stand in February, the US company has released details on the 1/16th scale VXL versions of their Slash and E-Revo that are to be released next month. Both cars are 14 inches long, about half the size of the 1/10-scale counterparts. Beneath the factory-finished polycarbonate shell, you’ll find the winning suspension technology of the seven-time National Champion Traxxas Revo, Velineon brushless-motor power, and the convention-busting innovation of the E-Revo. No detail was overlooked to bring all the capability, durability, and excitement of Traxxas’ award-winning models to 1/16 scale for fast, affordable R/C fun.
The Factory Team RC8B picks up where the RC8 left off by adding many performance and durability enhancing features that were pioneered by the company’s Area 51 engineers and world class pro team drivers, making a great buggy even better. The new RC8B features include Factory Team 16mm Big Bore threaded, hard-anodized shocks, updated 5mm 7075 blue aluminium shock towers, 7075 blue aluminium suspension mounts, Factory Team 7075 blue aluminium one-piece top plate, forward placement battery box, and optimized steering geometry. The RC8B gets you on the track fast, coming with pre-assembled shocks, diffs and turnbuckles, and also includes Factory Team shock and diff fluids.
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French buggy maker Piktor have released a new suspension upgrade kit for their Rush 2, to upgrade it to version 2.2. Designed for the high American jumps, the kit comes with a full set of extra big bore shocks, 2 new aluminum shock towers, which are also available in carbon fibre as seen in the photos, and finally 4 aluminium shock supports for the lower suspension arms. This is a simple upgrade which gives the car a more conventional shock mounting setup compared to the cars normal lay down configuration. The kit will only be available as an upgrade for the Rush 2.
With Short Course racing gaining popularity JConcepts have developed their Goose Bumps for the Slash / Slayer and SC10. Retaining the realistic look the tires are completely detailed with center lug all-terrain inspired tread and side wall. Combining a totally unique step pin and bar lug design with sticky green compound to allow even greater control on off-road surfaces. The Goose Bumps are a special breed, designed for maximum performance when new or used as the design allows even wear all the way down to the tire body. Once the driver wears through the initial pin, a bar follows to maximize potential on aggressive surfaces. The Goose Bumps incorporate a compact tire body with a crisp tread pattern with precise separation for intense short course racing competition. In new condition they excel on soft surfaces with either dry or wet conditions. Worn Goose Bumps excel on indoor or outdoor clay tracks where a slight groove has formed.
JConcepts have released 2 new body shells, the first being the Punisher body for the Losi 8ight T 2.0 and separates itself from the rest of the bodies on the market with it’s distinctive styling. Beginning with the newly designed grill and headlight treatment the Punisher stares you down like a trained fighter. The hood and cab treatment are amongst the lowest in class giving this body top notch performance and the bed area represents the latest offering for 1/8th truck racing, featuring a super low profile design for increased engine cooling, air flow and escape. Also for the Associated RC8e is the new Hi-Flow Illuzion shell, with special consideration made for the motor, battery box and extra clearance around the battery packs and thanks to JConcepts, the body is also a drop fit and requires no hassles when installing or removing the body.
This year marked the 11th Annual Silver State Nitro Challenge in Las Vegas, NV and like in years past the weather was always changing, with very windy conditions and temperatures up and down proving to be a big challenge for the drivers all week long. A new race format was constructed this year by race director Jason Ashton for the Invitational Class, which consisted of 3 qualifying heats with all of them counting, the first of which was 7-minutes, the 2nd 10-minutes, and the 3rd and final qualifier 15-minutes. After the 3 qualifiers were run, each heat would have the top 3 drivers with the lowest point totals advance straight to the main event. Then the lower mains would be run taking the top 2 drivers to bump into the next main. Team Orion/Kyosho/AKA Factory Driver Jared Tebo was on fire in qualifying winning both heats for Invitational buggy and truggy on the first day, with the second day only consisting of the 15-minute qualifier. Tebo went on to finish 2nd in both buggy and truggy to wrap up the overall TQ in both classes. In the 30 minute main final for invitational buggy, Jared Tebo got a great launch off the starting line and set off on a fast pace with Ryan Maifield close behind. After the first round of pit stops Tebo was still in the lead but now his team mate Cody King was in 2nd. After the second round of stops Tebo was still leading but now Adam Drake and Billy Fischer were battling it out for the second position and only quick refuelling kept Tebo in the lead after the final stop as he went on to win from Losi pairing of Billy Fischer in 2nd and Adam Drake 3rd.
Source: Team Orion [teamorion.com]
Introduced in 2005 the Team Orion CRF engines made some impact on the market with their completely different crankshaft design that was developed by Fabrice Ramella. Hence the name ‘CRF’ (which stands for Concept Ramella Fabrice). The idea behind the CRF technology is to have better control over the mixture that flows from the carburettor through the crankshaft into the combustion chamber.
