Red RC

July 31, 2011

Lamberto Collari takes 2011 European title

The EFRA 1/8th scale on road European Championships were held this week Mini Circuit Ville de Luxembourg, in Luxembourg. Europe’s best drivers came together to battle it out for the title, which was won last year by newly crowned World Champion Robert Pietsch. Qualifying was topped by this year’s World Championship runner up Dario Balestri driving for Capricorn ahead of Mugen star Pietsch in 2nd, while 9 time World Champion Lamberto Collari was 3rd and top Xray driver Erik Dankel was 4th. With no direct qualifiers everyone would have to make their way through the semi finals before that could fight for the win. Pietsch and Balestri would win their semis but a faster Semi A saw Balestri take pole ahead of Michele Romagnoli in 2nd and Ilia Van Gastel in 3rd, while Pietsch would only start from 4th on the grid for the 45 minute A-main just in front of Collari. The final saw close running at the front with Balestri, Ilia Van Gastel and Robin D’Hondt all sharing the lead. Problems for Balestri as well as Pietsch would knock them out of the race and what would be a race of attrition only 5 cars would finish the final with Lamberto Collari emerging as the winner for Kyosho just 6 seconds ahead of Serpent driver Van Gastel in 2nd, with Mugen team driver Rick Vrielijnck finishing in 3rd, 2 laps further back.

View the final results here

July 31, 2011

O.S. 21XZ-R Speed & 21XZ-R VII engines

O.S. have introduced two new 21XZ-R engines for 1/8 scale on-road racing with both featuring superb runtime. Engineered for added horsepower and faster lap times, the 21XZ-R Speed performed well at the 1/8 Scale On-Road Worlds in Miami, Florida with Team drivers coming home in 4th and 5th place with production models. The motor features a redesigned crankcase and carb to produce smoother transitions and higher speeds while the 21M slide-valve carb features 4 adjustable control settings, including a low-end metering needle for improved torque and fuel economy. A more-balanced conrod reduces vibration and wear. Equipped with many of the same performance features as the .21XZ-R Speed ABC, the 21XZ-R VII offers explosive acceleration and top-end for race-winning potential at a more economical price. It combines aggressive timing with easy starting so drivers can unleash its race-winning potential right out of the box, while the cylinder liner boasts 7 scavenger ports and three exhaust ports. Both engines are available in early August.

View the full engine specs here

July 30, 2011

Duratrax Onyx LiPo batteries

Duratrax have introduced their new line of Onyx true-rated LiPo batteries at affordable prices. Onyx LiPo 25C packs offer quality, dependability and long-lasting power and drivers can trust the stated capacity of an Onyx LiPo pack to deliver the performance promised, charge after charge. Ideal for upgrading an RTR vehicle or for competing in racing events, they are available in capacities, configurations and discharges to meet a wide range of applications. All include built-in discharge lead and balance connector. Available in 5000mAh 7.4V hard case with either Deans or TRX plug and in 7.4V and 11.1V 5000mAh soft case versions both with TRX connectors.

View the other packs here

July 30, 2011

Team Durango DEX210 2wd buggy

The next generation of 2WD is here as Team Durango release details on the all new DEX210 buggy. Having stuck the prototype of this car in the final at last week’s World Championships in Finland, the production car is considerably different in terms of looks while retaining the same geometry and weight distribution of the car that gave Joern Neumann 5th place. The highlight of the car is the patented (pending) ability to set it up in 3 or 4 gear configuration in both rear and mid motor layout with the same gearbox. The cars backbone is the aluminium chassis plate, with moulded composite side plates, that can accept both stick and saddle pack battery configurations. Moulded composite shock towers, big bore shocks and aluminium FF and RR suspension blocks are just some of the other standard features.

View the features list and more photos here

July 29, 2011

Robitronic Expert LD 15Z & 45 chargers

New from Robitronic is their new line of Expert LD chargers. Start with the 15z, it has built-in AC adapter, this multi-use charger is useful for 1-6 Li-Ion/LiPo/LiFe cells, 1-15 NiCd/NiMH cells and Pb 2-20V. Includes adapters for “Deans” style plugs, JST, Rx pack, glow plug lighter and alligator clips and the balance plugs are JST-XH type. The Expert LD 45 allows you to plug 4 batteries into one charger simultaneously and it will intelligently and automatically charge all 4 of them at once to their maximum capacity. To top it of the batteries being charged do not even need to have the same configuration. You can connect different chemistry Ni-MH/Ni-CD/LiPo/LiFe batteries into any of the charging ports.

View more details here

July 29, 2011

Serpent 966 TE radioplate set & fuel tank

Included in the 966 TE kit, this new radio plate set is also available for use with the regular 966. Featuring a two piece top deck made from strong 2.5mm thick bi-directional carbon fibre, the front stiffener is separate, but connected to the main radio plate with a trackrod. The flex can be adjusted by through the use of 2 screws, while he rod will then control the flex. Testing has shown a more effective flex response is achieved in the front part of the car. Also new for the 966 is the durable heat-stable composite tank with sintered bronze filter. The new tank features the same tank-cap as the Serpent Cobra cars, with angled tip for faster & easier refills, excellent sealing with improved shaped silicone rubber seal, heavy duty spring. The pressure nipple is now in the back of the cap, so it does not touch the sharp body sides.

View the radio plate set here

July 29, 2011

2012 IFMAR 1/8th Buggy Worlds to be in Argentina

Having provisionally awarded Funchal, Brazil with the 2012 1/8th scale offroad World Championships in Pattaya last year, under condition that they meet certain criteria, IFMAR have announced that Argentina will instead host the bi-annual championships. The decision was made at the IFMAR AGM which took place last Thursday at the World Champions in Vaasa, Finland during the break between 2wd and 4wd competition. The official word on the actual location in Buenos Aires and the date will come in the next few days but we were told by IFMAR vice president Carlos Gomez that the track will be located 10 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from downtown Buenos Aires. Having covered the last IFMAR Worlds in Argentina in 2007 we are very much looking forward to going back next year. We were also told that testing on the definitive layout for the Worlds will not be allowed prior to the event but the event will be extended to allow for more track time.

July 29, 2011

C.Andy’s 1/12th scale conversion kit

New from C-Andy’s is this 1/12th scale conversion kit. As you can see it has a pretty unique rear pod, with the motor mount making up the back bone of the assembly. The aluminium engine mount doubles up as a heat and it simple shape makes it very stiff and robust. The central damper is mounted directly to it as are the side damping tubes together with the lower pod plate. At the rear the hand made carbon bridge not only looks awesome by does a great job of mounting the aluminium rear axle bearing blocks. Slotted holes make it possible to set the ride height of the car. Extremely light and stiff, the conversion kit will be available in a limited edition of 10 pieces and is intended exclusively for the experienced rc car driver.

View more images of the conversion here