The Vortex MR8 and MR8L are Team Orion’s new 1/8 sensor brushless racing motors. They are equipped with sensors for perfect throttle control and a 4 pole rotor for improved performance. Available in two versions, regular length for buggies and XL for truggies and monster trucks and in a wide range or windings.
Based on the TLR 22 Buggy Kit, the Losi 22 RTR has all of the performance characteristics of its racing cousin but with a few minor differences in materials used and what is included. The Losi 22 RTR is equipped with all the components needed to have fun driving anywhere, or to be raced competitively. It can also be easily upgraded to the TLR 22 standard. The 22 RTR is equipped with the same suspension geometry and durability as the TLR 22 and uses a serious electronics package by using a Losi brushless sensored motor and speed controller that can be raced in competition. This RTR is piloted by Spektrum technology via the DX3E radio and SR300 receiver and to control the steering a Losi extra high torque servo is provided to give the 22 RTR a precise and optimum steering response. The 22 RTR comes built in the rear motor configuration only, but the parts can be purchased to convert the chassis to a mid motor configuration.
View the full feature list and more photos here
Serpent have released more new optional parts for their newly released S411, with the introduction of some new aluminium parts. First up are these aluminium track-rods (M3x38mm) and aluminium camber-rods (M3x26mm) to replace the kit spring-steel version, for those drivers looking for extra weight savings. Serpent have also produced a 19T anodized aluminium middle shaft pulley. This new part is very light and offers a lower wear rate with less debris staying on the pulleys surface than the kit version.
View the new aluminium pulley here
Team Orion are proud to welcome the next super star to their international racing team, with Dustin Evans joining their list of driver. The US driver, who won the 2011 International Off-Road Race of Champions earlier this year with a Team Orion Vortex VST Pro Modified motor, is going to use Team Orion motors and speed controllers at the upcoming World Championships in Finland. He will use the all new R10 Pro Brushless System to power his Team Losi cars.
Source: Team Orion [teamorion.com]
Seen at the World Championship back in April, Serpent have released their new new super-light gearbox for the 966. The current Serpent gearbox system has been in use for a very long time, and the Serpent design has become the industry standard, with small revisions only. Stronger engines, research, racing and new insights have fueled the new gearbox design and the goal was to reduce inertia, fluent power transfer and increase reliability even further. The gears have been improved, made lighter, more durable with improved gear mesh. A new aluminium flange which seats the German made one-way bearing is lighter and the bearing is seated more in the inside of the flange for better balance. A new aluminium bell is stiffer and thicker to stand the force of the shoes better and the bearing is in the center to create even forces on the bearing. A new aluminium brake-pulley adapter features 3 steel pins, and also requires a new brake-disk which is also included, and a new mono-type side pulley/pulley-adapter.
View more images of the gearbox here
This past weekend Round 2 of the Alberta RC Pro series was held at Medicine Hat, Alberta. The track layout was new for this year, with many saying that it was a driver’s layout with some very technical and challenging jumps. Ty Tessmann’s OS powered D8 & D8T equipped Proline tires adapted to the changing track, from wet due to the rain Thursday night to blue groove as the weekend progressed. Ty was able to TQ all 3 rounds of Expert buggy, Expert truggy and 4WD pro Short Course, and went on to win all 3 mains. In Expert buggy he won from Wayne Mah and Cory Drachenberg, while in Expert truggy it was Peter Toszer and Patrick Rogatschnigg who completed the podium.
View the buggy & truggy podiums here
World Champion Cody King traveled to France and Germany over the last two weeks, and picked up a couple electric 1/8 scale titles in the process. In France, Cody attended the Kyosho Masters event in Sucy-en-Brie just outside of Paris. After a rough qualifying and trouble in A1, Cody won A2 to force a final battle in A3. Linus Thern was leading, but with just a few minutes to go, Cody would take the lead and cruise to victory with his Team Orion powered MP9e. In Germany, the turn out was impressive, with near 40 entries for the electric 1/8 buggy class. Qualifying was better for Cody, taking the TQ honors. The electric format here was a semi and a main, so everything came down to the last run of the day. With Sweden’s David Ronnefalk in hot pursuit, Cody would grab the lead and set a blistering pace to take the win. This would give Cody two electric titles in two weeks on European soil.
Round 1 of the Finnish Championships was held in Jyväskylä last weekend, a nice technical track. In qualifying Jarno Siltanen was showing the pace by winning 2/3 rounds and taking TQ, followed by JQ in 2nd, Ari Heinonen in 3rd and Simo Ahoniemi on 4th place. In the semi finals there was no big surprises, Jarno took an easy win and secured the pole position followed by JQ, Teemu Leino, Matias Kuusinen, Simo Ahoniemi and Tomi Salonen. In the Main final, there was a close battle in the beginning between Jarno, JQ and Teemu. After some minutes JQ had technical problems, which left Jarno and Teemu in the front followed by Ari in 3rd and Simo in 4th. After 15 minutes of racing Jarno started to pull away from Teemu and half way trough the race Ari faced problems and retired. In the final laps of the race there was a close battle for fourth place between Petri and Matias, on the last lap it was Matias who made an awesome overtaking maneuver on the triple jump by overtaking Petri with the highest jump in the race and took the fourth place by half a second in front of Petri. Jarno took an easy win for Mugen followed by Xray driver Teemu in 2nd and Simo, also driving a Mugen in 3rd place.
