February 13, 2024

MIBO International ’24 – Offroad track reveal

Ahead of this weekend’s second edition of the MIBO International Race, the organisers of the Czech Republic event has revealed the offroad track layout on which this year’s competitive driver line-up with battle it out for honours.  Unveiling 2-weeks ago the onroad track it will be built next to, the offroad layout is the creation of event organiser Michal Bok, with the carpet track featuring 10-jumps.  Taking place in the Sports V Hotel in Hrotovice and starting Friday evening, the stage for two & half day event is set for some great battles in 2WD and 4WD Buggy between Schumacher pairing Michal Orolwski & Daniel Kobbevik, Sworkz duo Joern Neumann & Micha Widmaier, Team Associated’s Joona Haatanen and Xray’s star of the 2023 MIBO International Bartek Zalewski.

See overhead view of track layout here


February 13, 2024

Motowhips Exhaust coatings

Looking to add a touch of bling to your nitro car?  Motocross custom bike builders Motowhips is offering RC racers the opportunity to have their exhaust coated by the California based company.  The Oil-Slick style coatings for nitro vehicle exhausts can be applied to one piece pipes as well as the usual two piece pipes.  To add this Moto-Style customisation to your nitro vehicle for a Factory finish you can contact Motowhips for more information and options.

View coated exhaust & manifold here


February 13, 2024

European 1:8 Electric Buggy C/Ship – Stage 1 Report

Fresh from hosting its annual European 1:8 Nitro Buggy season opening Montpellier Grand Prix over the weekend, Circuit du MBM’s Stage 1 report for the 2024 1:8 Electric Buggy European Championship has been published by EFRA.  The 8th running of the title race for the category, the famous 300m French track will host the championship on June 07-09.  In 2023, Michal Orlowski became the 6th different winner of the title when he took victory at the Rhein-Main Circuit in Germany ahead of Top Qualifier Bruno Coelho and Burak Kilic.  To-date David Ronnefalk is the only driver to win the time twice after successfully defending his title in 2017.  Reigning European 1:8 Nitro Buggy Champion Juan Carlo Canas won the title in 2022 taking over the reign from Nitro World Champion Davide Ongaro.  With information about the track location, local accommodation and travel information you can view the full stage report here.

View Championship winners here


February 12, 2024

ProTek RC Samurai RM.1 Maifield Edition .21 Engine

ProTek RC has announced the pre-sale of its new Samurai RM.1 Maifield Edition 3-Port .21 Competition Nitro Engine.  Designed in collaboration with legendary professional RC racer Ryan Maifield, the new Samurai RM.1 enhances all the winning features found in the original Samurai RM engine and improves the power plant package even more through higher top end speed, increased fuel mileage, an improved and strengthened engine block, smooth yet powerful bottom end, and a slightly lower CG cooling head with new graphics.  “The ProTek RC Samurai RM.1 engine is smooth but powerful, gets awesome fuel mileage, and is easy to tune,” states Maifield.  “I’ve been running a pre-production RM.1 for a few months at a variety of events in different track conditions, and it has performed flawlessly everywhere I have been.”  Through extensive development and testing by Maifield and the ProTek RC R&D team, the new Samurai RM.1 increased fuel mileage by nearly 60 seconds while achieving higher top end speeds and maintaining a smooth bottom end.  It also features a steel backplate insert to reduce friction and wear while increasing RPMs and providing a stable idle.  A strengthened, black-coated crankcase is also included to maximise durability and reliability.  It also utilises a 3-port ABC piston and cylinder that are designed to offer more torque over the power range, while the blue anodised aluminium LCG cooling head with etched ProTek RC, Samurai, and RM logos on the top keep the weight as low as possible to achieve supreme stability and handling performance.

View more images here


February 12, 2024

Zalewski heads Xray challenge for MIBO International

Defending MIBO International Offroad Champions Xray has announced its team for the second edition of the upcoming Czech Republic based event.  At the inaugural running of the event Bruno Coelho won both 2WD and 4WD buggy ahead of young Xray talent Bartek Zalewski who kept the multiple World Champion honest.  Securing the 2WD TQ last year, now Zalewski will head the Slovakian’s offroad efforts.  Enjoying a podium double at the recent EOS Daun, the on-form Zalewski will resume his battles with Schumacher’s Michal Orlowki and Team Associated’s Joona Haatanen with Sworkz’ Joern Neumann joining the mix at the Sports V Hotel in Hrotovice.  The Polish teenager will be joined by Xray’s Max Gotzl and lead offroad chassis designer Martin Bayer.  An event that sees a double track build allowing offroad and onroad to race side by side, in the onroad competition Xray will be represented by Martin Hudy, Jan Ratheisky, David Ehbrar and newly crowned Snowbirds FWD Champion Stefan Schulz.

Source: MIBO [mibosport.com]


February 12, 2024

INS14 kicks off with double win for Rivkin

The 14th season of the popular JConcepts Indoor National Series kicked off at Trackside Hobbies over the weekend where Team Associated’s Spencer Rivkin took the buggy double.  The first of 5 stops on the 2024 calendar, the JConcepts Winter Dirt Indoor Nationals attracted over 330 entries to the Wisconsin track once owned by legendary race announcer Scotty Ernst.  In 2WD qualifying, Rivkin topped two of the three rounds to secure the overall TQ from the Xray of Chase Lemieux who took Q3 with Schumacher’s Broc Champlin 3rd ahead of team-mate Ryan Cavalieri.  4WD would also see Rivkin take pole this time from Xray’s Tom Rinderknecht and TLR’s Cole Tollard with Davey Batta who topped Q1 ending up 4th.  In the 2WD finals, Rivkin took A1 but had a rough A2 finishing P8 as Cavalieri came through for the win ahead of Lemieux.  A clean A3 would see Rivkin lead home the field half a second up on Lemieux with Cav third and that was how they would line up on the overall podium.  In 4WD, Rivkin was able to secure an early win with victory in the opening two Mains and with a win in A3 Tollard secured 2nd with Rinderknecht 3rd after winning the tie break with Aydin Horne.  Round 2 of INS14 switches to carpet with RC One Racing in Michigan hosting the JConcepts Spring Carpet Indoor Nationals on March 22-24.

Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]


February 12, 2024

Spower Japan B7HP ‘Soul’ Hand Modified .21 Offroad

Following on from the release of its first hand modified racing engine that was specifically for 1:8 GT, Spower has added a second engine to the ‘Soul’ series with the popular B7TT .21 offroad engine undergoing the special treatment.  Based on long-stroke B7TT, the new B7HP piston/liner comes with hand modified conventional 3-ports type enabling more torque the power range.  The stronger DLC coating on new crankshaft has also hand modified with 2 tungsten counterweights contributing to consistent idling and quicker RPM response according to the throttle movements.  It also comes standard with Spower’s Boost rear cover plate which helps this high RPM engine work more stable from the top speeds to the lower range.  The new printing technology not only makes the cooling head colourful but also makes it blend in with your car.  The factory combo setup with Spower Japan 75mm Exhaust Manifold + EFRA 2089 pipe, B7HP will provide a lot of power  plus best fuel mileage for your offroad racing needs.

View Spec and mores images


February 11, 2024

Berton wins Montpellier GP

Infinity’s Riccardo Berton has won the Montepellier GP, the Italian winning the 18th running of the French classic ahead of reigning European Champion Juan Carlos Canas and reigning World Champion Davide Ongaro.  In qualifying it was the Sworkz of Canas that secured the TQ topping two of the 4 rounds after rain forced the cancellation of Q5.  Fastest in Q3, Berton took 2nd followed by the Xray of David Ronnefalk who mastered the Circuit du MBM in Q4.  Aiming his third Montepellier GP win in a row, Ongaro’s Team Associated ended up 4th.  Winning his Semi B Final, the top 3 setting faster times than the winning time Canas in the Semi A, it was 2016 winner Berton who lined up on pole position for the 1-hour 14 buggy final ahead of Ongaro, Jonny Skidmore with Canas P4.  In an exciting final Canas would be the long time race leader but with his OGO tyres equipped pre-production IFB8, Berton went to the first in the last third of the race to secure the win by just over 1-second from his Spanish rival.  After a rough start that left him at the back of the pack, Ongaro set the fastest lap of the race to recover and complete the podium at the European 1:8 Offroad season opener.  Making it four different manufacturers in the Top 4, Mugen’s Burak Kilic finished fourth ahead of Elliott Boots and Theo Lemaire.

Image: Circuit du MBM [Facebook]