Adding to its extensive range of aftermarket parts, T-Works has produced replacement diff cups for use on both the Sworkz S35.4 and Sparko F8 1:8 Buggy platforms. Made from spring steel and hard coated for extra strength & increased life span, the cups are offered as a set of two for both the front & rear diffs as well as the centre diff of the buggies.
JConcepts has announced the signing of European 1:8 Buggy Champion Juan Carlos Canas to its 2024 race team. The 21-year-old Spaniard is the current European Champion in both the Nitro and E-Buggy classes and finished on the podium place at the 2022 IFMAR World Championship. Joining JConcepts after his deoarture from Hotrace Tyres, he bolsters the American brands team line-up heading into this IFMAR World Championship year which takes in Sao Paulo City, Brazil, in September. Company founder Jason Rouna said, “I’ve witnessed Juan racing the world circuit for many years and have always marveled at the speed and ability. We are constantly trying to improve our product, with this addition, we want to push our range further than ever before.” Commenting on the announcement Canas stated, “I’m happy to join JConcepts. I’ve been a fan of their products for a long-time. The style of their body shells and aero items is incredible. There are so many different tires and compounds to choose from, I’m excited to get to know the options and work with the team.” The Sworkz driver will make his debut with JConcepts at the up coming 2024 Montpellier GP in France.
Source: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]
New from Yeah Racing is this SSG graphite upgrade set for the Tamiya Top Force 1:10 4WD Buggy. Transform the look with the silver surface graphite (SSG) as well as the performance of the buggy with the included 3.0mm Chassis Deck, 2.5mm Front Shock Tower, 3.0mm Rear Shock Tower, 2.5mm Top Deck and Battery Mount Plates. Offering better flex characteristics, the upgrade set produces improved cornering.
Sworkz’ Brandon Rose claimed the first major win of his career with victory in 1:8 Nitro Buggy at the Southern Indoor Championship in Alabama, and he did it in style beating Top Qualifier and 2023 Triple Champion Dakotah Phend. The RaceTime Entertainment organised event is the first major 1:8 Offroad event of the year and attracted over 500 entries to the indoor venue. Qualifying would consist of three rounds with Phend’s TLR topping Q1 and Q3 for the overall TQ. Taking Q2, Sparko Racing’s Tyler Jones would secure P2 on the grid ahead of the Tekno of Ryan Maifield and with Rose 4th. In the half hour final after Phend led away before Maifield took a turn at front, as the race reached the 1/3 distance Rose got out front where he would stay to the finish for a popular breakthrough win. Half a lap back Phend would take 2nd with Rose’s Sworkz team-mate Mason Fuller completing the Top 3 5-seconds up on Maifield. In eBuggy it was victory for Maifield from Phend while in Nitro Truggy Phend came way with the winner ahead of Camden Lime.
Image: JConcepts [jconcepts.net]
Team Associated’s Tommy Hall has won the BRCA British Offroad Masters hosted by the well respected Worksop Radio Car Club in the UK. Run using the famous Reedy Race Format, drivers competed without any qualifying in 5 heads up races first in 2WD before repeating the format again in 4WD. With each driver counting their best 4 results per class, at the end of 2WD it was Schumacher’s Lee Martin who was the points leader notching up 4 wins and a second. Behind, each counting three wins and a second place, it was Martin’s team-mate Michal Orlowski, Team Associated duo Tommy Hall & Neil Cragg and Xray’s Jonny Skidmore all on 5-points. In 4WD, Martin opened well notching up a win but then the former European Champion’s challenge took a hammering as 2022 European Champion Tommy Hall added 4 wins to top the 4WD ranking from Skidmore and secure the overall win on a total of 9-points ahead of Skidmore on 10-points with former World Champion Cragg completing the podium. P3 and P4 after issues with traffic in the closing two races left reigning European Champion Orlowski P4 while after his strong start to the unique Reedy Race format Martin would finish down in 7th.
Image: Muz Schumacher / BRCA [Facebook]
Running along side the famous 1:1 scale Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, it was JConcepts/Team GFRP driver Jordan Hefler who came away with the SC Modified win at the tenth edition of the RC Chili Bowl. Attracting just shy of 600 entries, the Scotty Ernst organised event is one of the biggest in the industry with its tented indoor pit area packed with manufacturers involved in the R/C oval racing scene. Concluding this year’s event it was again the final of SC Modified presented by Fusion Motorsports. Being the favourite and actually taking a win were two different things and as it would turn out, the three front runners late in the race left the rest of the field behind by two laps. The trio of Hefler, Zac Rose and Kevin McNatt were steam rolling through traffic fighting for a pass. With a couple of consecutive lead changes and the remaining laps running down, Hefler would have the lead at the right time to take the win. Rose would finish in the second spot, going one better than in 2023, just 1-second behind with McNatt completing the podium a further 6/10ths back.
Image: RC Chili Bowl [rcchilibowl.com]
Round 4 at EssexCarpetClash saw everyone return after Christmas ready for another round of the popular south based UK series. Another track was ready for a full days racing, that some found challenging to grips with, but would find their feet quickly once racing started. Lee Martin showed the pace of his Schumacher ride, topping the timing sheets in all the four qualifying runs. Team mate Ben Smith would line up second on the grid joint on points with Xray driver Harley Eldridge, only being beaten by a second on count-back timing. Charlie Ware, Kyle Moon and Ed Kerry all had good qualifying round scores, taking the next three grid places for the 11 car A final. Martin continued with how he set off in qualifying and would not look back, again taking all 3 leg wins and giving him the perfect race day! The fight would then be between Smith and Eldridge, who would sit where on the podium having both finished 2nd and 3rd in the first 2 finals. Smith managed to take the second step, with Eldridge rounding off the podium position.
T-Works have released new 92.5mm steel CVD sets that are intended for the Sparko F8 and Sworkz S35.4 1:8 buggies. The front and rear CVDs are offered in full steel option or as an Alu option which is fitted with an aluminium Axle Shaft. The is also the option to replaces the steel axle shaft with a Hard Coated 7075-T6 Aluminium version that comes complete cover.
