Maifield, Cavalieri, and Tessman TQ as Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout readies for A-Mains

Maifield, Cavalieri, and Tessman TQ as Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout readies for A-Mains

Situated at the northern edge of Los Angeles County, the city of Santa Clarita is best known as the location of Six Flags Magic Mountain. For sixteen years it has also hosted the Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout, a local event that quickly turned into one of the biggest and most competitive electric off-road races in the United States. The abrasive track surface offers incredible traction without being sugared, making for exciting racing action in all classes – of which fourteen were offered for this year’s event.

hrhpano

Built by Sik Track Designs, the high-speed layout features three large jump sections. Click the photo for a larger version.

The race has also earned the nickname “Hot Rod Sweatout,” with seasonably sweltering temperatures sometimes exceeding 115 degrees. Rare cloud cover this year has kept the mercury in the 90s, instead bringing with it oppressive humidity and a chance of rain for Sunday’s main events. Although this year’s turnout was the lowest since the event’s infancy, the qualifying action was as intense as ever as the “who’s who” of electric off-road using the Shootout as another step in preparing for the upcoming IFMAR World Championships.

2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 202

TLR’s Mike Truhe has a history of strong performances at the Shootout, so it’s no surprise that the nitro specialist is here this weekend.

2WD Modified Short Course

Team Associated‘s Ryan Maifield, a two-time ROAR National Champion in the class, stole the show with four straight TQ runs that got faster each time he hit the track. The battle behind him was much closer, with Cactus Classic winner Ryan Cavalieri, Maifield’s teammate, beating TLR‘s Dustin Evans on the combined time tiebreaker to secure the second spot on the grid.

2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 005

Ryan Maifield (left) will lead the charge into turn number one ahead of hungry competitors like Dustin Evans (right).

  1. Ryan Maifield
  2. Ryan Cavalieri
  3. Dustin Evans
  4. Cody Turner
  5. Doug Nielsen
  6. David Jenson
  7. Ryan Dunford
  8. Corey Peterson
  9. Chad Bradley
  10. Nick Sava
2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 192

As with any big event there are company reps aplenty – here’s Team Novak‘s Charlie Suangka talking shop with Brent Fiege from AKA while sitting in the TLR pits.


Modified Truck

In a reversal of the Short Course division, defending ROAR National Champion Ryan Cavalieri captured the TQ position over Cactus Classic winner Ryan Maifield. Cavalieri won on both Friday and Saturday morning to grab top honors and a much-needed advantage on his teammate, who put in the fastest run of the weekend in Saturday’s final round.

2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 195

It’s rare that Ryan Cavalieri earns TQ in just one class, especially at the Shootout. Check out the game face – you know he means business.

  1. Ryan Cavalieri
  2. Ryan Maifield
  3. Dakotah Phend
  4. Dustin Evans
  5. Jared Tebo
  6. Steven Hartson
  7. Mike Truhe
  8. Billy Fischer
  9. Nolan Anderson
  10. Kevin Motter
2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 198

When he’s not tapping away on his iPhone, TLR phenom Dakotah Phend is flying around the high-speed HRH course. He’s the team’s best chance of a win in Modified Stadium Truck tomorrow.


4WD Modified Buggy

Driving a Team Associated B44.2 FT as his sponsor doesn’t make a car for the class, Hot Bodies‘ Ty Tessman logged two round wins and two second-place finishes on his way to the overall TQ for 4WD Modified Buggy. The double-winner at last month’s IFMAR Worlds Warm-Up race will have great company lining up behind him, as fourth round TQ Ryan Maifield edged first round victor Jared Tebo on a tiebreaker.

2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 190

Ty Tessman and his father, Gord, are hard at work on Ty’s buggies as he goes for his second double-win in as many big events.

  1. Ty Tessman
  2. Ryan Maifield
  3. Jared Tebo
  4. Ryan Cavalieri
  5. Cody King
  6. Steven Hartson
  7. Drew Moller
  8. Brent Thielke
  9. Cody Turner
  10. Nolan Anderson
2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 200

Former IFMAR 1/8-Scale World Champion and Kyosho team driver Cody King tried his hand at electric racing this weekend, qualifying fifth in 4WD Modified Buggy


2WD Modified Buggy

The battle for the TQ spot went down to the final lap, literally, as Ryan Maifield won both rounds on Saturday and recorded the only 18-lap run in the division to beat Cavalieri on a tie-breaker after the current World Champion’s sweep of Friday’s opening runs. For the third time this year the 2WD class was dominated by mid-motor buggies, with Steven Hartson and Nolan Anderson the only rear-motor vehicles to qualify for the A-Main.

2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 196

Several of Team Associated’s top pilots are using the Centro mid-motor conversion on their B4.2 Factory Team buggies. Here’s Cavalieri’s car, which he asked not to be photographed with the body off.

  1. Ryan Maifield
  2. Ryan Cavalieri
  3. Ty Tessman
  4. Jared Tebo
  5. Dakotah Phend
  6. Dustin Evans
  7. Steven Hartson
  8. Cody Turner
  9. Nolan Anderson
  10. Mike Truhe
2013 Hot Rod Shootout Qualifying 041

There’s a reason Dakotah Phend’s TLR 22 isn’t sporting his typical paint scheme – that’s a prototype body with a forward-mounted cab and angular panels for more downforce.


The first leg of the A-Mains kicks off at 8:30 AM. Stay tuned for final results!

Never miss an issue of RC Car Action!

Subscribe today with a Digital Edition subscription or Print + Digital combo!

 

Updated: July 21, 2015 — 3:40 PM
Air Age Media ©