• fuel level indicator for XRAY fuel tank
• white transparent die-cut sticker
• displays fuel measurement in 5cl increments
• set of 4

What is SEF™94?

SEF™94 is the solution for all of your large-scale fuel needs. SEF™94 is formulated by the experts at VP® Racing Fuels specifically for optimum performance and long-term durability in small 2-stroke engines. VP® starts with a premium high-performance unleaded ethanol-free race-blend, and then premixes only the highest quality synthetic oil that exceeds API TC and JASO FD lubrication standards for you. 50:1 and 40:1 premixes are available along with a 4-cycle unleaded fuel ready for your choice of lubricant. Just simply pour it in and feel the difference!

SEF™94 alleviates ethanol related problems

• Contains no ethanol

• Addresses ethanol-related problems that stabilizers can’t fix

• Protects your fuel system

• Remains stable during long-term storage

• Runs cleaner and smoother, with better throttle response

• Extends engine life

Available in quart containers and 5-gallon pails, including:

SEF94 4-Cycle Unleaded Fuel

SEF94 2-Cycle Pre-Mixed with Oil

• PRE-MIX 50:1

• PRE-MIX 40:1

No Measuring, Mixing or Mess – Just Pour It In!

“NOTE: SEF94 is for use in small engines only. It is not a street legal fuel and may not be used in motor vehicles.”

Web: powermasterfuels.com / SEF94.com / vpracingfuels.com

• New Exclusive Lightened CNC 'Tim Bump' Chassis
• New Hard Anodized Shocks
• New Suspension Arms
• New Delrin Shock Pistons
• Blue OFNA Delrin Spur Gear & Black STRC Delrin Spur Gear

• Bump Lightweight CNC Chassis
• Four battery mount positions
• 30% lighter than stock chassis
• Narrow flat bottom chassis allows the chassis to roll more through corners without bottoming out or snagging on ruts
• 4 battery positions from 0mm, 8mm, 36mm and 46mm back
• Flextech front bumper
• Side guards and rollcage/handle
• Un-mounted wheels and tires
• Flextech rear bumper
• Flex control rear chassis brace
• Delrin spur gear
• CNC Motor Mount
• Aluminum center chassis stiffener
• Center CNC 7075 aluminum drive shafts
• New CNC hard anodized threaded shock bodies for smooth shock action and long life
• New Delron 2-hole front shock piston
• New stiffer front lower arms
• Hard anodized front shock tower
• New stiffer rear lower arm with an added 3rd shock location
• New Delron 3-hole rear shock pistons
• Lower rear arm can be moved forward and back to adjust wheelbase
• Front Pillow Ball Suspension allows for adjustable camber and caster
• Front CVD's
• Oversized battery box allows for different size 2S lipo battery packs and fine tuning of weight balance
• Dimensions: 5 13/16" Long x 1 5/16" Wide (147mm x 34mm)
• Uses 2 Velcro straps to hold in place
• Slim lightweight chassis design with superb weight balance
• Side guards to keep the competition from getting to your electronics
• Low center of gravity
• Includes the new Black 54mm Ackerman bar
• As an added bonus, NitroHouse now includes the STRC Delrin spur gear with the Bump Edition.

• Radio with receiver
• Servo
• Speed Controller and Motor
• Battery Pack
• Charger

By Greg Gimlick

By now the ubiquitous “toy” from Parrot is well known among the hobby and toy industry, but it’s really so much more if you just dig a little deeper. That’s why I put the word toy in quotes. There are reviews everywhere telling you what it’s designed to do and where you can buy it for just under $300. What isn’t advertised are the incredible capabilities of the inner workings of this drone. Parrot is a world leader in wireless technology and we’re the benefactors.

A few minutes online with a good search engine will bring you to all sorts of sources for geeking up your toy. The operating system is Linux based and therefore open source, but keep in mind that there is a lot going on in there and it’s best to check with Parrot’s website to read the licensing agreements. Another reason to check there is to tap into their developer’s support network. Universities and schools around the world are exploring the realm of possibilities for this device and the accomplishments of “amateurs” are incredible.

I’m not a programmer, but just from my experience with my A.R. Drone, I can see where it might be fun to walk on the geeky side and move beyond the provided game scenarios.

Photo taken from the front camera of the AR Drone while it hovered over my shoulder looking at me flying it with my iPad.

Screen capture of my iPad using the free AR Freeflight software to fly the AR Drone.

Screen capture of my iPad using the MatrixFlight HD program to fly the AR Drone

Jared & Megan Tebo have first child

Looks like congratulations are in order for Team Kyosho racer Jared Tebo and his wife Megan as they have proudly announced the birth of a daughter, Rosalynn Lee Tebo (born 11/18 at 11:29 AM). Rosalynn Lee weighed 6 lb. 13 oz., and baby and mother are reported to be doing well. What makes this story even more interesting is that Jared only recently returned back from the IFMAR World Championship held on the other side of the globe in Pattaya, Thailand. Jared was only home in Missouri for a few days before his wife gave birth to their daughter and the traveling pro easily could have missed the birth had luck not been on his side. The World Championship were also lucky for Jared who was able to TQ and finish third overall among the very best drivers in the world. RC Car Action and Air Age Media would like to congratulate the Tebo family on its new edition.

Getting into flying RC aircraft has never been easier. Today there are dozens of inexpensive options for RC enthusiasts who want to take to the sky. Thanks to several manufacturers that have designed RTF (ready-to-fly) planes and helicopters, you can be flying in minutes for as little as $100 bucks. The latest wave of micro aircraft has seen several RC car enthusiasts crossing over. Many of the microplanes and helis are not only easy to fly, but they have also wisely taken after the car side of the market. And what’s really great is that many of today’s planes and helis can be crashed and easily fixed much like a car. The wings, rudders, landing gear, rotors and motors can usually be replaced, which is much more appealing to a broader audience. If you’ve been curious about flying, now is a perfect time to give it a try. All of the editors of RC Car Action have spent some time in the air and we love it. You’ll dig the freedom of flying and the ability you have to cut up the sky. Simply find a park, baseball diamond, or a hill and you’ve found a new playground. Check out these five products that are perfect for the car guy looking for a new adventure.

 
HobbyZone Champ ($90)
The Champ will set you back less than a $100 bones and it’s super easy to fly. With the Champ you’ll be able perform a few tricks and throttling back the speed will allow 15-plus minute flights. The Champ is completely ready-to-fly and even the radio batteries are included. The Champ includes an AA-powered field-charger, so you can get in several flights while visiting the local park.

ParkZone Ultra-Micro P-51 ($130)
The Ultra Micro P-51 might be too much plane for a novice pilot, but you can always fly it at slower speeds to get your bearings. The P-51 will perform a number of aerobatic maneuvers and it’s pretty quick for such a small plane. The Ultra Micro P-51 is sold as an RTF so you won’t need anything to get in the air. As a bonus, you can buy replacement parts for this plane when you crash. You can also do minor repairs in the field with Scotch tape.

Force MH-35 and FHX Helicopters ($140)
Have a full-on aerial battle with your buddies right in your living room! The Force micro helis are not only fun to fly, but they also shoot infrared signals for disabling your foes during flight. These microcopters are perfect for hours of entertainment during the holidays or whenever your buddies are over. Sold as RTF, these micro helis won’t require any additional gear for their maiden voyage.

 
Flyzone Switch ($330)
If you’re like the editors of RC Car Action, you’ll stick with RC flying because you’ll get bitten by the bug. The Hobbico Switch is perfect for both novice and intermediate pilots. You can learn how to fly the Switch with the wing atop the fuselage (main body of the plane), as a “high-wing” plane. After you’ve mastered the plane in the high-wing configuration, you can remount the wing below the fuselage, which makes the Switch a much more aerobatic plane. As a “low-wing” plane, you’ll be able to perform tricks and the plane will be much more responsive. The Switch would be an excellent choice for someone who knows they’ll enjoy flying. Because it’s also slightly larger than micro-sized planes, it will perform better in slight breezes when the conditions aren’t optimal.

Flyzone Super Cub ($220)
It’s never been easier to fly the classic Piper Cub than with Flyzone’s RTF Select Scale  Super Cub. The Flyzone Cub comes with brushless power, a 1300mAh LiPo battery pack and a 2.4GHz radio system. The Cub is an easy plane to fly and would suit most newbies to aviation.

Did You Know?

- Team Losi Racing’s Mike Truhe is a very good heli pilot. Truhe enjoys flying when he’s not racing and knows a number of tricks, which take hours upon hours of practice to perfect.

- Kendall Bennett, the owner of A Main Hobbies, is not only an avid RC racer, but he’s also a very skilled RC airplane and heli pilot. His knowledge of all forms of RC has really helped his business succeed.

• Contains connection cables for both Pulsar Touch (4-cell capable) and Quadra Pro 2 (5-cell capable).
• For use with any 1-5 cell LiPo pack with a XH style LiPo balancing connector.

Pulsar Touch Sensor Wire Splitter

• Used to connect Pulsar Touch to your speed control and motor. This will allow the use of the motor check function to determine motor RPM and sensor function.

Pulsar Touch Temperature Sensor

• Designed for monitoring your batteries external temperature during charge and discharge cycles.

• Original - JConcepts Punisher design
• Blended wing / body design
• Includes rear spoiler and mounting hardware
• Clear polycarbonate with protective film
• Window masks and decal sheet

New from RPM:

RPM steps up to deliver a superior axle carrier design while using the larger outer bearings found in Associated’s #9730 axle carriers (common to some B4’s and all B44’s). The larger outer bearing supports the axle better, providing over 1/16” more axle contact than two 3/16” x 3/8” standard bearings, for smoother, longer lasting performance. With the larger outer bearing and RPM proprietary materials, we found the perfect blend of strength and durability for a whole range of Associated 1/10th scale electric vehicles!

RPM axle carriers are molded in black and factory-backed by our industry-leading warranty program and are proudly manufactured in the USA!

Tech Notes: RPM #70172 Axle Carriers (bearings not included) are stock replacement parts for the B44 while the SC10, T4 & B4 may require the use of Associated #7935 outer bearings. RPM rear axle carriers fit all versions of the vehicles listed.

#70172
Suggested Retail $10.95 / pair

• CNC-machined
• high-quality graphite
• protects the motor endbell
• includes mounting hardware

After Friday night’s track grooming, many of the lower finals drivers were raving about how fun the track was. It was definitely well oiled, but there seemed to be a bit more traction than the previous time the track was ran on this oiled. Sunday morning is here and the track looks great. All of the deep wear patches are holding up well. Drivers walk the track carefully examining the obstacles in their lines. Two noticeably good sections are the 4 staggered bumps leading the the huge double on the back of the track. The inside line is the fastest as typical but the gamble is jumping the inside bumps as a double. It is by far a faster line but most drivers opted to single-single the section rather risk the crash. The off camber turn leading to this section is now butter-smooth and the face of the first hit has been repaired making it much easier to opt the fast doubling line. Conservative driving has definitely been paying off on this track though.

Months, even years of preparation have been leading up to this moment. Teams have spent tens of thousands of dollars in expenses to be here. Every single person in attendance is standing around the track and the mob of media folk crowd around the drivers as they enter the track. I’m sure the 30 minute introductions seemed like an eternity for the nervous drivers. Many of the drivers nerves were worn on their sleeves as they would anxiously crack jokes about getting the race started. That time could not have come soon enough. I grabbed Ryan Cavalieri’s car from him after he was done taking photos, wished him luck and headed to the pits with Loudog (Louis Cavalieri). Warm-ups started and it seemed like every single driver was shouting at their pitmen to make last minute changes and tuning. Nerves were breaking down the confidence of even the best drivers in the world at this stage. I walked out to the starting grid with Ryan’s car, topped it off with fuel, and listened for the countdown. Before I knew it, we were off to crown the 2010 IFMAR World Champion.

TQ Jared Tebo held the lead off the start while hard charging Ryan Maifield quickly worked his way up to the front. These seasoned drivers know that the race is long and daring passes at this point could hurt them in the long run. The lead was swapped a few times between Jared Tebo, Ryan Maifield, Cody King and Atsushi Hara. Maifield, plagued with bad luck all week but driving amazingly well, flamed out and dropped of from the lead lap. At that point Tebo, King and Hara pulled away from the pack. Different pit strategies became prevalent as Tebo pitted on a shorted schedule than King and Hara. Atsushi Hara was very obviously the crowd favorite as he has been residing in Thailand. Every time he would crash or gain a position on the track, the crowd would roar. Hara was clicking of extremely fast laps but made many mistakes throughout the race. He would remain in second and third the majority of the time, by no means having a bad race. Europe’s top qualifier, Renaud Savoya dropped out early in the race with a broken a-arm. Ryan Maifield’s run ended early with a broken rear shock and his teammate, Ryan Cavalieri, was having throttle issues that sent his car into the fence multples times, ultimately ending in a broken car. With 2 minutes to go in the race Cody King found himself in the lead with a very hard charging Atsushi Hara at his heals. What was once an 8 second lead was quickly clipped to 2 second as Cody case a jump and had a slight bobble. The clock was ticking down to its final moments. Hara was pushing his Hot Bodies car to its absolute limits. Cody jumped over the back double almost side-by-side with Hara. Hara’s car came up short and flipped onto its lid. He was quickly marshaled back into the race as King cased another jump shortly after. King’s lead was more than enough though as he crossed the finish line, threw his hat off the driver stand and pumped his fist victoriously. Congratulations to the 2010 IFMAR World Champion, Cody King!

By Kevin Jowett

I've had this idea in my head since I watched the Blizzards on the slopes a few winters back. So this holiday season keep the kids in after dark....Santa's running a new whip!



For this build I used several of my favourite Xmas decorations from the Mcfarlin "Twisted Xmas" series especially Mr Claws and the team of elves.

A few pics from delivery day...
Santa gets it unwrapped and gets out a jug of the “go juice”. I had no doubt Mrs Claws was hovering outside the JKRC shop shaking her head and wondering how much this is going to cost!


I was busy in the office today, Claws and the elves must have been working away in the Olde Workshoppe. I could smell paint but thought it was just a spray booth flashback....I head outside to check it out and this is what was in the shop. The elves did a great job on the finish considering the primitive tools (good thing for lexan). The shell has 6 coats of Clear red backed with gold. Normally the final coats inside the body are black but the gold interior sells the Xmas theme nicely.

So I run inside to get to get the camera and return in time to catch someone test fitting the cab.

The elves did a quick mock up for us to show the projects direction. The color's sweet  and I was loving the material for the exhaust stacks...old Saint Nick holds the partially polished brass. He mentioned having to trim the body slightly for all of these modifications and before we knew it his auto body team showed up.

Day 2

The dog and I walked out to the shop today and happy hour was pretty productive, Rudolf did a crap load of yelling though....he's very passionate about his craft. Both he and the Claws showed off the progress on the build and some pretty cool parts were on now in from the North Pole. Most of the window mouldings were now on and the rails and diamond plate are installed on the rear deck.

The Claws fashioned this killer hood ornament out of some deer antlers (they had a small road kill accident last season while passing through town)

I asked Rudolf if we really needed 38 lights on the "Slay" this year. Well, as you can see by the look on his face he’s pretty serious....we just going to get those installed without further question.

Six - 5mm Red LEDs + Stainless pods mounted in the belly pan, the first of what should be a nice glow...

Frosty and the team make a few cuts to make room for the speed controller, the water resistant Traxxas XL5 was a great solution around snow.

While distracting Santa with a few cookies thrown on the floor Jack Frost clubs him unconscious...Santa's but weighs about 3 lbs, too much for the Blizzard so they needed to clone him then make some modifications!

While the real Santa had a nice nap in the tire pile everyone got busy on "Santa Clone".
A little barbaric I know but necessary! (Kids I promise no festive elves were hurt in this build)
When Mr's Claws gets home from the "Office" there may be some confusion.

Electronics are in and just laying out the wiring for the lights

Mr's Claws arrived home and was surprised to see the elves handy work!
Yes she brought home a candy cane for everyone!

 


The roof rack was made from brass stock soldered together with the mini torch and polished on the buffing wheel

Stacks are in place along with the emergency light polls. Up top there are 5 Bright white LEDs for spotlights and 2 flashing red in each emergency light dome.

Got the big fella mounted on the styrene base. He needed a huge raunchy Rat Fink style shifter and levers! Even after trimming his right arm stuck out just a little too far so a sliding window was opened to give that little extra bit of clearance.

St. Nick has some levers to control the rig, various sizes and lengths of brass tube and some heat shrink on the handles to look like rubber grips.

The wooden crate, a styrene shell wrapped with popsicle sticks covers and protects the speed control. The bag of toys is a Styrofoam mass is covered with paper towel and a white glue solution, both are painted and detailed to look like the real thing but are extremely lightweight.


After a bit of final assembly and touch ups the Xmas Slay was ready for decals. All of the Blizzard’s body accessories were sprayed gold to match.

Paint masks were cut for the meat packers crate at the same time as all of the gold vinyl

Claws is ready to rock....just add snow!

No reindeer were harmed during the build

Day 6 - Q5 & Q6

Qualifying round 5 has been completed. I just walked the track with Ryan Cavalieri and we were discussing the wear on the track and line changes to avoid the colossal ruts. Cavalieri has 4 quality runs already and is looking to pick up the pace a bit. His plan of attack is to slow down. I must admit, as wrong as that sounds, it is spot on. Corners are being blown through quite often. The cement picks up a layer of dust during the racing and becomes very slick, specially since most corners are off camber as well.

Jared Tebo TQ’ed Q5 with a 13/10:13.78 which wraps up top spot for qualifying.  Ryan Maifield was looking hungry for a good run to start the day and broke a steering servo in the warm up. Adam Drake’s points have varied by no more than 1 each round. He has nothing to lose for Q6 and I would keep an eye on him as he should be pushing it hard.

   
 Q5                                         13 laps  
 1 Jared Tebo                   10:13.78  
 2 Ryan Lutz                    10:18.31  
 3 Adam Drake               10:19.84  
 4 Mike Truhe                   10:22.86  
 5 Atsushi Hara                 10:23.20  
 6 Billy Fischer                10:23.78  
 7 Renaud Savoya        10:26.74  
 8 Ryan Cavalieri           10:27.03  
 9 Miguel Matias            10:28.84  
 10 Billy Easton           10:28.90  
 11 Taylor Peterson     10:29.47  
 12 Jeremy Kortz         10:29.93  
 13 Cody King               10:31.92  
 14 Travis Amezcua  10:32.96  
 15 Dakotah Phend     10:34.27

The weather this morning was back to typical. The skies are very overcast and the temperature is slightly cooler than yesterday’s sunny afternoon. The track is showing a fair amount of wear on the sweeper and the faces and landing of high speed jumps. The Dirt sections of the track look very loose and dusty. The concrete capped off camber corners are taking a darker color and have a bit of an oiled sheen.

Heat one started off with quite a few lead changes. Wheeler found his way at the top for a bit with Drake and Tebo Following. The win went to Billy Fischer creeping up from the middle of the pack with a solid run. All eyes were on Ryan Maifield in heat 2. He started off with what looked to be a comfortable pace and didn’t show any mistakes early. His second lap was a smoking fast 44.7. It looked as if we were going to see Maifield put down back to back to back TQ runs. It wasn’t until the last few laps of the race when he started to show being human after all. He made an unforced mistake on the sweeper and found himself on his lid. Its not a good place to crash as marshalls seem a little timid to jump on the sweeper as cars come through full punched.  Hara was on a 14 lap pace for most of the race and a few mistakes left him with a 13 lap run but took top honors for round 3 with a 13/10:09.99.

Round 3 overall results   
 1 Atsushi Hara 13 10:09.99  
 2 Billy Fischer 13 10:12.32  
 3 jared Tebo 13 10:12.78  
 4 Adam Drake 13 10:15.58  
 5 Renaud Savoya 13 10:16.57  
 6 Cody King 13 10:16.82  
 7 Mike Truhe 13 10:17.68  
 8 Ryan Cavalieri 13 10:17.87  
 9 Jeremy Kortz 13 10:18.05  
 10 Jorn Neumann 13 10:21.73  
 11 Jash Wheeler 13 10:22.70  
 12 Ryan Maifield 13 10:23.04  
 13 Darrin bloomfield 13 10:23.39  
 14 Dakota Phend 13 10:23.43  
 15 Yannick Aigoin 13 10:24.31

Overall points after 3 rounds
   
 1 Ryan Maifield 543  
 2 Adam Drake 543  
 3 Jared Tebo 542  
 4 Atsushi Hara 536  
 5 Renaud Savoya 530  
 6 Ryan Cavalieri 526  
 7 Billy Fischer 516  
 8 Ty Tessmann 509  
 9 Matt Castellano 508  
 10 Darren Bloomfield 505  
 11 Jeremy Kortz 503  
 12 Teemu Leino 503  
 13 Yannick Aigoin 501  
 14 Josh Wheeler 499  
 15 Mark Pavidis 496

The order of the heats today have been running 6-15 followed by 1-5. Midway through heat 14 of round 4, the skies cracked and the rains came. Heat 15 was sent out on the track and the race director called for a 25min delay in hopes of the rain passing. This sent many of the early round drivers scrambling to mount up softer tires again.

The rains came and went rather quickly. After the 25 minute delay the track was almost dry again. One thing that has stood out to me today is that not one single driver had a flawless or even close to flawless run. Fast laps are still there but every driver has been caught at least once by the ruts in the track. I caught up with Jared Tebo watching the race before his and asked him about tire selection after the drizzle. He shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t even know.” His final choice was AKA soft City Blocks up front soft I-Beams in the rear. Tebo piloted those to TQ the 4th round with a 13/10:09 which also put him up top for the overall points lead after 4 rounds. Off his double TQ’s from yesterday, Ryan Maifield had a bit of a reality check today. “My car was working really good, I just made a few driving errors and had a bit of bad luck” said Ryan at the end of the day. His first round was mediocre and he landed hard in a rut during his second round which popped a center drive-shaft out of place. After the day he dropped down to 36th overall. Team Losi’s Billy Fischer had another good day and already has 4 solid runs in his bag, finding himself in good position overall. Ryan Cavalieri looks like he figured out a few things with his car, put down 2 top ten runs today and find himself 4th overall. He switched to Proline Calibers up front with Revolvers in the rear. This is a tire combination that they tested and liked in practice but just went back to it today.

More rain is expected tonight so I cant wait to see how the dynamics of the track change even more.

• Most Festive Baja
• Most lights on a Baja that work
• Most Festive Individual
• Baja enthusiast who traveled the farthest to attend

• Multiple adjustable parameters via on-board programming: Minimum Brake (0-30%), Drag Brake (0-30%), Minimum Drive (0-15%), Dead Band (2-8%), Throttle Curve (Linear/Expo), Brake Curve (Linear/Expo), Brake Frequency (1.67-13.7 KHz), Brake End Point (10-100%), Drive Frequency (16-7 KHz), Reverse, Motor Rotation, Voltage Cut-Off, Hall Sensor Test
• Meets ROAR Sportsman Class Racing Guidelines
• Built-in diagnostic temperature monitoring that lets you quickly check the ESC’s operating temperature at any time
• On-board Hall Sensor Test to easily and quickly verify that the motor's sensors are working properly
• NovaBrakes™ provide instantaneous braking under any timing condition
• Sensor-based for excellent torque and low-speed driveability
• User friendly One-Touch programming interface with five colored status LEDs to help personalize the speed control’s settings
• Compatible with the entire 540 and 550-sized Novak brushless motor lines
• Robust 3-amp BEC for strong and fast steering response under any condition Highly Water-resistant case
• Cross-cut ESC heat sink for reduced weight and efficient cooling
• Meets RoHS compliance and includes 120-Day Warranty
• Designed, assembled and tested by Novak in Irvine, Calif., using globally sourced components

Keep checking back to http://www.rccaraction.com for the latest info on this exciting new company.

Day 2 in Pattaya was not off to a good start for many of the drivers.
The scene outside the Zign Hotel was a mob of drivers and mechanics waiting for the already late shuttle to transport them to the track. What was supposed to be a 25 minute ride turned into an 1:25 scenic drive since the driver made a few wrong turns. Many of the racers arrived a matter of minutes before their races and scrambled to grab their cars in a rush to the staging areas.

Track conditions started off well oiled but quickly deteriorated to dry and rutted. Pot holes and ruts became more and more prevalent throughout the day. Faces of jumps became rough and it showed as cars were flying in every which direction and car chassis were wearing thin. Saying this track is difficult is definitely an understatement.  The giant double in the back right corner of the track was always a spectacle to watch.

Jared Tebo threw done some unsurprisingly fast laps throughout practice and looks great going around the track. Frenchman Jarome Aigion set the fastest pace in today’s practice but many drivers are still trying out different tires an setups and not running the entire ten minute runs. Ryan Maifield, Atsushi Hara, Reno Savoya and Ryan Cavalieri were also throwing down some blistering fast laps in practice.
 
After watching many rounds of practice today, I must say that this is truly anyone’s championship. The only prediction that I’m going to make now is the winner isn’t going to be the fastest around the track. They will be the one who crashes the least and car stays in one piece. The track is absolutely brutal on both the drivers and the cars!
 
Tomorrow has another 2 rounds of practice in store for us. These will be timed rounds and determine seeding for the qualifiers.  The track will be getting some much-needed maintenance tonight. Once the racing starts tomorrow, the track will have to remain as-is for the rest of racing. This is getting good…

• Composite pivot balls
• Smoother suspension movement
• Set of 2

• PBS Suspension
• Mid Motor Design
• Fiber Woven Chassis, Upper Decks and Shock Towers
• Hard Rubber Drift Tires
• Composite Lexan Shocks
• 14 Ball Bearings
• Light Weight Spoked Wheels
• High Impact Foam Bumper
• Adjustable Caster, Camber and Steering Links
• Oil Filled Front and Rear Differentials
• Adjustable Track Width
• Light Weight Shock Bodies
• Chrome Y Spoke Wheels
• Spring Loaded Servo Saver
• Integrated Battery Holder
• Multiple Shock Positions

• Realistic short course racing truck body
• Reedy brushless micro speed controller with Deans® Ultra Plug® battery connector and Reedy 5000kV brushless motor
• AMT™ Forged style wheels with aggressive tread multi-terrain scale tires
• Realistic bumpers and rubber AE logo mud flaps
• Molded composite chassis with sealed drive train
• Durable gear differentials with a 2.0:1 internal drive ratio
• 2-belt drive system with slipper clutch, capable of handling most brushless/LiPo combos
• Dual bell crank steering for improved cornering performance
• Newly designed servo saver for optimal straight line tracking
• Hinged battery strap
• Complete set of 15 ball bearings
• Vertical ball end adjustments with durable fixed length turnbuckles
• Composite fluid filled shock bodies with adjustable pre-load

Get the Scoop on This Year’s Biggest Race!

By the RC Car Action Team

• 3+1 Port Chrome Plated Cylinder
• High Silicon CNC-Machined Lightweight Piston
• Knife-Edged 7075 Aluminum Connecting Rod
• ADLC-Coated Wrist Pin
• Chrome-Plated Back Plate with Turbo Scoop
• Balanced Turbo Scoop Crankshaft with ADLC Coating and Silicone Insert
• Precision Steel Front Ball Bearing
• Precision Ceramic Rear Ball Bearing
• Ultra-Lightweight Machined Aluminum Heatsink Head
• Oversized Finned Turbo Head Button
• Thermo-Insulated, Screw-Mounted 2-Needle Carburetor
• 7.0mm, 8.0mm, and 9.0mm Venturi Inserts

• 4600kv: 060-0000-00
• 5700kv: 060-0001-00
• 6900kv: 060-0002-00
• 7700kv: 060-0003-00

• 1.9" (49mm) length
• 1.4" (35mm) diameter

• Factory finished buggy body and wing
• Reedy brushless micro speed controller with Deans Ultra Plug battery connector and Reedy 5000kV brushless motor
• Dish racing wheels come mounted with aggressive mini pin racing tires
• Molded composite chassis with sealed drive train
• Durable gear differentials with a 2.0:1 internal drive ratio
• 2-belt drive system with slipper clutch, capable of handling most brushless/LiPo combos
• Dual bell crank steering for improved cornering performance
• Newly designed servo saver for optimal straight line tracking
• Complete set of 15 precision ball bearings
• Vertical ball end adjustments with durable fixed length composite turnbuckles
• Composite fluid filled shock bodies with adjustable pre-load

• Closed Cell Technology
• No air gaps in between tires unlike other brands
• Perfectly balanced
• 100% water safe
• Reusable
• Extremely durable
• Light weight
• For use on tracks that desire a firmer insert

• Closed Cell inserts (2 pcs)

Features:

• NEW Officially Licensed Ford Fiesta body and Ken Block/Monster Energy graphics
• NEW Officially licensed Volk TE37 Racing Wheels
• NEW green pushrods and toe links
• NEW Gymkhana-compound slick tires
• Ground-breaking performance capabilities for a new kind of R/C fun and excitement!
• TQ 2.4GHz Transmitter and Receiver with Traxxas Link™
• Ready-To-Race® with included 6-cell NiMH Power Cell battery and charger
• 30+mph with included NiMH battery, 50+mph with additional NiMH battery and Traxxas speed connector (sold separately)
• Revo suspension technology specially tuned for superior on-road handling and control.
• Full-time 4WD
• Velineon® 380 brushless motor—largest in its class
• Waterproof electronics
• Torque-control™ slipper clutch
• Sealed differentials
• Traxxas High-Current Connector
• Metric hex hardware
• Rubber-sealed ball bearings

 

__________________
Trevor "Chilly" Duncan
Online News Editor
Radio Control Car Action
rccanews@airage.com
http://www.rccaraction.com

• Quick transit time
• 125-oz-in of torque
• Duel ball bearings for higher preformance and longer life

• Factory-finished truck body and wing
• Reedy brushless micro speed controller with Deans® Ultra Plug® battery connector and Reedy 5000kV brushless motor
• Dish racing wheels come mounted with aggressive mini-pin racing tires
• Molded composite chassis with sealed drive train
• Durable gear differentials with a 2.0:1 internal drive ratio
• 2-belt drive system with slipper clutch, capable of handling most brushless/LiPo combos
• Dual bell crank steering for improved cornering performance
• Newly designed servo saver for optimal straight-line tracking
• Complete set of 15 precision ball bearings
• Vertical ball end adjustments with durable fixed length composite turnbuckles
• Composite fluid-filled shock bodies with adjustable pre-load

• Handy and useful pit foam
• Great for mechanic to kneel on when refueling in the pit
• High-density durable foam
• High-quality HUDY graphics

• Brass Engine Mount for NT1
• Solid engine mounting
• Easy adjustment
• Stiffer design yet more flexible than the Multi-Flex™ 1-Piece Engine Mounting System (#338712)
• Reduced chance of spur gear breakage/stripping
• CNC-machined from premium brass material
• Precision machined with highest tolerances
• Ultra-strong construction provides very long life and durability in even the most extreme racing conditions.
• Brass material is heavier by 26g then standard monoblock
• More in-corner steering

Video of interview in winner's circle

Oct. 30, 2010: The finish in Saturday afternoon’s Mountain Dew 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway was so close even Kyle Busch and his No. 18 Traxxas Toyota Tundra team weren’t entirely sure who had crossed the finish line first. But when the dust settled, Busch was posted as the winner by .002 of a second over Aric Almirola, the closest margin of victory in series history when using electronic scoring.

Busch, who led three times for just eight laps, went below Almirola in the final few hundred yards before the finish line and managed to beat him by inches when the checkered flag flew. The win was Busch’s second consecutive victory at Talladega and his sixth Truck Series victory of 2010. Ironically, Busch beat Almirola last year at Talladega by just .057 of a second. “That was cool,” Busch said. “I didn’t want to do it. Man, Aric (Almirola) deserved to win the race and deserved it from last year. I had Johnny (Sauter) pushing on me and I was getting loose through the tri-oval – just trying to stay with the 51 (Almirola). I turned it back to the bottom to try to straighten it back out and I was still loose alongside of him. I thought the 13 (Sauter) was going to my bottom so I wanted to block him. It was just crazy there at the end.

“I can’t thank Traxxas and Toyota enough– these guys do an awesome job here at Kyle Busch Motorsports. M&M’s, Flexco, NOS Energy Drink, Gillette and my good friend Jim Hunter (NASCAR vice president of corporate communications) who passed away last night. Thoughts go to him and his family and everybody. Real proud of all these guys and this is a cool one.”

The victory was Busch’s 22nd career Camping World Truck Series victory in 82 starts, but more importantly vaulted Busch into the lead in the owner’s championship with three races remaining. The No. 18 truck now has a 42-point margin over the No. 30 truck of Germain Racing, which is driven full-time by Todd Bodine, who was involved in a multi-truck accident on lap 91 and finished 18th.

“It’s not over until it’s over,” said Busch, who entered the race 30 points behind the No. 30 truck. “We feel comfortable with where we’re at especially after our win today with our Traxxas Tundra. We’re looking forward to these last three races and it’s going to be a shootout and a fight to the end. We’ll go to Texas next week with Interstate Batteries on board and then to Phoenix with Z-Line Designs and end at Homestead with Traxxas on board.”

Busch now has 83 career NASCAR victories (Sprint Cup – 19, Nationwide – 42, Camping World Truck – 22), and will next fly Traxxas colors at Miami Homestead, the finale of the Camping World Truck Series

Based in Plano, Texas, Traxxas has been building the world’s fastest Ready-To-Race® radio controlled vehicles for over 23 years. Traxxas models are sold exclusively in Hobby Stores, 4-Wheel Parts, and Pep Boys.

• high-performance
• specially-formulated steel for toughness and durability
• precision tolerances
• unparalleled concentricity
• precision-cut teeth with chamfered edges
• run-in for smooth operation

By Kevin Hetmanski

We get a lot of different vehicles here at the RC Car Action office, and while the cars and trucks keep getting better and better, there are still times where we're scratching our heads and wondering why some simple items aren’t included. It doesn’t matter if it’s a RTR or a kit, there’s often always something or some feature that is need complete the build or just a mainstay. Read on to see what we picked as our top 5 must-have items that should be included in all RTR or kit vehicles.

Ball bearings
Yes, it’s true that there are still vehicles out there that don’t include ball bearings. Today’s ball bearings are super cheap and there’s really no reason to not include them. With bushing equipped vehicles, you lose speed and efficiency due to the friction between the bushing and the parts that they are supporting. When the bushings wear out you run the risk of damaging the parts that they support because they are no longer held in the correct position. The biggest problem with bushings is that they are a pain to replace once the vehicle is built. You have to dissemble a majority of the vehicle to get them out. When you build a kit that includes bushings, save yourself some time and potentially some money and just purchase the bearings up front. That way you can install them while you build your vehicle.

 Decent tools
“Tools” are included with pretty much every vehicle out there but a majority of them are pretty much useless. Have you ever tried to use one of those L-shaped hex wrenches to remove or install screws on your vehicle? You end up hurting your fingers and stripping screws because of their poor quality and fit. The small 4-way wrenches that are included is just as frustrating to use. The first thing you should do when you get into this hobby is go out and pick up a set of good hex wrenches and nut drivers; you’ll be glad you did. Just about any set will be a thousand times better than what you get with your vehicle. We need some of these companies to start including some decent tools in the boxes. Maybe they can start molding handles and including inserts for those handles so you can properly use the tool.

Shock fluid
If you get a setup sheet that recommends fluids for the diffs or shocks, then that fluid should be included in your kit. It’s a real bummer to build a kit and have to stop at step 1, or halfway through your build because those recommended fluids aren’t included. Then you go to the hobby shop and get the fluids that you need, and if you own a nitro vehicle, you’ll find out when you get to the end of the manual that you need to go back out and get air filter oil. Yes, some of you may not use the fluids that are included in the box but at least you’ll know that ahead of time and will either have it at your work bench or will pick it up when you purchase your vehicle.

2.4GHz radio
At this point there’s no reason why a RTR shouldn’t include a 2.4GHz radio. We are amazed when we get vehicles that are either exceptionally fast or large scale and they don't include 2.4GHz. 2.4GHz systems are inexpensive enough to produce these days and are safer to use for the newbie because of the lack of frequency conflicts. Now you can go outside with your buddies, turn on your radio and go instead of waiting for someone to get off the frequency that you’re on. The other great thing about 2.4GHz is that a lot of them now use less voltage than the crystal equipped radios of the past so you end up saving money in the end. The good thing is that there is a shift in RTR radios happening and hopefully we will see 2.4GHz radios in all RTR boxes very soon.

AA batteries
The way we see it is, if you can include a 6-cell battery pack and a wall charger, there’s no reason to not include AA batteries for the transmitter and receiver for you nitro guys. That’s just one less thing that you have to pick up in order to get up and running. We want to play and play now! Even if the AA's are cheap and quickly die, we instantly have a smile on our face when they are included.

Honorable Mentions:

Blank Setup Sheets

Suspension Tuning Tips

Troubleshooting Guide

Maintenance Schedule

• Slash 2wd rear
• Blitz F&R
• Slash 4x4 F&R
• Kyosho Ultima SC F&R
• OFNA Hyper SC F&R
• Jammin SCRT-10

• Slash 2wd rear
• Blitz F&R
• Slash 4x4 F&R
• Kyosho Ultima SC F&R
• OFNA Hyper SC F&R
• Jammin SCRT-10

• Slash 2wd rear
• Blitz F&R
• Slash 4x4 F&R
• Kyosho Ultima SC F&R
• OFNA Hyper SC F&R
• Jammin SCRT-10

• Fully programmable, user-friendly interface with six adjustable parameters: Hill/Drag Brake (10 settings), Dig Power (10 settings), Dead Band (5 settings), Minimum Drive (5 settings), Drive Frequency (10 settings) and Voltage Cut-Off (Off/LiPo/LiFe)
• Three throttle profiles: Dig Mode, Proportional Dig Mode, and Single Output Mode
• Independently powers the front or rear motors in a dual-motor crawler vehicle
• Operates on both 2S and 3S applications
• Instant reverse via Novak’s Zero Reverse Delay providing immediate power
• delivery in both forward and reverse
• Compatible with optional Novalink (#5440) for expanded programming and
• ability to download firmware updates to the ESC
• Internal high-voltage 5-Amp Linear BEC
• Universal JST Input Plug for Ch.2 and Ch. 3, which fits all popular brand
• receivers
• Water-resistant case with silicone gasket seal
• Thermal Overload Protection
• Features a set of power output pins for running cooling fans, auxiliary lights, scale winches, etc.
• 13BMeets RoHS compliance and includes 120-Day Warranty
• Designed and assembled by Novak in Irvine, Calif., using globally-sourced components

• #3122 Havoc Pro SC / Ballistic Brushless System– 8.5T/5000Kv
• #3124 Havoc Pro SC / Ballistic Brushless System– 13.5T/3300Kv
• #3125 Havoc Pro SC / Ballistic Brushless System– 17.5T/2200Kv

Ballistic 550 Wound Stators - Speciality Winds

Ballistic 540 Wound Stator – 25.5T/550Kv

• The included 2-channel Tactic 2.4GHz sailboat radio eliminates any chance of same-channel interference with Secure Link Technology™.
• In addition to its powerful rudder servo, the Vela comes with a very high-quality, high-torque sail winch servo that features ball bearings and durable metal gears. With 153 oz-in (11 kg-cm) of torque at 6V, it has the muscle you need to move big sails.
• Vela is ready to handle brisk winds of 15-20 mph without capsizing because of its large, rigid keel. The keel attaches to the hull with an easy-to-remove thumb nut making transportation to and from the pond effortless.
• The generously sized rudder offers very responsive handling – the Vela can turn almost inside the length of its hull.

• 100v-240v AC Input Voltage
• 12.15v DC Output Voltage
• 47A Continuous Output Current
• 575W Output
• 11" x 2.25" x 3.125" dimensions
• 3.25 lbs
• Short circuit and over-voltage protection
• Heavy duty metal cabinet
• 1-year guarantee

• 100v-240v AC Input Voltage
• 24.3v DC Output Voltage
• 47A Continuous Output Current
• 1150W Output
• 11" x 4.5" x 3.125" dimensions
• 6.5 lbs
• Short circuit and over-voltage protection
• Heavy duty metal cabinet
• 1-year guarantee

• The 21XZ-B boasts improved fuel mileage, plus a long stroke for superior torque
• A 21J2 three-needle carb includes a 7 mm restrictor
• The 21XZ-B Speed has been tuned for championship-caliber performance, with a race-proven 3-port sleeve with special inner head
• The included 21J2 (B) carb comes with 3 sizes of restrictors for fine-tuning control
• Both engines feature a P3 glow plug for quick, easy starts in all weather conditions

65AX

• Ideal for trainers, sport planes and scale aircraft
• Drops in easily in the same mounting space as the 61FX ABL
• Includes a newly designed 61D carburetor with angled needle, plus an E-4010A muffler, #8 glow plug and needle extension cable set

• Fits B44.1 buggy ( (L: 64mm x W: 19mm x H: 13mm)
• 87g zinc alloy cast weight to offset the weight difference in LiPo batteries
• Keeps weight centralized on the chassis in between the LiPo cells
• Mounts with two screws-easy to install
• Used by Ryan Cavalieri to win 2010 ROAR Nationals, Cactus Classic, and Hot Rod Shootout

• Outer Diameter: 4.7" (120mm)
• Width: 1.6" (40mm)
• Inner Diameter: 1.9" (48mm)
• Advanced X3 Soft & Sticky Compound
• Reinforced sidewall

• High-dynamic Red clutch shoe
• Small diameter
• CNC-machined
• Hard red clutch material
• Less slippage and wear
• Recommended for medium- and high-traction tracks

Photo: Aaron Waldron, RC Car Magazine 

• Advanced cab forward design generates unmatched off-power steering
• Low profile rear deck feeds wing with clean air flow
• Made from durable / genuine Lexan®
• Super-low styling giving your B44.1 the lowest center of gravity (CG) possible
• Fabricated to fit snugly around each chassis component

• The long stroke 4-wheel independent suspension and full-time 4WD drive-train powered by the 18-size engine means nothing can stand in your way. Fully-factory assembled and in a Readyset package for instant off-road excitement.
• Big Bore Shocks - Equipped with large capacity oil shocks as standard. Soaks up bumps with ease and provides smooth landings. Features threaded shock bodies for chassis height setting.
• 2.4GHz Syncro System - The all new Kyosho 2.4GHz transmitter, ultimate safety and function included with all DBX 2.0 Ready Sets.
• Duel Brake Disks - Brake disks are equipped in the front and back of the center differentials providing reliable braking power. Enables separate adjustment and setting of front and rear brakes.
• Finished Body - Pre-cut body features sharp 3-color printed color scheme. Cab forward design of the body delivers optimal down force and airborne stability as well as increasing maximum speed.
• Multipoint Adjustments - Design features multi-point setting adjustments such as chassis height, camber, tread, front and rear toe-in etc.
• Large 1/8 Wheels & Tires - The DBX 2.0 comes equipped with 1/8th size wheels and tire combo, resulting in a larger footprint and improved handling. Giving you the 1/8th scale feel and look in a 1/10th package. All current standard 1/8th wheels and tires will fit the DBX 2.0 standard 17mm hex.
• Shaft Drive - The drive shafts run through the center for chassis to give you better lower CG and optimum weight balance.
• Fully Digital Servos - Equipped with digital servos for great response.
• Dirt Proof Radio Box - Dirt-proof radio box protects the receiver and battery. Can be attached or removed from the chassis with just four screws.
• Wide Stance - Long span suspension arms create the wide tread on the double wishbone 4-wheel independent suspension system for superior stability.
• Fully Interchangeable - Front / rear and left / right suspension arms, front / rear knuckles and front / rear shock stays are all interchangeable. Newly designed suspension with maintenance-friendly ball connect system.
• Power House GXR18SP - GXR18 engine mounted on 1/10 chassis that is normally seen with 12-15 size engines. Equipped with recoil starter, large cylinder head and tuned type muffler.
• Massive 105cc Fuel Tank - Includes newly designed 105cc fuel tank to supply the large 18-size engine with plenty of runtime. Delivers stable fuel supply even under severe driving conditions. Can deliver run times of more than 10 minutes.

• Easy Access - The trim, EPA and servo reverse settings are located on the top panel of the radio for easy access, visibility, and to prevent accidental changes by bumping, knobs normally located on the front of other radios. The advanced nature of this design is ideal for beginners and intermediate drivers. Two position trigger neutral point allows a 70/30 or 50/50 neutral position for the throttle/brake trigger, making it ideal for both EP and GP vehicle.
• 4 Channel Receiver - The advanced receiver design features four channels, which allows for future development and expansion. It also includes a fail-safe feature that will maintain control of your vehicle in the rare event of signal loss.
• Ergonomic Design - The advanced ergonomic design is very comfortable and delivers superior control. The transmitter is powered with just four AA-size alkaline batteries, which makes the Syncro balanced and lightweight, which virtually eliminates the fatigue common with heavier radios

• A Readyset is a fully assembled model that includes nearly everything you need to run. Body Color scheme is complete so only consumables like batteries and fuel are required so you can start operating the model without delay.

• Factory-assembled chassis with control linkages complete
• Equipped with special muffler and manifold
• Finished pre-painted body
• Syncro KT-200 2.4GHz / 4-channel 2-servo R/C system pre-installed
• Pre-mounted GXR18SP engine fitted with recoil starter and large cooling head.

• 20% RC Fuel
• 8 x AA-size batteries
• Glow Igniter
• Fuel Bottle
• Glow Plug Wrench

• Original - JConcepts Punisher design
• Blended wing / body design
• Includes 2 – 6.5" wide high down force V- wings
• Clear polycarbonate with protective film
• Window masks and decal sheet

Click here for video of this new buggy.

Just when you thought it couldn't get better, HB in collaboration with Atsushi Hara release the unthinkable, the HB D8 Hara Edition 1/8th scale 4WD Buggy Kit. Dedicated to creating "Best in Class Vehicles", the new HB D8 Hara Edition Kit is loaded with every available race grade hop-up!

Study the details and claim yours now at your favorite hobby shop.

NEW CHASSIS

• Lightweight 3mm chassis.

• Lightweight drive train and pivot balls.

• Optional front aluminum spindles included.
• New rear aluminum hub with horizontal captured pivot ball.

• New 5mm front shock tower.

• High Mount Tower with 112mm shocks and 68mm yellow springs.

• Threaded outer hinge pins.

• Atsushi Hara's personal setup including necessary silicone oil weights.
• 4.3:1 internal gear ratio
• 5x11mm clutch bearings