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• Sour Grapes Results

  

  George Martinez on May 11, 2012
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  Not Much for Touring car but just figured I keep up my Blog with other racing as well

  The Sour Grapes Race took place last weekend in Fort Myers, Florida. This race is a tradition for the end of the Forgass season each year. On Saturday night there was a dinner to award winners on each class. This year’s Florida State Champions were Capricorn drivers Roniel Regaldo in 1/8 scale and DJ Apolaro in sedan. The Sour Grapes race saw Paolo Morganti as the top qualifier in sedan with the new Serpent 747 and George Martinez in 1/8 scale. In the sedan race Rino Lino took the win, Steve Mc Nichols 2nd and Joaquin Desoto 3rd. In 1/8 Scale Chuck Moon was 1st, Tony Rice 2nd and George Martinez 3rd.
  
  Next Weekend will get a chance to run either 2wd buggy or tc just to much racing in Florida get's a bit hard to decide

• 2012 Cactus Classic Report (Better Late Than Never!)

  

  Mac Mitchell on May 10, 2012
  Tagged in: Lee Martin, Brad Krans

  

   

  Finally, Here's my report from the 2012 Cactus Classic held at the world famous Scottsdale R/C Speedway in Scottsdale, AZ.  

  This was my first event utilizing my Tamiya TRF 201x & 502x and I had plenty of dust to shake off and bugs to work out.  I received and built my vehicles the week of the Cactus (Tuesday night to be exact).  With only two days to learn the cars and get a set-up on there, time was working against me.  However, with help from Brad Krans & Lee Martin, I was able to get the right parts on the car and a good starting setup for the high-bite, challenging track that SRS had put together for this race.  I ran the 2wd Modified & 13.5 class along with the 4wd Modified class.  

  My Team Orion powered cars were getting better and better throughout practice and into the initial rounds of qualifying.  However, I had a few too many DNF's due to premature component failures (primarily stock a-arms that were too soft for the high heat of Arizona).  Once I put on the beefier arms that TFR racing so kindly provided, I was on a mission.  After Friday's re-sort, I was in the C-Main qualifier for 2wd & 4wd Modified and in the B-Main qualifier for 2wd 13.5.  Again, one too many mistakes & DNF's hurt my qualifying chances on Sunday.  I ended up in the D-Main in 4wd & 2wd Modified with a solid win in each class.  In 13.5, I was also in the D-Main but one of the benefits in 13.5 is the ability to "bump up" from a lower main by finishing within the Top 2.  With my 13.5 car the best it has felt all week, I was ready to tear up the lower mains on my way to an A-Main birth.  I ended up winning the D & C Main's by over 16 seconds each and was in a bump-up spot in the B-Main but due to some over aggressive driving from other racers in the B-Main, I was taken out of contention on the 2nd to last lap, ending my chances of an A-Main drive.   

  This race was a great way to become more familiar with these awesome vehicles and get ready for hopefully a fun & successful 2012!

  A big thank you to all of my sponsors and fellow racers who helped me out during the 26th Annual Cactus Classic: Tamiya USA/TRF, Pro-Line Racing, Team Orion, BC1 Graphics, Stick-It 1 Racing, TFR, Brad Krans, Lee Martin, Daniel Adams, & everyone who came out to make this one of the largest and best off-road races in the world!

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Finally off the couch!!

  

  Brian Givens on May 04, 2012
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  Well it's been almost 7 weeks since I have been on the drivers stand. I tore my Achilles playing basketball and have been sitting on my butt ever since. Surgery went well and I'm still in a cast for another 3 weeks. (Add sad face here) Last night...thanks to some really good friends I was able to get out to Revelation Raceway and get some much needed track time under my belt. Fortunately for me the pain wasn't that bad. The main problem was balancing on one foot and trying to focus on driving and hopping up and down the stairs to the drivers stand. I was pretty squirly out there but still a blast to get some much needed time with the 801x. Next stop is Westcoast RC Raceway and LRH Raceway for some 201 laps. They have no stairs to deal with and I can bring a stool up there with me so I don't have to balance on one leg the hole time. Ha!

  
  

  Next entry will be soon after I get my walking boot and get back to some real racing!

  
  

  Thanks to Bill M and Sean G for all your help last night,

  
  

  Brian Givens

• 502x Stock National Champion!

  

  Jake Thayer on May 03, 2012
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  Jconcepts Stock Nationals @ OCRC

  This past weekend OCRC in sunny Huntington Beach hosted the 1st annual Jconcepts Stock Nationals. The program consisted of rookie, sportsman and expert stock, 17.5 no timing classes to bring together the best stock drivers SoCal can offer. With over 160 entries, the race proved that stock is alive and well in the Mecca of R/C.  Once again, Jimmy Wright and myself would make the trek to Surf City with our 502x and 201 platforms to prove that Team TRF is and will be a team to be reckoned with!

  I had practiced my stock program with my 201 a couple weeks in advance. My 2wd has been so dominant at OCRC, I was very confident I would very competitive. Coming off a win at the second round of the JBRL with the 502x, I felt I had a great program to contest for the expert titles. I showed up Friday night before the race kicked off to break in tires and shake the 4wd down a bit; she kicked off right where she left off, posting the fastest times seen on the track, even on new tires. The 201 was extremely fast as well, comfortable. I knew that as the tires continued to scrub in, the lap times would only drop throughout the weekend. Jimmy's stuff was very fast out of the box as well. We talked at length about making a significant front end change, but didn't have time to throw it on before practice ended Friday night; I decided to get the things I needed to try in the morning before qualifying began. 

  Friday morning rolled around, and I quickly changed my shock location, oil and spring in the front. Automatically I noticed an increase in steering mid-corner to exit, better acceleration and actually jumped slightly better on the small rhythm in the front, a very tricky spot on the track where timing is everything.  Jimmy and I decided that this was definitely a step forward, and he would do this to his 201 as well. 

  Qualifying proved to be pretty difficult as everybody was pretty much the same exact speed. After Q1 and Q2, I would sit 6 th in 2wd and 2nd in 4wd. A TQ and a DNF with the 502, and a nice 4 and a dismal 12 in 2wd. It's very hard to keep your head together for 5 minutes in stock! You have to be absolutely PERFECT. The slightest mistake, even a bobble could knock you out of the top ten. After qualifying was wrapped up at the end of Friday, I would sit 6th overall in 2wd, and after 2 TQS with the 502x , I would sit on the pole in 4wd!

  Sunday would bring the main event program. We ran One 10 minute Main for 2wd, and one seven minute main for 4wd. My Novak electronics were working flawless all weekend, without a hint of overheating, so confidence was high going into the mains! 

  Both mains went very well. The 2wd main was a "close your eyes and shoot" kinda start, and I got the lucky end of the stick. After the first 4-5 laps, I found myself in second spot. The battle would then ensue for the second spot between me and AE factory driver Josh Numan for the first several minutes. I held jk. Off for quite a bit, but with my tire sauce just slightly wearing off, and corner speed slightly decreased, I had to give up the spot to Numan. For the last few minutes, I cruised, only to see another AE driver Jimmy Barnett knocking on my door, catching even the announcer, Nick Black off guard! I guess you could say I was muscled a bit from third spot on the second to last lap, to eventually finish fourth overall in the main. 

  The 4wd main event was a true "Barn-Burner"! AE driver and all around great guy(and 4wd rival haha) Brent Feige would start second on the grid. I took overall TQ, after 4 rounds, by 39/1000 Of a second! We would both automatically put a huge margin between ourselves and third place at the start. After mistakes from both of us, Jimmy Wright and his 502x would join the battle for the top spot! But after a tumble in the dreaded whoop section, it would be left up to myself and Brent once again. With about a minute to go , brent would have a good two second lead, when through the whoops, Brent would have a problem, putting me back in the lead! At the end, I only beat Brent by under a second. What a nerve-racking, but awesome race against my arch rival hahaha!!

  Overall, I thought it was a vet successful weekend for Team TRF at the Jconcepts Stock Nationals. A lot was learned once again, and the front end change we tried, I think, can extend over to other surfaces, which we will be testing I'm sure in the races to come. Very special thanks to Jimmy Wright for all the help and support, and for the super fast TS-GOLD tire sauce!!! :)

  Taking a weekend off of racing, the. It's off to Pegasus for the fourth round of the JBRL!

• Dash 4 Cash Series Race#1 4/29

  

  George Martinez on May 01, 2012
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  With Great weather in Florida this weekend brings out some real exciting racing this is the 1st Annual Dash for Cash series hosted @ www.kissrcraceway.com
  To Kick it off we included a new growing class that has revived some Veterans to come out of retirement USVTA Class
  The start of the series is showing signs with 6 Heats of racing that On Road is slowly coming back especially during some of the hottest month's ahead 93deg fro the day
  
  The Best thing this event gives me a chance to race when my duties are more on hosting the event each race will have a different layout to make it more challenging the layout we ran was fast & technical lap time for top 5 ranged from mid 12's
  
  A Main 17.5 Pro Boosted Qualified 4th overall & finished 3rd very intense racing my 417x performed perfect can't wait till next month
  
  The USVTA Class was so much fun watching this class with the bodies they are running makes it so realistic & enjoyable to watch the drivers battle it out look forward to this class growing & will support them at my track as much as I can

• Time to regroup

  

  Brad Krans on May 01, 2012
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  Finally a minute to write something.  I've been in the middle of moving, wedding planning, changing shifts at work and training for the awesome Air Force Fitness test (which doesn't like big people) so time hasn't been on my side.

  I'm working on getting ready for the on-road scene again.  I have a new TRF417x on the way as well as a few tweak parts to update my F104 Pro.  I'm trying to make it up to the ROAR Asphalt Nats in Chicago in August as well as attending the SuperNats at West Coast RC.

  Local racing here has been good, turnouts have been scattered since there are so many events so close to each other.  I really have to chose what I need to run.  I might even convert a TRF201 to run some dirt oval.  Its definitely a planning game to get the most out of racing based on my schedule.

  Nevertheless, my TRF801x is still in the box waiting on a few parts to complete.

  Hope all is going well out in the TRF world.  I look forward to seeing more of everyone in the next few months.

  Thanks to TamiyaUSA for all the support!

   

  BK

• Track'ster put to the test that it was built for: OCRC "Stock Nationals"

  

  Jimmy Wright on May 01, 2012
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  This past weekend the Track'ster was put to the test it was built for. The "Stock Nationals" at OCRC raceway in Huntington Beach California. 180 entries vying for the title of being a National Champion. The weekend started off well but being that my week previous had been so busy I had no time to freshen up either of my cars let alone try to get any practice with the 502x with a 17.5 in it. 

  I arrived at the track to my awaiting saved pit spot (Thank you Jake Thayer!) and quickly set up to get some track time. Two things I knew were going to be critical in making this a good weekend. A fast motor / gearing combo and the right tire / sauce combo. Yes, most tracks we run here in Southern Cal allow tire saucing and OCRC is one that must be done right. The Track'ster was shod with the new AKA Vektor tires in clay compound just as I had run for JBRL Rd 1. It took a few laps to get the lines down but once I did the Track'ster and I were in harmony and zipping by clicking off some great lap times.

     I put the Track'ster away to start working on the 502x and had some struggles. I was getting blown away by some of the guys that were in my class practicing. Come to find out we were allowed to run "open ESC's" for 4wd. ARGH! My GT 2.0 was programmed for blinky... Thanks to Ron Schuur he down loaded the proper software and I was back up to the correct speed.

     The first round for the Track'ster came up and I set the early TQ being in the first heat of the expert 2wd class. My 14 5:09 held through the second heat until the third heat of which Barry Baker, Steven Hartson and Josh Newman all went a bit faster relegating me to 4th quick. Unfortunately for me the track went away from my set up and I chased finding rear side bite. I slowed clear down to the B main after the 4th round where I didn't fair to well being both frustrated with the lack of rear grip of the 2wd and still chasing the right speed for 4wd.

      My B main started off great for about two turns and then it went down hill from there. From a 3rd turn punt into a pipe to later having my car fully stepped on not once but twice by the same marshal finally breaking the front shock tower and upper mount plate I pulled off. 

  The 4wd A main I qualified 4th and immediately took 3rd in the second corner. Knowing my ESC / gearing /boost-turbo was still not correct I took it very easy to see what would happen in our 7 minute main. When the leader and second tangled out of the whoop section I pounced and took the lead however giving it right back to them in the same whoop section where they crashed. I felt my set up fading from heat and had nothing for them for the final minute and cruised hoping for a mistake from either but both Jake and his rival were tearing up the track. When I crossed the line for 3rd I parked my 502x to watch the fight unfold to see Jake Thayer (TRF 502x) pass the leader on the last lap and take the win! I then finished out my final lap. :) 

  TRF 502x goes 1 & 3 at the Stock Nats ! 

   More on the Track'ster build as I promised coming this week with pictures.

• JConcepts Super Cup 4/28/2012

  

  Tim Potter on Apr 29, 2012
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  I was looking forward to running the latest round of JConcepts SuperCup series at Coral Springs Raceway. The Coral Springs track is a great facility that is run by one of the best track crews in the country. The last round of the series was rained out, so racers were anxious to put some laps down in anger. The weather once again put the race program in jeopardy. Quick thinking and flexible racers saved the day. The entire race was relocated indoors at my home off road track of Bashers RC Raceway. After a short practice, we were racing by noon. I have been running my 201 in Blinky 17.5 for the last few months, so I stayed with that class for the race. We have a bunch of fast kids in Florida, so I knew it would be a tough race. Last time out with the car, I set TQ and blew out in the main, so I was looking for a better performance in the main this weekend.
  
  With 26 heats, each round was about 6 hours long, so I had plenty of time in between rounds to wrench on the car. I wanted to put in a solid run in the first round, then push it for the second. I got a solid run in, had couple of bobbles and a lot of traffic issues, but still managed to set prelim TQ. The last heat of Blinky, Austin Venieza put in great run to pip my TQ. Mission accomplished for the first round. Sitting second, I could take a few more chances. I put on some fresh rubber for the second round, and did not make any changes to the car, I have a great base setup for Bashers, so I concentrated on my driving to pick up my pace. First round I did a 22 5:07, and TQ was @ 22 5:01 . From the tone, the car was stable and turning perfect, it was in my hands to make the time up. The fresh rubber was perfect, and I ran down the TQ, just getting ahead on the last few laps. I had a bit of a traffic problem with an overzealous lapper, that was enough to take me off the just about 23 lap pace. After getting marshaled, I still picked up 3 seconds, and put me solid in 2nd for the main.
  
  It's seems I have not run a main in months, This time around, I had to leave the track for some home issues, I was really bummed, because the car was right there. At least some more people took notice and we will be having another Tamiya racer locally. The TRF 201 has never let me down, always easy to drive, and fast as well. It will be great to have another racer showing the capabilities of the car.  This will make 3 Drivers in our area with the 201. I am eagerly watching Jimmy Wright’ Trac’ster to see what he comes up with for Blinky racing.
  
  Thanks to Bashers, Coral Springs and JConcepts crews, they made this race possible.

• Track'ster build; The final stages.

  

  Jimmy Wright on Apr 22, 2012
  Tagged in: Untagged 

  

   Project Track'ster proved it's worth last night at SDRC by out qualifying the field taking TQ by nearly 15 seconds! The biggest improvement thus far has been the addition to our (Track Star R/C's) Ceramic transmission bearing kit, this along with our full trans service has transformed the Track'ster into a freewheeling machine!

   

  Another huge improvement has been our "direct drive" adapter. This allows you to gear a 17.5 motor to the moon with out the need of motor timing. This accomplishes many things in one. Being that you are not using so much timing the motor keeps it's torque low creating better acceleration. Also gearing the motor higher keeps the motor turning slower. This also allows for better out of the hole acceleration and better control of wheel spin. (Yes, 17.5 will wheel spin) With this combo I have found better run time. Who cares in 17.5 right? You should. 

  Consider this; The less you pull from the battery the longer it will stay charged. Therefor the voltage doesn't drop as fast equaling more punch throughout your 5 minute run. It would be the same as running a bigger mAh battery but without the weight which in turn makes the motor more efficient. Win-Win situation.

  The Track'ster 201 is getting a full rebuild this week in preparation for the Stock Nats at OCRC. I will document this rebuild with pictures to show you what has been done.

   

  As always if you have any questions about the Track'ster or any Tamiya R/C cars or products you can email me at racecrafter@gmail.com

• 502x on top at Round #2 JBRL @ Palm Desert

  

  Jake Thayer on Apr 17, 2012
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  JBRL Round #2 @ Palm Desert

  The second round of the JBRL took us down the 10 freeway to Palm Desert, CA. Another record crowd showed up, bringing around 375 entries, a new overall track record for Palm Desert Raceway. Me and Fellow teammate/ Trackstar Team Manager/ overall Guru Jimmy Wright would once again be heading the TRF effort, with quite a few locals as well running the 201!

  The track proved to be very difficult to find grip with the 201. It's been awhile since I've personally been outdoors, and unfortunately it showed. The first round of qualifying actually went ok, seventh overall after the first. I decided to make a few setup and tire changes for the second that didn't work quite as well as the first, and wasn't able to improve my first round effort, but still squeaked the 201 in the main event! 

  The 502x was again, the class of the field. The first round went well, second overall for the round. Confident with the overall setup, went out in the second round and took overall TQ by 6 seconds over the field!

  The main events weren't run until late into the night, and with limited visibility, getting around the track, let alone racing was a challenge. The open 2wd main did not go well for me. The car was way worse than qualifying, limping it around to finish a dismal 9th place overall. Jimmy would fair way better, finishing in the top 6. A lot learned with the 201, or should I say memory refreshed haha! It's been awhile since the 201 has seen outdoor dirt like the Palm Desert track has to offer, but notes taken for the upcoming rounds at Bakersfield and Pegasus Hobbies. 

  The open 4wd main was a barn burner! The Race was a hard fought battle between myself and AE driver Justin Lew. we would swap the lead back and forth for most of the race. In the end, it was the 502x taking home the win, finishing a perfect weekend in open 4wd, and taking the points lead going into round #3!

  Overall, great weekend at Palm Desert. The track layout was a lot of fun, the weather was a bit on the hot side, but the wind stayed away all day, making for a perfect day of racing. Special thanks to Jimmy Wright for all the help of course!

  Next stop, the Jconcepts Stock Nationals at OCRC!