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Orlowski fastest in 4WD practice

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 09:57 AM PST

Reigning DHI Cup Champion Michal Orlowski set the quickest time in 4WD practice, the Schumacher driver leading the times from Karri Salmela and Jesper Rasmussen. Second fastest behind David Ronnefalk in the earlier 2WD practice, Orlowski would end 4WD with 6/10ths of a second advantage over Salmela while Ronnefalk, the only other driver in the Top 8 to improve his time in the final practice, ended up P4.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

Orlowski fastest in 4WD practice

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 09:49 AM PST

Reigning DHI Cup Champion Michal Orlowski set the quickest time in 4WD practice, the Schumacher driver leading the times from Karri Salmela and Jesper Rasmussen. Second fastest behind David Ronnefalk in the earlier 2WD practice, Orlowski would end 4WD with 6/10ths of a second advantage over Salmela while Ronnefalk, the only other driver in the Top 8 to improve his time in the final practice, ended up P4.

Running the same prototype car that he raced at the World Championships but which has undergone a number of parts tweaks, Orlowski said ‘the car felt good from the first practice and given I have not had much running with this car I am happy with the pace’. With Schumacher doubling the weight of its factory team for 2018 with the signing of Joern Neumann, Orlowski highlighted the fact that he has been trying to help Joern Neumann get familiar with the prototype. Asked about the sharing of set-up info, the Pole said, ‘we are running similar set-ups to one another but our driving styles are very different’. Having switched to a thicker roll bar and softer spring he said this ‘worked real good’ and the plan for Q1 tomorrow is to leave it unchanged concluding, ‘I don’t know what more to change because the car already feels good’.

‘Surprisingly good’ was how Salmela summed up setting the second fastest time. The Team Associated driver continued, ‘we finally have a good track in Finland and maybe that is why it so good here’. Having spent two weeks helping with the completion of his home club’s new indoor track he then spent the week ahead of the DHI getting in practice. While also using the EOS carpet which the DHI is using for the first time this year, he said his home track’s carpet is older and has less grip but the higher grip in Odense wasn’t much of a problem so much so ‘I haven’t done anything to the 4WD since getting here’.

Having set the fifth fastest time in 2WD, Rasmussen summed up his P3 pace in 4WD as ‘better than 2WD’. The Dane said having started out with his base set-up on his Associated, it proved too soft. Improving the car by changing to thicker oil, he said that other than that how to cut the pins on the tyres was the only other thing he needed work on adding ‘I think we are on the right way now’.

‘So, so’ was how Ronnefalk summed up his pace, the Swede being over a 1-second off Orlowski on his best 3-consecutive laps. The HB Racing driver continued,’ the car was very difficult to drive in the first few rounds so I tried to adapt the set-up for the track’. Having, like Salmela, used his local track to test for the DHI he also found the grip levels higher in Odense. Describing his car as having ‘got better in the last one’ he concluded, ‘we still need to improve quite a lot to match Orlowski’s pace. The car is nervous to drive and wants to flip easy so we will see what can be done for qualifying’. Behind Ronnefalk fellow countryman Elias Johansson set the fifth fastest time with David Hassel completing the Top 6.

For Neumann, P8 was the best he could manage as his final practice lasted just two laps due to a loose pinion in the car’s prototype drivetrain. Engineer Tristram Neal put his hand up for the German’s lost valuable track time but Neumann said even with the short run the car ‘already felt better’ over the previous runs. He concluded, ‘I am still learning but the car works very good, Michal shows it has the pace’.

View our event image gallery here.

Tekno EB410 lightweight body shell & wing

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 07:10 AM PST

Tekno RC have announced a lightweight body and wing for the EB410 1/10th scale 4WD buggy. The new 0.5mm body and 0.8mm thickness wing maintain original kit styling while reducing the material thickness. When combined, the body and wing achieve a savings of 20-grams versus the stock parts which lowers the centre of gravity and improves vehicle handling and acceleration on all track surfaces. The parts are available separately from now on.

Source: Tekno RC [teknorc.com]

Ronnefalk tops 2WD practice at DHI Cup

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 05:44 AM PST

David Ronnefalk set the fastest time in 2WD practice at the DHI Cup this morning in Denmark, the HB Racing driver quickest from back to back reigning champion Michal Orlowski. Winner of the event in 2015, Ronnefalk set a fastest 3-consecutive lap time of 57.514 compared to Orlowski’s 57.597 with the Top 3 completed by 13-year-old Elias Johansson with a time of 57.955. With the event marking 7-time DHI Offroad Champion Joern Neumann’s debut for Schumacher, the German kicked off this new partnership with the 6th fastest time.

Continue reading this report here or view our complete event coverage here.

Ronnefalk tops 2WD practice at DHI Cup

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 05:37 AM PST

David Ronnefalk set the fastest time in 2WD practice at the DHI Cup this morning in Denmark, the HB Racing driver quickest from back to back reigning champion Michal Orlowski. Winner of the event in 2015, Ronnefalk set a fastest 3-consecutive lap time of 57.514 compared to Orlowski’s 57.597 with the Top 3 completed by 13-year-old Elias Johansson with a time of 57.955. With the event marking 7-time DHI Offroad Champion Joern Neumann’s debut for Schumacher, the German kicked off this new partnership with the 6th fastest time.

With drivers getting four rounds of practice, Ronnefalk said, ‘my car was good from the start but was lacking a little speed in the lap times so I made some changes to make it easier to drive and that brought down the laps times’. Having changed the rear diff oil and the position of the rear shocks, he plans to keep the prototype car, which is the same car he took to a podium finish at the World Championships in China, the same for the first qualifier which is scheduled for later this evening, following 4WD practice. The 1:8 World Champion, who is making the move from Sweden to Spain on Tuesday in order to allow him run 1:8 all year round, lead compliments on the switch to EOS carpet by the DHI organisers this year saying, ‘the carpet is a huge improvement, before the tyre wear was too fast’.

Like Ronnefalk, Orlowski said, ‘the car felt good from the first run, we just changed to a thinner diff oil and lowered the car and after that I was just driving it around’. Adding the DHI Cup title to his CV in 2016 with 2WD victory, the Pole is chasing three titles in a row and summed up practice performance by saying, ‘Overall I am pretty satisfied with the pace and consistency’.

Team Associated driver Johansson was pleased with his seeding pace. The Swedish National Championship podium finisher summed up practice as having gone ‘pretty good’ adding he had been able to ‘stick with the same set-up as we arrived with’. A 2017 Finalist, he is a fan of the switch to EOS carpet and the track layout however he did highlight the corner table top as being ‘difficult’.

Former Top Qualifier Oscar Levin would post the fourth fastest time, the HB Racing driver running an Xray chassis due to the limited availability of their prototype 2WD. The laid back Swede said he was ‘just trying to find my way around and get confident for qualifying’. Making a shock oil change, he said the only other work over practice was on preparing tyres and overall he is happy with his start to the weekend.

Posting the 5th fastest time, Danish driver Jesper Rasmussen declared practice as ‘pretty good I think’. The Associated driver said having started out with his basic set-up he changed to a shorter camber link which improved things. Running the final practice with the front rollbar off he said he will put it back on for Q1 finding the car too nervous with it off.

Having only had one run with his new cars prior to his race debut here in Odense, Neumann said, ‘I’m definitely still getting used to the car’. Trying both a carbon and alu chassis over the four practices, he has opted to continue with the alu version ‘for now’ having found it ‘easier to drive’. The inaugural winner of the DHI Offroad titles when it was introduced in 2012, Neumann also made comments on the switch to the EOS but unlike others his main positive of the carpet was the colour. ‘I like it even more then at an EOS. You can see the car better on the grey. Maybe the EOS should change from the black’.

View our event image gallery here.

Track Focus – DHI Cup Odense

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 05:32 AM PST

Host Club – Odense R/C Minirace
Country – Denmark
Location – Odense
Venue – Stadium Arena Fyn
Track type – Temporary
Surface – Carpet (both Onroad & Offroad)
Direction – Anti-Clockwise for Onroad, Clockwise for Offroad
Previous races hosted – 17 Onroad, 6 Offroad

A classic on the electric touring car calendar, 2018 marks a big anniversary for the DHI Cup as the Danish event takes place for the 18th time. While the hay days of when the entry read like a whose who of the best touring car drivers in the world has passed, the event still enjoys a capacity entry and leading the entry this year is the reigning World Champion Ronald Volker. With defending champion Viljami Kutvonen absent, as are the whole Xray team, the main opposition to Volker going for an 8th DHI Cup title looks set to come from Marc Rheinard and fellow Germans Christopher Krapp and Yannic Prumper. Asked for his thoughts on the track layout, Volker said, ‘It is the same as last year. Normally they contact me to help with the layout but I heard nothing (from the organisers) so I thought they had got someone else to do the layout so I was surprised to see they used the same layout as last year but I think its a good layout’. With the layout ‘familiar territory for everyone’, the Yokomo driver said the big difference this year is getting used to the new handout tyre from LRP, the main difference being the different material insert being used.

On the Offroad track, in a change from the tradition of using the carpet from the previous year’s touring car track, the organisers have bought EOS carpet for the event opting for a grey rather than black colour. The 7th year Offroad has been included at the DHI Cup, the new carpet has made for a much cleaner looking track with the slightly revised layout having been given an extra jump section. Having done the double here last year, Michal Orlowski welcomed the new carpet saying, ‘A big improvement finally. It is more fun to drive and we don’t have the same tyre wear problems as before when we needed new tyres every run’. On the layout, the Schumacher driver said, ‘the base layout is the same as last year just they have moved the jumps. The table top is tricky, you can land pretty weird but the EOS carpet is the big difference this year. Its a really good change’.

Image Gallery

Ty Tessmann Hobbywing-powered for 2018 and beyond

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 04:26 AM PST

In a statement on social media Xray’s Ty Tessmann has announced his new partnership with Hobbywing. The Canadian ace leaves behind a very fruitful and long-lasting campaign with Team Orion but he left the outfit at the end of last year and will be using Hobbywing controller and motors from now on. The 2014 IFMAR 1/8th Buggy World and 14-times ROAR National Champion says:

I would like to announce that after a lot of testing and thought, I have chosen to run for Hobbywing for my 1/10 and 1/8 electric program for the next two years and beyond. I am very happy to become a part of the leading electronics company and look forward to some great success in the future. I want to thank Salton Dong and Mr. Jack Zhang for this opportunity with Hobbywing. My debut race will be the Reedy Race of Champions.

Samix SCX10 II brass knuckle set

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 04:02 AM PST

Coming from Samix and made for the Axial SCX10 II trail truck is a brass knuckle set. The knuckles weigh in at 46g each, adding valuable weight to one of the lowest areas in the chassis for overall improved climb performance. The parts are machined from high-quality material and they sport a protective coat in black colour. Included come outer 5x13x4mm heavy duty bearings and POM bearings inserts for easy installation and replacement. The knuckles are a direct fit with Axial’s standard or Samix’s optional C-hubs, they come in sets of two and are usable with Samix’s optional mock-up brake discs and callipers for added realism.

Source: Samix [rcsamix.com]

Roche Rapide F1 Evo alloy chassis & shock extension

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 03:11 AM PST

Roche have introduced new option parts for the Rapide F1 Evo formula car in the form of an aluminium chassis, a rear lower pod plate and a DVS-V2 centre shock extension. Starting with the chassis, the part is cut from 2.5mm aluminium and it sports massive machining to scrub weight and optimise the flex characteristics. The chassis and the matching rear lower pod plate both sport a red and black finish and support Roche’s floating side link system.

Also new is an extension set for the DVS-V2 centre shock absorber of the Rapide F1 Evo. The set will improve the car’s suspension performance on bumpy surfaces while also increasing on-power traction. Parameters such as length, damper position and rear droop are easily adjustable and included is a titanium-nitride coated shock shafts for wear and smoothness.

Source: Roche [rocherc.com]

Tamiya F104 ProII with 2017-type body shell

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 02:44 AM PST

Coming soon from Tamiya is the F104 ProII 1/10th formula kit with 2017-type body shell. The car is based on the proven F104 chassis that comes fitted with a front end with adjustable camber as well as a rear 1.5mm fibreglass T-bar, a TRF shock absorber and various option parts. Also included are 2017-style wings and a matching body shell. The kit will hit stores in February.

Source: Tamiya [tamiya.com]

110% Racing ride height expansion set & nitro syringe

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 02:35 AM PST

110% Racing have introduced two new accessories in the form of the ride height expansion set for their original ride height gauge as well as a nitro syringe to calculate fuel mileage. Starting with the ride height expansion set, it comprises of two 3-D-printed plates to be used with the 110% ride height gauge. The 13mm to 15mm plate is marked with a 3, 4, and 5 and it will give the ride height needed when running off-road on carpet. The additional The 37mm to 39mm plate allows to use the ride height gauge for a truggy. The two plates come as a set, however the ride height gauge is not included.

Also new is the nitro syringe, a tool that gives drivers a method to help accurately calculate fuel mileage while at the track. The printing on the syringe is recessed so that it will not wear off completely when nitro fuel gets on it, and the syringe comes with a case to keep it clean so the fuel system will not become contaminated with dirt or other debris.

Source: 110% Racing [race110.com]

Dash SS601 Super Speed low profile servo

Posted: 05 Jan 2018 02:19 AM PST

Coming from Dash’s A10 series is the new SS601 Super Speed low profile servo. Capable of speeds down to 0.056s the full metal case and high-voltage compatible servo is ideal for competition 1/10th scale classes and it features a Japanese-made potentiometer, 0.008ms dead band, dual ball bearings, as well as a chrome and titanium alloy geartrain. In addition, the heatsink design case makes for maximum cooling of the 2-pole brushless motor even in high stress situations.

Source: Dash [dash-rc.com]

Reedy Zappers SG competition LiHV battery packs

Posted: 04 Jan 2018 02:25 PM PST

Team Associated have introduced their all-new Reedy Zappers SG LiHV battery packs. Their silicon graphene construction lowers internal resistance, increases voltage output, reduces operating temperatures, and improves cycle-life. Zappers SG batteries are available in low-profile (LP) stick and shorty versions as well as a 1S version designed for 1/12th scale and other classes that require the use of a 1S battery. A 7.6 nominal voltage means that with a suitable charger, the battery can be safely charged to 4.35V/cell. However, even when the typical 4.2V/cell charging limit is enforced, Zappers SG still offers a significant advantage thanks to a flatter discharge curve, which results in more voltage deeper into the race. A high-quality, durable hard case helps prevent damage while embedded socket connectors keep power-robbing resistance to a minimum. A charge lead and male ESC connectors are included.

Source: Team Associated [teamassociated.com]