The Motonica GP was held in Las Vegas April 10-13. Traditionally the spring race in Las Vegas, this was the first with Motonica-USA as the title sponsor. Nearly 70 racers were greeted with warm pleasant weather, and no rain or wind to speak of. Factory drivers representing Kyosho, Shepard, Pursuit, Parma, and of course Motonica joined racers from Hawaii, California, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Florida, Utah, Alabama, Nevada, and one racer all the way from Taiwan. Among the racers, several were first timers and we welcome and appreciate their attendance. The race format provided a day and a half of open practice, plenty of track time before and after qualifying, and a minimum of 20 minute mains with 2 bump ups. For those who wanted late night practice, the track was open until 9pm, with stadium type lighting illuminating the track. The new shade on the driver's stand was a big welcome to all the racers, just one of the many improvements made to the facility.
After 5 rounds of qualifying, Garen Hagobian took the pole in IGT, Jeffrey Lin Tq'ed Sedan, and Scotty Barrera was first in 1/8th. Saturday afternoon featured the heads up shoot out races for the privateer drivers in both 1/10th and 1/8th. Tommy Nottberg won the Sedan shootout and Jerry Roberts won the 1/8th shootout.
In the IGT A Main, Scott Fisher took the lead and never looked back, after Garen had a receiver battery go bad. Jeffrey Lin (OFNA) backed up his TQ by taking the win in Sedan followed by Walter Diaz and Marc Cruz, both with Kyosho. Scotty Barrera and his Motonica P8.0R 08 led for nearly half the 1/8th main until Josh Cyrul (Motonica) got around and led the rest of the way. Garen Hagobian (Motonica) moved into 2nd with Thello Jurdon (Kyosho) in third. The 1/8th A featured 5 Motonica, 3 Kyosho, 2 Mugen, 1 Shepard, and 1 Pursuit, a very good mix of cars.
The weekend was made even better with free pizza courtesy of Motonica USA and a large chocolate cake courtesy of Rich Taylor Senior, for a number of birthdays and anniversary's being celebrated during the weekend. Also, the weekend could not have been possible without the help of Byron Fuels, Team Taylor Racing, and YBSLOW Products. Byron Fuels continues to support nitro on road racing by providing high quality fuel and by providing cash prizes for making the A and placing top 3. Overall a fun filled, drama free, and positive weekend of racing. Motonica USA has already committed to sponsoring this race again next year, so keep your April 09 calendar open and get ready for an even better race next time. The 2009 dates are April 22nd-26th see you there.
The R.A.M.S. club of Northern California, located in Santa Clara just south of San Francisco, had a race to celebrate the clubs 40th year of continuous running. For this race they had a full turnout of 130 entrants for both sedan 10th scale and 8th scale which included some old members who were invited out to the race and as a result many past members showed up and brought out their old cars and radio gear. The racing saw the 1/8th scale TQ go to Mugen team driver Mike Swauger, while in Sedan it was Jeffery Lin from OFNA that took top honors. With each class getting a 45 minute A-main, held in perfect California sunshine, it was Mike Swauger that won in 8th scale followed by Kyosho racer Jim Adkins and Ron Collangi, also a Mugen driver, in 3rd spot. In the sedan class it was Ralph Burch that took the win with his Xray followed by Jeffery Lin for OFNA, and young Kyosho driver Michael Palazzola in 3rd.
West Coast Challenge
The 2nd Annual West Coast Challenge was held at Crystal Park Raceway the weekend of March 15th, hosted and run by none other than Robbie Collins. Strictly a nitro event, the 2 classes of 1/10th and 1/8th combined to have nearly 100 racers, mostly from California but also from Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. Although the race was run without official tech, the racing was serious and made enjoyable by Robbie's fabulous race announcing.
The race program included Saturday morning practice, 3 rounds of qualifying, and all mains on Sunday. Jeffrey Lin and Mike Swauger took TQ in 1/10th and 1/8th respectively. Each main consisted of 10 drivers, with 2 bumping up, giving a second chance to those who had bad luck in qualifying.
Robbie ran the races like clockwork and finished on time both days allowing the racers plenty of time to practice or go home early. The A Mains were brutal on the cars as less than 1/3rd of the field finished in both classes, but Brian Thomas and Mike Swauger emerged victorious in their respective classes. Job well done to all the racers and to Robbie for putting on a good show!
1/8th:
1 Mike Swauger
2 Nigel Sim
3 Walter Diaz
4 Garen Hagobian
5 Chris Verano
6 Patrick V.
7 Michael Palazzola
8 Jamie Golf
9 Thello Jordan
10 Brian Thomas
11 Leo V.
12 Mike Strack
1/10th:
1 Brian Thomas
2 Francis Mejia
3 Michael Palazzola
4 Eugene Osburn
5 Nigel Sim
6 Christian Lopez
7 Marco Acosta
8 Mike Shirly
9 Walter Diaz
10 Jeffrey Lin
11 Ron Galangi
12 Brad Toffelmire
The off-road track at the Silver Bowl ad been getting quit the work out lately; Sin City R/C has been hosting races on a regular basis with a very nice turn out. If you are interested please check there web site for more information.
If your track is interested in holding a Regional race please contact either my self or one of my assistant directors so we can get that set up for you.
MOTONICA GRAND PRIX
The April Las Vegas race will be sponsored this year by Motonica-USA and will be held April 9th -13th. Starting on Wednesday the 9th at 4PM for open practice, Please check the $aces sire and R/C Tech for more information.
GLARCRC
Glen Williams has got the GLARCRC club back up and running and has had several events at the Artesia transit center. They are planning a Big race for this years RCX show to be held at the Pomona fairplex April 19th and 20th contact Glenn Williams or check the R/C Tech thread for more information
THE RAMS SET A MILE STONE!
40 Years and still going!
The Rams on Northern California are having there 40th anniversary race April 26th and 27th to be held at there regular race site at the college. This is a mile stone in the R/C community a majority of the racers these days aren't even half that old. I want to send my best to the Rams and all there Members past and present and say well done.
March 2008
West Coast
Challenge
The 2nd
Annual West Coast Challenge was held at Crystal Park Raceway the weekend of
March 15th, hosted and run by none other than Robbie Collins.
Strictly a nitro event, the 2 classes of 1/10th and 1/8th
combined to have nearly 100 racers, mostly from California but also from
Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. Although the race was run without official tech,
the racing was serious and made enjoyable by Robbie’s fabulous race announcing.
The race
program included Saturday morning practice, 3 rounds of qualifying, and all
mains on Sunday. Jeffrey Lin and Mike Swauger took TQ in 1/10th and
1/8th respectively. Each main consisted of 10 drivers, with 2
bumping up, giving a second chance to those who had bad luck in qualifying.
Robbie ran
the races like clockwork and finished on time both days allowing the racers
plenty of time to practice or go home early. The A Mains were brutal on the
cars as less than 1/3rd of the field finished in both classes, but
Brian Thomas and Mike Swauger emerged victorious in their respective classes.
Job well done to all the racers and to Robbie for putting on a good show!
1/8th:
1
Mike Swauger
2 Nigel Sim
3 Walter Diaz
4 Garen Hagobian
5 Chris Verano
6 Patrick V.
7 Michael Palazzola
8 Jamie Golf
9 Thello Jordan
10 Brian Thomas
11 Leo V.
12 Mike Strack
1/10th:
1 Brian Thomas
2 Francis Mejia
3 Michael Palazzola
4 Eugene Osburn
5 Nigel Sim
6 Christian Lopez
7 Marco Acosta
8 Mike Shirly
9 Walter Diaz
10 Jeffrey Lin
11 Ron Galangi
12 Brad Toffelmire
The off-road track at the Silver Bowl ad been getting quit
the work out lately; Sin City R/C has been hosting races on a regular basis
with a very nice turn out. If you are interested please check there web site
for more information.
If your track is interested in holding a Regional race
please contact either my self or one of my assistant directors so we can get
that set up for you.
MOTONICA GRAND PRIX
The April Las Vegas race will be sponsored this year by
Motonica-USA and will be held April 9th -13th. Starting
on Wednesday the 9th at 4PM for open practice, Please check the
$aces sire and R/C Tech for more information.
GLARCRC
Glen Williams has got the GLARCRC club back up and running
and has had several events at the Artesia transit center. They are planning a
Big race for this years RCX show to be held at the Pomona fairplex April 19th
and 20th contact Glenn Williams or check the R/C Tech thread for
more information
THE RAMS SET A MILE STONE!
40 Years and still going!
The Rams on Northern California are having there 40th
anniversary race April 26th and 27th to be held at there
regular race site at the college. This is a mile stone in the R/C community a
majority of the racers these days aren’t even half that old. I want to send my
best to the Rams and all there Members past and present and say well done.
