Truggy Cup Netherlands & Merlin Advance

After 2 months of summerbreak Truggycup started again last sunday. Place to be was the track of Rc Fievelcrossers situated in Appingedam. Rc-Fievelcrossers recently rebuilt a part of the track and also gave the complete track a Astroturf surface, a very nice result.

First quali of the day started dry but it started raining at the end, this was the weather for the whole day, rain, dry, rain, dry, … so some of the drivers got dry qualis others got wet or semi wet.

Championship leader Bas de Konink toke TQ in front of young belgian Jasper van Duppen and Dave Liekens.

Semi finale B we saw Jasper van Duppen at pole in front of Jaco Koch and Kris Verlies. The young Rc-Speedhouse talent lead the complete semi finale but made a crash in the last lap and saw Kris Verlies take the win in this final.
1. Kris Verlies, 2. Jasper van Duppen, 3. Erik Aries

Semi finale A we saw the championshipleader and his first opponent competing eachother. Bas de Konink and Rc-Speedhouse driver Dave Liekens had a great battle but unfortunately Dave Liekens got mechanical problems and had to quit.
1. Bas de Konink, 2. Jan van Dijk, 3. Bjorn Nagels

A-final there was no stopping at Bas de Konink who drove away from all others…. There was a big battle for third between Jan van Dijk and Kris Verlies. After several rounds of very close racing Kris Verlies managed to take 3rd place, Kevin Cornelis toke second place and Bas de Konink won superior.

With only 2 races to go Bas de Konink took a big option at the title of 2010 Truggy Champ.

Results
Studentfinal
1. Robin Evenboer Hong Nor X2
2. Jeroen van Outvorst Mugen Seiki MBX6T
3. Pascal Wagemans Mugen Seiki MBX6T

A-Final
1. Bas de Konink Hotbodies D8T
2. Kevin Cornelis Xray XT8
3. Kris Verlies Losi 2.0
4. Jan Van Dijk Losi 2.0
5. Jasper Van Duppen Mugen Seiki MBX6T
6. Bjorn Nagels Mugen Seiki MBX6T
7. Erik Aries Hotbodies D8T
8. Frans van der Knijff Hotbodies D8T
9. Thomas Tomaszewski Hotbodies D8T
10. Ron Beton Losi 2.0

Thanks to RC Speed House for the report.

Tags: Off Road, Truggy

Netherlands Buggy Cup 2010 4 Rd. – Merlin Advance Success

Last Sunday (June 20th) ,  the Astroturf  Track (Ormco) held the Xceed Buggy Cup Rd. 4

After 2 wet races, was time to enjoy a dry race including final.  Jorg Van Leuken (Xray – Nova – Merlin Fuel) TQ’ed after the qualifications.

Final Result:

A FINAL

1. Jorg Van Leuken X-ray Novarossi – Merlin Fuel Advance
2. Bart Mullink X-ray .. ..
3. Kevin Manders X-ray .. Merlin Fuel Advance
4. Paul Geelen Team Rmv – Mugen Ninja ..
5. Jan Eichorn Team Rmv – Mugen Werks
6. Matthijs Jansen Kyosho Orion ..
7. Jacco Koch Hong Nor .. ..
8. Jordy Velder Losi Werks
9. Jasper Van Duppen Team Rc Speedhouse – Mugen Ninja Merlin Fuel
10. Henoc Luis Associated

-A- FINAL

Hobby Class:

1. Jasper Van Duppen Team Rc Speedhouse – Mugen Ninja Merlin Fuel
2. Mathieau Van Dieten .. .. ..
3. Rajco van de Sluijs Hong Nor .. Merlin Fuel

After 4 rounds, the overall classification is as follows:

Sportsman:

1. Jorg van Leuken X-ray Novarossi Merlin Fuel 395 pts
2. Jan Eichorn Team Rmv-Mugen Werks  384 pts
3. Bart Mullink X-ray .. .. 363 pts

Hobby:

1. Jasper Van Duppen Team Rc Speedhouse – Mugen Ninja Merlin Fuel 302 pts
2. Jordy van der Veen Mugen – 250 pts
3. Rico te Rietmolen Hong Nor – Merlin Fuel .. .. 238 pts

Info: Buggy-Sport.info

Pics: Fred Steenman

Tags: Advance, Netherlands, Off Road

Euro Championship “B” 2010. Merlin Success + 40

The 2010 “B” European Championship took place on Valladolid (Spain) on June 13.

The weather was not good with heavy rain during the heats on Friday and Saturday Morning.

Patxi Peñas TQ’ed, followed by Bryan Baldó(ES)  and Ricardo Moteiro (PT). Peñas had several problems in the subfinal and had no chance to get the final.

The main final had some suprises also. Bryan Baldó had some mechanical trouble when he was first.  Also a hit in the race start for Merlin Team Driver Alex Calatayud made him finish the race early.

So the main final result was as follows:

1. Ricardo Monteiro (PT) – Losi / RB
2. Carlos Durães (PT) – Xray / RB
3. Adrián Pérez M. (ES) – Mugen / Ninja
4. Alex Bayer (CZ) – Losi / Novarossi
5. Martín Roca (ES) -  Losi/Alpha
6. Sergio Muñoz (ES) – AE/Novarossi
7. Pedro Figueiredo (PT) – Mugen/Precirotate
8. Oscar Baldó (ES) -  Mugen / Novarossi
9. Ryan Medjoubi (FR) – Mugen / RB
10. Remi Riel (FR) – Mugen/Novarossi
11. Alex Calatayud (ES) AE/Reedy/Merlin Fuel
12. Bryan Baldó (ES) – Mugen / Novarossi

Good news for Merlin Team came from +40 Final, where Antonio Landa managed to get the final victory.

Antonio, was using the new Tecnopower engine B01 21 for first time. Together with the new ADVANCE Fuel they got a deserved Victory.

The final result:

1. Antonio Landa -Losi / Tecnopower / Merlin Fuel ADVANCE
2. Pete Stevens
3. Jim Davis
4. Pascal Gaillard
5. Bryan Burrows
6. Roberto Díez – Losi / RB / Merlin Fuel Advance

Tags: +40, Efra, Euros, Off Road

Mark Green Wins BRCA 1/8 Rd. 2

—– News from RedRC —–

The second round of this years BRCA 1/8th circuit national championship was located at the famous Wombwell circuit, which is part of a large Karting complex. This track is loved by all the drivers since it contains a combination of slow and fast flowing corners which is a joy to drive when driven on the edge. The weather forecast did not look too good for Sunday, but thankfully it was a dry weekend. With time restrictions in place due to the noise levels, the Committee decided to run open practice with a lunch break. This made the track at times very congested with a lot of fast cars easily catching up the slower cars and damage was inevitable.

The main issue happened mid afternoon when Richard Boult accidentally tripped and fell onto the main straight whilst marshaling a team mates car and was hit on the leg by defending champion Tim Wood which total destroyed his car. The result was an immediate halt to the practice session while first aiders attended to his leg and an ambulance was called. The outcome was a bad gash to his leg and he was driven home later that night for rest. This however could have been a lot worse, but the committee first aid representatives have to be commended for a job well done while the ambulance arrived.

The Drivers in attendance was again higher than expected and it was good to welcome a small minority of 10th IC drivers who have decided to try the Formula One section of this hobby. The drivers were all poised for setting a banker time in the first round since rain was a strong possibility at this stage. In Heat 4, it was the returning Mike Walton with his Mugen MRX4 / Sirio chassis who at this stage topped the time sheets prior to the last heat. With a host of top drivers setting banker times, the first round ended yet again with Mark Green on TQ with Mike Walton an impressive second from Richard Hicklin and Andy North.

In the next couple of rounds, the order at the top started to take a familiar look with Tim Wood and Andy North establishing themselves as the main rivals to take victory from the ever dominant Mark Green. The fight for the remaining A final places was a tight affair with anybody from the 4th heat in with a chance with a late charge but fortunately Richard Hicklin and Neil Diver had just done enough in previous rounds to gain a final position 9th and 10th respectively.

The top 10 after qualification are as follows.
1. Mark Green – Serpent – Novarossi – Merlin Fuel 18 Laps 311 secs
2. Tim Wood – Serpent – Mega – 17 Laps 300 secs
3. Andy North – Mugen – Reds – 17 Laps 302 secs
4. John Carr – Serpent – Mega – 17 Laps 306 secs
5. Michael Walton – Mugen – Sirio – 17 Laps 308 secs
6. Jason Frost – Serpent – Mega – 17 Laps 309 secs
7. Andy Hastings – Shepherd – IDM – 17 Laps 309 secs
8. Daniel Bancroft – Motonica – Max – 17 Laps 310 secs
9. Richard Hicklin – Serpent – Mega – 17 Laps 311 secs
10.Neil Diver – Shepherd – IDM – 17 Laps 312 secs

The final was a procession up front with the top 3 slowly pulling out comfortable leads over each other and an even bigger gap to fourth position after an initial threat from John Carr until he made an error on lap 3. The main battle was for second position with Andy North maintaining a consistent gap to Tim with the possibility of Tim making an extra fuel stop towards the end. However, Tim just had enough of a lead and when Andy was forced to make a splash and dash at the end gifted Tim second place. Out front, Mark Green drove a steady and consistent race and on this current form, it is looking inevitable that he will regain the title at the end of the season.

The final results are as follows:
1. Mark Green – Serpent – Novarossi – Merlin Fuel 101 Laps
2. Tim Wood – Serpent – Mega – 99 Laps
3. Andy North – Mugen – Reds – 98 Laps
4. Jason Frost – Serpent – Mega – 96 Laps
5. John Carr – Serpent – Mega – 93 Laps
6. Neil Diver – Shepherd – IDM – 75 Laps
7. Andy Hastings – Shepherd – IDM – 73 Laps
8. Daniel Bancroft – Motonica – Max – 51 Laps
9. Richard Hicklin – Serpent – Mega – 47 Laps
10.Michael Walton – Mugen – Sirio – 33 Laps

News from REDRC –>  LINK TO FULL REPORT

Tags: 1:8, Onroad

Spanish Nat 1/8 Onroad – 2nd Rd.

The second round for 1/8 Spanish Nats was held at Autet track (near Valencia).

With a nice sunny weather, Oscar Cabezas TQ’ed followed by local ace Nacho López and Sergio Montesinos.

The Main Final was a really close fight between Oscar Cabezas and Nacho López. The last ten minutes were really exciting, and finally Óscar Cabezas finished in first place, followed by Nacho López only 2 seconds later.

With his victory, Óscar takes the provisional Leadership in the overall classification.

Next Round will take place in Valladolid track on July 25th .

Vicente Eres (Mugen-Merlin Fuel) took the victory in +40.

FINAL RESULT

1-      Oscar Cabezas   Motonica-Novarossi-Merlin Fuel

2-      Nacho López   Serpent

3-      Sergio Montesinos

4-      Víctor González    Kyosho

5-      Joaquín Villegas    Sepherd

6-      Alberto González   Sepherd

7-      Carlos Echarri   Motonica-Novarossi

8-      Fernando Castillo   Motonica

9-      Carlos Peracho   Sepherd

10-   Paco Lobo   Serpent-Novarossi

+ 40

1. Vicente Eres – Mugen – Merlin Fuel
2. Ricardo Royo
3. Francisco Lara

Tags: 1:8, On Road, Racing

Netherlands 1/8 NK 2 at Ruchphen

The second round for 1/8 Onroad Netherlands Nats, was held last weekend at Ruchpen track.

A really interesting and exciting race were Ilia Van Gsatel made his first race as Merlin Team Driver.

Robin D’Hondt has written this text for us:

“Hey Everybody,

The second round of the Netherlands championship was held at the fast track of Rucphen. Weather forecast looked good, we only had a bit of rain on Friday night, which made training on Saturday morning impossible, but for the rest of the weekend the dark clouds would stay away from the track.

On Saturday afternoon I came on track and the setup felt pretty nice to begin with. I didn’t changed anything at first because I wanted more grip to come, so in the late afternoon I only started changing some small things like down stops, front springs and rear arm positions.

The later it got, the faster everyone went and soon we were with 5-6 people driving lap times in or close to 13.0 (track record 12.8 I was told).

On Sunday morning the first qualify came, and checking the lap times of the lower heats I saw that the track was faster than the day before. The car felt like a train on rails and the engine was a rocket. Like I said the track record is 12.8 and in this qualify I drove a 12.858, sadly however none could tell me the last 2 digits of the current track record.

First qualy:

1                             Robin D’Hondt  32L         7:05.942

2                             John Ermen       32L         7:06.343

3                             Ilia van Gastel   32L         7:08.277

4                             Rick Vrielijnck    32L         7:12.476

The second qualify both Ilia and me had a 7:04, Rick made his time better by 2 seconds and John hit problems. Results after 2 qualify’s:

1                             Ilia van Gastel   32           7:04.098

2                             Robin D’Hondt  32           7:04.615

3                             John Ermen       32           7:06.343

4                             Rick Vrielijnck    32           7:10.601

In the third and last qualify I was able to better my time by 0,3 seconds which was still 0,3 seconds to slow to have TQ in the final. So results after the 3th qualify and hereby the 4 direct qualified:

1                             Ilia van Gastel   32           7:04.098

2                             Robin D’Hondt  32           7:04.334

3                             John Ermen       32           7:06.343

4                             Rick Vrielijnck    32           7:10.055

The final was completed by 3 persons from each half final. Which where: Gunther van Staey, Michiel Renting, Peter Ceyssens, Jordy Blok, Stefan Koenders, Tim Bosmann.

In the start of the final I could jump to first place as Ilia had a rough start. But soon he joined me just behind my rear tires and away we went from the pack for never to be seen again. In the first half of the race we were changing places a lot… sometimes we even past each other 2 or 3 times in 1 lap! I think we both could feel the eyes of the spectators, sometimes I even heard the people around the track yelling when it got really close.

And the fighting continued till Ilia made his tire stop first, 4 minutes later it was my turn to change tires but at least I had 4 minutes to get heart rate down again.

Tires on and out the pits I went, next to an orange car (Ilia off course) we went side by side onto the straight, but I wasn’t counting on having so less steering with the big cold tires so Ilia could take first position and could slowly pull away from me as I was getting used to the fresh tires.

I was about 10 meter behind and as hard as I was trying to close the gap I wasn’t getting closer.

The second from last pit stop Ilia had to make a Stop and Go for refueling over the line, so he thought it was over and out … until after the last pitstop I suddenly heard “Car 2 stop and go bad refueling”.

That’s me…  fast into the pits, stop => GO, I could come on track in front of Ilia with a small gap between us, Ilia was pushing hard to get it close and he got it close. We finished over the line 0,3 seconds apart.

Final Result:

1                             Robin D’Hondt  132         30:09.386 – Motonica – Gimar – Merlin Fuel

2                             Ilia van Gastel   132         30:09.713 – Serpent – Orion – Merlin Fuel

3                             Rick Vrielijnck    130         30:13.054

4                             Gunther van Staey         129         30:04.446

5                             John Ermen       128         30:06.127

6                             Peter Ceyssens                126         30:05.162

7                             Stefan Koenders             125         30:10.306

8                             Tim Bosmann    120         30:08.299

9                             Michiel Renting                87           21:56.008

10                           Jordy Blok                          DNS

I would like to thank my sponsors: Motonica, JP GIMAR, Merlin fuel, Sanwa Airtronics,

LRP electronics, Ghiant RC car Colours, Team C and Hobby Pro

And special thanks to my mechanics My Dad Rony D’hondt and Lody Haling for giving me the bit more advantage in the fast fuel stops and tire change.

Tags: 1:8, Netherlands, Onroad

Racing Weekend in Greece

Last weekend two races took place in Greece.

The 1/10th On Road ‘B’ Greek Federation and Truggy Masters 2010.

Merlin Fuel Drivers took honor places in both them.

The 1/10 scale National Championship Greek Federation, was held at Patra City, FRT2 Track.  Linkaris, (Shepherd – Picco – Merlin Fuel)  TQ’ed and set a new track record.

In Arena TRack (Near Athens), Stelios Madianos won the Truggy ‘B’ final

Information: Velocity Models

Tags: 1:10, 1:8, Greece, Touring, Truggy

Mark Green wins BRCA 1/8 Rd.1

The British 1/8 Nats started last weekend at Medip track (West England)

Mark Green TQ’ed and won the first UK Nats round. Some Irish drivers as Clive Connolly attended the race.

The final result:

1. Mark Green – Serpent/Novarossi/Merlin Fuel
2. Clive Connolly – Mugen/IDM
3. Jason Frost – Serpent/Mega
4. Daniel Bancroft – Motonica/Max
5. Dan Jones – Mugen/Novarossi
6. John Carr – Serpent/Mega
7. Tim Wood – Serpent/Mega
8. Neil Diver – Shepherd/IDM
9. Chris Heath – Serpent/Mega (DQ from 5th due to width of rear end)
10.Richard Hicklin – Serpent/Mega (DQ from 9th failed to submit car for scrutineering)

Pics: Redrc.net

Full report at: http://www.redrc.net/2010/04/mark-green-wins-brca-18th-rd1-in-mendip/

Tags: 1:8, Onroad

1/8 Speedmasters Greece

Last weekend took place the 1/8 Onroad Speedmasters in Arena RC track, near Athens.

Leonidas Farmakis, (Serpent – Picco – Merlin Fuel) took the TQ and also the final victory.

Here is a video of the main final:

Top 3:

1. Leonidas Farmakis – Serpent – Picco – Merlin Fuel – 108 laps

2. John Doucakis – Motonica – 106 laps

3. Andreas Gianakakis – Kyosho – Merlin Fuel - 100 laps.

Info: Velocity Models.

Tags: 1:8, Greece, Onroad

Netherlands 1:10 200 mm. Rd 1

The opening round of the Dutch 1/10th scale 200mm National Championship got underway at the Groningen track in the north of the country. Nice sunny weather greeted the racers and using a new qualifying system that saw the drivers 3 best laps count towards your start position it was last year’s champion Pedro Rombouts that took the pole position ahead of Daan Jacobs, Jurgen Geerligs, Ricardo van Dam and Remy Moller, with a new system seeing the top 5 now qualifying directly into the main final. In the 30 minute main final Daan Jacobs was the first to retire, an accident on the 2nd lap ending his race. A lot of errors throughout the field on the bumpy track kept things interesting but up front Rombouts steamed ahead to win the race by 3 laps ahead of Ricardo van Dam in 2nd and Ruud Schuitmaker in 3rd, the only driver to do a tire stop in the final. In the Nomac class Arne Schober took the win ahead of pole man Marcel Haenen, with Rob Kreijssen in 3rd. Finally in the 1/8th promo class it was Peter van Dijk on pole position but problems in the final meant he dropped out of contention allowing Marc Meijer to take the win from Mario Gerssen in 2nd and Robert Krens in 3rd.

TOP 5

1. Pedro Roombouts -  Xray – 107 laps

2. Ricardo Van Damm – Shepherd/Orion – 104 laps

3. Ruud Schuitmaker – Edam/Merlin Fuel – 103 laps

4. Jurgen Geerligs

5. Arco de Jong

Text: redrc.net

Picture: Merlin Solutions

Tags: 1:10, Netherlands, On Road