ROAR NATS: New JConcepts bodies, buggy tire, compounds, and Lexan wing

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By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

JConcepts showed up to the ROAR Fuel Off-Road Nationals with a few new products making their public debuts, adding some style to two popular 1/8-scale off-road vehicles and keeping up with new trends sweeping through the hardcore nitro scene. Jason Ruona pulled them out of the trailer to give me a rundown during the final round of practice on Thursday evening.

First up is a prototype body for the Team Associated RC8B3, as modeled here by Spencer Rivkin’s personal race car. Though the body hasn’t yet officially been named, its rearward-angled cab would suggest its related to the Finnisher line of lids available for other vehicles. There’s a deep scoop behind the cab and hard lines along the side pods.

Spencer’s buggy also has the new Finnisher Lexan wing bolted in place. Fanned dimples along the bottom disturb the air to create more downforce, and seven small fins toward the back of the wing add high-speed stability. Spencer’s wing is fitted with one of the two wicker bill options. Jason sent me this CAD image to show the items he's talking about.

JConcepts will also offer a center piece with additional fins, as well a brace for the back of the wing to increase rigidity and durability. Like the wicker bills, the center piece and rear brace will be molded in black plastic.

The new Detox 1/8-scale buggy tire uses small, closely-packed pins to provide longer wear in blue groove conditions. About half of the Team Associated drivers and nearly everyone else on the JConcepts team have been using the Detox this weekend (with the rest of the AE guys favoring the Diamond Bar). Ruona said that the Detox will be available in JConcepts’ harder rubber compounds, including two new “long wear” versions of Yellow and Red that the team drivers are testing this weekend.

Finally, JConcepts has prepared a new Finnisher body for the TLR 8IGHT-T 3.0 as seen here on Ryan Maifield’s personal truck. Molded to present a bulky, aggressive look with a mean front grill, there’s also a lot of detail along the side pods and new fins in the rear for additional high-speed stability.