Welcome to the official LiveRC race blog for the 27th Annual Cactus Classic! (Wow, 27th? I'm getting old)
Here, you will find all of the latest updates, results, rumors, and pictures from the event! Our staff will be arriving on Wednesday. Look for video of practice to go live on Thursday! And, of course, stay tuned to this space for all of the latest info!
The main talking point thus far has been the increased traction in comparison to previous years' events. Over 400 lbs. of sugar was applied to the track in the last couple days in an effort to increase the traction, a method which has worked thus far. So much so, in fact, that the second biggest talking point so far has been the use of mid-motor configuration in the TLR and Kyosho camps -- a set-up that hasn't been run (for the most part) by any teams at any major dirt race.
The mid motor cars appear to be very stable coming out of the corners because of the increased on-power traction. Time will tell if these configurations will lead to better lap times.
Time will also tell if the sugar ends up being a positive or a negative for the event. While traction is sure to increase (and it is evident that it has), with that traction usually comes increased tire wear on surfaces that are dry and hot -- such as the SRS track.
The surface at SRS on Wednesday. One day post-sugar.
New in the pits:
AKA has came prepared with a second version of their newly released "Handlebar" tire. The tire appears nearly the same as the indoor version (now dubbed the Handlebar LTD), except the tread is much higher.
JConcepts brought along their new SCBribbed front tires. While ribbed front tires were outlawed by ROAR for short course truck racing, these tires are designed for short course buggy racing.
We also captured a glimpse of what appeared to be a new wing from Upgrade RC. You may already be aware of their popular wing for 1:8 buggies. This would be the company's first attempt at a 1:10 wing, should it be a product actually scheduled for release. Stay tuned for further information.
Today, two rounds of controlled practice were run in order to "seed" the qualifying heats on Friday. Each driver's best three-consecutive laps were counted.
The sugar-soaked SRS circuit baked in the sun for yet another day which resulted in much more traction than usually found at the Cactus Classic. Tires have become the "one-run only" variety as the increased traction is acting like a belt sander to tires, chassis, shock towers, or anything else you can scrape on the dirt.
The increase in traction is welcomed by many and has made the track much more consistent. The sugar has also brought an end to "Cactus Sweeping" (sweeping the dust off of the groove -- usually a post-run ritual at SRS).
While the track is prime for fast and consistent racing, one can't help but wonder how the privateers who have to buy all of their own tires feel about the change in track surface for this year's race. I have raced week-long events on one-run tires without a tire sponsor before, and it is incomprehensibly expensive.
Notes:
The mid-motor cars appear to be working very well on this particular surface. They are extremely stable coming out of the corners. However, Ryan Cavalieri and his rear-motored B4.2 turned in the quickest three laps in practice today.
1:12 scale phenom Naoto Matsukura is back at this year's Cactus, and in practice he has proven his reputation as the "world's best hot-lapper" true after turning in the fastest set of laps in 4WD and the second fastest in 2WD. Keep an eye out for him in qualifying to see if he has developed any more consistency than he showed at the 2011 Cactus Classic.
Here is a brief overview of how practice went:
SRS covered in sugar -- It's like the field of dreams- only for bees! "If you build it, them will come..."
The Cactus Classic has basically turned into the "Ryan Maifield Variety Show" the last few years -- meaning that main day is basically a time when you want to show up to see him win as many classes as possible. This is understandable. He has been racing at this track since before you were born.
There is a fairly light turn out in the stadium truck class. That is kind of disappointing considering the "steam" the class had built back up over the last year and change.
Drivers have said that when mid-motor configuration works on a 2WD, they tend to drive more like 4WD cars. If that is the case, Naoto will be even more fun to watch!
102 heats of practice were run today- which means drivers spent a lot of time under the lights! Expect to see more night racing this weekend.
The traction continues at the Cactus Classic. Another day, another round of sugar and another 102 heats of cars have created a surface unlike any of the prior Cactus Classics (at least to this reporter's knowledge).
The high bite is proving to be challenging to drivers, whom have been reported as saying the traction is, in fact, much higher today than yesterday -- which is actually making the track harder to navigate at high speed. Drivers are reportedly using a "one-run-and-done" tire strategy today not because the worn out tires are too loose, but because they provided too much traction, causing cars to push through the corners too much.
Another issue drivers are facing today is having to break in new tires before their heat while only allowed one warm-up lap. What we've been seeing are cars that handle much differently at the end of races than they do at the beginning.
The other major storyline of the day is the continued success of the mid-motor configuration for the TLR, Kyosho and Yokomo drivers. This event marks the first time the configuration has seen wide-spread use at a major dirt race -- something that Team Associated can't be happy about -- even though they have their two top-guns sitting nicely within "the mix" of 2WD qualifying (They'd probably rather the whole mid-motor thing just never be utilized by anyone). However, these types of things usually go in fads and I wouldn't be surprised at all if Team Associated ends up winning and silencing all of the critics who may say that the B4 platform is out-dated. It will be interesting to watch, for sure.
Notes:
Jörn Neumann is the only driver to get top three's in all three premiere classes in Q1. If he can finish the weekend in a similar fashion, it would be, arguably, the best showing for entire Team Durango fleet of electric cars to date.
Several Team Durango drivers were DQ'ed in 4WD SCT for running wings. They were somewhat upset because they had passed pre-tech, but failed post. However, the same thing happened to them last year...
There appears to be more tire dust (burnt rubber particles) on the racing surface than there is dust. This is a stark contrast to the usual conditions at SRS.
The aforementioned rubber particles may be the only thing that is holding back the chances of slicks being the tire of choice.
Many drivers are in search of harder compound tires.
Here are some results and statistics from the premiere classes in Q1*:
Jörn has had a great day, for the most part. Except for Q1 of short course -- in which himself and several other Team Durango drivers were DQ'ed for using wings, as you can see pictured here.
The one person you wouldn't expect to see struggling with a 2WD buggy at this race was, in fact, having a heck of a time by the end of the day. Ryan Maifield was reportedly fighting the setup on his B4.2 in Q2 this evening. Look for him to rebound tomorrow.
The traction has increased to ozite-like conditions...which makes it no surprise that three-time IFMAR 1:12 World Champion Naoto Matsukura basically destroyed everyone in 2WD and 4WD during Q2. He does have a history of getting rattled, however. Come Sunday, it will be interesting to see how far along in driver "maturation" process he has come since the last time we saw him on dirt.
Ryan Cavalieri is currently atop the points in both 4WD and Truck. It would appear that he is very happy on his new AKA tires.
Tomorrow will run exactly like today with two more rounds of qualifying to determine the final starting order for Sunday's main events. See you tomorrow!
We closed out Friday qualifying by seeing Naoto Matsukura dominate the A-qualifiers in both 2WD and 4WD buggy. Today started off in a similar fashion as the young Japanese star has clearly gotten comfortable on the "new-look" SRS surface.
Jared Tebo was on fire in the 2WD A-heat in Q3. All but one lap registered was of the blistering-fast 21 second variety. He still lost by 3 seconds. That should give you an idea as to how "on" Naoto is in 2WD.
In 4WD, the "Ryan and Ryan Show" (no longer hindered by a rear motor-only configuration on the high-bite surface) were able to cruise their B44.2s to the top two positions with TLR's Dakotah Phend nipping at their heals.
In Modified Truck, Ryan Maifield looked strong, easily capturing the zero for the round with Jörn Neumann finishing second to continue his surprisingly strong performance in the truck class.
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In 2WD Buggy Q4, Ryan Maifield finally looked like the Maifield everyone was expecting to see this weekend. Ryan, who had been struggling to figure out how to keep pace on the high-bite surface, reportedly made a change in tire insert and rear camber link in an effort to make the car more drivable. The changes evidently worked as Maifield was able to score zero points for the final round of qualifying to secure himself a much better position in the A-mains tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Maifield's teammate Ryan Cavalieri took care of the rest of the premiere classes Saturday night, making quick work of the field in both 4WD and Modified Truck. The Q4 TQ in 4WD and Mod Truck locked up the overall top spots on the grid in the mains for Cavalieri.
Here are some results, stats, pictures and videos from today's qualifying:
Naoto Matsukura's top qualifying Yokomo. Body-off shots were not allowed.
Jared Tebo's Kyosho
Lee Martin's Tamiya
Ryan Cavalieri's Associated
Dustin Evans' TLR 22
Jörn Neumann's Durango
The top car from each manufacturer in Q3. From left to right: Naoto Matsukura (Yokomo), Jared Tebo (Kyosho), Jörn Neumann (Team Durango), Ryan Cavalieri (Associated), Dustin Evans (TLR), Lee Martin (Tamiya)
Like most other Sundays during Cactus Classics of the modern era, all eyes were on local-hero-turned-superstar Ryan Maifield. Even though he struggled at times to adapt his setups to the new high-bite surface at SRS, he went into main day on a high note by TQ'ing Q4 of 2WD.
Well, Scotty is ready to go. So without further adieu, let's jump right into it, shall we?
"We're goin' racin' at the sound...of the tone."
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A3
Jared Tebo was able to pressure Naoto Matsukura in A2, pass him, and secure the title early.
Naoto was blazing fast, but in the end, he just couldn't stay clean.
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Ryan Maifield cruising to a relatively easy, two-main victory
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Ryan Maifield's Team Associated RC10T4.2 flees Ryan Cavalieri's pursuit in A2
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Ryan Cavalieri makes a pass on Ryan Maifield on the entrance to the straightaway in A2
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Dakotah Phend chases down Billy Fischer in A2
That concludes the 2013 Cactus Classic Race Blog! We hope you've enjoyed not only the coverage in this race blog, but also our live video coverage all week long. Thank you for tuning in! See you next time.
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