2017 IIC event recap - Volker victorious, Euro Truck racing, FPV touring cars, and more

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Mike Garrison

0 Oct. 17, 2017, 8:14 a.m.

By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com

2017 IIC Race Report by Carl Hyndman:

Rug Battles Make the 2017 IIC a Big Hit Once Again

The 2017 International Indoor Championships is wrapped up and continues to deliver with some of the best action and competition anywhere. Held over October 1-6 at the Westgate Resort and Casino and using the standard in the industry, CRC Fastrakk II carpet, the event also continues to reset the bar and included new wooden curbing for the corners to allow the drivers to hold the fast line without risking catastrophic hits. 

In the Modified Touring Class, it was Yokomo’s Ronald Volker who established TQ in the “Rocket Round” format, and backed it up with precise driving in the main. XRAY’s Alexander Hagberg kept things honest and interesting by pressuring Volker in qualifying and the main, but the current World Champ wouldn’t be denied and went start to finish flawlessly to take the win.

Super Stock Touring presented by Tekin saw an amazing battle up front with Awesomatix’s Kyle Klingforth leading over XRAY’s Jan Ratheisky who pressured the whole time. However, in spite of putting it up on two wheels from time to time, Klingforth kept it on all fours for the win leaving the German Ratheisky in second overall.

Stock Touring Car presented by Hobbywing ran 21.5T motors and witnessed Michael Toth up front from his TQ position where he stayed for the duration. Larry Fairtrace grabbed second from third on the grid, while Luke Pitman made an impressive run for third from the sixth starting spot.

Modified 1/12 was indeed a big highlight at the event, with Team Associated’s Keven Hebert steeling the show. His driving was solid and allowed him to start up front, but the real battle was behind him with CRC’s Andrew Knapp keeping it close early on, but mistakes plagued Knapp who couldn’t match his performance that took him to the winner’s circle in Stock and Super Stock 1/12 and a couple of big mistakes shuffled him back the pack. The real battle was between XRAY’s Alexander Hagberg and Team Associated’s Rick Howart, and the two went blow for blow until Roche’s Donny Lia got in the mix for a trifecta of racing. With a lap to go, Howart made his move, with Hagberg fighting back, and the duo swapped positions back and forth. However, with speed approach the speed of light, things happen and board don’t give. Hagberg received the worst of it with Howart somehow capitalizing and grabbing second. But, Lia was having issues of his own and when the horn sounded, it was Knapp whose patience paid off grabbing the last post on the podium.

In the 1/12 Stock presented by Savox, it was all Andrew Knapp/ CRC who used his TQ position to start off strong and check out, putting in a display of driving that left everyone else to battle out for the other podium spots. Craig Xavier drove well enough to keep his starting position of second all the way to the end, with Michael Hanulex left to take the third spot.

In 1/12 Super Stock presented by Arrowmax RC, it was once again all Andrew Knapp/ CRC. Josh Cyrul and his Destiny car kept Knapp in his sights early on, but the consistency and lines of Knapp couldn’t be matched and Knapp checked out. With the two comfortably settled in to their spots, the real battle was for third and it include four cars all swapping and duking it out for the eight minutes. However, XRAY’s Hupo Honigl wouldn’t be denied and his nerves of steel were rewarded with third place.

The F1 Class presented by Tamiya is always a hit with open wheeled, direct-drive pan cars and scale looks. Andrew Knapp of CRC grabbed the win in this class with Jan Ratheisky/ XRAY in second. These cars are great to watch and add an alternative to the typical sedan classes.

The Amateur Touring Car Class presented by Team ORCA is all about the privateers, and I’d say they probably have more fun than anyone else. With only painted bodies allowed, and no sponsor decals, this is all about personal glory and although there was lots of mistakes and lead changes, it was Michael Kamali (TQ) who persevered, winning the class and adding a prestigious title to his name. This happened with literally two turns to go showing you can never give up in your hunt for glory.

The Tamiya Euro Truck Class is something to watch, but even funner (yes that’s a word) to participate in. With detailed 3-piece bodies and Mabuchi 540 brushed motors, this class dishes out laughs and keeps them coming. With some improvisation for the main, it was decided to stack the field with 20 trucks on the grid and the qualifying order reversed. That means Jan Retheisky (TQ) and Mark Santa Innes would have to start in the back. However, with an 8-minute race, things get chaotic quick and with trucks going in every direction, it was anyone's guess who would ride to the occasion. But, in spite of constant dive bombs and swerves to take out the leaders, Jan Ratheisky found his way to the front. Mark Santa Innes was up front for a while too, but ran in to electronic issues and has to retire. It was a lot of fun and with Drew Ellis and Charlie Suangka making commentary, it was entertaining to say the least.

Pro 10 presented by Createx Colors witnessed Speed Merchant’s Donny Lia drive smooth and precise in a class the brings back all sorts of memories, only these weapons run on 2S LiPo power with 17.5T motors and lay down that power with wide foam tires. I’d put a bet that more than half of the participants at this year’s International Indoor Championships have probably never seen the original 1/10-scale cars run, but the nostalgia and precise driving is still lots of fun to watch.

World GT-R presented by CRC is always great to watch with scale looks and speed that keeps things exciting. Johhny Carey didn’t disappoint and led wire to wire in this one, leaving Nate Lyday to collect second with Larry Bradshaw in third.

Spec GT presented by Option RC was a great race with Chris Kemper moving up from third on the grid to take the win. Bill Sydor went in to damage control and held on to second from his TQ starting spot leaving Arthur Scrimo left to take the bronze.

In the inaugural exhibition LiveTime FPV race, it only took a few outings for the racers to get used to things and start putting down some serious laps. In the 3-minute main, it was XRAY’s Alexander Hagberg who led the way at the tone and never looked back in a dominating display of virtual racing. This is the first time for this new technology that has some technology borrowed from drone racing along with recently developed items such as 3D printed cameras mounted on top of the cars and goggles provided by SpektrumRC. It was fresh and interesting take on RC racing and something that had a lot of people talking.