Readers' rides

Radio Control Car Action, Nov 1999

Aussie Champ

Phil Northeast of Glenorchy, Tasmania, Australia, says this ride is a Tenth Technology Super Touring chassis with a JR 4721 servo to manage the steering and a Futaba Magnum Junior transmitter and receiver. A Tekin Formula lo handles the gopower provided by a Reedy Firehawk stock motor, and it's all topped off with a Parma Ford Falcon body that Phil painted in the same color scheme used by Glen Seton, an Austra(ian full-scale racing champ. Phil's son Luke races the car and is currently the stock touring-car champion at the Southern Tasmanian Model Car Club.

Cruisin' Time

This Associated RCso, topped off with a Bolink'32 Ford Coupe, was built by Brandon Kievis of Frackville, PA. Equipment includes a Monster FET ESC, Hitec servo, Trinity EX Spec battery pack, Green Machine motor, aluminum chassis and Bolink racing tires. Brandon controls the car's movements via an Airtronics XL2P radio. He admits he made it a "Goodwreck" because initially, he was "not a very good driver." However, Brandon says his driving is improving. We're sure your racing buddies will appreciate that! Win a $500 gift certificate from DuraTrax!

Send a sharp, uncluttered, well-exposed color photo of your car or truck (no Polaroids. please!), along with a brief description, to Readers Rides, RIC Car Action, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA. If we choose to feature your creation, you'll receive a free Radio Control Car Action decal sheet. You'll also be eligible to win a $seo gift certificate from DuraTrax in the ninth annual "Readers Rides of the Year Contest' in the fall of 1999. In case we need to contact you. write your address and phone number on your letter and on the back of every photo you send. Good luck!

What Ticket?

Chris Bognar of Jeffersonville, IN, built this Clodzilla IV and the Bolink Legends. The "Wild Child Clod is equipped with dual Speed Gems 2 modified io-turn motors, a Tekin Speedstar speed control, full ball bearings, a mini cooling fan and two high-torque, full-metal-gear, clear-case servos from Cirrus. It's powered by a Sanyo 7-cell 2000mA battery and controlled by an Airtronics Caliber 3PS radio. Chris says he and his wife painted the Clodzilta IV's body. The sheriff's car paint scheme was inspired by Chris's employment with the Clark County Sheriff's Dept. It's powered by a Trinity D35 motor and also features a working Vector bar, Novak Super Rooster reversible speed control and a Hitec Lynx radio. Wonder if the Clod can outrun the long arm of the law? Black Splash Jim Tomniczak of Blaine, MN, says this 1/4-scale dragster is a replica of Don Prudhomme's 1gg6 "Black Splash It features a grade-8 titanium chassis built in Al Swindell configuration with breakaway points, carbon-fiber body and Motorsports Designs graphics and stickers. It also has aluminum wings and kick plates, and a quick-change Seca rear end-all powered by a Pace-Setter engine. Looks fast, Jim! Porsche Power Martin Baker, an American living in Germany, built this Tamiya TAo2 SW. He painted the Porsche 911 GT-2 body to match the 1995 Porsche SuperCup winner and added Kawada wheels for "extra realism." Nice touch. Low Profile

John Houghton of New Rochelle, NY, sent us this shot of his nitro-powered R/C cars. The Kyosho SuperTen has "all the aluminum you can put on," from the upper and lower arms to the center gear two-speed housing and full ball diffs. It's powered by an O.S. 15 RX. The Serpent Ma features a Mega SX15, 7-port turbo engine beneath the hood. Both vehicles have full ball bearings, graphite upper decks, Ellegi foam tires, Cirrus servos and a Futaba 3PJ radio.

Super Fly

This Tamiya TAo3R Belt Drive 4WD was masterminded by Christiaan Maurer of Arlington, VA. It's loaded with Boca bearings, a Dyna-run Super Touring Motor, ho(low carbon gear shafts, DuraTrax Blast ESC, HPI titanium shock balls, a Tower Hobbies battery pack, and Tamiya belted racing slicks. An Airtronics M8 radio and receiver control the car's direction, and its Lexan body is a scale replica of the Nissan R3goGT1 that ran in the 24-hour Tour du Mans in France.

Drivin' in a Winter Wonderland

Ben Battisfore of Lansing, Ml, built this g3/4-inch-tall, 2-foot-long snowmobile trail groomer, affectionately named "Big Don" after Ben's late father. Ben modeled the R/C snow machine after a full-scale trail groomer his dad owned and operated. It features four tracks, each 21 inches around, with 48 guide wheels inside. The groomer's drive train runs on 7o ball bearings, two limited slip differential transmissions, 84 cleats and a 21:1 gear reduction to the drive axle. A Tekin TDC Gold FET 11 speed control is mounted within the custom-fabricated, hand-painted frame and body, along with two high-torque servos. Does anyone have an R/C snowmobile around to enjoy Big Don's efforts?