Losi strikes gold: Florida Winter Champs

Radio Control Car Action, Jul 2001 by Vogel, Greg

The Flordia Winterchamps is just as prestigious as many sanctioned national races, and I was excited when I was chosen to cover it. A blast of warm air hit me as I left the airport in Tampa and gave me the feeling it would be a good weekend. The day was perfect--sunny, warm and dry--as I arrived trackside. Walking throught the pits, I noticed Losi's entire team on hand:Francis, Kinwald, the Drake, Hodapp, Steenari, Dunbar. Even Pops Losi and Gil

Jr. were there, stopwatches inhand, clocking team drivers' lap times, in the

Associated tent, Easton, Pacidis, Scott "the Squirrel" Hughes, were wrenching on their rides, along with Saxton and Tebo who had come to try out some electric power.

In the Kyosho tent, Kortz and Degani were getting their cars ready for the stock class, and at Schumacher's, Leino was working on his cars. I also noticed the sea of blue Losi Spec tires in the pits that the stock racers were using (see "Battle of the blues" sidebar).

The track had an incredibly smooth racing surface and the drivers used pin tires. To ensure that everyone ran under the same conditions, the track crew blew dust off the track with leaf blowers and swept the turns before each heat. Drivers used the track's long front straight to clamp the throttle and hit high speeds before braking at the end. The infield had a tricky double, but most drivers got a handle on it and cleared it every time. Other jumps were fairly easy, but the many turns made it a driver's track. The alert crew ran a fantastic show, and each race went off like clockwork.

Now let's talk Mains. For the first time at the Winterchamps, triple A-mains were run in all classes (the stock guys used to run a single A-main). The stock Main drivers were allowed to purchase an additional set of tires if they felt it necessary. Here's how the modified Mains turned out.

TRUCK MODIFIED A-1

All but one of the trucks jumped the start and were lined up again for the restart. Jukka Steenari and his Orion-powered Losi Triple-XT led the race early, with Brian Kinwald and his Trinity-powered Losi Triple-XT in a close second, and Brian Dunbar third driving his Losi Triple-XT. Dunbar passed Kinwald, but the Dirtinator regained his position, only to have it stolen again by Dunbar seconds later. Billy Easton's Reedy AE RC10 T3 was on the move and pulled close to challenge Dunbar. Easton moved up, as Dunbar stuffed it. Ryan Eckert moved into third after Dunbar's hang-up, but Dunbar got by about a lap later. Easton closed in on Steenari. Dunbar laid down the power and made his move past Steenari into the lead. On the straight, Steenari made a final run at Dunbar but couldn't get by.

A-2

Steenari took the lead, with Dunbar second, Kinwald third and Easton in close pursuit. Easton tried to make a move but put it up on two wheels and had to recover, which cost him some running room. Hodapp moved into the fourth spot. With a minute left, Dunbar got caught up on a pipe, but thanks to a quick marshal, he lost no time; Greg Hodapp moved up and Kinwald came with him. Dave Montgomery moved up to second, with Hodapp in third. Steenari won, Montgomery took second and Hodapp slipped over the line third.

A-3

Steenari led early once again, with Dunbar second and Kinwald third. Travis Amezcua moved up from ninth to fourth. Kinwald's huge move from nowhere gave him the lead and took Amezcua with him. But Steenari got right back into second with Kinwald leading and Steenari inches away, Amezcua briefly had third until Montgomery squeezed by him. But those positions didn't stick for long. JR Mitch moved into third as they hit the straightaway. Kinwald pulled ahead, then Steenari hung his truck up on the pipe, and Mitch got by to take second, Steenari dropped way back to seventh, Montgomery now in third. Mitch reeled Kinwald in hard. Easton moved up into third, reeling in Mitch with seconds left. Kinwald for the win, then Mitch and Easton.

BUGGY MODIFIED A-1

Brian Dunbar, TQ with his Fantom SMC-- powered Losi Triple-X, led the first lap, with Brian Kinwald's Trinity Losi Triple-X close behind and Jason Corls' Orion-powered Losi Triple-X on his motor guard. Corl and Easton got together but separated quickly, and Easton got ahead of Corl. Kinwald took the lead over Dunbar through the S-turns. Hodapp caught up and put his car in third, and Montgomery followed. Hodapp hung up on a pipe; Montgomery moved up. Kinwald stretched his lead, with Dunbar second, while Easton looked to take the position from Montgomery. Easton stuffed it on a barrier, and Hodapp caught up to Montgomery. Kinwald won; Dunbar right behind him, and Montgomery was third.

A-2

Dunbar led, with Kinwald second and Matt Francis third. Dunbar got caught up on a pipe; Kinwald moved up to first, then it was Francis, Cori and Pavidis. Pavidis put his Reedy AE B3 into third, and Montgomery was fourth (but not for long). Hodapp moved up to fourth. Kinwald hung his car up, and Francis got by to gain the lead, but within seconds, Francis hung his car up, too, and Kinwald regained the lead. Kinwald hit a pipe, and Francis laid down the power and beat a hard-charging Kinwald over the line as Pavidis slipped into third.