Readers' rides

Radio Control Car Action, Jul 2001

Win a one-year subscription to Radio Control Car Action magazine! Send a sharp, uncluttered, well-exposed color photo of your vehicle (no Polaroids) and a brief description to "Readers' Rides," RC Car Action, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 USA. If we publish your photo, you'll receive a free, one-year subscription to RC Car Action and will be eligible to win the "Reader's Ride of the Year Contest." Write your address and phone number on your letter and on the back of every photo you send. Good luck!

Martin Benfield, Hudson, NC

Associated RC10GT Factory Team

So your son just turned 16, and you want to give him the perfect gift-of course, a Factory Team GT! Did I mention that Jake is 16 months old? His dad believes that "You're never too young to start" and tells us "Big Jake" is great at going straight. We often get the same compliment.

Bruce Danek, Milwaukee, WI

Tamiya F103

If you're looking for some F1 action in the Midwest, try S&N Trackside Hobbies in Milwaukee. You'll see this Tamiya racecar trimmed in a beautiful Jaguar color scheme. The car has a stock motor, and Bruce writes that it has a very realistic feet on the carpet track.

Frank Hernandez, Indio, CA

Tube-Frame Tamiya Clod Buster

When Frank created this monster, he didn't play favorites as far as brands were concerned. The gearboxes are Clod Buster, the body is a ProLine Excursion for the T-Maxx, and those rims and tires are straight off the Kyosho USA-1. Frank designed and built the chassis and did the paintwork, too. The truck has a pair of Trinity 17-turn motors, two Sanyo 7-cell packs, a Futaba 3PJS radio and a Hitec 605 steering servo.

Jason Stingerie, Widefield, CO

HPI Nitro RS4 Racer 2

Nice shot of this Audi A4; the HPI-body tourer has an onboard Airtronics MS radio, a heavyduty HPI 2-speed tranny, Pro-Line V-Rage tires, Robinson ball cliffs and drive pulleys, MIP shiny CVDs and;td Motor Saver air filter. A Trinity/Picco .12 engine delivers power; Jason is experimenting with various exhaust-outlet roods on his HPI tuned pipe.

Marco and Mauro Bertulazzi, Bergamo, Italy

Tamiya TA04, HPI RS4 Pro 2

This Hara replica is Marco's TA04; the racer is outfitted with Futaba radio gear, a GM V12 ESC, Tamiya 2400 batteries and a Dina-run super touring motor. HPI Peugeot 406 is brother Mauro's Pro 2 chassis. He uses a BM speed control and an EVO 2 10-double motor powered by Sanyo 3000 cells.

Archie Timmons, Milwaukie, OR

Tamiya Rover Mini Cooper

Before you dismiss this nitro-powered Mini as being merely "cute," be advised that it has a split personality. Its owner wanted high speed and endurance, so he took its Tamiya FS-12LT engine and retrofit a 5.5mm-- bore IPI carb. Add to this a 2-speed tranny, full bearings, swaybars and a lightweight flywheel, and it really sounds as if Archie achieved his goal. The Mini also has a Futaba radio system and an electric starter and is finished in Pactra paint.

Peter Serranilla, Vancouver, WA

Traxxas T-Maxx

It's funny how our hobbies can be interconnected; Peter collects Hot Wheels, and he proudly flies that logo on his T-Maxx body. His truck has an RC Raven roll cage, Powerline body mounts, a GPM cooling head, Traxxas aluminum bumpers and skidplate, an MIP stinger and temp gauge, and Trinity bulkhead braces and steering-- servo skidplate. The T-Maxx wears Pro-Line Weld Outback wheels and is equipped with homemade swaybars, too.

Joe Chesnutt, Lancaster, PA

Team Associated Dual Sport

Inspired by Dale Earnhardt's team Corvette C5-R from the 2001 Rolex 24, Joe created his own using a Dual Sport chassis and an HPI body. This road racer features a P2K motor, a Novak Rooster speed control and an Airtronics Sport radio. Joe says "The C5-R project was not intended to be a tribute to Dale Earnhardt, but in a way, it has become one."