Pro-line: Nitro Maxx challenge

Radio Control Car Action, Sep 2002 by Gonzalez, George M

Hosted by Pro-Line and managed by the staff at The Dirt RC Park In Hemet, CA, the 2002 Pro-Line Nitro Maxx Challenge was the RC equivalent of the "X Games." Three T-Maxx classes plus a new Outlaw class for the latest buggy-based rst& racing trucks joined the 1/10 Gas Truck and 1/8 has buggy classes to create a nitro racing extravaganza Along with the Many pro racing teams were teams, TMaxx aftermarket companies battling for brag ging rights ahd trophies.

A-MAIN

Stock T-Maxx. The only requirement in this 7-minute heat was that racers had to use their stock TRX Pro .15 engines and TQ Radio systems, but chassis and suspension modifications were allowed. Because the radio systems were on the 27MHz band, only six trucks raced at any one time. (As you'd expect, all the 27MHz frequency clips were absent from the frequency board during the practice rounds.)

TQ Fred Chase had his truck dialed and ended with a 10/7:16.68 final time-3 laps ahead of his nearest competitor. Joe Hegmann and Richard Smith finished in second and third, respectively, each with 7 laps. As you can tell by the i-minute lap times, the track was enormous.

Modified T-Maxx. Racers had to use .15 small-block engines and the stock or aftermarket T-Maxx differentials (buggy diffs weren't allowed). Any engine brand and all modifications were legal.

During qualifying, Team Associated/Thunder Tiger factory driver Jared Tebo was the only one to post a 9-lap run to take the TQ honors. He went on to lap the field and won the 15-minute A-main. With a JT chassis and an RB engine, his T-Maxx was stuck to the track like Shoe-Goo, and when it did crash, it always seemed to come out of it with the shiny side up. Ryan Cavalieri, (also racing a JT chassis) finished second, while Ramiro finished in third (nobody seemed to know this guy's last name).

Super Modified T-Maxx. Big-block .21 engines and any chassis and suspension mods were legal, but stock differentials or aftermarket units designed for the T-Maxx were mandatory. Those who had Kyosho MP 7.5 diffs stuffed inside the diff housings were sent to the Outlaw Class.

Chris Higa and TQ Mathew Byron battled during the 15-minute Main, and Higa's Thrasher Racing T-Maxx crossed the line 6 seconds ahead of Byron's, and Jim Smalley rounded out third.

Outlaw. This year saw the introduction of the Outlaw class for 1/8-scale buggy-based monster trucks and modified T-Maxx trucks with .21 engines and aftermarket chassis, suspension and drive-train components (including 1/8-scale buggy diffs). Every T-Maxx truck in this class was practically a checking account on wheels; they had hundreds-if not thousands-of dollars' worth of aftermarket aluminum, titanium and graphite components.

Scott Hughes' JT Racing T-Maxx was clearly the most dialed, but OFNA Dominator driver Paul Coleman qualified with the same number of laps, so we were assured of a battle during the 15-minute Main. They put on quite a show for several laps, and then Hughes blew a clutch-bell bearing and was out of the race.

Gene "the machine" Hickerson took over second with his JT Racing T-Maxx and pressured Coleman all the way to the end. The dash to the finish line resulted in Coleman's keeping his pursuer at bay and crossing the line first to take the championship. Hickerson took the second-place trophy, and Robin Oury went home with third.

NITRO MAXX CONCOURS

Over 100 trucks lined up-an awesome spectacle. There were many greatlooking vehicles, but Jay Ando's T-Maxx tow truck was a standout (he took the Concours trophy in 2001, too). The photo doesn't do his truck justice. The rear of the body and the tow hitch were handmade, and the truck features working lights and a complete sound package. It even has a working hitch; that's a fully equipped E-Maxx in tow!

Some complained that the truck was "over the top" and demanded that the judges make Ando drive it in accordance with ROAR concours rules-a request I thought very petty. The truck was fully functional, and Ando was willing to drive it, but there was no need to make him circle the track and risk damaging his work. Sorry guys; the track is for racing and not for proving the functionality of a concours winner.

Long-jump. The event was brought to a climactic end. A large wooden ramp was set up along the back straightaway, and a dirt landing platform was built on the other end to help cushion the landings. The event was open to all racers, and judging was based on the volume of spectator applause. This was actually more of a freestyle contest than a long jump. Those who did the best midair stunts drew the most enthusiastic applause. The 1/8-scale buggies jumped the highest and farthest and were able to do the coolest stunts during their super-long flight times. Unfortunately, the landing platform wasn't much

help, as most vehicles overshot it by more than 15 feet and some were disabled, but most survived long enough to make several jumps.

The jump that earned the loudest applause was that of Kyle Pipkin's rocket-powered T-Maxx. This industrious (read "crazy") racer strapped on two E-class model rocket engines and rigged the ignition to the third channel switch on his TQ radio system. He planned to hit the ignition the moment the truck reached the launch ramp, but as you can see, he hit the switch prematurely, and the truck veered left and almost missed the ramp completely. Once airborne, the Rocket Maxx did three forward somersaults before re-entry and wedged itself against a chain-link fence.