Readers' rides

Radio Control Car Action, Sep 2002 by Hastings, Bob

YOUR BEST BUILDS

TIM EBERHARDT, ST LOUIS, MO

HPI SUPER

NITRO RS4

Give the comeback award this month to Tim and his flamed HPI Super Nitro RS4. About 15 years ago, he ran all-electric cars, but he was out of the hobby for a while. These days, Tim has this stock Super Nitro Lambo; he gave it a paint job that he says even he was surprised with. We're glad that you're enjoying RC again, Tim.

DAN SEPULVEDA, GLENDALE, AZ

DURATRAX NITRO QUAKE

Dusk settles across the greater Phoenix area, and Dan Sepulveda wraps up a full day of RC. This is his good-looking DuraTrax Nitro Quake and the custom trailer that he uses to haul his Traxxas Nitro Vee boat. The truck features a ported and polished Torq .21 engine, Torsen diffs, full RAm lighting and a Bolink 55 Chevy Nomad body. Dan says that the trailer wasn't easy to build; it has leaf springs and oil-filled shocks, and it certainly ties the whole package together.

KEITH LYNARD, CARNEYS POINT, NJ

TEAM ASSOCIATED TC3

It isn't enough to have a fully tweaked Associated TC3 that intimidates your friends; Keith goes one further and puts Darth Maul on the car's beak, too. The touring car has a 12T Reedy motor, Team Orion batteries and a Novak Super Rooster speed control. The red Protoform CLK Mercedes body is complemented by a set of RPM wheels and HPI sticks.

READERS' RIDE OF THE MONTH

STEVE KOBAYASHI. TORRANCE CA

TAMIYA FFO 1

Steve is quick to point out that his front-wheel-drive Tamiya chassis is all stock"nothing spectacular." Trust me when I tell you that hop-ups are low on the list of criteria for making it into 'Readers' Rides," Steve's JACCS Accord is nicely finished and well photographed-a definite "in" for this page, This Tamiya Accord isn't the most expensive car on the page-far from it. What is priceless is the amount of time and energy that went into applying the full body decals and the professional took of the car's presentation. Steve is duty proud of his work and offers this encouragement: "If you have a lot of patience, you can accomplish anything."

SGT. ADRIAN CHAVEZ, FT. SILL, OK OFNA OB-4

About five months ago, Adrian picked up an issue of RC CarAction, and he already owns two nitro vehicles! This OB-4 HPI Eclipse body is his first airbrush

job, and Adrian shows a lot of early talent. The OFNA sedan has graphite shock towers and radio tray, and CV axles harness the RB C-12 engine's power.

RADCLIFF BRILL, LOS ANGELES, CA

TEAM ASSOCIATED FACTORY TEAM GT

Here's a good-looking GT that sees its fair share of racing at SoCal Raceway in Huntington Beach, CA, and also at Hot Rod Hobbies in Saugus, CA. Radcliff runs an RB Concepts .12 engine for power and uses a variety of RPM and Rocket City components for added strength. His GT has Pro-Line wheels and tires and Futaba radio gear including a 9450 servo for steering and a 9101 servo on throttle duty.

CHAD McNEESE, BILLINGS, MT

TEAM LOSI TRIPLE-XT

When Chad sent this picture, he was eagerly awaiting the start of racing season. I'd feel the same way if I had a sinister-looking Matt Francis Triple-XT wait

ing to do battle. Chad chose a Team Orion Core motor, a Novak Cyclone ESC and Peak batteries for the "go" department. He uses JR radio gear that includes a Z550 racing servo, and the stadium truck is finished off with a Team Losi Fury body.

LARRY PRINCE, EAST PEORIA, IL

TRAXXAS T-MAXX

During his 24 years in RC, Larry has amassed quite a collection of vehicles; this purple T-Maxx is number 39. The project started with a Hardcore .21 conversion kit, and Larry says that was when his RC addiction took over. He added a Rossi .21 with a CVEC exhaust to the chassis, suspension components from Megatech and Powerline shocks. The driveline features a Traxxas diff spool and full MIP CVDs. The big truck rolls on Clod tires with JPS rims that match the Pro-Line Jeep body. Other additions to the nearly 14-pound monster include a KO Propo i8o oz.-in. steering servo, DuraTrax bumpers and a Robinson Racing tranny case and double-slipper spur.