I’ve returned home and recovered from one of my favorite events each year on the calendar.
Report from
Alabama Manufacturers Shootout 13.0
I’ve returned home and recovered from one of my favorite events each year on the calendar. Once again, AMS 13.0 was well run and exciting with the latest format. 3 complete rounds of qualifying in one day allowed us to get everything dialed in and ready for Super Pole Saturday. In the finals, it was a weekend of 2nd place finishes after getting 2 TQ’s during qualifying. After triple mains in E-Buggy, and long 45 minute mains in 1/8th nitro truck and buggy, I ended the weekend 2nd in all 3. The Mugen, JConcepts, Hobbywing, and ProTek RC equipped machines were on-point, just a little off the wins this weekend.
________
Fridays qualifying went well and I was able to TQ both 1/8th nitro truck and 1/8th nitro buggy. Most of the JConcepts team focused on silver ReHabs for the buggy classes and gold Ellipse for the truck classes. The rip was powered by the ProTek Samurai RM engines, as usual and the speed and feel was perfect for the track and conditions.
________
Saturday’s Super Pole events didn’t exactly go as I wanted and dropped back on the grid for the A-Main finals. In truggy, I started 2nd, nitro buggy 3rd and E-Buggy also in 3rd. It was a bit disappointing dropping off the TQ spots knowing the track never gets easier and making passes is always difficult in the mains. We worked hard in the pits, made a few adjustments to the Mugen cars, and mounted a few different tire and compound combinations to be ready for the finals on Sunday.
________
The main events started in the E-Buggy class. It was nice to get out and test the track out and get a feel for some of the changes made to the Hobbywing speed control settings. They performed really well, the Mugen buggy felt great and had plenty of run-time courtesy of the ProTek batteries after a fresh charge. I picked up a 2nd in A-Main number 1 behind Mason Fuller who was having a great weekend.
________
The Truggy main went off next and Dakotah and I went back and forth quite a bit. We each led and either through small track bobbles or pit stops exchanged the lead quite a bit. In the end, Dakotah made fewer mistakes and earned a great victory. I was ultimately happy to finish 2nd and get up on the podium for all my sponsors in attendance. I went with blue compound Reflex for the main and was very happy with them in the drying conditions.
________
The buggy main is always difficult, a 45 minute main and with the conditions deteriorating slightly, it was a long haul. I put up a decent fight earlier trying to match Dakotahs pace but fell off of it after the first pit stop. The blue ReHabs were working well but I did also consider running Reflex and had them on the car for warmup. The dust worked its way into the line during the race and it was tougher and tougher to make the speed in those corners without pushing too far off line. I held my own, worked on maintaining 2nd while Dakotah stretched the lead. Congrats to him on the victory and my buddy Spencer Heckert getting 3rd.
________
E-buggy A2 was a forgettable main and a drop for me but Mason Fuller pulled out another great win to wrap up the overall for JC. A3 is a battle for the podium and I got a great start and led early. Switching to blue Reflex was a good call I thought and the buggy turned well in the dust and produced some quick times. I battled hard with Spencer Rivkin for the entire 10 minutes but I hung on for the win and to place another 2nd overall.
________
Thanks to David “Red” Scott for the pit space in the trailer and the pit stops during Sunday. As usual, Ronnie Rivkin was running around helping whenever needed and always appreciated. Paul Wynn and Hannah Hardison with the JConcepts team was on top of everything from tires and supplies to media and race event coverage. It never goes unnoticed or not appreciated.
________
On the track, it was nice getting one more A3 victory with the Mugen Seiki vehicles which have performed so well for me throughout the years. Of all the vehicles I’ve raced in 1/8th thus far in my career, the Mugen line has been the most consistent, durable, and easiest to drive in demanding conditions. There is no question, the combination of Mugen, JConcepts and either MX or Samurai power have contributed to some of my very best results to this point. I would like to thank Kris Moore, Tim Long, Adam Drake, Mugen Seiki USA, Japan, and Europe on being there for me the last 5 years. I always wish them and their drivers nothing but the best.
________
For me, it was my decision to move on to a new challenge and opportunity which will be announced at a later time.
________
Next event, JConcepts INS Finals at Hobby Action in Chandler, Arizona.
________
Mugen Seiki
JConcepts
Yokomo
Hobbywing
ProTek RC
VP Fuels
Flash Point
RM2
Hobby Action
A-Main Hobbies
Drakein
Stick-It 1
________
Fridays qualifying went well and I was able to TQ both 1/8th nitro truck and 1/8th nitro buggy. Most of the JConcepts team focused on silver ReHabs for the buggy classes and gold Ellipse for the truck classes. The rip was powered by the ProTek Samurai RM engines, as usual and the speed and feel was perfect for the track and conditions.
________
Saturday’s Super Pole events didn’t exactly go as I wanted and dropped back on the grid for the A-Main finals. In truggy, I started 2nd, nitro buggy 3rd and E-Buggy also in 3rd. It was a bit disappointing dropping off the TQ spots knowing the track never gets easier and making passes is always difficult in the mains. We worked hard in the pits, made a few adjustments to the Mugen cars, and mounted a few different tire and compound combinations to be ready for the finals on Sunday.
________
The main events started in the E-Buggy class. It was nice to get out and test the track out and get a feel for some of the changes made to the Hobbywing speed control settings. They performed really well, the Mugen buggy felt great and had plenty of run-time courtesy of the ProTek batteries after a fresh charge. I picked up a 2nd in A-Main number 1 behind Mason Fuller who was having a great weekend.
________
The Truggy main went off next and Dakotah and I went back and forth quite a bit. We each led and either through small track bobbles or pit stops exchanged the lead quite a bit. In the end, Dakotah made fewer mistakes and earned a great victory. I was ultimately happy to finish 2nd and get up on the podium for all my sponsors in attendance. I went with blue compound Reflex for the main and was very happy with them in the drying conditions.
________
The buggy main is always difficult, a 45 minute main and with the conditions deteriorating slightly, it was a long haul. I put up a decent fight earlier trying to match Dakotahs pace but fell off of it after the first pit stop. The blue ReHabs were working well but I did also consider running Reflex and had them on the car for warmup. The dust worked its way into the line during the race and it was tougher and tougher to make the speed in those corners without pushing too far off line. I held my own, worked on maintaining 2nd while Dakotah stretched the lead. Congrats to him on the victory and my buddy Spencer Heckert getting 3rd.
________
E-buggy A2 was a forgettable main and a drop for me but Mason Fuller pulled out another great win to wrap up the overall for JC. A3 is a battle for the podium and I got a great start and led early. Switching to blue Reflex was a good call I thought and the buggy turned well in the dust and produced some quick times. I battled hard with Spencer Rivkin for the entire 10 minutes but I hung on for the win and to place another 2nd overall.
________
Thanks to David “Red” Scott for the pit space in the trailer and the pit stops during Sunday. As usual, Ronnie Rivkin was running around helping whenever needed and always appreciated. Paul Wynn and Hannah Hardison with the JConcepts team was on top of everything from tires and supplies to media and race event coverage. It never goes unnoticed or not appreciated.
________
On the track, it was nice getting one more A3 victory with the Mugen Seiki vehicles which have performed so well for me throughout the years. Of all the vehicles I’ve raced in 1/8th thus far in my career, the Mugen line has been the most consistent, durable, and easiest to drive in demanding conditions. There is no question, the combination of Mugen, JConcepts and either MX or Samurai power have contributed to some of my very best results to this point. I would like to thank Kris Moore, Tim Long, Adam Drake, Mugen Seiki USA, Japan, and Europe on being there for me the last 5 years. I always wish them and their drivers nothing but the best.
________
For me, it was my decision to move on to a new challenge and opportunity which will be announced at a later time.
________
Next event, JConcepts INS Finals at Hobby Action in Chandler, Arizona.
________
Mugen Seiki
JConcepts
Yokomo
Hobbywing
ProTek RC
VP Fuels
Flash Point
RM2
Hobby Action
A-Main Hobbies
Drakein
Stick-It 1