2009 'The Dirt' Nitro Challenge Event Coverage, Notes, pictures and videos...ohhh MY!
| Brent Thielke |
 Feb 17 2009, 12:35 AM
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 AE Forums Regular  Group: Team Associated. Posts: 477 Joined: 23-November 07 From: Lake Forest, CA - USA Member No.: 57 Full Name: Brent Thielke  |
Welcome to Team Associated's coverage of the 10th Annual 'The Dirt' Nitro Challenge. Just like the past two years, The Nitro Challenge is being hosted by The Nitro Pit in Wittmann, AZ.
Usually this event has its fair share of rain, however the forecast calls for sunny skies and temperatures up in the 80's this week. Should be a recipe for a great event. Racers from across the World will be in attendance vying to take down the double winner from last year’s event, Team Associated’s very own Ryan Cavalieri. Cavalieri and the rest of the Associated team have some new suspension geometry that they have been testing for the past few weeks. Initial reports have been successful and the team is looking to defend the title. Joining Cavalieri will be Arizona native, Ryan Maifield. Ryan has seen much success in buggy since switching to the soon to be released Reedy 121 VR Engine. With multiple wins and podiums, look for Maifield to be ultra fast at the Nitro Pit. Not to be left out for Team Associated are BRCA Champion Neil Cragg, multi-time EFRA “A” Championship finalist Robert Batlle and reigning EFRA “B” Champion Lee Martin. These three drivers traveled to Las Vegas to get some prep time with Associated’s very own ”The King” Richard Saxton. Saxton is coming off a terrific ’08 with multiple “A” main finishes and is looking to put his Reedy Powered RC8 on the podium early in the year. This event will also be the first time that the recently release Factory Team RC8T ventures to The Nitro Pit. Collectively, Maifield and Cavalieri have been dominant at this track in Truggy winning the Nitrocross, Nitro Challenge and the Truggy National Championship all at The Pit. Stay tuned to AssociatedLive.com for more photos, features and video as the week progresses. This post has been edited by Brent Thielke: Feb 18 2009, 07:34 AM -------------------- Brent Thielke - Associated Team Manager Team Associated ~ Reedy ~ LRP ~ JConcepts ~ Airtronics ~ Proline ~ Darkside Designs |
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Replies(1 - 19)
| Shane Racer |
Feb 17 2009, 01:40 AM
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#2
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 AE Forums Regular Group: Team Associated Posts: 240 Joined: 4-January 08 Member No.: 704 Full Name: Shane Racer |
Good luck guys.
-------------------- Team Associated,Reedy,LRP,Sidewinder,Jconcepts,M2C racing,Grandview Hobbies,Fastraxx Hobbies,Fastlane graphix,Kal-gard
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| Brent Thielke |
Feb 17 2009, 09:06 PM
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#3
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AE Forums Regular Group: Team Associated. Posts: 477 Joined: 23-November 07 From: Lake Forest, CA - USA Member No.: 57 Full Name: Brent Thielke |
Well, we're on our way to the track from rainy California. In the almost 5 years I've lived Cali, the rain this morning was the heaviest I've ever seen. Let's hope the mountains by Palm Springs keeps this weather to the West and not across the desert to Wittmann, AZ.
We hope to arrive around 4pm to get the pit area setup, meet up with the rest of the team and get a quick look at the track. I'll have pictures and more information from the track later this evening...stay tuned. -------------------- Brent Thielke - Associated Team Manager Team Associated ~ Reedy ~ LRP ~ JConcepts ~ Airtronics ~ Proline ~ Darkside Designs |
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| t0adman |
Feb 17 2009, 11:15 PM
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 AE Forums Regular  Group: Members Posts: 195 Joined: 7-July 08 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 10,160 Full Name: Todd L |
Rep-ruh-zent! Throw down some crazy fast times AE. Show 'em why we love the products and the team.
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| uncle bob |
Feb 17 2009, 11:38 PM
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 New User Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 17-February 09 Member No.: 27,927 Full Name: bob ryan |
kick some butt boys
good luck to you brent and all AE guys this is our one mate, i can feel it in my water ha ha ha |
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| Brent Thielke |
Feb 18 2009, 07:32 AM
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#6
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AE Forums Regular Group: Team Associated. Posts: 477 Joined: 23-November 07 From: Lake Forest, CA - USA Member No.: 57 Full Name: Brent Thielke |
So we’ve arrived to the track and all I can say is, “Where is my dirt bike?” The track is SICK! Give Joey a few days, a clean slate and a bobcat and he get’s insane! LOL
*Direction is counter clockwise           The layout better resembles an arenacross track as opposed to a 1/8th scale track. With no part of the track “untweaked” the Nitro Pit facility has been shaped in to arguably the most challenging combinations of jumps, turns, off cambers, step-ups and whoops ever seen at an r/c facility. It took me over 3 minutes to walk the track at a pretty fast pace with a few huffs and puffs to climb some of the steep jumps. Whoever walks away a champion over the weekend will have truly earned it as it will take a unique combination of driver, car and engine to properly navigate the layout. Track Walk - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLIQWTgLx0o New in the pits was an updated JConcepts RC8 body, seen here on Ryan Maifield’s vehicle. You’ll also notice the blue anodized shock towers. These more closely resemble the yet to be released production towers out of Associated’s Area 51.  Not pictured are Revolver truggy tires out of the Proline camp. It’s my understanding that the first practice will be the debut run for the new rubber from Proline. I’ll be sure to get some pics of these for tomorrow’s updates.  AE’s pit setup for the Nitro Challenge…note the new Reedy banners.  Ryan Maifield changes from silver to blue towers…  Associated’s newest driver, Robert Batlle (left) and his mechanic Marc Ibars Ever hear of the phrase…”10 pounds of stuff (or more colorful word) in a 5 pound bag.”? Here’s a good example…     That’s about all for now…stay tuned for more updates throughout the week. -------------------- Brent Thielke - Associated Team Manager Team Associated ~ Reedy ~ LRP ~ JConcepts ~ Airtronics ~ Proline ~ Darkside Designs |
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| Balony |
Feb 18 2009, 07:49 AM
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Settled In Group: Team Associated Posts: 30 Joined: 30-November 07 Member No.: 174 Full Name: Tony Leatherman |
Track looks sick!!! Goos luck to all the TEAM AE guys!
Brent ... thats some mad packing skillz you got! This post has been edited by Balony: Feb 18 2009, 07:49 AM -------------------- |
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| uncle bob |
Feb 18 2009, 12:47 PM
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New User Group: Members Posts: 10 Joined: 17-February 09 Member No.: 27,927 Full Name: bob ryan |
PICS ARE SICK MAN
TRACK LOOKS AWESOME GOOD JOB BRENT KEEP EM COMING MATE |
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| Jason Ruona |
Feb 18 2009, 04:47 PM
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 New User Group: Members Posts: 11 Joined: 20-December 07 From: Clermont, FL Member No.: 515 Full Name: Jason Ruona |
Looks great Brent. Keep up the good work.
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| Kevin Boyle |
Feb 18 2009, 05:05 PM
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 AE Forums Regular Group: Members Posts: 122 Joined: 4-December 07 Member No.: 308 Full Name: Kevin Boyle |
That new JConcepts body is dialed. good stuff Jason
Check out that sweet looking carpet under R.M. RC8... That is slick LOL Keep up the good work Brent. The video was sweet... wish we a track like that in the Noth East. Later Kevin Boyle This post has been edited by Kevin Boyle: Feb 18 2009, 06:42 PM -------------------- JConcepts-Team Associated-Team Checkpoint
Winning Edge Designs/wedjim.com RC8- RC8T- BJ4W.E.- B4/T4 |
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| d4man |
Feb 18 2009, 06:12 PM
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#11
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Settled In Group: Members Posts: 54 Joined: 22-January 08 Member No.: 1,177 Full Name: Dave |
Do you do all that from your cell phone?!?!?! Great coverage Brent as always. That is the sickest track I've ever seen!!
Good luck Team Associated!!! |
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| JR Mitch |
Feb 18 2009, 06:35 PM
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 New User Group: Team Associated Posts: 8 Joined: 26-November 07 From: Tampa, FL. Member No.: 87 Full Name: JR Mitch |
Good luck to all the TEAM AE guys!
 -------------------- http://www.rc10.com___http://www.gshobby.com___http://www.Jconcepts.net
___http://www.teamnovak.com___ http://www.AVIDrc.com___http://www.rcsignup.com _____Reedy_Airtronics_Winning Edge Designs_The Pattishall RacingShow_____ |
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| Brent Thielke |
Feb 18 2009, 06:51 PM
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#13
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AE Forums Regular Group: Team Associated. Posts: 477 Joined: 23-November 07 From: Lake Forest, CA - USA Member No.: 57 Full Name: Brent Thielke |
Well, practice has started...nothing to serious yet...the 40+ and Open Truggy heats have been ran and it's almost time for the Pro Truggy heats to begin. I'll try to get some video of the practice heats and get it up later today.
-------------------- Brent Thielke - Associated Team Manager Team Associated ~ Reedy ~ LRP ~ JConcepts ~ Airtronics ~ Proline ~ Darkside Designs |
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| motomike122 |
Feb 18 2009, 07:36 PM
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 New User Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 18-February 09 From: CT Member No.: 28,011 Full Name: Michael |
Best of luck to all....Hope the race is on the web for viewing.........
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| Marshall Skare |
Feb 18 2009, 07:41 PM
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 AE Forums Regular Group: Team Associated Posts: 758 Joined: 30-December 07 From: Minnesota, USA Member No.: 633 Full Name: Marshall Skare |
Good luck, guys! There's a chance that I'm just a little jealous that I'm not there.
 -------------------- Team Associated - Midwest Region
Team Associated - Reedy - LRP - Factory Team - 247DesignWorks - Impulse R/C - JConcepts RC8B Factory Team RC10GT2 |
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| crash1 |
Feb 18 2009, 08:14 PM
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 New User Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 18-February 09 Member No.: 28,017 Full Name: mark collins |
great coverage; keep it comming
 -------------------- The only problem with my racing is ME
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| Czech-it-Out_Graphics |
Feb 18 2009, 08:33 PM
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 AE Forums Regular Group: Team Associated Posts: 199 Joined: 16-February 08 From: Chicago Member No.: 2,034 Full Name: Mike Czech |
Great pics brent, good luck AE guys!!!
-------------------- Team Associated - Jconcepts - Team Helotes - M2C Racing - Fastlane Graphix - Parma International - Al's Hobby Shop - BCE
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| rich_cree |
Feb 18 2009, 09:43 PM
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#18
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 New User Group: Team Associated Posts: 19 Joined: 23-November 07 Member No.: 43 |
That track looks amazing! Good luck Team AE!
-------------------- TEAM ASSOCIATED - REEDY - CML DISTRIBUTION
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| Brent Thielke |
Feb 18 2009, 10:20 PM
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#19
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AE Forums Regular Group: Team Associated. Posts: 477 Joined: 23-November 07 From: Lake Forest, CA - USA Member No.: 57 Full Name: Brent Thielke |
So we’re a little past ¼ way thru the day and the program seems to be running a bit slow, but there are always racers on the track. With approximately 15 heats of truggy and 19 heats of buggy to run one full round of practice will take close to 6 hours. This puts the final round of practice ending around 10pm tonight under the lights.
As mentioned yesterday, Proline has a new Truggy tire, the Revolver. They also have a new molded foam and lightweight wheel.    I’ve also taken some better pictures of Ryan Maifield’s new JConcepts Hi-Flow RC8 body.  Not much to tell about the actual racing, but the usual suspects look pretty good out there…so until there’s more info…enjoy some more pics.  Roman & Jim Miller  Team Kyosho  Team Jammin’  Ty Tessmann & Cody King  Race Check-In  Paul Coleman  Mike Truhe  Neil Cragg -------------------- Brent Thielke - Associated Team Manager Team Associated ~ Reedy ~ LRP ~ JConcepts ~ Airtronics ~ Proline ~ Darkside Designs |
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| Knowneck |
Feb 18 2009, 10:30 PM
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#20
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Settled In Group: Members Posts: 48 Joined: 25-March 08 Member No.: 3,759 Full Name: Michael Van Dusen |
All the best to the team AE guys and remeber to wear your m/x helmets, I am so jealous of that track!
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