[ Outline ] · Standard · Linear+ 2009 'The Dirt' Nitro Challenge Event Coverage, Notes, pictures and videos...ohhh MY!

[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]

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.