Outline · Standard · [ Linear+ ] 2008 Nitro Challenge Coverage, Reports, Pictures and Video

[Brent Thielke]

Welcome to Team Associated's coverage of 9th Annual Dirt Nitro Challenge hosted by The Nitro Pit in Wittmann, AZ.

Throughout the week I will be posting reports, photos and hopefully video of the event focusing on Team Associated racers with highlights from the event.

Feel free to ask questions, post replies and discuss the event. I’ll do my best to stay in touch and answer as many questions as possible. Unfortunately I won’t have internet access at the track so all the updates will have to be done at the end of the day back at the hotel. I look forward to bringing you a daily recap and photos of each day’s events.

Team Associated Nitro Challenge Drivers In Attendance
-Ryan Maifield
-Ryan Cavalieri
-Neil Cragg
-Richard Saxton
-Lee Martin
-Kyle Skidmore
-Brent Thielke
-Kurt Wenger
-Torrance DeGuzman
-Corbyn Showers
-Jake Thayer
-Frank Root
-Matt Griffin
-Shawn Blackwell
-Jason Ruona
-Kyle Boice
-Scott Spear
-Daniel Adams

[Mike Hoffpauir]

Hey Brent, how's practice going?

[Brent Thielke]

Day 1 - Check In Day

Today was travel and setup day for most of the teams and racers. We arrive to the Nitro Pit around 4:45 to an already packed pit area. The track is looking like a typical "Joey" track with a good mix of Supercross style jumps and fast flowing sweepers and rhythm sections. Almost everyone who walked the track had the same comment, “Did you see that step-up?” I can’t wait to see a car go around this track!







Everything seems to be in order, except there has been some mention of the “R” word…rain in the forecast for Wednesday, the only day of practice. With two rounds scheduled, a bit of scattered showers shouldn’t delay the program much. Hopefully that’s all we get…

Familiar faces arrived throughout the afternoon to get a glimpse of the layout as the afternoon turned to dusk. As night fell the glow of lit up ez-ups filled the sky as racers put in one last wrenching session before practice the next morning. Working late in to the night included new to nitro, Associated’s Frank Root and Corbyn Shower’s Father, Joey Showers.

Speculation of a debut for the RC8T buzzed around the Associated pits, however the public will have to wait a little longer to see the much anticipated Truggy. Both Ryan Maifield and Richard Saxton will be wielding a Mugen in the Truggy class while Ryan Cavalieri returns with his $5000 Nitrocross winning Kyosho.

2005 IFMAR 2wd World Champion and reigning BRCA Rallycross Champion, Neil Cragg has arrived from across the pond to join his Associated teammates at the Nitro Challenge. This is Neil’s first trip to the famous Nitro Pit facility. Having spent most of the winter testing with teammate Elliott Boots on European astroturf tracks, the 100% dirt composition is a welcomed sight.



Last of the major manufactures to arrive was Kyosho. As Ryan Lutz and Levi Jackson unfolded the big red canopy, talks of the new AKA ad could be heard from passers by. What will Mark Pavidis and Cody King be running now that they are no longer associated with Proline?

Also looking to make a big splash at the Nitro Challenge is JConcepts and their line of tires. Led by Ryan Maifield , Jason Ruona’s far from start-up company hopes to build on their one round TQ of last year with the addition of other top drivers including Associated’s Lee Martin and Kyosho’s Ronnie Garnder.



Absent from the afternoon wrench session was Team Losi. Caught pitting next to his friend and GRP teammate Maifield, Mike Truhe gave his cars one last look over before setting out to defend his Nitro Challenge titles. Not much appears to be new on the Losi car other than their newly released flexible chassis. Again, the buzz around the Losi pits seems to be about tires. Both Drake and Truhe were spotted running a new tread pattern at Revelation Raceway this past weekend. And now with the announcement of the GRP tire line…what will they choose to run?



Well it’s now almost 1am and the track opens in almost 6 hours. It’s time to turn in and get those few crucial hours of sleep. Until tomorrow, or should I say, later today…enjoy the pics.

[c0sie]

Wow man, why cant see have things like this in the UK! Fingers crossed Lee "Pidge" Martin will see the light and build a track like this in his back garden

Thanks for the updates Brent

[Sylvain]

Nice job Brent !

[WebSteve]

When I click on the pictures to enlarge them, I get gibberish text across the screen. Is there a setting I'm missing?

[Stealthy Ivan]

Thats a very clean track, I like it, looks really nice to race.

[d4man]

WebSteve: The same thing happens to me when I use Firefox. Try using IE.

[WebSteve]

WebSteve: The same thing happens to me when I use Firefox. Try using IE.

That worked! Thanks.

[d4man]

That worked! Thanks.

Glad to help!

[Marshall Skare]

Mark's not with Pro-Line at all anymore? Wow! Times are a-changin.

Good luck there, guys! Kick Brandon Rohde in the shin for me if you see him.

[Doughty]

Go Cragg!

the track looks absolutely dialled!

the drivers stand could do with being a little higher though?

[JoePillars]

BT!

[Sylvain]

Why Maifield and Saxton are racing with Mugen... ? Noone races with ST-1 ?

[Balony]

For those of you that cant view the images try this link from the AE Forums.. it worked for me

Click here to view pics with firefox

[Richard Lake]

BT--Pics look awesome, sorry couldn't make it this year, See you on Saturday afternoon.

Rich

P/S--Good luck to all!

[JR Mitch]

Why Maifield and Saxton are racing with Mugen... ? Noone races with ST-1 ?

BT correct me if I’m wrong, I think they are still testing out the other competitors trucks to learn as much as possible in real race conditions.

Good luck to all AE drivers.....

This post has been edited by JR Mitch: Feb 21 2008, 02:13 AM

[M.ACERO]

WOW, thats a huge Pit you AE guys have, talking about rolling deep, i wish you guys had room for me, good luck to all of AE guys, and Brent thanks for pics and updates, keep the info coming........................

[Brent Thielke]

Day 2 – All Practice

Scheduled for today were two rounds of practice for both Truggy and Buggy…28 heats total, 7 minutes run time per heat. What does this all translate to? A long day for those of us running only one class…lol.

Starting things off was Truggy followed by buggy. As the scheduled start time of 8:00 came and went, the first heat didn’t get off the pit wall until 9:30 or so. As usual, the first heat had spectators lined around the fence searching for the dialed lines. With very few surprises, the pros quickly disappeared and returned to the pits for some last minute adjustments.

Walking through the pits everyone had their new vehicles on display. Most cars had Proline tires on them with Mike Truhe and Adam Drake rockin’ their normal Nitro Pit Bow-Fighter setup. For those of you who may not know, that’s code for Crime Fighers in the front and Bow Ties in the rear. This setup tends to produce lots of low speed steering with a bit of a whippy rear end.

As the pros hit the track in the Truggy class, most appeared comfortable on the track within a few laps. Everyone was struggling with the far double-double section before the back straight. This section is at a bit of an angle and a very deceptive entry and exit. The famous step-up proved to be more of a showtime section than a difficult obstacle. It’s still a bit unclear as to whom is the fastest in the Truggy class, but I’m sure by the time the mains are set all the normal guys will be contesting for a grid in the “A” main.

Throughout the day, the build up for the 1/8th Buggy class was looming. Could Mike Truhe be the real deal two years in a row? Would World Champion Mark Pavidis return to the top of the podium? How about National Champion Adam Drake and TQ Ryan Maifield? With most drivers already having a heat of Truggy under their belt, the groove of the track was getting worn in.









LiveRC will show that Adam Drake was the fastest in practice, but does this translate to the fastest in the race? Only 3 rounds of qualifying on Friday will tell. Just like Truggy, look for the normal group of fast guys to rise to the top and contest for the TQ position.

Until qualifying…enjoy the pictures!
























^Don't Ask^

[Brent Thielke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTWGFgPGIFc

A few laps with Team Associated's Ryan Maifield and his RC8.

This post has been edited by Brent Thielke: Feb 21 2008, 06:21 AM