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

[Brent Thielke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqsXkSDXU7g

Adam Drake's 8ight Practice Lap

[Doughty]

the track looks so perfect! the step up is ace!

good coverage Brent.

Lee Martin - ??? oooooo K

[Sylvain]

I'm not a fan of huge jumps but this track is totaly crazy !!

[Jeremy Dykes]

That track flows awesome and seems to be really high speed. Good job on the reporting Brent. That keeps it real for the rest of us in the frozen north!!!

[B44and501xRacer EX]

Go Associated and Tamiya!!!

I like the japan cars also.
I've been an associated fan for years, and now I have a goldpan RC-10
The vintage shelf car of my dreams.

Associated and Tamiya destroy Losi....go, go, go!!

[buckeye-mac]

Great writeup and video.

[WebSteve]

The writeup is on the previous page.

This post has been edited by WebSteve: Feb 21 2008, 10:00 PM

[GOLAN_L]

What tires are you running??

[Kevin Boyle]

Great Stuff Brent,


Keep up the good work. Tell Jason I said hello.


Later
Kevin Boyle

[JR Mitch]

Its on live rc see link below

http://liverc.rccars.com/liverc.php

Richard Saxton 2nd for round 1 in truggy

Ryan Cavalieri 5th for round 1 in truggy also

nice job AE

[ELLIOTT BOOTS]

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. 

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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!

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^Don't Ask^

i wish all the ae drivers the best of luck, hope mick cragg finger is ok, great report
elliott

[Si Fennell]

Great reporting Brent
Good luck to all the team

RD2 Pro Truggy

1) Ryan Cavalieri (12/7:19.737)
2) Adam drake (12/7:20.392)
3) Jared tebo (12/7:21.822)
4) Cody King (12/7:23.471)
5) Ryan Lutz (12/7:24.689)
6) Chad Bradley (12/7:26.043)
7) Travis Amezcua (12/7:27.612)
8) Taylor James (12/7:27.672)
9) Richard Saxton (12/7:27.764)
10) Ryan Maifield (12/7:28.574)

[Mack Attack]

Brent,

Great coverage, but your killin me. How is a retired Motocross Racer such as myself supposed to concentrate on anything else after seeing this kind of a layout. I can't wait to start wheelin the RC8. Good luck down there, and Good luck to the Team.

Freezing in Iowa, Wishing I was there.

Later

[JR Mitch]

I think RC has a 1st and a 5th and RS has a 2nd and a 9th both look good for the main.
We just need to get Maifield in there. There on round 3 know we will see how it pans out.

Elliott coming over to the US soon for same racing

JR

[Czech-it-Out_Graphics]

great write up brent! man does the orange headed GRP stick out like a sore thumb on ryans buggy lol

[Nick C.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqsXkSDXU7g

Adam Drake's 8ight Practice Lap

Holy crap.. How tall is the driver stand?

i think that is one of the biggest tracks I've ever seen!

[Brian Mellow]

Awesome coverage BT!! Keep it up.

[Wicked-Wayz]

Thanks for keeping us all informed about how associated is doing. Keep up the good work and good luck to all the associated drivers running.

Balony thanks for the firefox IE tab option, the site is working alot better now.

Peace Aaron(W-W)

[Balony]

Brent has it going on... the track does look awesome.. GOOD LUCK to all the AE guys

[Brent Thielke]

Day 3 – Truggy Qualifying

Hello everyone. Looks like Truggy qualifying went pretty well. A few of us who aren’t racing Truggy headed over to Scottsdale R/C Speedway for an afternoon of RC8 testing. The SRS track is much better suited for electric than gas, but the surface is pretty similar to the Nitro Pit.

Testing with Neil Cragg, Lee Martin, Kurt Wenger, Frank Root, Matt Griffin, Torrance DeGuzman and myself the RC8 got around the tight SRS track well. We were able to learn some things that will hopefully translate to the Nitro Pit. Thanks to the SRS crew for the hospitality!

Sorry I don’t know much about Truggy qualifying except that Team Associated drivers Ryan Cavalieri, Richard Saxton and Ryan Maifield all qualified directly in to the main event. Also, congratulations go out to Adam Drake for his TQ efforts. Seems like there are lots of guys about the same speed, which will make for an awesome main event.

Tomorrow starts three rounds of qualifying for 40+, Amateur and Expert buggy. Keep up the chatter and I’ll check in tomorrow with more video and pictures.

This post has been edited by Brent Thielke: Feb 22 2008, 04:37 AM