Ryan Lutz pulls out the Trifecta at the North Carolina Series Finals 1

Ryan Lutz touches base with his race report fromNorth Carolina Series Finals   @ the Badlands in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.

4wd SC Open – Ran my Tekin Pro 4 powered Durango DESC410R for the first time in at least a month and it just felt like I hadn’t taken the time off with it at all. It was flying around this track and the on-lookers were amazed at the speed of the Tekin equipped Durango. In the first qualifier they had the minimum lap set at 33 seconds and for some reason they were never mentioning my name during the race even as I was passing everyone. Come back to see the race results and every one of my laps that did count was a 62. So I was getting 31 second lap times at least! In the second round when the bite came up I was able to get down into the 29 second lap times on occasion which was just about 1.5 seconds off my Nitro and E-Buggy! I was able to TQ all 3 rounds. In the A-main they were running it for 10 minutes! I’m lucky to make 7:30 with my car if i’m really driving it so I was a bit leery of trying to make 10. I ran the race trying never to pull past 1/4 throttle. Down the straight I let off the gas completely 1/2 way down and just let it cost the rest of the way. (Good thing my Tekin Pro 4 was fast enough to already be flying at that point!) I drove it easy and was able to finish the full 10 minutes and win by a couple laps on the field of 15.

E-Scale Buggy – My  Tekin powered Durango DEX408 prototype was loving this track. Everyone kept stopping by my pit area to ask me if they could look at it but unfortunately i’m still having to keep it under wraps. Hopefully it will be out soon because I know there is a lot of interest in this vehicle, and rightfully so! In Qualifying I was able to take the first two rounds to take the overall TQ for the class. In the main I ran back to back SC and E-Buggy. I didn’t do any practice laps in E-Buggy because I was going to change tires really quick before the main but realized quickly that I didn’t have what I thought I had and thus I just left on the tires I had ran all day. So the first couple laps I struggled trying to find my E-Buggy finger having just babied around the SC truck for 10 minutes. I fell into a battle with the top 3 and we battled for the first couple laps until I got by and they both made a mistake on the back right jump section and I never looked back. I began extending my lead and I think by the end of the 10 minute main I had put a lap on the field! Another win for the Prototype Tekin Powered Durango DEX408!

Joor TQ’s & Wins RC Pro US 16 Electric, Furthers Points Lead For Finals

The RC Pro US Series 16 took place 9/23 in Harlingen Texas and this race was turning out to be quite crucial for David Joor. David wanted to continue his points lead to defend his RCP Electric National Title. Two years ago when David got into electric 8th scale he won the RCP Finals and in 2010 took home the RCP Electric National Title. The points setup has changed this year which meanstso David was leading the points with Mitchel Gardner in 2nd (whom was fierce competition @ last years Finals) and Jake Dillinger. So I grabbed my Associated 8.2’s and took the venture down south. David took TQ in electric by winning each round but Dillinger didn’t make this easy. 

 
David took the 1st electric main but Dillinger made a charge back in the second main to take the win so it was all up to the 3rd main. In the third main David lost control of the car in the most difficult section of the track that and went over the pipe and had a head on collision with 4th place! Getting back on the other side he continued to follow Dillinger for 2 laps literally a foot or two behind in each corner trying to make him crack and right when David began to think he wasn’t going to he traction rolled in the sweeper and cartwheeled off the track. So David went on to win the 3rd main and this has given me maximum points of 218 going into the finals because he TQ’d, lead most laps, and won two RCP events. Dillinger and Gardner are now tied for second with 210.

Derek Stephansen wins big at the Race for a Cure at Modesto RC Raceway!

This past Saturday Derek and other Tekin team drivers participated in the Race For A Cure at Modesto RC Raceway which brought in a 148 total entries. After 2 rounds of qualifying Tekin Powered Phillip Atondo(TLR) would take Tq in 2wd Mod buggy, Derek 2nd. Derek Stephansen would take TQ honors in 4wd Mod Buggy.

2wd Buggy A1 Phillip and  Derek would start battling for the first minute or so intill Phillip bobbled allowing Derek to get out front and slowly build up a slight lead. In the closing minute Derek would bobble while out front allowing Eddie Bernal to take A1. A2 would have Derek out front early taking the win in  A2. A3 was probaly one of the most intense battles of the night with the front runners all batlling for the lead. Derek would bobble over the demanding quad allowing Johnathan Hernandez and Eddie Bernal to get by. Derek would chase down  Eddie quickly.The leaders battled out nose to tail for the next four minutes. A3 would end with Johnathan in 1st, Eddie second, and Derek in third. Derek Stephansen would end up winning 2wd mod Buggy with the tie breaker over Eddie Bernal!

In Mod 2wd SCT Derek Stephansen would start from the fifth spot in A1 and would quickly work his way up to second behind TQ Eddie Bernal and would finish there. In A2 Derek would be able to get out early from the start and hold on over a hard charging James Arluck to take the win in A2. A3 would once again be a battle between Derek and Eddie Bernal once again going at it, with both bobbles and recoveries from both. As time expired Derek would win giving him the overall Mod 2wd SCT title!

In 4wd buggy Derek would make several mistakes in A1 allowing Cody and Jason Smith to get by, dropping him to 3rd. Derek had better luck in A2 checking out from pole to take the win. A3 Derek would once again check out but a minute in he would have mechanical issue pulling out of the race and giving Austin Blair the win for A3. Overall Derek would end up 3rd in this class.

Derek ” I was super happy to be able to put both Tekin Esc’s and Tekin Motors on Top!!”

Salvas Brothers win at the Lord of Late Model race in Illinois!

The two day two race event where points determined the Lord of Late Models! The first event held at Maryville Steve Salvas took 1st while Eric Salvas got 3rd. The next day at Allens RC Steve Salvas would take 2nd while Eric would once again take 3rd. After all of the points were totaled Steve Salvas would take the overall win! Brother and fellow Tekin/Cutom Works teammate Eric Savlas would take 2nd!

The late model class a new 4wd class was 13.5 open. The Tekin Rs’s was the esc of choice for all!!!


Some Vid of the mains: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFai2jVUWHo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Tekin drivers dominate the Utah State Champs!

2011 Utah Outdoor state champs hosted at Black Sheep Rc raceway in Spanish Fork Utah. Tekin Team Driver Jason Smith TQ and takes 1st in the 1/8 buggy Electric Buggy using his Tekin Powered Rc8e. Jason used the Rx8 and T8 1700. Jason Smith wasn’t done. Jason also Tq’d the Pro 2 SC class with his Tekin Powered Factory Team SC10. Jason chose the Rs pro and a Redline 8.5. 


Aaron Eastman TQ’d and wins in Pro4 SC class with his Tekin Powered Losi Scte. Aaron chose the Rx8 and 5.5 Sc4x.

Mike Barrett wins at the 10th annual Race Against Cancer !

Hosted by McCullough’s Off Road in Sarver Pa the event had over 170 entries and raised over $12,000 dollars for American Cancer Society. The race pulled racers from Ohio, New York, and Virginia setting record for both entries and donation dollars!


Mike’s recap:


“We had a few downpours throughout the weekend which made for a high traction surface. There were 4 rounds of rocket round qualifying on Saturday. I was able to TQ the first round which held up until the last round. I started 2nd on the grid on Sunday for the main. The A-main was 10 minutes long. The lead positions swapped multiple times between the top 4 guys. At around the 8 minute mark I was able to take the lead for the final time for the win. I was using the Tekin RS/9.5 system in my TQ Racing SC truck.”

Congratulations Mike and McCullough’s for a winning event!

Carson Wernimont Dominates Rd7 of the JBRL at OCRC

Carson knew he had work to do after getting a 5th in the first round of Qualifying. Carson made some set up changes to his Tekin powered DESC410 and I came out of the gate swinging for the second round of qualifying clinching the TQ by a few seconds over second place, Aaron Lane. In the main Carson started first on the grid and never looked back, cruising to the finish with a 3 second lead over second, and quite a bit ahead of the battle for third.

In 4WD Buggy Carsons Tekin powered DEX410 was great all weekend. In the first qualifier i had a few bobbles at the end set me back in the 4th position for the first round. In round two I made some adjustments to my car and was able to land my DEX410 on the second spot on the grid behind local hero Steven Heartson. In the main Carson got off to a good start and was able to break away from the field with Steven but at the end Steven was half a lap ahead, so Carson had to just settle for a respectable 2nd place finish.


Michael Malott wraps up the Local Joe race series!

The Local Joe series was a 6 race format that consisted of 2 different tracks, Reo Raceway in Rockport, IN and SRI Raceway in Louisville, KY. Mike Malott came into the final round with a slight lead after the throw outs. Mike had missed the last couple of rounds. It was now or never to take down the title. 


Mike had qualified 2nd for the A main after 3 rounds. Mike knew he had to finish 6th or better to take the title going into the main. After the tone Mike had gotten a chance to settle into 2nd place. He managed to case a jump that caused his switch to shut off. Lucky for him a good marshall got him back on and onto the track a lap down. Mike but on a charge getting back onto the lad lap and with a minute to go managed to be back up to 4th position. This is where Mike would finish and wrap up his Local Joe Series 1/8 E buggy title. 


Mike had this to say “I couldn’t have done this without all of my sponsors helping me out and giving me the opportunity to run the best products in the industry. My OFNA/BCE Hyper 9e was solid all year and I never had one breakage or failure in all 4 races. My Tekin equipment and AKA tires were also flawless the whole series and gave me the power and grip I needed throughout the summer to get the solid finishes I had this year. The PT RC oils were so smooth and consistent all summer in the heat and in the cool I knew I had no worries of the shocks or diffs fading under either conditions. “


Mike Applegate wins big at the Short Course Kings Race!

Tekin team driver Mike Applegate wins the 13.5 Super Stock 2wd SC class at last weekends Short Course Kings race hosted in Ocala Florida. 86 entries with Mike taking Tq and the overall win. Mike held his composure throughout the entire 6 minute main fending off Billy Bruce half way through. Mike was using a Tekin Redline 13.5 and Tekin RS esc.

Video of the main: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsgDrtt8B98

Ryan Lutz takes 4th at the 2011 ROAR Electric 1/8 Nats

Ryan Lutz takes 4th overall with his Tekin powered Dex408 prototype buggy. Ryan’s recap :

“Main day has came and went and all that there is left to show for it is the results. Lets get down to business.

In A1 I had a decent start and got up to 5th from my 8th starting position. I got into ‘no mans land’ as I call it where the top 4 had a good lead on me and the rest of the pack were a few seconds behind me. I took it easy for most of the main but on the last couple laps I made some mistakes and allowed Truhe to catch up and pass me on the last lap and so I settled for 6th.

In A2 I got an even better start and worked my way up to 4th. I was staying as clean as possible and was able to overtake Cavalieri for 3rd and I held the position until the last lap. On the last lap Truhe once again caught me and passed me with 1/2 a lap to go. I stayed glued to the back of him though and over the left side double he got a little short and went out wide and we both went over the single onto the straight away together but his car rocked a bit and I pulled just barely ahead and in the sweeper at the end before the finish line he got right on my rear end and basically pushed me across the line. So I was able to take 3rd in A2.

In A3 I knew I had a legit shot at Podium. I had an okay start and after a few laps was up to 5th. I worked my way up behind Cavalieri and I knew if I could beat him I could get 3rd overall. We battled close for a few minutes with me having a couple chances but always getting up on 2 wheels or a hard landing or something keeping me just behind. With one lap to go though I was on his bumper and we landed the coming at you double side by side but my car hit the rut that had developed over the weekend and rolled over. This allowed Cav to get away and King to pass me as well. I finished up and took a 5th for the round. Overall this put me 4th place! Not bad for a prototype buggy on my first big race with it! Overall I was pretty pleased with the final result and look forward to more running in the E-Scale class!”