Event: ROAR Electric Off-Road Nationals
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Date: June 26-28, 2009
Classes: 1/10^th electric off-road
Race Reporter: Jason Ruona

JConcepts takes another ROAR National Championship.  Goose Bumps tires TQ and win new ROAR Short Course class.

Beautiful Omaha, Nebraska played host for the 2009 ROAR Electric Off-Road Nationals and without disappointment the surroundings, facility and competition was second to none.   With limited knowledge of the racing surface and conditions at hand factory drivers chose from a limited selection of tires and tuned their vehicles to perfection.  JConcepts bodies, tires, wheels and accessories were at the top of the results throughout the weekend.

JConcepts drivers Ryan Maifield, Steven Hartson, Kody Numedahl and Scott Brown all enjoyed massive success qualifying in the A-main in the modified classes.  For Maifield it was business as usual placing his JConcepts equipped B4 buggy in the TQ position while also qualifying up-front in the 2 other modified classes.

In the main events, JConcepts driver, Ryan Maifield, earned a hard fought victory in the Modified Truck class winning A-main #1 and #2 while utilizing JConcepts Double Dee’s tires and Illuzion Hi-Flow body and spoiler.

For 2009 ROAR brought the highly popular Short Course truck class to ROAR competition.  In a field of heavy competition from across the United States the JConcepts Goose Bumps were the popular tire choice for SCT competition.  With a clean sweep of TQ, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place the JConcepts Goose Bumps are indeed the Hot tire for short course racing.

JConcepts would like to congratulate Ryan Maifield and the rest of the JConcepts team on an impressive weekend and another ROAR National Championship for JConcepts.

Photos Courtesy – R/C Car Action Trevor Duncan

Event: Northern California Off-Road Challenge
Location: Norcal Hobbies – Union City, California
Date: June 26-28, 2009
Classes: 1/10^th electric off-road
Race Reporter: Jason Ruona / Frank Root

JConcepts Orange Bar Codes strike again. Frank Root picks up big wins in the 2wd and truck modified classes at the Northern California Off-Road Challenge.

Over a period of many years a historic battle has been in place between the best drivers from Southern California and the best from Northern California.  Northern California is back with an explosion of new drivers and veterans alike and with tracks such as Norcal hobbies this is only the beginning.   For many years it was Kinwald vs. Beckwith or Kinwald and Pavidis vs. Matt and Mark Francis.  Today we have a whole new generation of drivers looking to forge the same type of battle.

In a fitting gesture championship belts were handed out at the Northern California Challenge and with victories in 2wd modified and truck modified southern California resident Frank Root came home with 2 Heavy-weight belts.   Drawing from his southern California experience and expertise Frank Root pulled off a sweep in qualifying with TQ’s in (more…)

Event: R/C Pro Series – east round 1

Location: Lake Park – Lutz, Florida

Date: June 21-22, 2009

Classes: 1/8th Nitro

Race Reporter: Jason Ruona

It is non stop here at JConcepts during the week and during the weekend.  We take our racing and product very seriously and work and play hard to prove it.  Paul and I were barely recovered from the previous weekend and we were packed once again and we were off to Lake Park for round 1 of the eastern division of the R/C Pro Series.  Hurricane R/C, Kenny Holmes and crew were set and ready to tackle some of the best the southeast has to offer.  The track layout was familiar and has been in for about a month or so.  With the inconsistent weather the track has been taking a beating from rain but it was primed and ready as usual for Saturday morning and everyone seemed pretty jazzed about the racing ahead.

Once Paul and I were setup we spent some time getting the new RC8b up to speed on the starter box and everything broke in quite nicely.  After running a couple of tanks in the pits we spent some time on the track as we began to lean out the new beast.   Everything starts out with great intentions but after a few laps on the track it is nice to start jumping a few of the jumps so we leaned it a little early.   New buggy was running great and our tire selection for practice was good as we were running on Double Dee’s in blue compound.  These in particular were mounted on yellow – JConcepts Max-ups wheels but everyone knows I prefer white.  White is 2 tenths quicker the last time I checked.

Paul and I packed it up and hit the Holiday Inn express about 9:00pm to check out our room.  It is awesome getting a room in the summer as they break out all the deals during this time of the year.  $75.00 for the suite!  Ceilings were huge in this room and it had an actual shower.  I think we could have invited the whole crew from the Transformers movie (more…)

For Immediate release –

Illuzion – Dare – Traxxas Slash body
Part # – 0086
UPC Code – 845937003065
Retail price – $40.00

(Direct fit for Traxxas Slash)

I dare you.  The challenge everyone has faced including JConcepts.  JConcepts dares to be different with the latest introduction for the Slash, the Dare body.  Cut through desert type terrain like never before with the latest style JConcepts has to offer.

The Dare is different and specifically designed for the hottest truck in R/C – the Traxxas Slash.   As the saying goes, if it looks good, than it runs good.  Well JConcepts has taken that saying to higher ground with the Dare – Slash body.   Starting with the visor and grill mock lights this truck appears to be headed in the right direction.  The Dare represents the latest in trends by offering a completely redesigned off-road truck body.  The cab, bed and fenders are all areas of focus on the Dare and without disappointment the new Slash body slides into the front of the pack.   In addition, one of the highlights of the styling cues includes extra fender clearance to eliminate troublesome tire rubbing issues.

Everyone knows that the Slash is all about fun and the inevitable Dare from the competition.  Be the first, top off your Slash with the new body by JConcepts, I dare you.

Features:

• Original JConcepts – Dare desert based styling
• Original JConcepts – Dare desert based styling

• Off-road inspired body, cab and window design
• Realistic visor and grill mock lights with decals
• Clear heavy-duty polycarbonate with protective film
• Window masks and detailed decal sheet
• Extra wheel well clearance for more consistent performance

Thank you,

Jason Ruona

Event: North Carolina Championship Series, Round 4
Race Reporter: Brandon Melton
Race Dates: June 13-14

The North Carolina Championship Series has completed 4 of 5 rounds and this weekend was another sweep for JConcepts! Overcash R/C located in China Grove, NC hosted the event. Heavy rains hit the Carolinas prior to the event, but the track crew had the track SUPER smooth and rolled by Saturday morning. The track started as moist and packed, and by the end of the day turned into almost a blue groove with just a couple broken places, but overall a great track everyone enjoyed. The final round will be at Nitro Valley Raceway on June 27th, and driver’s Chris Pace and Greg Smith are leading the points heading into the final round in buggy and truggy.

In the buggy class, Brandon Melton and Chris Pace represented JC products, and looked to be in fast form. Early out of the gates, it was youngster Robbie Saxon piloting his Losi to a first round TQ by one second over Chris Pace. In the second round, Chris Pace changed from blue Sevens to blue “crow-bows” to take the second round TQ. In the third and final round, Brandon Melton jumped on the “crow-bow” train and set fast round for the day and TQ, but didn’t have an additional TQ round for the overall. Chris Pace would TQ, with Robbie 2nd and Brandon 3rd.

The main started clean with a mandatory “single-single-single” section to prevent the first corner madness. Pace was able to take advantage of the TQ spot and get off to a great start. Melton got by Saxon about 2 minutes into the race and began to inch closer to Pace as both drivers tried to set into a rythem. Unfortunaly just before the first pit stop, Melton had a slight mechanical failure which put him laps down from there.  Barry Pettit showed up late and bumped all the way to the A-Main and once held the second spot, but a few gremlins cost Barry (more…)

Well it’s been a great 2 weeks for me! It started with the 8th 2-Day national that was located in Herts in the UK. It’s a large dirt track, which has a huge following and a lot of local drivers. We had only been here once or twice before and we were hoping that we could get used to the track quickly, being such a large track it was going to be an interesting one!

Things didn’t start too well, having radio problems early on but eventually sorting things out. We tried a range of Tires and found that the Double cross was looking good, using its rounder profile to take the bumps better without cause a unstable car through the sections of high speed. Also Crossbow’s were working well and we would go into the semi placing 5th and deciding on Crossbow for the semi and Double cross for the main.

The semi didn’t start well but it was clean sailing from then, a collision between 3rd and 4th on first lap caught me in the middle and ending up second to last after the first corner. From this moment I drove a error free race to finish 2nd behind a flying Bloomfield and end up 4th overall on the Grid with Cragg TQ.

The final was adventurous! Again off the start I ended up in a pile of cars coming out around 11th, from here I drove well and pushed on the Double cross tires, learning new lines and getting faster all the time. Catching up with Cragg, Boots and Bloomfield to be in the mix, I managed to fight my way up and battling with (more…)

Event: FSORS #7

Location: Hudson, FL – B&B Hobbies

Date: June 13-14, 2009

Classes: 1/8th Nitro

Race Reporter: Jason Ruona

JConcepts wins 4 out of 6 classes at Round 7 of the Florida State Off-Road Series.   JR Mitch continues to lead the highly competitive 1/8^th buggy and truck point’s standings while Josh Talmadge wins both sportsman classes to make a late season charge for sportsman supremacy.

The trailer is packed and Paul and I headed off to B&B for round 7 of the Florida State Off-road series.  Pulling into the complex Paul and I found a spot for the trailer and started setting up.  Although we didn’t have an ideal pit spot it was still somewhat close to the track.  The usual crowd was all ready set and positioned with almost an entire day of practice behind them they were in rebuild mode by the time we arrived.

Paul setup the trailer which allowed me to get my RC8b on the track for a few runs.  Everything seemed to be working ok for a non maintained vehicle but there was room for some improvement.  I focused on the getting the layout and (more…)

Ryan Maifield's Cactus Winning B4 - JC Orange Bar Codes

With the release of the JConcepts Orange Compound Rubber this week – I though it would be a good idea to remind everyone of the pure domination from Ryan Maifield at the ‘09 Cactus Classic.

Ryan Won the 2wd Modified Class, as well as the  Truck Modified Class in convincing fashion. You don’t win triple A-main events by mistake.

More pics or Ryan’s race winning Team Associated RC10B4 can be seen HERE

3021 - 1/10 Truck Front or Rear

Do you find yourself Wondering when to run the various JConcepts tire componds?

Here is a quick article written by Frank Root, JConcepts Team Driver -

JConcepts has been making tires for a few years now, but we are growing all the time. In the past year, there have been 3 new compounds introduced, so I though I’d take a minute to share a little about each, and highlight the conditions for which each would be ideal.

Green – It is the softest of the JC compounds. It is the best for wet dirt. If is similar to M3, but will wear considerably longer. The Double Dees work great on packed surfaces with a little loam and Goosebumps really shine on the loamier tracks, even if they go a little dryer. Groovy and Rounder fronts in green work well in both conditions.

Blue – The medium-soft compound is the softest compound we have for 1/8 scales, and 2nd softest for 1/10. It works best for wet, loamy 1/8 conditions. The blue 1/10 tires are currently the Bar Codes, which work great on “Blue Groove” condition that don’t reach super high traction(little to no dust on hard packed dry dirt).

Gold – The indoor compound works great on any type of indoor dirt, but are awesome on clay. The tread does not barely wear, and has great grip. The tires also make for awesome slicks, if the track calls for it. The compound was tested and developed on tracks in the Northeast and even OCRC in CA.

Yellow – The harder of the 1/8 compounds, work great in many conditions. On any hard packed track, with loam on top or not, the yellows really hook up. You will also get great wear out of these tires because they are not sliding around with all the traction they create. The Yellow Crow Bow Combo (Crow Bar Fronts, Cross Bow Rears) in yellow is my 1/8 tires setup of choice at most tracks.

Orange – The newest compound to the JC line-up. Only for 1/10 as of now, Orange comes only the Bar Code tread. It was designed and tested for the highest traction “blue groove” conditions, like those seen at the Hot Rod Hobbies Off-Road Shootout and the Cactus Classis. They actually debuted at the Cactus Classic with Ryan Maifield winning 2wd and Truck Modified. Lee Martin, Kody Numendalh, Steven Hartson, and I all made at least one A-Main using the tires as well. They work very well, creating a bit more traction than some of the others without wearing faster.

White – The hardest of the 1/10 Compounds works great on the super high bite “blue groove” surfaces. I really prefer them on Truck and 2wd fronts, to complement Orange rears. The wear is exceptional, and it is the perfect balance of speed and ease of driving.

If anyone has questions, feel free to ask me on rctech.net in the ask Frank Root forum.

Thanks!

Frank

For Immediate release – 

Bar Codes – orange compound

Part # – 3016-04
Retail price – $17.00
(Fits 1/10^th buggy rear wheel) Click here to order your Buggy Rears

Bar Codes – orange compound
Part # – 3017-04
Retail price – $16.00
(Fits 1/10^th buggy front wheel) Click here to order yours today

Bar Codes – orange compound
Part # – 3020-04
Retail price – $16.50
(Fits 1/10^th 4wd front wheel) Click here to order your 4wd fronts today

Bar Codes – orange compound
Part # – 3021-04
Retail price – $22.00
(Fits 1/10^th truck wheel) Click here to order your Truck Bar Codes

The Code of Silence has been broken at JConcepts, and the Bar Codes are out. The Bar Code design is the freshest tire design seen in the last 10 years of racing development regardless of class and scale. Like the name suggests the alternating bar design combined with the addition of the Y side bars provide uncompromised support for blue and black groove conditions. Now available in Orange compound the Bar Codes are a specialty tire that when matched to the appropriate track can provide amazing results.

The Bar Codes are a part of the JConcepts special breed of tire, designed for (more…)