Blog 1 - VB 3.0 the classes in detail

 CLASS IN FOCUS :

Class 2 : 1985-1987 IFMAR

It's all about the history right ??

The very beginning of 1/10 off-road RC racing in the mid-1980s, incorporating the 1985 and 1987 World Championships, was heavily influenced by prominent manufacturers such as Team Associated, Kyosho, Schumacher and Tamiya. These manufacturers played pivotal roles in shaping the sport and driving technological advancements.

Renown for their iconic RC models, Tamiya also left a lasting impact on off-road RC racing. While perhaps more associated with scale realism, Tamiya's entry into off-road racing with models like the Super Champ in '82 , the Frog and the Hornet and then the 4wd Hot Shot in '85 brought a new dimension to the sport....Every kid back then had some sort of a Tamiya, and their presence at events like the 1985 and 1987 World Championships demonstrated their versatility and influence in the RC racing community. Now if you didn't own a Tamiya ….. Kyosho had a long line of 1/10th off road buggies going back to the original 2wd Scorpion and Tomahawk as well as the mighty 4wds Gallop released in '82 & '83, , followed by the 4wd Optima and Ultima in '85 and '86.
The Ultima series showcased Kyosho's engineering prowess and contributed to the competitive landscape of 1/10 off-road racing. Kyosho's participation in the World Championships further solidified their status as a manufacturer at the forefront of the sport. Of course around this time it was the genesis of r/c , with many other manufacturers trying their hand at getting a foot in the door with some weird and wonderful bespoke designs .
And right here is what makes this era so cool - no cad designs .

Team Associated quickly also emerged as a leading force in RC racing during this era. Their original RC10 gold pan buggy introduced in '84, quickly became a benchmark for performance and innovation in off-road racing by using design concepts we still see to this day .

Another company from around that early era was Schumacher .
Schumacher's presence in off-road RC racing was notable, particularly in European circuits where the sport was quickly gaining traction ( see what we did there ) ! The Schumacher SWB CAT introduced in 1986 was a pioneering 1/10 4wd off-road buggy that showcased some truly advanced design features which made it a formidable weapon with super competitive capabilities.

Meanwhile around this time , after some shoddy deals that went sour , a giant was about to be woken as works begun on a certain car called LOSI.
Who can forget some of the Japanese manufacturers of the time ... Marui Hunter & Galaxy , Ninja , Samurai or even the Mugen Bulldog...…Yokomo with their YZ 834B in '83 ….AYK ….someone say Hirobo ?

Importantly, alongside these major manufacturers and events, grassroots-level racing clubs and enthusiasts played a vital role in the growth of 1/10 off-road RC racing.

Who can forget the cars parked with their hoods up and the quick charge leads and clock work chargers ..Reedy spray ?

And any of you that have been racing as long as some of us in the Vintage Bash crew will remember a time before AMB transponders when it was all about "Driver's STOP" !! but everyone would crawl those extra few feet trying to go from that .3 to the .5 lap !!

Local clubs provided opportunities for racers of all skill levels to participate . These grassroots efforts fostered a certain sense of "community and camaraderie" that remains integral to the RC racing scene , and none more so to this Vintage RC scene we are all seemingly drawn to once again allowing us to re-live our memories !

This sport continues to evolve, but the legacy of these first World Championships continue serving as a milestone in the history of 1/10 off-road RC racing.

A couple of FAQ's . Why did we choose 2" wheels and tyres for this era class ?

Firstly , we want to make the cars look as close to what they did when they were being raced back then.

Remember , more exhibition , less competition !

This is an opportunity for you to show off your stuff ,why not make it look cool by being period correct ( if possible ! )

Put  appearance before performance!

As we have stated before , our rules are a guide more than anything . If we are trying to re-create an "ERA" , a  Hornet with a tribal modern style paint job with big bore shocks and a modern wing on 2.2" dished wheels just doesn't really cut it does it ? ...by all means run it , but you will look the odd one out !
There are quite a few options for 2" wheels and tyres , as well as the smaller 1.7" and 1.9" courtesy of companies like JConcepts & Marwan as well as Kyosho and their re-re kits . We hope to make an announcement on this soon...you have little excuse !

Some cool examples of cars that would look perfect in the 1985-1987 Class , these are from VB#2 :      

1984 or 2023 ? 

You know who you are !  LOL  ...tsk tsk !

How cool is Jason's RC10?

How cool is Aaron's RC10 !

Catalogue pic? Nope , my OG Turbo Mid on 2.0's

 

 

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Why did we chose to run a 540 silver can?

A lot of these earlier buggies have very delicate drivetrains and poorly designed suspensions . They can be a handful to drive , so why overpower them ? A silver can 540 will give plenty of power when combined with a LiPo , and fit into any buggy of this era without need for modification.

Finally , another FAQ :

"What if my buggy didn't race at the 1985 or the 1987 Worlds ?

Our answers:

1/ "Could it have been raced at these events, and if so , what would I have looked like  ?  
2/ " Is it in the spirit of the class"


Our thoughts on this are like this, and I'll give a few examples of cars I own .

1/ The Losi Jrx2 - 5 link , it was released in 1988 

Could it run in the 85-1987 class ?  Technically no , but if someone wanted to run it with a silver can and 2.0" wheels it would not look out of place racing against a JJ Ultima or a 6 gear RC10....I guess the answer is yes you could and we would probably allow it , but personally no I probably wouldn't .

2/ The Kyosho Turbo Rocky - released in late 1987.
This car came after the 1987 Worlds .
Could it have been in "prototype " form like the Optima Mid was - absolutely .
Could you run it in the 1987 class?
Chain drive , 2.0" wheels , add 540 and I would say it would be a no brainer yes.

We hope by now this is starting to make sense .
Any questions , shoot us a PM !