Team Associated RC8B3 - Nene Valley Nitro X Podium Glory
July 11th and 12th was a successful weekend for Team Associated and the CML Racing team at the Nitro X series.
With the New Team Associated RC8B3 recently hitting the streets it was a mad panic for racers to get the cars built in time for the Nene Valley Nitro X 2015 weekend race. Originally scheduled to be at Frankly MCC but had to be moved at the last minute to Nene Valley because of unforeseen circumstances.
Saturday 11-7-15
Saturday was a fantastic day for Team Associated and the New RC8B3 taking all 3 podium positions and the TOP junior trophy!
Nene Valley is notoriously a 1/5th scale track and is a challenging layout to get right. It’s a large track with high speed sweeping corners, big bumps and small jumps.
Chris Leighton put up a fantastic fight to take the overall TQ and was leading the final until engine issues saw him loose laps and limp home. Back out of retirement and qualifying a creditable 2nd it was Craig Drescher who got faster throughout the day. Drescher eventually settled into a commanding lead and took the win followed by Jon Howells finishing in 2nd place and new AE Team mate Jon Griffiths finishing in 3rd place equalling his best ever finish at a Nitro X or Midland Super Cup race. All 3 drivers used the Top Elite engines and Byron Fuel to power their RC8B3 cars to victory.
Team Associated had 5 cars in the final. Craig Drescher, Jon Howells, Jon Griffiths, Pete Hedley and Lloyd Pitt.
Young Boot Camp driver Gaow Hedley had a fantastic day and took Top Junior once again. Gaow is developing nicely and proud dad Pete said “Gaow is loving his new RC8B3 car”.
It doesn’t stop there. Lloyd Pitt took victory in the electric class with his Team Associated, Reedy Powered B3 Electric 1/8th car. Unable to wait for the official RC8B3e electric car to be released (which won’t be long now!) Lloyd did his own modifications to make an RC8B3 electric car and has been pounding the track ever since.
Again a huge congratulations to Lloyd, Gaow and all the Team Associated/CML boys.
Sunday 12-07-15
Another day, another way!
Overnight rain changed the track completely, washing away all the 1/5th scale oil and radically increasing the level of traction. It was traction city on Sunday morning and most people switched from mini pins to the more forgiving Pro-line Pinpoints. The lower profile and flatter nature of the Pro-line tyre allows the car to carry more corner speed and sweep corners rather than squaring them off.
Drescher hit the track where he had left off getting faster and faster and TQ’d all 4 rounds with his Top Elite Powered RC8B3. Team mate Jon Howells picked up his pace from Saturday qualifying a close 2nd with Chris Leighton securing 3rd on the grid.
The traction changes threw a few people off on Sunday but by the end of qualifying most had it figured out, unfortunately the finals were washed out and an a “on qualifying” decision was made to determine the final results. It was a disappointing finish to a top weekend because it was shaping up to be a great battle up front, but the correct call was made.
Congratulations Gaow Hedley and all The CML Racing team. A great show for the new Team Associated RC8B3 car and the CML racing package.
