Race Report
Team Associated & LRP ROAR Modified National Champions
Event: ROAR Electric Offroad National Championship
Location: Hot Rod Hobbies – Saugus, CA
Dates: August 20–24, 2008
Website:
www.hotrodhobbies.com
Ryan Maifield (left) and Ryan Cavalieri
The ROAR Nationals represents the most prestigious US title in r/c racing. Entrants from around the nation and Canada descended upon Hot Rod Hobbies near Six Flags California to contest this year’s championship. With record temperatures, the test of man and machine was sure to be high.
Picking up where he left off in 2007, defending 2WD, 4WD and Truck National
Champion Ryan Cavalieri took his Team Associated B4, B44, and T4 to the pole
position in all three modified classes. Cavalieri utilized a prototype tire
tread and compound from tire sponsor Proline on the rear of his B4 & B44.
Comments from Cavalieri include, "It’s just a faster tire through the
corners (than the BK Bar)." And, "I feel like I don't have to push my car as
hard to be fast."
Joining Cavalieri in the modified "A" finals were teammates Ryan Maifield,
Jared Tebo, Steven Hartson, Frank Root and Rick Hohwart. Among all the
modified "A" main competitors, half the field chose to use Associated vehicles
and 60% used LRP speed controls. With three other major car manufacturers
and
multiple electronics companies in attendance, Associated and LRP clearly
dominated the A-main lineups.
In the finals, Cavalieri checked out from his TQ position in truck to win A1
and A2 and successfully defended his National Championship. 2WD and 4WD,
however, were not nearly as easy.
Cavalieri took the win in A1 in both classes by narrowly holding off
Associated teammate, Ryan Maifield. In A2 Cavalieri had to retire from the
2WD main, giving another Associated teammate, and second qualifier, Jared Tebo a victory. Going in to A3 the Associated trio of Maifield, Cavalieri,
and Tebo were in a three-way tie for the title. Just making the start of the
race after a break in warm-up, Tebo got shuffled back in the pack, allowing Cavalieri and Maifield to battle for the win. Maifield spotted Cavalieri a
two-second cushion and would make time here and there, but the steady Cavalieri never cracked and held on to again defend his National
Championship.
In the 4WD modified class the racing was intense. It was impressive watching the way the top
drivers manipulate and control these vehicles. As alluded
to, top qualifier Cavalieri had all he could handle from the very hungry
Maifield. A slight bobble at the start of A2 gave Maifield the lead and
Cavalieri pressured till the final corner only to come up a few feet short.
In A3, again Cavalieri and Maifield battled, swapping the lead multiple times
to the delight of the crowd. The sportsmanship in this race was
unbelievable - more than once Cavalieri and Maifield tangled only to wait for
the other, which gave teammate Jared Tebo the lead. Not wanting to play a
part in the overall chances for either driver, Tebo respectfully pulled out
of the way to allow the Ryan and Ryan show to battle for the victory. At the
end, Maifield was able to hold off Cavalieri to claim his first electric
ROAR National title and the third modified title for Team Associated that
weekend.
Adding to the three modified titles for Associated were Andrew Smolnik in
2WD Stock and Bill Koch in Masters Truck. With five titles on the weekend,
Team Associated is clearly Champions By Design.
2WD Modified
Winners Ryan Maifield (left), Ryan Cavalieri (center), and Jared Tebo
Cavalieri's B4
Place |
Name |
Vehicle |
Motor/Battery |
ESC |
1 |
Ryan Cavalieri (TQ) |
Associated B4 |
Orion |
LRP |
2 |
Ryan Maifield |
Associated B4 |
LRP/Reedy |
LRP |
3 |
Jared Tebo |
Associated B4 |
Checkpoint |
LRP |
4 |
Mike Truhe |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
5 |
Billy Fischer |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
6 |
Dustin Evans |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
7 |
Steven Hartson |
Associated B4 |
Checkpoint |
LRP |
8 |
Matt Chambers |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
9 |
Frank Root |
Associated B4 |
Orion |
LRP |
10 |
Jesse Robbers |
Hot Bodies |
Novak |
Novak |
4WD Modified
Winners Ryan Cavalieri (left), Ryan Maifield (center), and Jared Tebo
Maifield's 4WD B44
Place |
Name |
Vehicle |
Motor/Battery |
ESC |
1 |
Ryan Maifield |
Associated B44 |
LRP/Reedy |
LRP |
2 |
Ryan Cavalieri (TQ) |
Associated B44 |
Orion |
LRP |
3 |
Jared Tebo |
Associated B44 |
Checkpoint |
LRP |
4 |
Mike Truhe |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
5 |
Steven Hartson |
Associated B44 |
Checkpoint |
LRP |
6 |
Travis Amezcua |
Hot Bodies |
Orion |
LRP |
7 |
Billy Fischer |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
8 |
Jesse Robbers |
Hot Bodies |
Novak |
Novak |
9 |
Ronnie Gardner |
Kyosho |
Orion |
LRP |
10 |
Dustin Evans |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
Truck Modified
Winners Travis Amezcua (left), Ryan Cavalieri (center), and Mike Truhe
Cavalieri's T4
Place |
Name |
Vehicle |
Motor/Battery |
ESC |
1 |
Ryan Cavalieri (TQ) |
Associated T4 |
Orion |
LRP |
2 |
Mike Truhe |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
3 |
Travis Amezcua |
Associated T4 |
Orion |
LRP |
4 |
Jared Tebo |
Associated T4 |
Checkpoint |
LRP |
5 |
Billy Fischer |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
6 |
Mark Pavidis |
Kyosho |
Orion |
LRP |
7 |
Dustin Evans |
Losi |
Xcelerin |
Xcelerin |
8 |
Ryan Maifield |
Associated T4 |
LRP/Reedy |
LRP |
9 |
Steven Hartson |
Associated T4 |
Checkpoint |
LRP |
10 |
Rick Hohwart |
Associated T4 |
LRP/Reedy |
LRP |
|
Products Mentioned |
B4 2WD Buggy |
|
Setup Sheets |