Ellis Stafford - Exclusive interview with Big E

 For a racer who needs no long introduction to avid off-road fans, Ellis Stafford is regarded as a legend in his own lifetime. With a racing career that has included multiple national championship wins, multiple indoor national championship wins, European 4wd championship wins twice, and even a touring car winter championship win, his trophy cabinet is in need of an extension these days. We are very proud to share with you an interview that Ellis very kindly gave to Off-Road Radio Control. Hopefully we will all get a better understanding of what it takes to compete at the every highest level and come out on top more times than we can list here.

X Factory not only make industry changing advancements with their products, but pull no punches when they select the very cream of driving skill to race for them....over to Ellis.

ORRC - What's your proudest moment in your racing career so far?

Ellis -2 things stand out for me, first was my second euros title when I had been away from the event for a good few years, no one was looking at me in practice but I knew I had good pace and to take the title after so long from my first was very special. The other one was my first national win with the X6 at Oswestry, going into my 2nd year running the car and I knew over the winter I had made some real progress with the set up. Taking that was special though as it proved mid-motor could work and set off the current trend over here and also it gave X Factory their first British title at the end of the year.

ORRC- Describe your driving style in 3 words?

Ellis -Never give up!

ORRC - What's your favourite track in the national series and why?

Ellis - I don't really have one to be honest. I like EPR and Southport as to me they are old school tracks that are fast and really test your handling skills, I'm not so keen on some of the really small assault course tracks.  I also like Oswestry as it is a new layout for everyone each year and levels any advantages anyone may have gained.

ORRC - What product could you not be without during your off-road season?

Ellis - Some will have seen this over the years, but I have a kind of blower that my Grandad gave me, kind of like a balloon inflator. I use it all the time to blow the muck off my cars after a race and that has been with me almost my whole racing life.

ORRC - Although you race several classes, which is your favourite to drive?

Ellis - I prefer 2wd as it is more about the driving skill and also drifting the car on the throttle to get it to steer.

ORRC - How do you relax after an intense race meeting?

Ellis - Your joking aren't you, I have 2 small children ! Generally just getting back home and catching up on any motor sport I have missed and playing my PlayStation. There's a group of us from racing that are always on so we have a good laugh chatting away on it whilst playing.

ORRC - Where on the track is your favourite place to overtake?

Ellis - In to a corner on the brakes..I'm not scared to back a car in and put it where people wouldn't expect it.

ORRC - Who do you consider to be your racing nemesis or closest competitor?

Ellis - I don't feel I have ever had one especially with how many years I have been racing but I guess the likes of Kevin Moore, Jamie Booth, Craig Drescher from the 90's and then Neil Cragg and Lee Martin now.

ORRC -  What's the most important aspect of your cars set-up?

Ellis - Just to have my cars set to the best I think they can be before I get to a meeting, rushing to change it when you get there doesn't do you any good.

ORRC - What do you think makes a good quality track?

Ellis - One that is 'raceable', I know that sounds silly but too many tracks try and cram in too much. To allow overtaking as well double corners help so if you get up the inside of someone you can hold it at the next corner. I don't mind chicanes but they are often just put in because there is a bit of a straight but all this tends to do is take the racing line down to 1 car wide. Jumps are good but they shouldn't be the deciding factor to a lap and should be easy to do for all levels of ability.

ORRC - What other areas of RC do you enjoy or are involved in?

Ellis - I do a little design stuff within X Factory and obviously get very involved in the test side of things for them and we talk about all kinds of things to do with racing. Most of my friends are also in racing so I kind of never get away from it, not that that's a bad thing. I do have a little helicopter I fly every now and then and done a little bit of plane flying for fun with some friends from work but after racing it's all a little boring and I just want to do off-road again !

Thanks go to Ellis for kindly taking the time to chat with us. Thanks also go to X Factory for allowing us all to see Ellis pilot the X6 and soon the X7 for our racing pleasure.

If you ever get the chance to watch Ellis race then his amazing skill and track-side charisma will be obvious. If you are ever next to him on the starting grid....get ready for a tough battle.

To see the full X Factory range visit http://www.xfactoryrc.co.uk/
To discuss anything X Factory spares or kit related, contact Darren Boyle on - 01923 816636

Urban X - Indoor Off-Road goes inner city

 It really is with the greatest pleasure that we bring you news of a really unique concept that is set to burst onto the off-road race calendar early next year. Urban X will see racers taking to the carpet with each meeting staged in an industrial city warehouse. The event will tour the UK's major city locations during the coming year. Birmingham is set to launch the first event with up to 100 racers expected to attend. The meeting will accommodate 1/16th and 1/10th off-road classes, with brilliant venue facilities and manufacturers' trading stands available upon request.

The event organisers have a truly embracing concept with this planned tour. The focus is on making each race meeting accessible to as many racers as possible due to their central city locations, whilst also hosting these meetings in some damn cool places that have yet to see buggy tyres during their deep industrial history. Fun, fast-paced racing excitement and a chance to visit a city you may have never seen.

Stay tuned for more information on how you can book in to race at this event and become part of a new movement....off-road racing is about to come to the inner city!

Ellis Stafford exclusive interview - U.K off-road legend speaks out

Ok, so if you were to draw up a quick short list of the top off-road racers that you would like to sit down with, have a pint and discuss the very things that make them tick, Ellis Stafford from X Factory would be high up on every race fans list. The multiple British National Champion will be sharing some very interesting thoughts with us later this week in an exclusive pre 2012 season interview!! We promised you cutting edge news....stay tuned in the next few days.

To see X Factory products visit http://www.xfactoryrc.co.uk/

Carisma GT14B Switch Hitter chassis conversion

For those who have had the pleasure to race the Carisma GT14B platform, or those who have watched the mini 4wd's rise to the very top of the micro off-road scene, we would all agree that the GT14B is an amazing buggy. With racers being a virulently pioneering bunch it didn't take long for somebody to get their 'thinking hat' on and begin work on making this awesome buggy even better. That somebody is BRCA Micro Scale Treasurer Mat North, who has a wealth of experience both behind the transmitter and also with hop-up design over his solid micro racing career.

Mat decided to begin designing a carbon fibre chassis upgrade that allowed the motor position to be switched from its current position on the front right of the chassis. Mat will explain the science behind this in his own words.

Mat North said:
"With the motor weighing close to 90g, it always seemed to effect the handling by pulling the car right under acceleration and causing it to be a tad nose heavy in flight. (at least i thought it did) so, as I've never been wedded to using saddle packs, what happens if we rotate the motor mount by 180deg and have the motor at the back left?"

Switch Hitter motor and lipo position

 Mat continued to explain the key concepts with the Switch Hitter conversion.

1. More even weight distribution (and hopefully improved handling)
2. Increased battery space
3. Increased flexability for electric installs.
4. The ability to run lipo sticks rather than saddle packs.

Mat was fortunate enough to be sponsored by RCMI at the time of creating his fresh new chassis concept and the guys over at the company invested some time into getting the first batch of proto-type chassis made. With both Mat and several other high profile micro racers testing this new conversion the decision to launch the chassis under the Team RCMI brand was made, giving you all access to this cool new concept!

Carisma GT14B Switch Hitter sporting a Phat Bodies Optimus shell

Mat has reported that the buggy feels more compliant, less nervous under steering and balanced during flight...a successful experiment you may say. With Phat Bodies now offering copper weight battery straps to further balance up the new rear end lay-out of this cool conversion kit, the future looks even faster for the amazingly well produced GT14B.

For more information on how to purchase your Switch Hitter conversion kit visit http://www.rcmodelimports.co.uk

For more information on the Phat Bodies Optimus shell visit http://phatbodies.bigcartel.com/

Losi Micro Scaler - Tiny scale trucks make pocket sized impact

Any readers who have an interest in scale crawling will love a first look at this little beast. The rig started life as a Losi Micro Crawler and now looks more like a 1/24th scale micro Jeep Rubicon!

We have been following this new craze in creating scale RC trail rigs down at the very smallest sizes. Most scale fans are finding that several toy manufacturers actually produce almost scale replica shells, and although never intended for use on RC vehicles, with a little care can be modified to fit the Losi Micro Crawler platform...we think they look awesome folks.

Team Durango 14mm Hex Hubs

For those Team Durango owners who want to bring some bling to their hubs, the new alloy 14mm hex hub will do the trick. Strengthen the kit plastic hex adapters with these gold machined beauties. 

 These new hop-up hubs fit both the rear axle of the DEX210 and the front and rear axle of the DEX410 models.

For more information on Team Durango products visit http://www.team-durango.com

Durango 1/8th Truggy coming soon!

Looks like Durango are about to hit us with another awesome addition to their already super hot range of off-road race vehicles. If their high standard of build quality and driver friendly kits are anything to go by, this will be a show stopper when released.

To find out more about Team Durango products visit http://www.team-durango.com

PhatBodies - Hand made full Phat engineering

 

In a world full of mass produced products manufactured in the far east by inanimate robots, its always refreshing to find design and production innovations on our home shores. If its striking designs and hand made British products that your after then look no further than Bristol based father and son design duo Si and Dan Osbourne, better known to the off-road racing scene as Phat Bodies. Their range of uniquely styled and superbly functional body shells and wings are a real breath of fresh air in an otherwise saturated market place where instead of 'following the leaders' Phat Bodies have set their own standards as far as transforming your beloved buggy into a full Phat race machine.

Their current range includes body shells for 1/18th, 1/16th and the ever expanding 1/10th scale off-road buggy formats. Phat Bodies also produce a range of wings to assist racers in not only creating a super sleek looking buggy, but also giving each driver a range of tuning options when it comes to that invisible handling element we all want more of...down force.

Each product is lovingly created by Si in his small-scale workshop and you can gurantee that no lifeless machine has forged your Phat Bodies product. Racers all over the world have been helping to elivate this family run RC enterprise to cult status with Phat Bodies products appearing on internet forums in the hands of off-road fans from Sweden to Texas.

Following the quickly cemented success of the Phat Bodies body shell range, the team set out in creating a really unique product that has become synonomus with 'home-brew' cheakyness at race meetings all over Europe. The Chunk 2wd 1/16th buggy conversion kit was tested by Dan Osbourne prior to production and can be attributed to almost creating its own class at both national and club level race events. The Chunk is soon to be realeased in it's 4th incarnation and will benefit from several major design improvements after extensive feedback from the race community on this amazing micro 2wd format. Each conversion kit requires the owner to craft their own mid-motor 2wd beast from several other 'donor' cars and there is a strangly satisfying feeling when the finished conversion takes off from its first ramp like it was created by an alchemist!

The Phat Bodies team are a really friendly, customer focused, and forward thinking bunch. They strive for innovation whilst always staying strongly driven to create products that work whilst also looking aesthetically pleasing. If, like us, you are keen to see British made, quirky RC production thrive then invest in a Phat Bodies product. You wont just look good at your next race meeting, but you will benefit from hours of intense design development, years of racing knowledge, and a truly unique hands-on production process that harks back to the golden years of British manaufacturing. Next time you get asked if you want diet or low salt...screw up your face with displeasure and shout.....I WANT FULL PHAT!

To view the full range of Phat Bodies products and purchase your own full Phat items visit http://phatbodies.bigcartel.com/

Follow the Phat Bodies revolution by visiting these wicked racing forums http://www.oople.com/
http://www.uk-microrc.co.uk/forum/

Check out UKMRC forum for great micro racing info and tips

If you are already a fan of micro off-road racing, or would like to connect with an amazing forum that will give you access to EVERYTHING micro RC related, then head on over to UKMRC. The forum is run by a collection of knowledgeable and friendly chaps including BRCA's very own Micro scale chairman Cris Oxley.

The forum benefits from sub-forums for all major manufacturers vehicles and specific areas for club information, race calenders, and sales. If you want a complete guide to all things micro RC visit http://www.uk-microrc.co.uk and mention we sent you. A truly comprehensive and exciting resource for the smaller side of radio control.

Telford Hot Trax indoor off-road racing club

We have recently had some amazing evenings racing down at this friendly and vibrant club that is tucked away just outside Telford in Shropshire, West Midlands. Having recently hosted the second round of the UK BRCA Micro Nationals with massive success, the club nights are really not be be missed if you like fast paced carpet racing action. The club meets every Wednesday at the Madeley Court Sports Centre with booking in to race from 7:45pm. All ability levels are welcome and at £5.00 for 3 qualifiers and a final its a great way to fill that midweek race gap. The club members are some of the friendliest and helpful people you could care to meet and the community feel is a real bonus for new drivers allowing them to feel instantly welcome. With a large well lit pit area, toilets, disabled access, and a fully stocked bar, you really could not want for more.

A beautifully created track ready for the recent second round of the UK Micro National

 To find Hot Trax search this postcode on RAC Route Finder: TF7 5DZ

Losi Mini 8ight storms into the UK Micro scene

For those of you who either race micro scale vehicles or have a keen interest in products from international RC giant Losi, you will have already scene the ripples caused by the release of their newest pint sized off-road buggy. The mini 8ight is based on the world beating 8ight platform and judging by first impressions, this 1/14th scale (actually 1/16th by BRCA standards) carpet ripper is a really solid package. We stood and watched 7 mini 8ights line up at an indoor club meeting this week with every driver piloting the buggy giving it a glowing first report. Stay tuned as we follow the progress of this shiny new addition to the Losi family. We hope to bring you exclusive driver tips and set-ups, interviews with the U.K team drivers, and all the news on the eagerly anticipated upgrade range that Losi are soon to release. Exciting times for micro off-road especially with the 3rd round of the BRCA Micro National approaching in less than 2 weeks.

Losi Mini 8ight on the pit table of Stuart 'Gaffer' MacDonald

Those of you with eagle eyes will notice a brand new mini 8ight hauler behind Stu's buggy!! get one here http://www.thetoyz.com/Bags-Storage/BAGS/Antenna-post-Misc/Team-Losi/14833/#

To order a Losi Mini 8ight visit www.wheelspinmodels.co.uk

Team Xtreme Vega Elite 2wd conversion kit

For those of you that follow the 1/10th scale off-road racing scene, Team Xtreme need no long introduction. They have achieved cult underground status with the production of their amazing Predator 4wd 1/10th buggy format. The design team over at Team Xtreme have followed the legacy of truly breath taking build quality and national winning race pedigree by producing the Vega Elite range of 2wd conversion kits. Available for Tamiya, Kyosho, and Associated 2wd buggy platforms these beautifully crafted mid-motor aluminium conversion kits are a real work of art. Racers across Europe are singing the kits praise with some truly wonderful race results in the hands of off-road legend Kev Lee. If you haven't seen this conversion in the flesh yet (well in the ali to be exact) grab your next opportunity to get a closer look. You will not be disappointed!

For more information on all Team Xtreme products visit http://www.teamxtreme.co.uk/

Off-Road race reports go live soon

We are very pleased to announce that Off-Road Radio Control will soon be bringing you full race reports that will include fast paced video footage of the chosen meeting, driver interviews, and exciting photo albums of the cars, venue, and action. Our goal is to allow our visitors a chance to get up close with the races that they may miss attending, whilst having the opportunity to read reports written by the very drivers that race at each event. Stay tuned for exclusive footage and news in the next few weeks.

Scale realism from the crew over at UKRCRC

We recently took a visit over to an amazing 'secret' location near Tamworth to meet some of the super friendly guys from the UKRCRC forums. They did not let us down after telling us they had 'some rather special off road scale rigs' to show us....off we popped armed with the digital camera and boy did we get a show.

Axial SCX10 converted with Fast Trax cage

Axial SCX10 chassis with custom modified axles

Tamiya CC-01

Axial Custom 2.2 

Stay tuned for more exclusive images of these truly outstanding scale vehicles. Massive thanks to the lads over at UKRCRC for a great afternoon of dirt throwing with their amazing trucks.

Scale truck action with Axial SCX10

Some of you may have an interest in the slightly calmer side of off-road RC. As much as we all like a brisk high speed ramp around an off-road race track, sometimes the scale crawling route is the one to keep our blood pressure at a reasonable level ;) Check out our recent trip to South Wales in the U.K here.....

We are interested to hear from people who may be excited to write reviews about their scale trucks, get in touch via teamblackcountry@hotmail.co.uk for more information

Would you like to write an article for Off-Road Radio Control

So, as previously mentioned, we are looking for aspiring guest blog writers to submit articles for this page. Can you write user reviews? does your local club or track need promoting? have you got a favourite off-road racing product?

If you would like to submit an article for publication within this new blog page then please get in touch via teamblackcountry@hotmail.co.uk or directly from the YouTube channel here http://www.youtube.com/user/TEAMBLACKCOUNTRY?feature=mhee

UK Micro Nationals BRCA indoor off road buggy racing

We recently attended the UK Micro Nationals second round at Telford Hot Trax to film some fast paced off road buggy racing. It was a really relaxed day with some truly outstanding driving from the UK's very best micro scale racers. The new Losi 8ight Mini made its National debut and was driven to a 1/16th 4wd win by the legend that is Mark Stiles. Phil Sleigh came in second driving the Carisma GT14B. With 1/16th 2wd being totally dominated by the Phat Bodies Chunk conversion buggy, it was an action packed meeting with fast in-field sections and loads of slippy surface for the drivers to master.

Watch the days excitement unfold.....

We will be at the series round 3 meeting that will be held at Dudley on the 4th of December. Come down and say hi in the pit if you are there on the day. Lets see if Team Losi can make it a second win with Mark Stiles and Andy Jones looking to push Phil Sleigh for every second of the meeting...we can not wait!

Welcome to Off Road Radio Control

Hello and welcome to our newest Blog Spot powered by Team Black Country RC. This blog is intended as a place that you can visit to be updated on new and exciting ways that off road RC is growing across the world. If your a racer, basher, or scale enthusiast you will find this blog informative, fun, and a cool place to view new RC products.

One of our keen interests is to begin to build a strong network of off road RC fans and we will be inviting members of the RC community to become 'Guest Bloggers' on this page.

If you would like to write an article for us then get in touch...all ideas are very welcome folks :)