Tamiya and CEN win Monster Madness

[KevinH]

Enfield, CT-After the dirt had settled at the end of the Monster Madness
race held at RC Madness on the weekend of Aug 13 and 14, Tamiya and CEN were at the top of the podium. Tamiya's Jimmy Jacobson took home the first-place trophies in the big-block and small-block monster truck classes, and David Jun took second in both. CEN's Andrew Smolnik took the top spot in the Truggy class. Go to rcmadness.com for more race results.

[DCLXVI]

Way to go Tamiya :)

[JamminJay]

Is that Kevin Hetmanski <sp>


Well these results don't surprise me any, and I am sure it won't surprise many others either. We knew it was bound to happen soon. :p ;)

[TRF TT-01]

Looks like Tamiya TNX did a really good job this year!

[metalry101]

TBH, Tamiya has been cleaning up every race they go to it seems like, so this isn't really a surprise, but CEN? Now that's some news. Truggy class though? What truggy does CEN have? I'm assuming it's something in development that's based off of their Matrix (I think that's what it's called?) buggy??? I wouldn't think it'd be a Genesis. That's a monster through and through...no truggy roots there.

Anyways, big congrats to CEN and Tamiya for getting it done on the track!

[JAnderson]

TBH, Tamiya has been cleaning up every race they go to it seems like, so this isn't really a surprise, but CEN? Now that's some news. Truggy class though? What truggy does CEN have? I'm assuming it's something in development that's based off of their Matrix (I think that's what it's called?) buggy??? I wouldn't think it'd be a Genesis. That's a monster through and through...no truggy roots there.

Anyways, big congrats to CEN and Tamiya for getting it done on the track!


KevinH would have placed higher by driving a TNX. Don't forget that David Jun took TQ with the TNX and they were using the same trucks for both classes

[metalry101]

KevinH would have placed higher by driving a TNX. Don't forget that David Jun took TQ with the TNX and they were using the same trucks for both classes
Oh I know the TNX has been kicking ass at everything, and everyone would be faster with one. That's why it's my next truck. First I'm trying to get my TLT based crawler done, then I have to finish my Clod crawler, and then I have to pick up a TA-05. I've already got a TNX Pro waiting for me at the shop (I work in my LHS), but I'm trying to get some other projects done (and sell some of my other nitro monsters) before I get it.

[Skribble]

TBH, Tamiya has been cleaning up every race they go to it seems like, so this isn't really a surprise, but CEN? Now that's some news. Truggy class though? What truggy does CEN have? I'm assuming it's something in development that's based off of their Matrix (I think that's what it's called?) buggy??? I wouldn't think it'd be a Genesis. That's a monster through and through...no truggy roots there.

Anyways, big congrats to CEN and Tamiya for getting it done on the track!The Genesis was used for the Truggy class ..

http://www.cenracing.com/pic/rcca.jpg

[mugenX5]

Yep, the Genesis was used for both Big Block MT and the Truggy class. I believe the Tamiya Team used their trucks for all three classess (sm. block, big block and truggy).

[slimbo5]

has nothing to do with the truck. its the guys driving them

[slimbo5]

and the truggies had no advantage there, the track was so small

[Quinton]

has nothing to do with the truck. its the guys driving them

NOTHING? :confused:

[Combatcm]

Nothing?

If that's true, then OFNA has a secret weapon for next year.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/combatcm/Hyperbrick.jpg

[Quinton]

LOL, they mounted the tires backwards though. ha ha

[cool head]

Nothing?

If that's true, then OFNA has a secret weapon for next year.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/combatcm/Hyperbrick.jpg

ofna has had the brick buggy or years. it's the LX series.

[metalry101]

has nothing to do with the truck. its the guys driving them
Right. Is this an excuse to cover up for the fact that your truck didn't do so well or something? This is what most Revo fans do every time the TNX wins. Of course if it were true that the truck had nothing to do with it, why did they sell their Maxxes to buy Revos?

ofna has had the brick buggy or years. it's the LX series.
Great, Tamiya bashing and Ofna bashing in the same thread! :rolleyes:

Yep, the Genesis was used for both Big Block MT and the Truggy class. I believe the Tamiya Team used their trucks for all three classess (sm. block, big block and truggy).
Really? That's awesome! I'm not a big fan of CEN, or the Genesis, but that's very, very impressive. Good to see the truggies get beat!

[slimbo5]

uh dude i still work for a living. i came in fourth behind slayden. 4th out of over 45 mt's and it was my first time there. i drove up from jersey. i wasnt flown in by some big company to win. i race on weekends for fun. so to come in 4th behind three factory guys isnt exactly bad. if i gave jacobson my revo to run he would have won nonetheless.

[jocktheglide165]

Nothing?

If that's true, then OFNA has a secret weapon for next year.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/combatcm/Hyperbrick.jpg

dude you can do some seroius damage on the track if any other truck did try to bump that...

[TC4]

has nothing to do with the truck. its the guys driving them




Awww! Let's see, Monster Madness IV results:
Small Block Class:
First Place: Revo
Second : Revo

Big Block Class:
First Place: Revo
Second : Revo

Hey, happy now???

[minijosh]

Now all Tamiya needs to do is create a awesome 2 wheel drive buggy, 4 wheel drive buggy, 1/18 micro evo 4 or 415, and a good stadium truck. Yeah I know in the past Tamiya has had some awesome cars but with today's standards they'd get beat. If not, then there would be some avante's and top forces still racing and willing in the big races.

[metalry101]

I think the Desert Gator has some potential, if they did a TRF treatment to it, it might be competitive. Maybe.

I could care less about the micros. They're cool, but it seems no one wants to race them. Probably 90% of the tracks that opened up for racing them have now closed. I know my local micro track did.

I'd like to see a independent suspension electric monster from Tamiya. The Clod is the best platform for a crawler, and the TXT can be setup to do well at a lot of things...but the TNX is the only monster they have that handles at all. It'd be cool to see a fast electric monster. They could even make it solid axle'd like the Twin Force if they want. The monster truck world needs more speedy electric trucks. The new HB E-Zilla looks cool...but that still means we only have three. I think we could handle another.

[jocktheglide165]

The new HB E-Zilla looks cool...but that still means we only have three. I think we could handle another.

I 2nd that my brother....

[JAnderson]

Awww! Let's see, Monster Madness IV results:
Small Block Class:
First Place: Revo
Second : Revo

Big Block Class:
First Place: Revo
Second : Revo

Hey, happy now???

Would only happen if Jimmy and Dave did not show

[flipmac]

It'd be cool to see a fast electric monster. They could even make it solid axle'd like the Twin Force if they want. The monster truck world needs more speedy electric trucks.

I totally agree. I see a lot of conversions being posted on other forums such as this thread on a Brushless makeover of an LSP (http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=256&perpage=15&pagenumber=3), so the demand for electrics is there. The E-zilla10 (http://www.hpiracing.co.jp/contents_asia/hotbodies/ezilla/) is ok but not great. It is only 1/10 (shorter by 3.1 inches and narrower by 2.5 than the Savage), so there still isn't any big (1/8) electric kit available. With the availability of strong BL motors and powerful ESCs that can propel bigger and heavier vehicles faster, electric guys and gals can also have some 1/8 fun. Companies like Ofna can easily produce electric kits to meet the demands with very little R&D costs simply by taking their existing nitro truck or buggy and
1. forego installing the nitro and mechanical brake stuff
2. put a motor mount
3. make battery compartments or just supply battery straps
And then bam! You have a nice electric offroad roller that is ready for any brushless system. Such a setup can perform just as well as any large nitro vehicle, but without any of the noise, smoke and engine maintenance/tuning hassles. In addition, the short runtime inherent in all electric vehicles can be improved with some lipo batteries.

[Quinton]

I totally agree. I see a lot of conversions being posted on other forums such as this thread on a Brushless makeover of an LSP (http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=256&perpage=15&pagenumber=3), so the demand for electrics is there. The E-zilla10 (http://www.hpiracing.co.jp/contents_asia/hotbodies/ezilla/) is ok but not great. It is only 1/10 (shorter by 3.1 inches and narrower by 2.5 than the Savage), so there still isn't any big (1/8) electric kit available. With the availability of strong BL motors and powerful ESCs that can propel bigger and heavier vehicles faster, electric guys and gals can also have some 1/8 fun. Companies like Ofna can easily produce electric kits to meet the demands with very little R&D costs simply by taking their existing nitro truck or buggy and
1. forego installing the nitro and mechanical brake stuff
2. put a motor mount
3. make battery compartments or just supply battery straps
And then bam! You have a nice electric offroad roller that is ready for any brushless system. Such a setup can perform just as well as any large nitro vehicle, but without any of the noise, smoke and engine maintenance/tuning hassles. In addition, the short runtime inherent in all electric vehicles can be improved with some lipo batteries.


I'm not a big electric fan but you are right. I think it would be cool to have the option.
and
WELCOME !

[QUAKE&SHAKE]

Yeah but its the cost factor. Its going to cost quite a bit more LOTS more to come even close to nitro monster trucks. A good 45-50mph MT = $319 whats it going to take to get the same size electric to do that with good runtime on dirt/grass ?

[binaryterror]

KevinH would have placed higher by driving a TNX. Don't forget that David Jun took TQ with the TNX and they were using the same trucks for both classes

I don't see a JAnderson on the winners list ever either...hmm so maybe driving a TNX doesn't make you good maybe it really is 99% driver and 1% truck.

Also I see at Monster Madness Andrew Smolnick's Genesis beat out Jimmy Jacobson, who must have broke being that many laps behind...

[RichieRich]

Nothing?

If that's true, then OFNA has a secret weapon for next year.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y93/combatcm/Hyperbrick.jpg

Spam on wheels?

[lalala]

hahaha.. i like that OFNA brick Truggy... you never know.. they jsut might make something as boxy as that.

I saw the results on www.rcmadness.com It seems like Andrew's Genesis TQ the Big block class over Jimmy and David's TNX but i guess something went wrong during the main.

[evild]

I don't see a JAnderson on the winners list ever either...hmm so maybe driving a TNX doesn't make you good maybe it really is 99% driver and 1% truck.

I think he was just joking around with Kevin. You know, givin' him crap. :)

[MacII]

It'd be cool to see a fast electric monster....The monster truck world needs more speedy electric trucks.
There were at least 4 in the E-Maxx class that were very, very fast. Mike G and I did 9 laps in qual which is the same as the A Main of the big block or small block. I had a 34 sec lap which was right up there with the fast guys. There are fast/quick/awesome electric trucks out there, you just have to build them yourself. I can count the number of stock parts on my "E" on one hand.

[slimbo5]

Very nice of him to give tool and I a little plug in there :)


http://www.traxxas.com/products/news/imgs/awards_revo_mmadness.jpg

Revo
Next up was the small block monster truck main. I had my Revo fired up and ready to go. Mike was there to assist in pitting my truck. The lighter diff fluid was doing the trick. The truck felt awesome in warm-up. It was wrapping the corners tightly, and was applying the power efficiently without much scrub. I wheeled it over to the straight for the start. The buzzer sounded, and we dropped the trucks. David took the early lead through the first turn, as the rest of us all followed single-file. I knew as soon we got through the first few corners, it would clear up a bit and I could focus on finding my way to the front. That didn’t happen either, as somebody spun me around from the back in the second corner. Things got worse. As I was now stuck facing the rest of the field, I had no choice but to basically wait for everyone to pass before I could get going again. Luckily, I didn’t get tangled up in the mess, but I had a lot of work to do to get back up to where I was. By the time I made it made up to the third position, Jimmy and David had built a hefty lead of 20 seconds or more, battling with each other on a clear track. My truck was working still working good, but I was driving a little too strapped. I started over-shooting corners and was losing focus. You can’t give world-class pro drivers that kind of room and expect to have a good chance of contending for a victory. I tried to hang onto the same lap, but eventually started to slow down. My lap times began to suffer as I started feeling something awkward with the power delivery of the truck. I couldn’t feel much transition from idle to fully punched. I was beginning to worry about salvaging a podium spot. To make things worse, within the last few minutes of the race my truck flamed out on the back straight and coasted to a stop against the pipe. I thought it was over at that point, but Mike managed to get the truck fired off as everyone was making his or her final laps. I drove around the track for one more lap to finish in the third position. Jimmy finished up with another flawless win, and David sealed the second spot. “Slimbo” Sussino and John “Tool” Zarzecki both drove very strong, locking in the fourth and fifth positions, respectively. For a couple of Privateers, their performance was very impressive, and should be commended.

[fezzy]

After reading more into the TNX I have to admit, I am becoming very impressed. I am however a Revo owner, And I personally thing that the Revo is absolutely awesome. But it does make you think how far off from the TNX it really is. The biggest difference between Slayde, Jun and Jacobson though is that with all the greatest respect to Slayden, Jun and Jacobson are WORLD class racing drivers, Not just in smallblock MT's but in other classes aswell, So without a doubt they're going to be more experienced and better drivers.

Before I even bought my Revo I was contemplating buying a TNX, But overall the adjustability and quality of everything was just not as good as the Revo, But I geuss thats not really important, Its how it goes that is and it does seem to go well. I am not saying the Revo isn't a good truck, Its truely STUNNING, It handles so well, Its durable, User friendly, Fun to drive... I really can't fault it. But its just interesting to see what the competition is like, And for me I am very tempted to get a TNX Pro to replace my MGT and see what the fuss is all about, But does that mean that I have lost faith in the Revo?.

[Cain]

Interesting the battle people have over the Revo vs TNX. Glad I can stay out of it since I have an LST, LOL!

Congrats to all the winners, really suprised to see CEN pull one out, would be nice to see them get serious with racing in electric area as well.

[metalry101]

There were at least 4 in the E-Maxx class that were very, very fast. Mike G and I did 9 laps in qual which is the same as the A Main of the big block or small block. I had a 34 sec lap which was right up there with the fast guys. There are fast/quick/awesome electric trucks out there, you just have to build them yourself. I can count the number of stock parts on my "E" on one hand.
My E-Maxx is crazy modified too. The largest chunk of unmodified parts is the tranny. Other than that, the front diff is still stock (the rear is in an aluminum housing, and is spooled), the knuckles are all stock, as are the body posts and bumper mounts. I think that's it, other than the EVX...which will be ditched when I find enough money for a BL system. My E-Maxx is just so planted and huge that it's boring at 25 mph. I need a 40 mph BL system to make it fun again.

What I want are some more production electric monster trucks. I've got a heavily modified E-Maxx, I've had a Twin Force (and will have another some time soon), I have a Clod which I will be modifying, I want a TXT, and I will have an E-Zilla. I want to see someone challenge Traxxas' throne in E-monster trucking. The Twin Force is awesome, but considering it costs 500 bucks to get running, it's hardly a challenger. The TXT costs even more to get running properly (mechanical speed controls just don't cut it), and even then, it's slow. A Clod can be made to be fast, but that's expensive too. I don't mind spending the money on these trucks...they're worth it...but the E-Zilla is the first truck to challenge the E-Maxx in a serious way. Why has it taken 5 years? I want to see some more trucks capable of competing with the E-Maxx not only in the dirt, but in the store as well. The Twin Force is a badass truck, and it's probably about the funnest thing to drive ever, but most people looking to get into electric monster trucking aren't wanting to spend 500+ dollars. The E-Maxx can be had for $400, with a coupla batteries and a charger.

[mugenX5]

Yeah, I loved seeing $3000 brushless MT's going against stock Emaxx's.

Another thing, the TNX's were alot closer to stock trucks than Slayden's Revo.

[jimbow]

e-TNX?

[MacII]

I went up to the Tamiya guys and told them I had a great idea, a brushless TNX...they laughed. Tamiya's roots are in Electric...I don't know why all these companies have abandoned Electric. Look at Losi, the LST is awesome but there is no E version...

Maybe when (if) Lipo takes off it will make Electric more doable for MFGs.

[QUAKE&SHAKE]

I don't know why all these companies have abandoned Electric.

The higher % of buyers today want speed at a resonable cost. Electric cant touch nitro in this area. Like before MT for $319 going 50mph, on-road $380 reaching close to 80mph, electric cant come close to this performance/price. Plus nitro is so easy to run now with engines being greatly more reliable than ever.
I find myself going out and running just 1-2 tanks at a time quite easy to do. I dont find it to be as meesy as the electric people want others to believe it is. My yard is grass, street is paved, my truck doesnt get dirty from this type of running. Its run out of fuel put the truck away just as simple as my rc10 when I ran it, dump the batt put it away.

Oh and the BL people how much would it take to make a big vehicle like Genesis perform like the nitro? Quite high I would guess, too high for the masses. Yeah Yeah BL can make a little RC18 scoot but its still an 1/18 scale little bitty vehicle.

[MacII]

Unfortunately, you are right. (Q&S)

There are options for MT, mine regularly smokes every Revo, Maxx and LST at my track (not bragging because I do loose sometimes but I've won more than I've lost this year in an "anything goes" MT class) but I'm sure I have more $ into my 9L Brushless than any big block Revo I'm up against.

My cousin who runs a smilar E-Maxx to mine just purchased a Revo so I'm about to get my first crash course in Nitro...I do like the idea of running for more than 5 mins...

[doesgo]

Why are small-block trucks running in the big-block truck classes and truggy classes? What's the point of having the classes?

[MacII]

At many small club racers, there are not enough guys to split the classes up like that. So the regulars have done what it takes to be competitive in an anything goes MT class. I wish we had more guys, so the guys with Stock Revo's are not getting blown away but the funny thing is that with more speed you need more control. Every once in a while a very "slow" truck is very fast...90% driver...right?

[doesgo]

I understand having a single MT class if there aren't enough entries to break them up, and the drivers preparing for that eventuality is wise, but it sure sounds like there were enough at this event to split the classes.

On the other hand, if running them together and the small-blocks winning against the big-blocks would cause the small-block folks to stop complaining about being at a disadvantage against the big-blocks, I'd say it's worth it! But I know that won't happen... :(

[JAnderson]

I don't see a JAnderson on the winners list ever either...hmm so maybe driving a TNX doesn't make you good maybe it really is 99% driver and 1% truck.

Also I see at Monster Madness Andrew Smolnick's Genesis beat out Jimmy Jacobson, who must have broke being that many laps behind...


Could be the fact I was not racing, I was not even on the right coast to race. Kevin knows me and I was giving him a hard time he knows it.

The Genesis won due to Jimmy Flaming out and having problems. He used the same truck and engine for all his races.

[JAnderson]

Why are small-block trucks running in the big-block truck classes and truggy classes? What's the point of having the classes?

Jimmy wanted to prove the power of the TNX

[doesgo]

Jimmy wanted to prove the power of the TNX

That's all well and good, but why have different classes if they all can run together? Big-blocks are pigeon-holed but small-blocks can run wherever they like? Why?

[Mongoose420]

That's all well and good, but why have different classes if they all can run together? Big-blocks are pigeon-holed but small-blocks can run wherever they like? Why?

Are you actualy asking why its wrong for the bigblocks, that have more displacement than the max allowed in the small block class, to run with the small block MTs but its okay for the smallblocks, that have less displacement that the max allowed, to run with the bigblocks?

Im truely astonished.

But i guess the short answer is they didnt put a minimum displacement in the rules.

[doesgo]

The small-block class doesn't allow big-blocks, right? So why does the big-block class allow small-blocks? If it's truly a displacement breakdown, why not call it that? Class names based on block size and then letting small-blocks cross over....stupid.

[Mongoose420]

The names down matter. Its just something to identify the class. The rules are important and the rules are what they are. Its no more or less complex than that.

[Hellfire]

Doesgo, let it go.

Small block can run in BB and Truggy, but the ladder only goes one way. Letting truggy into BB would be unfair, letting truggy or BB in SB would be unfair. However, letting SB in BB or SB and BB in truggy they should be disadvantaged so why would there be a rule against it. Common sense.

[doesgo]

Yeah, I don't have time to continue arguing anyway, I've got to go get my touring car ready for the unlimited MT races! ;) I'm KIDDING....and I'm letting it go....

[MXMHERO]

What issue is this race gonna be in? Or is it even gonna be in the mag?

[MXMHERO]

Gees anybody know?

[abels621]

this may be a stupid question, but what engine did Jimmy Jacobson and David Jun run? They used the stock engine in the small block class right, but what engine did they run in the big block class?

[ron1431]

what engine do they run in the tnx?

[BriS]

They used the stock .18 engine.

[Quinton]

They used the stock .18 engine that is made by OS
It's a good truck! I had one

[RandomFellow]

I'd like to see a independent suspension electric monster from Tamiya.

Tamiya Twin Detonator (http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=58309)