[PeterV]

Once again, California Speedway hosted The Challenge



Was I tempted? Yes. Did I do it? No.



The whole gang.

[PeterV]

Nic Case put in numerous runs over 100mph with a variety of cars. Here's Nic in his well-apointed box van workshop.



I believe it was this LiPo/BL-converted Schumacher Fusion that put in the fastest run of 127.2mph. Nic ran three cars.



This gnarly machine also broke 100mph.

[PeterV]

HPI's Dave Cornell was last year's fastest monster trucker, and he repeated the feat for '07 with this wild Wheely King. When you think of 72.9mph street trucks, do you think Wheely King?

[PeterV]

HPI's John Schultz did a quickie high-speed setup for his Pro 4 tourer. He pulled 87.5 mph with his regular race motor! Novak helped setup the car, says John.



John also rolled out this nitro-powered swamp-buggy-lookin Savage creation.



Geared to the moon? John geared his truck to MARS. It was too tall, and the engine never wound up. Too bad, Axial's new big-block RR engine surely would have helped it tear off some fast passes with the right ratios.



John rocked the long-board for car retrieval.

[PeterV]

For a while, it looked like John Crook would steal the fastest MT title with a 70.7mph pass.



There's an E-Maxx in there somewhere.



The wheelie bar was key, and the shocks did a great job of keeping the rear end hooked up as the front wheels lifted.

[PeterV]

Sumio Takahashi of the Enroute team. Drivetrain troubles slowed the car, but a best pass of 51.8mph is nothing to sneeze at.

[PeterV]

If looking fast counts, give the award to Danny Quinn.



Is that a Traxxas STREET SPORT? Yes it is. A 67mph Traxxas Street Sport.



Walls are hard.



Danny fixed it up and made a few more runs. Cool car.

[PeterV]

Kamau Kelly used a Traxxas Bandit as the base car for his ride. Check out the top-shaft disc brake! Best run, 69mph.

[PeterV]

Big Jim Schauer made good for the drag racin' boys with a 105.6mph best pass.





Pat McDonald built this beautiful 90+mph rail. Note the inline motor.



Big Jim Schauer and the IMDRA posse won the Independent team award again.

[PeterV]

Tony Lovering came all the way from England to run the WFRCCC with his triple-engine machine.





After posting an 88mph run, Tony hopped off the retaining wall with transmitter in hand. This popped the battery cover off, spilling the cells in the process, leading to a runaway triple-engine car. It snuck under the rental car used to protect the timing tent, wiping out a couple of chairs in the process. It took three guys to shut it down--one per engine.

[PeterV]

HPI Savage designer Ito Nishine's beautiful twin-engine truck nearly broke 60mp with a 59.6 best run. It sounded incredible.

[PeterV]

Dan Fischer's custom. Traction troubles slowed it down to 58.9mph--it had more.

[PeterV]

Brian Pohlman and his dad, John, were back with two custom cars this year. Dad's electric car was fast, but he put it into the wall before it's true potential could be realized (best run, 65.1mph). Brian's gasser did 64.2, with a lot left on tap. Come back next year!

[PeterV]

Ken Davis' built this 1/12-bodied machine using an Associated RC18 as a base. It was the fastest mini at 59.2mph. Not fast enough to take Tony Phalen's '06 record, but Ken's car sure got airborne just like Tony's!

[PeterV]

Team Novak kept things cushy by pitting in an RV. Nice.



Nothing fancy here: just an off-the-shelf Novak HV system, an XRAY touring car, and the right gearing. The car was consistent and quick, with a best run of 118.7mph



A blown tire from one of the runs.

[PeterV]

The guys from socalcrew.com came out to go fast and break stuff. Gotta love these guys--one of their "speed run" Savages was still dirty from off-roading! This dual-engine beast was the "serious" entry, but it wasn't dialed in yet and only got up to the mid-30s.

[JeffEmbracedDC]

So cool! Great job, Nic!

[ajlovering12345]

That was a blast. We will all do better next year right? lol

[knotted]

Is a Wheelie king with small tires still considered a Monster truck? I say no. Congrats to John for winning fastest REAL monster truck!

[USATorque55]

fastharry- stop being annoying

So Nic Case couldn't bring the 160+mph car, to back up the unofficial record last year?


Torque

[SS Pede]

Wow, I had no idea this year's contest was here already! Sweet cars, and great captions Pete! I like how Novak easily busted 100 mph with just an HV brushless system crammed into a nice touring car. Keep it simple!

[ElectricThunder]

LOL! That HV motor hangin' out the side of the Xray is hilarious! BWAHAHAHAHA! (I'm surprised that the least complicated/relatively stock and more underestimated systems are the faster ones...go figure).

[FninjaP90]

Originally Posted by ajlovering12345

That was a blast. We will all do better next year right? lol

Where was your CF car?

[ajlovering12345]

The CF car inst mine it was Modmans He and B4Maz didnt turn up to the event due to personnel reasons

Cheers

[crazyjr]

Originally Posted by knotted

Is a Wheelie king with small tires still considered a Monster truck? I say no. Congrats to John for winning fastest REAL monster truck!

I agree, it should at least look the part to get the record