The folks over at Pro-Line Racing seem very happy about the results they had at the IFMAR 1:8 Off-Road World Championships! Pro-Line’s Revolver in M3 compound was the tire of choice and 8 out of 12 drivers in the finals were running them! The top 4 spots were won with Pro-Lines not to mention Hara doing a great job with his Hot Bodies buggy! Many were also running the Pro-Line Crowd Pleazer body. Congrats to everyone at the race!

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Storm brewing?

One of the rc industries leading chassis manufactures is making an interesting move at the largest rc trade show, I-Hobby, this October. Traditionally in the rc world, a chassis manufacture will make a product, sell it at a slight profit to one or more distributors, and let the distributors handle the task of reselling the product to the hobby shops all over the country. Well, one manufacture has quietly decided that they are going to shift more focus on selling directly to dealers. They plan on remaining with their existing distributors, but, they also plan on offering increasing incentives when selling directly to LHS’s. Perhaps enough price reductions that they hope to break the stranglehold of the rc distributors on said dealers.

In an ideal world, skipping the distributors “should” work great for Joe Blow consumers like you and I. The manufacture could sell kits and parts at a cheaper price straight to LHS’s than they can to distributors, yet still make more profit. On the LHS side, they “should” be able to buy at a cheaper price than from a distributor, resulting in either reduced prices to consumers, or more profit to keep the lights on (and I feel for you dealers out there right now, keeping the lights on isn’t easy in this economy).

But, most dealers are very happy buying their stock from distributors. Most sit down at their computers once a week and place their orders. It’s very convenient for them to place one or two big orders at distributors and get parts from over 50 manufactures. The large distributors certainly have their jobs dialed, having great inventories, and a relatively easy set-up for dealers to order over the internet, or via phone from sales reps. So, it’s not going to be easy for manufactures to get dealers to buy direct, even though it will make more money for both involved.

In the rc world, most of the distributors aren’t “just” distributors that sell directly to dealers as the definition would imply. They also have retail outlets that sell straight to consumers (HRP Distribution is the exception to this, and they should be commended). Their large retail outlets offer rock bottom prices to consumers, and because their cost is less than what an LHS pays, they can sell at these lower prices and still make more profit than your LHS can. In fact, the distributors retail outlets have enough buying/selling power that they basically establish the “street price” for all rc products. When a price goes up on their website or print flier, that becomes the price your LHS is going to have to match in the eyes of consumers. Right now, most “street prices” are barely Any profit for an LHS. In fact, some of the prices, if you include coupon incentives the distributor’s retail outlets throw at consumers, is Below your LHS’s dealer cost! Low profit is fine and dandy if large quantity is involved, but in the rc world, it’s a low volume world, even for the hottest selling of product.

I’m a greedy bastard. When I’m down at the local bash spot on a Saturday afternoon and break my car in half (which seems to happen far too often), I want to drive directly to the nearest LHS and buy the replacement parts. I then want to go back to my bash spot, install the new parts, and continue driving/having fun. I don’t want to break my car in half, go home, get on-line, order parts, and wait till Wednesday of the next week for them to come in. When the latest hot new truck is released, I want to drive down to my nearest hobby shop and hold it in my hands, examine the trick nuances of the drive-line, feel the controller in my hands, and be able to buy all the little accessory parts needed to get it fully up and running. I don’t want to order the hot new kit on-line, get it in the mail a week later, just to find out that it’s going to require one little extra part just to drive it. How many people have we lost in our sport because they put their car/truck in the closet and never got it back out because their LHS didn’t have parts to fix it? Far too many I’m afraid.

To boil it down, LHS’s are the entire backbone to our hobby/sport. For our hobby to have a large consumer base, the LHS’s have to be open, thriving, alive and well. Lose your LHS’s, or having them too broke to have large inventories, and the consumer base will dwindle. You can either have a smaller number of hardcore enthusiasts buying on-line, or you can have the happy masses busting out the cash down at the LHS.

So what would I like to see?

Manufactures- If you sell directly to dealers, offer larger incentives for buying direct. Offer region based representatives to take care of said dealers. Keep your hands off end consumers, after all, you are a “manufacture”, and if the LHS’s die off, so will you.

Distributors- If you can send end consumers 20% off coupons, you can surely do the same for your dealers right? When dealers come by your booth at I-Hobby, treat them like royalty, fill their arms with swag, stomachs full of Rosemont’s best hotdogs and soda, and give them a healthy discount on PO’s placed at the show. I could certainly type “keep your hands off end consumers”, obviously something they won’t do, so I’ll just type “focus on your dealers”, after all, they are the one’s that keep Your doors open.

Dealers- Yes, I know how hard it is to stock all those F’en replacement parts, but it’s your priority to stock the basics and anticipate consumers “walk-in” needs. It’s a damn hard living selling low profit parts that always seem to be in need today, then sit on the shelf for eternity tomorrow. If you haven’t made it to the dealer days at I-Hobby lately, treat yourself to a few days in warm, sunny, clean, urban Chicago (LMAO). When you drop by a manufactures booth, don’t just drop by to see “what’s new”, drop by with the intentions of talking them into a deal. Work the fact that they might be able to gain your direct business if they give you enough “incentive/discount”. Go to the show willing to cut the check for some nice sized PO’s IF the price is right. Hit the distributors booths and ask what they are going to do to earn your business for the next year. Goodness knows how much money you’ve sent to them over the years, and you deserve the red carpet treatment from them. And this might sound impossible, but hit the show with the intentions of lowering your product costs by 10% in the coming year. From what I’ve seen lately, you might even be able to do better than that! A little sweet talk combined with charisma, could save you 10% or more on everything you buy, giving you a little breathing room on bills, or additional funds for more inventory.

I know that’s all a bunch of industry “mumbo jumbo” to most consumers out there, but perhaps it might give some consumers a little insight to how the rc industry works.

Thanks for reading, check your BigSquid daily, break your cars weekly, and check back for next weeks worthless ramblings.

Your Cub-Reporter

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We finally have our review up of the DuraTrax RT-X 27, and guess what.. it has officially gotten a Basher Approved rating! Head over to the RC Reviews section and check it out! If you are in the mood for a new RC Nitro truck this might be what you need! Read it here: DuraTrax RT-X 27 Review.

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For those of you looking to take over the world 1/24th at a time VS Tank has just announced the VS 1/24 Scale Russian KV-2.It features all-wheel suspension and the ability to climb 35 degree inclines. Up to 6 tanks can do battle at once firing infrared beams with real cannon sounds. The tanks come RTR right out of the box. Check the VS Tank site for more information on how to get your war on.

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We have a lot of loyal readers here at Big Squid RC, and we appreciate every one of them! Even though we have a lot of readers, we want more! Want to help spread the word about your favorite RC News, Contest and Video Site? (that’s us.. right?) Want to show off your loyalty?!

We are looking for people that like to hang out in the forums, not just ours, but all RC forums. We know there are a lot of good ones out there, we visit them as well! All we are asking is that you add a link to us in your signature. something like:
For Bashers, By Bashers – http://www.BigSquidRC.com
or
Contests, Videos, News and Reviews – http://www.BigSquidRC.com

Just add that to the bottom of your posts or signatures. So what’s in it for you? You need something besides helping your favorite website grow? Ok.. how about FREE stickers!!! Email me your account name on some of the sites that you post on, so we can see if you have added the links, and then we will hook you up with Big Squid RC stickers! We’ll even pay the shipping! What do stickers get you? All sorts of stuff! Have you seen the Big Squid RC Contest?! We’ll also look into other benefits for Big Squid RC street team members… maybe we’ll let you get your picture taken with a model at the iHobby expo in the Big Squid RC booth!

So what are you waiting for.. get posting!
PS: No, adding the links to your posts here in the Big Squid RC Forum do not count.

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HPI Racing has announced the new RTR Brama 10B with EB10 Buggy Body! This is the first electric 4WD buggy from HPI! The concept is to make it easy to work on, affordable and tough.
The Brama 10B comes ready-to-run, all you need to do is charge the batteries and GO! I might have to check one of these out, it sounds pretty good.

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Ok, this has been long over due, and I finally have it started! I am currently working on a new version of the Videos page! Everything from RC Drag Racing, RC Monster Trucks, RC Cars, RC Drifting and Bashing to contest drawings is being collected into one place!

It’s going to take a few days to get all the videos together.. they have been really spread out. After that, I’m going to try and get them in some sort of order, and work on better descriptions. Wish me luck! lol

For now, head over to the NEW RC Videos section and take a look! There are probably a few you have missed.

More coming soon!

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So who’s the fastest rc racer on planet Earth right now? Well today after winning the 8th scale off road world championship, arguably it is Japans Atsushi Hara. This is quite shocking, and shocking for several reasons.

Reason #1- Hara drives for HPI/Hot Bodies. While HPI has always made awesome cars and trucks, they aren’t known for being a tour de force in 8th scale off road. Nor do they sell an esoteric uber-high-end-racing-only 8th scale dirt machine. Hot Bodies 8th scale D8 buggy is simply a well designed, well balanced, and very affordable machine, who few ever thought was in the same league as the high end Mugens, K-cars, AE’s, and Losi’s, let alone capable of winning the world championship. Hara proved the D8 was of world championship caliber.

Reason #2- For the first time ever, Americans dominated qualifying at this event. Eight Americans made the final 12, truly an unprecedented number. While the Americans like to pwn the rest of the world in electric classes, their strong suit has never been at the 8th scale IFMAR off road world’s. This race is held every other year, and this time, it was held on American soil. Most of our countries most elite drivers took good advantage of that fact by hitting as many races at The Farm 2 (the host track) as possible this calender year. Hara is from Japan, and although he spends some time in the states, he certainly has not gotten in as much time as most of the Americans at the host venue. After qualifying, it seemed nearly certain that an American was going to take home the title on home soil. Most industry types (from other countries) were heard to be complaining of the alleged “home field advantage” the Americans had. Hara proved there wasn’t a huge home field advantage.

Reason #3- Hara is known principally for his skillz while driving touring cars. While he’s certainly very naturally talented, he is at his best while wheeling a touring car around a curvy track. Hara even has his own uber edtion Hot Bodies touring car named after him. But, if you’ve been watching 8th scale off road results lately, it’s obvious that he has been racing the class at select events, getting some decent results, but never had he gone out and pwn’ed an elite field (until today). Hara made the big show today, but few would have picked this “touring car guy” to go from his 7th qualifying position to the top step on the world championship podium. Today, Hara proved he can win any discipline of our sport and isn’t just a touring car specialist.

So congrats to Hara and HPI/Hot Bodies for winning the single most prestigious race our sport has to offer. Congrats to Hara and HB for showing that it doesn’t take the most expensive car on the track to win the biggest race. Congrats to Hara and HB for showing what hard work, practice, and a smart head can do at even the most elite of races. Next time you are down at your local track, and some butt-munching local racer/elitist guy tells you that “you just have to buy such and such car, cause I have one and it costs the most, and you can’t win with your POS”, tell him that Hara could pwn his azz, and well everybodies azz, with much lesser equipment. It’s more important what you do with what you have, and how hard you work for it.

That’s it for this week rc fans, go fast, crash hard, support your local hobby shop, take a look at the World Champion Hot Bodies D8, and support your local tracks. Or combine them all by buying a new D8 from your LHS, then go down to your local track and get some hot laps in with it!

Your Cub Reporter

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Ever since Traxxas decided to be different and create their own Dean’s plug, people have had to modify their packs. While I think most RC’ers and Bashers just go ahead and cut off the Traxxas plug and add a Deans on there, there are still a few people who like to keep it simple. Well for those who like less work, Duratrax is here to help save the day. They have just released a few NiMH battery packs including 7.2v AND 8.4v 4600 stick and hump pack versions that come standard with the Traxxas plug! So if you are part of the electric Traxxas brigade (and that’s most people in RC) then fear not, you won’t have to show off your soldering skills.
The full press release is in the NEW Product Forum.

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Ok, check these out! New from Team Checkpoint are these 7.4v 4800mAh Saddle Pack LiPo Battries! The press release mentions that they fix sedans and buddies, but I’m thinking these things would be sweet for RC Rock Crawling! You could balance your weight more precisely, just the way you want. Cool!
The full press release will be in the NEW Product Forum

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News from Scooter Motor Works is that their Power Pack Li-Po are available for sale through Stormers Hobbies and RC Madness and through Scooters Motorworks web site. For Hobby Shop sales contact ERI Distributors. All three batteries come in a ROAR legal size hard case with a Tamiya connector attached and with a pair of 3.5mm female gold banana connectors. The current versions look to be 3200mah, 3600mah, and 4000mah.

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Whoa! Check this body out! Pro-Line Racing has announced the new Recon body. It’s sized to fit monster trucks and 2.2″ Rock Crawlers! It’s got a cool simulated canvas cover and looks very military like. It’s ready to fit the T-Maxx, Revo, Savage and Scorpion! If you want to look different, this body will get you that look for sure!

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Pro-Line Racing has just announced their new SHIFT body for the Team Associated RC8T and Mugen MBX-6. Pro-Line has been doing a great job of getting the first after market bodies out for new vehicles. The SHIFT body is the first after market body for both the RC8T and MBX-6. So if you have either, and are looking to be different from the crowd, Pro-Line has you covered.

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Anybody else watch live CORR racing this weekend? I certainly did, and I was personally enthralled the entire time. The people at CORR have gotten their act together, and are making their run at the mainstream. A relatively great tv package, good on track racing, cross motorsports personalities, combine with a large induction of “mainstream” advertising money, has grown the formerly fringe sport to record levels. Hummmmm….. just goes to show what can be done with the right people behind the wheel of a given sport.

It wouldn’t be a week in rc without a new truck release from Horizon/Losi. It seems every week they have a new offering, some ho-hum, some revolutionary (like last week’s Eight-E). This week, they announced their 18th scale CORR type truck, the “Mini-Desert Truck“. Mental note to ANYONE/EVERYONE who wants to release a truck of this type- make sure the body covers the tires! Otherwise, it ends up looking like the Mini-Desert, basically a normal rc type stadium truck. If you widen out the body to where it looks all CORR, it’s actually cool. Leave it narrow, and the manufacture should install dust wipers on the box because it’s going to sit on the shelf till white plastic comes back into style.

One of the big print mags recently announced they are now offering a new “green” on-line subscription. Strangely, this mag’s print edition is constantly being criticized for having 3 times more pages of advertising than actual “content”. Yet, from what I’ve heard, their e-zine has even more advertisements! BigSquidRC is certainly one of the original, and top on-line rc e-zine’s. It has always been green, and doesn’t shove a semi-tractor full of advertising down the readers throats.

The most uber high end of all racing is Formula 1. In the USA, it’s barely followed, but worldwide, it is easily the largest, and most elite form of motorsport racing. This weekend, the underdog Red Bull Scuderia Toro Rosso team won their first race ever- the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Red Bull once gave motocross phenom James Stewart a new Bentley for simply favoring their energy drink. I wonder what Red Bull racing will give German Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel for winning their first ever Grand Prix? Now, to make this all rc related- if Red Bull can afford sinking nearly a half billion dollars a year into their Formula 1 effort, just to typically run mid to rear pack, why can’t they afford to throw a few hundred thousand into the sport of rc racing and rule the entire thing. Red Bull would get great value per advertising dollar, and the sport of rc would take their first small step towards the mainstream. Have they even been approached by ROAR, RC Pro Series, or the JBRL? Just say’n, it’s a win/win for everybody, and it’s amazing it hasn’t been done yet.

That’s it for this week rc fans. Support your sport! Hit your LHS, buy something, or just hang out and check their latest gear. Hit your local track and race, or just show up on a practice day and have a blast putting on some quick laps. Don’t forget to get on the BigSquid forums and talk some serious smack!

Sincerely,

Your Cub Reporter

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I just wanted to post a quick update on the lack of updates. I have been, and will be out in Vegas this week. I should be back in town late Friday night, as long as I have enough money to get back.

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