Big Squid RC » Industry News

Horizon Hobby Sponsors Rockstar Energy Racing Motocross Team

Tim Mohr — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:31:10 +0000

Horizon Hobby have just announced they are expanding their marketing sponsorship of the Rockstar Energy Motocross Team. If you don’t follow motocross, Rockstar Energy Racing has had a great year – Rockstar rider Davi Millsaps lead the 450 Supercross class points early in the season, and 250 riders Blake Wharton took a win at the Houston Supercross and Jason Anderson scored his first Supercross win in Salt Lake City. The collaboration between Horizon Hobby and the Rockstar motocross team is sure to expose many new people to the rc hobby and to all the unique products that Horizon has to offer.

To check out some of the cool products that Horizon has to offer click RIGHT HERE.

The BigSquidRC Bash Crew is just itching to get the weekend started, how about a BSRC TGIF Mystery Link?

Red Bull Athlete Mitchell DeJong Joins Team Losi Racing

Tim Mohr — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:48:01 +0000

You may know the name Mitchell DeJong from a special edition Traxxas Bandit Buggy, while others may know him as being a 15 year old Red Bull Racing off-road prodigy. There is no doubt he is a superstar on the rise, he’s won multiple titles in full scale off-road racing and is likely to win many more.

Recently DeJong signed on with Team Losi Racing/TLR. It will be really cool to see DeJong help promote TLR products (and the rc hobby in general) to the mainstream during his full scale off-road racing. The press release also stated that he’s an avid rc’er, so look out for him on the local tracks in SoCal with his Losi Ten-SCTE.

Thank Goodness It’s Friday, we’ve been working our tails off all week for it to arrive. How about another TGIF Mystery Link?

Trinity Sues ROAR Sanctioning Body

Tim Mohr — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:41:52 +0000

After a recent ROAR ruling banning the previously legal Trinity D3.5 17.5 turn brushless motor (also known as WireGate on the forums), Trinity have just announced they (along with Fantom Racing, EAM, and Putnam Propulsion) are bringing a class action lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Here is the press release from Trinity-

“It is with great regret that I must inform the racing community that lawsuits have been filed against R.O.A.R. this morning the 26th day of February 2013 in the State of Florida. Case # CA-13-976-16W and ROAR and Plaintiffs to appear before Judge Dickey for resolution. A class-action suit pending involving Trincorp, EAM, Fantom Motors and Putnam Propulsion is now in place with the Court System and will have to be defended. We as a group have done everything in our power to negotiate with ROAR, asking for a time period for new specifications using this new protocol testing to allow time for manufacturer’s and consumers to adjust to their new protocol yet using the same vague rules but we were denied! Our goals are to protect our good names and our customer base from purchasing new motors for a season that has not ended due to the precocious and what we feel irresponsible behavior of ROAR to change the “testing protocol” which has been used for over 30 years, terminate both Independent Labs, keep a rule “with no maximum tolerance listed in the rule and be arrogant enough to still leave it “as is” have left us no alternative at all than to allow a “fair and equitable” court system to decide the “fate” of all involved with the D3.5/17.5 it’s customers both National and International and it’s race organizers and promoters.

We look forward to a reasonable and quick decision by the Court so we can all get back to enjoy racing the way it should be. We also hope that the Executive Committee of ROAR can see and understand the misfortunes of this case and the wrongful action by a select few of their own and rectify this situation as quickly as possible to restore the “independent and equitable atmosphere” ROAR should exhibit to all it’s members and affiliates will ultimately restore the confidence again to the ‘buying public”. It is obvious that ROAR holds a great responsibility not only in rule-making but also in confidence for consumers to purchase products on their approval which is why rescinding an approval after 10 months (when there was no change in the motor) for the personal gain of some of it’s directors and or manufacturer’s they are aligned makes the action of ROAR so profound and must be heard in a court of law!

Sincerely

Ernest N. Provetti
Managing Director
TRINCORP, LLC”

We will be bringing you more information as we receive it, until then HERE is the link for Trinity, and click HERE for ROAR’s website.

Official HPI Racing Press Release Announcing Great Planes Exclusive Distributor

Tim Mohr — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:04:23 +0000

We were the first to break the news a few weeks ago on our Google Plus show, Cubby then talked a little about all the details we had. Then again when all the other websites were claiming HPI was bought, we assured people that it wasn’t the case. HPI has now confirmed what we have been saying all along since we broke the news.

Here is the official announcement from HPI Racing about their exclusive distribution deal with Hobbico/Great Planes.

“In light of recent media speculation, HPI would like to confirm that it has appointed Hobbico/Great Planes Model Distributors as their exclusive distributor for HPI RC Cars in North America. This distribution partnership is a further extension of the HPI’s exclusive distribution network that is operating very successfully throughout the rest of the world.

We would like to be clear that Hobbico has not purchased HPI, HPI’s assets or the rights to any HPI products. Hobbico/Great Planes Model Distributors have simply purchased the necessary product inventory to enable them to provide the service levels required from an exclusive distributor in such a large market area. Their comprehensive distribution facilities will ensure fast and effective supply of the entire HPI product line.

As the exclusive North American distributor, Hobbico will also be providing first-class customer services utilizing their extensive facilities and knowledgeable staff at their headquarters in Champaign, Illinois. The customer service facility will be operational for the HPI product range beginning March 1st, 2013.

HPI USA will retain its headquarters in California, where we will continue to develop market-leading products and maintain relationships with our high-profile corporate partners. HPI Europe will handle centralized purchasing and logistics operations, resulting in more efficient accessibility of global product demand. These combined efforts will enable North American shops and customers better and faster access to HPI’s kits, spares and support.

This exciting partnership will enhance HPI’s presence within North America by giving both companies the opportunity to concentrate their efforts on their own specialized areas of the business.

HPI’s dedication to product development, marketing collaborations and our distribution partners will ensure HPI will remain the front runner in the worldwide RC market.”

So there you have it folks, expect big from HPI and Great Planes in the years to come. For more information on all of HPI’s fine products HERE is the link to their official website.

Another week has flown by and is in the books, why not give your luck a try on a TGIF Mystery Link?

Back To Chicago, But Not Rosemont, for iHobby 2013

Tim Mohr — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:03:44 +0000

The latest news from about the iHobby 2013 trade show is- they are holding this years event back in Chicago. Chicago is a familiar city to the iHobby show, but for 2013 it won’t be held at the customary Rosemont Convention Center, instead it will be held at the Schaumburg Convention Center. The dates have also been set, October 3rd through the 6th. Mark your calenders now, as the years when iHobby comes back to Chicago tend to be huge shows. For complete consumer and trade information, simply hit up the official iHobby Website.

Ready for another TGIF Mystery Link?

Traxxas Teams up with Barrett Jackson Collector Car Auctions

Tim Mohr — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:56:12 +0000

Traxxas continues to amaze us when it comes to their support of 1:1 scale events and cross-over marketing. One of their latest ventures into marketing at full scale events is with “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions”, Barrett Jackson. You probably know Barrett Jackson from watching them auction off exotic and rare collector cars on Speed TV, and now Traxxas is one of their event sponsors. No doubt, Traxxas will get a lot of mainstream exposure by teaming up with folks over at Barrett Jackson. Is there a special Barrett Jackson Edition Traxxas muscle car in the works? We can only hope.

Thank goodness we’ve made it to another Friday, why not check out this TGIF Mystery Link?

A-Main Hobbies Now Exclusive Retailer for Yokomo in North America

Tim Mohr — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:59:03 +0000

Yokomo rc cars had a huge presence here in the states years ago, and they are still makers of high end racing rc vehicles. We have just received word that A-Main Hobbies has picked up the Yokomo line and is now their exclusive retailer in North America. Hopefully now with A-Main behind them we’ll be seeing a lot more Yokomo product here in the states. Hit up THIS link for more information on Yokomo’s line-up of rc cars, and HERE is the link for A-Main.

Looking for more industry news on BigSquidRC? HERE is the link you want.

Sunshine Systems LED Lights Now Distributed by Horizon Hobby

Tim Mohr — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:05:25 +0000

One of the things we learned while at the iHobby Expo was that our friends over at Sunshine Systems are now distributed by Horizon Hobby. We have been huge fans of the Sunshine Systems LED lighting kits for rc cars since we first saw them about a year ago, with them now being distributed by Horizon they should be much easier to find in your local hobby shops. If you’ve never heard of or seen the Sunshine Systems kits before check out THIS link for their official website, we highly recommend them.

Want to check out our Sunshine Systems light kit review? THIS is the link you want.

ST Racing Concepts Now Distributed By Great Planes

Tim Mohr — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:21:10 +0000

While talking to a friend of mine over at Great Planes today, I learned they recently picked up the ST Racing Concepts line of hop-up parts. STRC is a well known aftermarket upgrade company that should be a nice addition to what Great Planes already offers their dealers. For you our reader, this should mean that you’ll be seeing more STRC parts in your local hobby shops. Most hobby shops are already dealers for Great Planes, so it will be easy for them to throw some STRC parts on their normal weekly orders.

Have you read our STRC Axial EXO hop-up review? If not, check it out HERE.

ST Racing Concepts – Slash 4×4 LCG Behind the Scenes

Brian — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:32:11 +0000

Recently we posted info about a possible new Traxxas Slash 4×4 LCG Chassis coming from STRC. Well it looks like we are going from Rumor Mill to reality as Steve from ST Racing Concepts is posting up a ‘Behind the Scenes’ look at the development of the chassis. It seems we are going to be treated to a multi-part series during the development. The first installment has been posted for you to check out.

It’s a good read, and a rare glimpse into some industry insider stuff if you like that sort of thing.

Looking for other ST Racing Concepts News? Hit the link.