The biggest news this week turns out to be about one of our sports most elite racers, Jared Tebo. When you think of the biggest drivers in our sport right now, it typically boils down to this- if you are a “Losi” guy, you think Drake, if you are an “Associated” guy, you think Tebo. Jared is arguably the best known driver in our sport right now.

Well, this week, one of Jared’s many sponsors decided to issue a press release letting the whole wide world know they were letting Jared go. Now, in the racing world, that is simply bad form. If someone burns down your building, goes on a shooting rampage and kills half your employees, or gets busted smoking Salvia at a male bath house, then yes, a press release is in order. Otherwise, the press release is an embarrassment for both Tebo and his former sponsor.

So, of course in this internet age, the rumor mill went berzerk, equally bad for both parties involved. Did his former sponsor not have enough money to keep paying him? Was the former sponsor getting rid of a driver that diss’ed on product too much? Did Tebo affiliate too closely with the boyz at Kyosho? Lot’s of speculation with no “winner” in sight. Now certainly Jared won’t have Any problem getting a new 8th scale chassis sponsor. His former sponsor won’t have a hard time coming up with another driver to fill the vacated spot. But, Jared’s name recognition is worth a lot. A win by Jared on Sunday means sales on Monday, and Jared is one of a very small handful of men walking this planet right now who earned an IFMAR world championship trophy. Even during these tough economic times, Jared will find another sponsor willing to cough up “Tebo” money, but the chances of his old sponsor coming up with a driver even close to his talent and name recognition is virtually zero. So who wins now?

When one had thought the crawling world was dropping off, along comes more fresh blood in crawling chassis. The big K (Kyosho), seem unable to come up with a “must have” car or truck, but they did announce their new 2.2 crawler last week, and it doesn’t seem to be a “must have” either. Some props have to go out to them for offering a somewhat different design for a crawling set-up, but I’m still disappointed that even with their “Dream Team” of American talent, they can’t come up the next T-Maxx or Slash. Their new crawler is dubbed the “Rock Force“, and looks to borrow some 8th scale technology to make it extra durable. But, as we all know, anything 8th scale costs more money, and in this economy, too high of a price point can absolutely kill sales.

On the opposite side of the crawling groove, Traxxas released a teaser this week of their upcoming crawler. Traxxas, once the red-headed stepchild of rc, is now the Crown Prince (heck, maybe even the King!). Two things you count on from Traxxas for their new crawler- it’s going to be cool, and it’s not going to break the bank. Also, seeing as how they released a teaser, it might not be based off another platform of theirs, it might be new from the ground up. If that is the case, look for them to pwn the crawling market with something that oozes “well designed” and “great value”. I feel funny giving such props to Traxxas, as I still remember some of their ugly years during the 90’s, but they have totally got their act together, arguably more so than any other rc chassis manufacture right now.

One last note for this week. The BigSquid booth at I-Hobby is simply going to be gnarly! Props have to go out to Brian for all his hard work, which is going to result in perhaps one of the most impressive first showings at a trade show ever. He’s lined up tons of track time, hot babes, and tons of cool gear for the show (even some cool swag I hear?). He will be the talk of the show. For manufactures, he’ll be offering “show special” ad rates, along with loads of data showing how each of your limited ad dollars go further with BigSquid than the other poser E-zine sites. I will also be at the show on Sunday, ready to receive that earful of pure anger that has been festering up in most of the industries belly.

Till next week, read your BigSquid daily, support your LHS, and visit that lonely local track of yours.

Cub

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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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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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This week yielded entry number three into the hot new “CORR” truck genre as HPI introduced their hot new truck, the Baja 5T. Obviously, this is based off their incredible 5th scale gas Baja buggy chassis, but comes in full “CORR” off road truck attire. Unfortunately, the truck just misses the mark on looks, as the body is too narrow, and the tires look “almost” like they should. HPI has long been known to have the most realistic cars on the market, strange how they shouldn’t be spot on with the 5T. A big part of the reason the “CORR” type trucks are so popular is due to their realism. If you miss the mark on looks in this category, you’ll miss your sales target goals as well.

For what the 5T lacks in authenticity, it should more than make up for in fun factor. It’s daddy, the Baja 5B buggy, is easily the most fun rc car ever produced. Big statement I know, but if you’ve ever gotten the chance to pinch throttle on one, you know exactly why I would make such a bold statement. The big daddy Baja buggy handles more realistically than any other rc car (ever!), is very reliable, and it’s gas engine is a huge plus. Oh yes, that wonderful lil’ gas engine supplies insane run times, and zero tuning hassles like a typical nitro engine would. If you are truly core about “CORR” racing, you’ll come closer to the real thing driving a 5T than anything else that is offered, or will probably ever be offered. Now, the Baja buggy or the 5T will not be the biggest seller on the market due to it’s one grand price point, but all that big fun does have to come at some sort of price.

Speaking of “CORR” trucks, the Traxxas Slash phenomenon is STILL amazing industry insiders- from other manufactures, to distributors, to LHS owners. Some are even reporting that sales of the Slash are even hotter than those of the original T-Maxx, once thought to be impossible to surpass! The guys sitting behind the big fancy tables at Traxxas have to be given props for finding the perfect mesh of looks, drivability, reliability, and perhaps most importantly, price point. If you haven’t bought one yet, I’m not sure what you are waiting for, but go ahead and jump on this bus, as it’s an affordable, and fun ride.

Some sort of rc “crawling” nats went down last week in Utah. The only guy I recognized in the top five was Austin Dunn, who’s an incredibly smooth driver, and has probably the hottest girlfriend I’ve ever seen at an rc event. I’ve gotten with several people in the industry, trying to convince them to lend BigSquidRC a hand and do event coverage from big crawling events, but to no avail. So if you are one of the guys traveling the crawling circuit (either as a vendor, promoter, competitor, or whatever), and can write better than the average 2kd grader, hit up our execute editor, Brian at BigSquidRC.com and offer your services as a contributor. Writing up some event reports will not only get your sponsors/company more exposure, but BigSquidRC actually has a large crawling following, so you’ll actually have people foaming at the mouth to read your reports. Ditto’s for any traveling regular on the rc drag circuit.

That’s it for this week rc fans. Check your BigSquidRC daily, support your LHS and local tracks, and get off your computer and go pinch some throttle.

Cubby

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What has been the single most hyped car release of 2008? Arguably, the mysterious Losi Crawler. On the product side of things, Losi already had tires, bodies and other crawling accessories out for some time, so it’s obvious they support the genre. On the marketing side- Losi put out more new age “internet buzz” on this model than any before it in history. Thursday, complete information on the truck leaked out- then came the big let down, at least for the serious crawling hobbyist.

What seemed to be the big problem(s)? First off, scale. Serious crawling guys were looking for a full-comp esoteric 2.2 size rig. What they got was a little 18th scaler. But that wasn’t all. The comp guys were looking for a kit, as no real crawler is built box stock, and the new Losi rig is an RTR. And to top it all off, suggested “hobby shop” price is going to be right around $240, right at the same price of the larger Axel rig.

Losi’s new crawler is really a sign of the times, at least among the “big two” based out of Champaign. Big sales numbers over what the core enthusiast wants. Will the new crawler be a huge sales success? Yes, definitely, but at what price to their former core buyers? This certainly isn’t “Team Losi” anymore, it’s now “Horizon/Losi”, and don’t you forget it.

It’s no industry secret that the “big two” have been shooting for huge numbers for years now. No, not “huge” T-maxx type numbers, even bigger than that. Wally World numbers is ultimately what they are shooting for. A hobby grade company would make more money on the initial PO from Wally World than they would in a half decade through normal “hobby grade” retail channels. There is big money, like they make now, then there is BIG money, the kind that can only be tapped with a hit rc car sitting on the shelves of every Wally and Target in the country.

There have always been rumors that the original Losi Mini-T was Horizons first attempt at breaking into the Wally market, but due to lack of pull, insufficient contacts, and too high of a price point, that the deal didn’t happen. But, there is no doubt in my mind that within the next 5 years you will be able to walk into any Wally World in the country and buy a new Losi. My only hope is that they use some of
that BIG Wally money to introduce some amazing hobby grade gear. This is America after all, the country that above all prides itself in the ability to make money.

Capitalism is all American, so you can’t fault Horizon/Losi for that. Let’s hope they don’t forget about us true hobbyist that put them in the position to sit on the big box retailers shelves.

Support your local hobby shops and tracks!!
Cubby

PS: before the emails come in.. yes.. wally-Mart

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