Team CRC takes the 2008 Snowbirds

Jilles Groskamp T.Q’s and Wins 1:12th scale 19 turn with CRC Generation-X and Pro-Cut tires!

The 2008 Snowbird Nationals was a fantastic event put on by Mike Boylan and the Thunder racing crew. The track featured CRC’s Fasttrak Racing Carpet and new this year CRC’s Clik Trak Barrier System. As usual, the event featured top notch competition in both oval and road racing.

In road course wars, CRC cars and tires made every 1:12th A-main.

In 19 turn 1:12th scale, the class was defined by Jilles Groskamp. Jilles won every round of qualifying and the A-main with his CRC Carpet Knife Generation X (3200) . Although he started in the T.Q. position, his A-main was quite eventful as he hit a car that had got spun around backwards. This vaulted his Gen-X ride about 4 feet in the air doing a triple back flip in the full pike position. Jilles was knocked back to second and but quickly made his way back to the front completing his sweep of the 19 turn class. Jilles used CRC Pro Cut Tires and CRC’s awesome Rake (#6025) brushes in his handout motor to power his way to the victory.

Also in the A-final of 19 turn 1:12th scale, CRC Gen X drivers Tom Firsching and Mark Smyka put in great runs during the week. Qualifying in 10th and but not able to bump up from the B-main, CRC’s Frank Calandra received the B.Q. screw award. A-main victories come and go, but only the select few get to wear the coveted Mickey ears.

In 1:12th Stock, CRC drivers Mark Smyka and Tom Firsching were in the A-final. Defending Champ Tom Firsching used CRC’s Pro Cut tires and the new Rake brush to put his ride in the show. Mark’s Gen-X was very close to box-stock, with only the 3277 front brace as an added option.

In the modified division, the CRC Carpet Knife Generation X (3200) car was well represented in the A-main of modified. Jilles Groskamp, Barry Baker and Paul LeMieux all drove CRC Gen-X. After a rough start, Jilles had a race-long battle with Andy Moore for the third position. The two drivers seemed to be stuck together, never more than 8 feet apart. Jilles used CRC Pro Cut tires (magenta/magenta) and the new long ball front suspension pieces (3345 and 3277).

An interesting note in 1:12th Modified, Trinity’s Barry Baker decided at the last minute that he may want to run 1:12th scale modified. At this point in the race schedule, all the practice sessions were already complete and the first time Barry would drive the car was in the first round of qualifying. We quickly put a car together (thanks Bobby and Mark) and Barry set the trim as his 1:12th Modified heat was lining up for round #1. After the horn went off, Barry settled into a top 3 pace and his car looked very smooth on the track. With about 2 minutes to go, Barry had really started to dial in his driving to 1:12th scale and he took the lead on the IFMAR clock. With just a few laps left, he had a couple small bobbles, and dropped to second qualifier after round #1! Wow… no practice and second qualifier! Amazing run.

Jilles’ Snowbird National Champion CRC Generation-X 1:12th car

On the oval side of the event, CRC had it’s new 1:10th oval machine on hand, the Battle Axe. The Battle Axe is a big departure from the “monkey see-monkey do” trend we see so often in today’s racing scene. Instead of the old boring t-bar rear suspension, this new car uses the race-proven link/monoball set up made famous by our race-winning Carpet Knife 1:12th cars. In addition, the Battle Axe is features adjustable wheelbase and width with CRC’s full adjustable 1:10th Pro Strut front end. With the Pro-Strut front end, every aspect of the suspension is adjustable; roll center, ride height, caster, camber, dynamic camber, Ackerman and axle position. In the rear, CRC uses twin Durashock’s for side-to-side suspension control and a new mid-sized center shock designed to be lightweight, yet very heavy duty.

The Battle Axe is the only oval car that accepts the new large brushless controllers on the left side, right in front of the left rear tire. Speaking of brushless, the Open-X pod on the Battle Axe is the strongest, easiest and most user-friendly mounting pod in the business. With the wide-open design on the Open X pod, a good quarterback could throw the motor into the pod from 10 feet away! Well, you know what we mean, it is real easy to install, solder to and run sensor wires to the brushless motors.

Also, the car features 5 cell positions as well as provisions for Lipo packs. In addition, the Battle Axe accepts most any servo with adjustable width and positioning to match the adjustable front end placement. Optional offset rear pods and front end suspension pieces will be available soon to allow you to sharpen your Battle Axe for any circle cutting application!

While only a few early production cars in the field, the CRC Battle Axe made the A-main in the 19 turn class at the 2008 Snowbirds. The driver, Steve Downs, actually arrived at the Birds running a different make of car. When he saw the unique design of the Battle Axe, Steve was convinced that he wanted to run the new machine. Steve borrowed a car that was in New York State on day one of practice. With a friend flying down during day two of practice, Steve prepared a new body and tires for the car he had yet to drive. Even though he gave up day #1 of practice, Steve got his borrowed car and worked hard all night to prepare it for the final practice. In the end, Steve just missed T.Q.ing the event qualifying 3rd with a car he had no time on before the event. This proves the new Battle Axe a great performer on the oval speedways of North America.

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Also in oval action, CRC’s Mark Symka took the Snowbirds Champion CRC Razor II (#1700) to a second qualifying position in 1/12th scale 19 turn oval. Mark barely missed T.Q. by .004. A solid run for Mark as he only runs oval once a year at the Birds. At the 2006 Snowbirds, Steve Pemberton took his CRC Razor II to victory in the 1:12th 19 turn class.

A big thanks goes to all the Snowbirds race management for another great event. Looking forward to next year!