HobbyPlex Summer Series Round 1

Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 12:00am UTC

Round 1 of the Summer Series in Omaha, NE had a great showing, with 142 racers showing up for a great day of 1:10 off-road racing. Team Associated was the title sponsor for the six-race series. The track is fairly large for 1:10 scale, and the drivers stand lifts you 15 feet into the air. Mack Vanderbeek enter in the Mod Buggy and Mod Stadium Truck Class. His son, Alex Vanderbeek, was entered in Mod Buggy and Pro2.

Pro 2 was all Alex Vanderbeek, all day. We received the new Factory Team SC10.2 on the Tuesday before the race, and Alex went to work. The new LRP Flow Works Team came on Thursday, so we were set. I called fellow teammate and SC guru James "Bubba" Boggs to get a starting point for the setup on the truck, and he was happy to help. Alex set TQ in the first round by ten seconds, and was just a few tenths faster the second qualifier, which put him first on the grid. As the tone went off, he settled into a comfortable pace, and lapped through third on the 20+ second-per-lap track. At the finish he had the win, nearly lapping second place on the last lap.

Mack started round 1 with a TQ in Mod Truck over TLR driver and track promoter Alex Sturgeon. I maintained TQ in round 2, placing me at the top spot as the A-Main tone went off. I made a mistake on lap 1, and allowed a few spots to slip away. In lap 3 I was back in second, working on the lead. I moved into first with about 3 minutes down of the 8-minute race and never let it go again. My Factory Team T4.2 was locked in. As I crossed the line, second place had some traffic issues, which allowed me a comfortable 15-second lead.

Mod Buggy was much more interesting as the day went on. Alex Sturgeon was dialed in early, grabbing TQ. Mack and Alex Vanderbeek were working on where to find the time needed to make it a race in the Main. Sturgeon was first on the grid, Alex Vanderbeek second, and Myself third. In the first lap Sturgeon was able to get away as Alex Vanderbeek shorted a double that collected us both. He was able to get away, maintaining second, as I was owned sending me back to ninth. Both Vanderbeeks had a lot of work to do. Sturgeon tried settling into a solid pace, but Alex Vanderbeek was making up ground in a hurry. The 14-year-old kept the pressure on, forcing Sturgeon to make an uncharacteristic mistake. Alex Vanderbeek took the lead and drove off. I meanwhile was working my way back through the pack. With about a minute left in the race, I had caught Sturgeon, and made a move into second. Alex Vanderbeek went on to win by 12 seconds, and Sturgeon and Mack battled right up to line, with Mack getting second by a mere tenth of a second.

Mod 4WD saw Team Associated driver Will Brenton TQ and finish first with a wire-to-wire win as well. Will was on point all day, looking strong for a podium spot in 2WD until an unfortunate breakout. Will was driving the Factory Team B44.2, and Factory Team B4.2.

Thanks to the entire HobbyPlex crew for an amazing facility to race at.

Alex Vanderbeek, TQ and 1st in Pro2 
#7038 SC10.2 Factory Team  
#LRP80970 LRP Flow WorksTeam Brushless Speed Control   
#237 Sonic 540 Mach 2 8.0 Modified   
Reedy 6500 65c
XP Digital 1015 Servo
 
Alex Vanderbeek, 1st Mod Buggy 
#9041 Factory Team RC10B4.2 
#LRP80970 LRP Flow WorksTeam Brushless Speed Control  
Reedy 8.5 Sonic Mach 1
#602 Reedy 4100mAh 65C Competition 7.4V Shorty LiPo Battery   
XP Digital 1015 Servo

Mack Vanderbeek, TQ and 1st in Mod Truck 
#7025 Factory Team RC10T4.2 
LRP SXX V.2 TC Spec w/ updated board
#946 Reedy 7.5 Sonic Mach 1 
#736 Reedy WolfPack 5000mAh 25C 7.4V LiPo   
XP Digital 1015 Servo

Mack Vanderbeek, 2nd in Mod Buggy 
#9041 Factory Team RC10B4.2 
#LRP80970 LRP Flow WorksTeam Brushless Speed Control  
#946 Reedy 7.5 Sonic Mach 1  
#736 Reedy WolfPack 5000mAh 25C 7.4V LiPo   
XP Digital 1015 Servo


Pictures