Finally, after 3+ months of watching it rain virtually every weekend, I got to kick off the 2019 race season this past weekend. For the first year since I began racing, I will have a sponsor and I would like to thank Pro-Line Racing for sponsoring my race program this year.
This race took me back to my RC “home” at FRC for their 2019 January-ish Jam. This weekend I raced three classes: 1/10th 4wd Buggy, 1/8th Open Nitro Buggy, and 1/8th Open Electric Buggy. This would be the first time hitting the track for the new Yokomo YZ4-SF and Losi 8X and would go well as both cars were qualified into the A mains, while the Ebuggy would be plagued by servo issues all weekend and relegated to the B main. I would finish the weekend with an 18th overall for Ebuggy, 8th overall with the 8X after breaking a shock standoff during the main (thank goodness for zip ties and quick-thinking pit men Charlie Mac and Jody D’Angelo), and securing a 5th place podium in 4wd. My preferred tire was Clay compound Electrons as everyone was running a clay tire with the track grooved to the point of being black over most of the surface. I thoroughly had a great time at this race and got to see some old friends I hadn’t raced with in quite a while and met some new people as well.
Again, I’d like to thank Pro-Line Racing for their support, and I look forward to the rest of the year. I would also like to thank Ryan Hatton of Ryno Racing for his support in my race efforts as well. Thanks to everyone and I look forward to the next one.
-Tyler Stephens
