When the opening ceremonies for the 2013 IFMAR Electric Off-Road Worlds begin at 4:00 PM on Sunday afternoon at A Main Hobbies’ Silver Dollar RC Raceway in Chico, CA, all eyes will be on the most important radio controlled event of the year. It’s the fifteenth time that the fastest electric off-road racers on the planet will converge on one track for one full week of racing, with the highest honors in the hobby to be handed to those who can best navigate their 2WD and 4WD buggies around the track over the course of six grueling days of competition.
An overhead shot of Silver Dollar RC Raceway’s layout for the 2WD portion of the event. Though the overall design looks similar to the course for the ROAR Nationals last month many features are different. Photo: A Main Hobbies
The IFMAR Worlds is not only the most competitive event on the calendar, but the international aspect inspires patriotic rivalries among drivers from different countries that are as passionate as any battle between manufacturers – and that’s a hot button issue, too. A world championship is the biggest individual achievement a racer can earn, but is a valuable marketing tool for any brand who can say “our (insert product here) is the best in the world!” The history of electric off-road, the elite few drivers who have won, and the sheer number of racers and companies who compete in this arena make it among the most prestigious of any of the IFMAR-recognized races.
All eyes, of course, will be on double defending champion Ryan Cavalieri. The American Team Associated driver became just the third person ever to sweep both the 2WD and 4WD classes with a resounding performance in Finland in 2011, joining Germany’s Martin Achter (2009) and Japan’s Masami Hirosaka (1989) in RC racing’s most exclusive club. After being shut out at this year’s ROAR Nationals (also held at Silver Dollar RC Raceway) it will be interesting to see how the now four-time champion Cavalieri can cope with the pressure of having the crown on his head and a target on his back.
Want to keep up with the latest updates straight from the track? Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @RCCarAction, as we’ll be posting up-to-the-minute information all week long. You can also follow @AaronRCCA and @JoelRCCA, as they’ll be posting their opinions all week as well.
Stay connected with us on Facebook to keep up with race results, and watch for the coolest photos of the weekend on Instagram!
Schedule:
Sunday, 9/22 – 2WD Registration and Opening Ceremonies
Monday, 9/23 – 2WD Practice
Tuesday, 9/24 – 2WD Qualifying
Wednesday, 9/25 – Final round of 2WD Qualifying, 2WD Main Events
Thursday, 9/26 – Day off, track change, and 4WD Registration
Friday, 9/27 – 4WD Practice
Saturday, 9/28 – 4WD Qualifying
Sunday, 9/29 – Final round of 4WD Qualifying, 4WD Main Events, Evening Banquet and Awards Ceremony
Photo: A Main Hobbies
Electric Off-Road Worlds 101: A history lesson
In response to the segment’s surging popularity in the early 1980s, the International Federation of Model Auto Racing recognized the first World Championship for Electric Off-Road held at the Ranch Pit Shop in Pomona, CA in 1985. Since then,
1985 – Pomona, California, USA
2WD – Jay Halsey, USA (Team Associated RC10)
4WD – Gil Losi Jr., USA (Yokomo Dog Fighter YZ-834B)
1987 – Romsey, England
2WD – Joel Johnson, USA (Kyosho Ultima)
4WD – Masami Hirosaka, Japan (Schumacher CAT XL)
1989 – St. Ives, New South Wales, Australia
2WD – Masami Hirosaka, Japan (Team Associated RC10)
4WD – Masami Hirosaka, Japan (Yokomo Super Dog Fighter YZ-870C)
1991 – Detroit, Michigan, USA
2WD – Masami Hirosaka, Japan (Team Associated RC10)
4WD – Cliff Lett, USA (Yokomo Super Dog Fighter Works ’91)
1993 – Basildon, England
2WD – Brian Kinwald, USA (Team Associated RC10)
4WD – Masami Hirosaka, Japan (Yokomo Super Dog Fighter Works ’93)
1995 – Tsukuba City, Japan
2WD – Matt Francis, USA (Team Associated RC10B2)
4WD – Mark Pavidis, USA (Yokomo Super Dog Fighter YZ-10)
1997 – Pomona, California, USA
2WD – Brian Kinwald, USA (Team Losi XX-CR)
4WD – Masami Hirosaka, Japan (Yokomo Super Dog Fighter MX-4)
1999 – Rauma, Finland
2WD – Masami Hirosaka, Japan (Team Associated RC10B3)
4WD – Jukka Steenari, Finland (Team Losi XX-4)
2001 – Pretoria, South Africa
2WD – Matt Francis, USA (Team Losi XXX)
4WD – Jukka Steenari, Finland (Team Losi XX-4)
2003 – Largo, Florida, USA
2WD – Billy Easton, USA (Team Associated RC10B4)
4WD – Ryan Cavalieri, USA (Team Losi XXX-4)
2005 – Collegno, Italy
2WD – Neil Cragg, England (Team Associated RC10B4)
4WD – Ryan Cavalieri, USA (JConcepts BJ4)
2007 – Ishikawa, Japan
2WD – Hayato Matsuzaki, Japan (Team Associated RC10B4)
4WD – Jared Tebo, USA (Team Associated RC10B44)
2009 – Pretoria, South Africa
2WD – Martin Achter, Germany (Team Associated RC10B4)
4WD – Martin Achter, Germany (Team Durango DEX410)
2011 – Vaasa, Finland
2WD – Ryan Cavalieri, USA (Team Associated RC10B4.1)
4WD – Ryan Cavalieri, USA (Team Associated RC10B44.1)
Photo: A Main Hobbies
For those keeping score:
Overall Electric Off-Road World Championships:
Drivers:
Masami Hirosaka – 7
Ryan Cavalieri – 4
Brian Kinwald – 2
Matt Francis – 2
Jukka Steenari – 2
Martin Achter – 2
Jay Halsey – 1
Gil Losi, Jr. – 1
Joel Johnson – 1
Cliff Lett – 1
Mark Pavidis – 1
Billy Easton – 1
Neil Cragg – 1
Hayato Matsuzaki – 1
Jared Tebo – 1
Countries:
USA – 15
Japan – 8
Finland – 2
Germany – 2
England – 1
Manufacturers:
Team Associated – 13
Yokomo – 6
Team Losi Racing – 5
Kyosho – 1
Schumacher – 1
JConcepts – 1
Durango – 1
Photo: A Main Hobbies
By Class:
2WD
Drivers:
Masami Hirosaka – 3
Brian Kinwald – 2
Matt Francis – 2
Jay Halsey – 1
Joel Johnson – 1
Billy Easton – 1
Hayato Matsuzaki – 1
Martin Achter – 1
Ryan Cavalieri – 1
Countries:
USA – 8
Japan – 4
England – 1
Germany – 1
Chassis:
Team Associated – 11
Team Losi Racing – 2
Kyosho – 1
4WD
Drivers:
Masami Hirosaka – 4
Ryan Cavalieri – 3
Jukka Steenari – 2
Gil Losi Jr. – 1
Cliff Lett – 1
Mark Pavidis – 1
Jared Tebo – 1
Martin Achter – 1
Countries:
USA – 7
Japan – 4
Finland – 2
Germany – 1
Chassis:
Yokomo – 6
Team Losi Racing – 3
Team Associated – 2
Schumacher – 1
JConcepts – 1
Team Durango – 1
Don’t miss a minute of racing action at this year’s biggest race. Stay tuned to RCCarAction.com all week long as Aaron Waldron and Joel Navarro bring you the biggest stories and hottest news straight from the track!
Photo: A Main Hobbies
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