Byron Fuel On-Road Nitro Challenge online coverage

PeterV · #1 07-06-2007, 06:43 PM

I'm in Joliet IL getting ready for a hot weekend of racing (literally: it's supposed to be in the mid-90s) at the 3rd annual Byron Fuel On-Road Nitro Challenge. I just got my gear unpacked and plan to drive over to host track Leisure Hours Raceway to post pics of the course, but if you just can't wait, click over to the track's website: http://www.leisurehoursraceway.com/

You can also find track vids on YouTube. I'll be back...

fastharry · #2 07-06-2007, 08:31 PM

let us know how many racers are using the vantage carbon graphite car stand......(J/K.....

)

have a great time!!!!...

let us know whats going on with the NT1/720 battles.....

PeterV · #3 07-07-2007, 04:27 PM

Leisure’s facility is first-rate all the way, including the sky-high, rock-steady drivers’ stand.

The only thing small about Leisure is the sign!

The track is a thing of beauty with its painted infield, billiard-table pavement and full perimeter retaining wall. Few tracks are as pretty and professional as this.

Do a 180 on the drivers’ stand and you’re greeted by Leisure’s off-road track.

It gets even better: there’s also an indoor off-road track! Leisure runs 1/8 off-road year-round.

Parma’s Paul Ciccarello was a front-runner last year and looks just as fast with his Mugen MRX-4 this year.

Mugen’s Drew Ellis. I gotta hang out with this guy.

Mike Swauger dominated the Byron race last year, and you can bet he’ll be tearing it up this year.

TQ pace for 1/10 sedan was 35 laps until Mike Swauger hit the track with his MTX4 and put in a devastating 38 lap run.

Mike Swauger's Mugen lifts a wheel as it digs in. These cars are flying!

Punt!

OFNA's Jeffrey Lin is in town and fast with Picco power

davec-nitro-rs4 · #4 07-08-2007, 01:15 PM

95 degrees today! Traction should be tough!

Too hot for me to even go watch!

Leisure Hours is The Place, and Bernie is The Man!

MattHiggins · #5 07-09-2007, 11:45 AM

95 degree!

davec-nitro-rs4 · #6 07-10-2007, 12:24 PM

Any more news, results, photos?

PeterV · #7 07-10-2007, 03:02 PM

The lucky roll!

PeterV · #8 07-10-2007, 03:30 PM

Eight-scale winner Aaron Alexander takes a victory swig. he took over the lead with his Novarossi-powered Mugen MRX4 when Mike Swauger broke late in the race. Parma's Paul Ciccarello took second with a Mugen, and Kyosho's Steve Smith took third place with his Kyosho Evolva.

Mike Swauger was the big winner in sedan, with OFNA's Jeffrey Lin and Mugen racer Nick Smrt in tow.

PeterV · #9 07-10-2007, 04:22 PM

The many race-faces of Mike Swauger. You'd think the intense-looking shot would be from the Main, but I snapped the pic during qualifying. Can you guess Mike's tire sponsor?

PeterV · #10 07-10-2007, 04:25 PM

Chris Doseck's XRAY NT1 sets up for another pass

PeterV · #11 07-10-2007, 04:27 PM

Harry Hananouchi gets his wrench on as he tries to repair Mike Swauger's wounded MRX4. One of the clutch's flyweights detonated, sidelining the car on lap 208 with 8 minutes to go.

PeterV · #12 07-10-2007, 04:29 PM

Team Kyosho's Steve Smith (left) and Aaron Buran both made the A-Main, finishing third and sixth respectively.

PeterV · #13 07-10-2007, 04:31 PM

The Kawahara bodywork of Mike Swauger's Mugen got a little rumpled after a few hard crashes during the Main.

PeterV · #14 07-10-2007, 04:33 PM

Expect to see a lot more guys in this group shot next year! The Byron Challenge and Leisure Hours raceway are a great combo.

PeterV · #15 07-10-2007, 04:52 PM

Track operator Bernie Hoogstra congratulates Aaron Alexander on his win.

PeterV · #16 07-10-2007, 04:59 PM

Racing is a family affair for Loran Whiting, lil' bro Foster and dad Jeff. Loran is fast! Foster didn't race, but he did rock a Nintendo DS and ate hot dogs.

PeterV · #17 07-10-2007, 05:01 PM

Leatherneck Gary Andersen had the best-looking car on the track. Hoo-rah!

PeterV · #18 07-10-2007, 05:03 PM

The Byron Fuels squad

Team XRAY's Drew Ellis, Tom Esposito, and Chris Doseck

Team Mugen

davec-nitro-rs4 · #19 07-11-2007, 11:33 AM

Did Swauger pick up GRP as a sponsor at that event? The first shots of his car don't have that GIANGANTIC GRP decal on it.

Looks like JGO will be painting him up some new shells soon!

Mike didn't have his cars decaled up for qualifying, only for the Main. --Pete

Prelude14WRX · #20 07-11-2007, 03:36 PM

Way to go Nick Smrt. He taught me a lot and helped me with my driving when I was really starting to get into electric touring cars.

davec-nitro-rs4 · #21 07-11-2007, 03:40 PM

He won it last year, didn't he?

Laterilus · #22 07-12-2007, 12:26 AM

Did Drew Ellis change chassis sponsors mid race?! First you have him pictured with this caption,"Mugen’s Drew Ellis. I gotta hang out with this guy", then you have him pictured with Team X-ray (his sponsor for the past few years) with this caption,"Team XRAY's Drew Ellis, Tom Esposito, and Chris Doseck", and lastly he shows up in the Team Mugen picture. Just curious, what is the story here?

thunderbt3 · #23 07-12-2007, 09:03 AM

Ellis drove the Xray NT1 during the sedan A-main, he is sponsored by RCAmerica/Xray. He drive the MRX4R for 1/8 scale since Xray does not have a 1/8 onroad car. For that, he is sponsored by Mugen

thunderbt3 · #24 07-12-2007, 09:04 AM

Same story with Doseck

Prelude14WRX · #25 07-12-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davec-nitro-rs4

He won it last year, didn't he?

yup, back when IRP was still there