Position

Name

Round 4 score

1

Adam Drake

14/10m 15.83

2

Mike Truhe

14/10m 16.40

3

Taylor James

14/10m 19.00

4

Graham Alsop

14/10m 20.47

5

Miguel Matias

14/10m 25.95

6

Neil Cragg

14/10m 26.46

7

Yannick Aigoin

14/10m 26.50

8

Jerome Sartel

14/10m 28.50

9

Jerome Aigoin

14/10m 28.51

10

Davide Tortorici

14/10m 29.55

Interview with Jon Hazlewood / Team Losi

Jon Hazlewood
Age: 29
Country: UK
Car: Losi
Tyres: proline
Engine: OS
Fuel: Byron
Sponsors: Losi, Horizon, OS, Byron, Spektrum, Paint by Wez, Top Options, SMD, ACE.
How long have you raced r/c? 13 years.
First r/c car: BMT

Did you attend a neo race before and what do you think of this one?
Yes I've attended all of them so far, and the neo08 has been the best one yet.

What is your favourite feature of the track and what do you find the most challenging section?
My favourite part is the big jump section, the most challenging part is the raised section down the right hand side.

What do you think about the quality of the drivers at this event?
Awesome!

Which class do you predominantly race, and what do you like most about that class? How many different classes do you race in total?
I race all 8th scale, buggy and truggy. My favourite track in the UK is Slough.

Who is your all time favourite r/c driver?
Jamie Booth.

Do you like pie?
Yeah, I like plenty of pie! Favourite fruit pie is apple pie.

What racing achievement are you the post proud of, and what do you aspire to achieve in the next 25 years?
I'm most proud of winning the semi final at the worlds. My aim for the next 25 years ohh, to stay alive would be good! (Stu - is that in a BeeGees style?)
Yeah, Beegees style.

What's the oldest model car that you own?
Probably my Kyosho that I won the British Championships with in 2004.

What is your dream car?
An Audi R8!

what is your all time favourite track, and why?
Reims in France, it's so fast, and a very flowing track.

Who would you like to see make a return to racing?
Ohh that's a tough one, I think that pretty much everyone that I started racing with is still at it. I'd like to see Duggan return to racing, I've heard all the stories, Ii want to see it in the flesh.

You've recently moved to the Losi team, what attracted you to the team, and how are you finding adapting to the new drive?
This is my first big race with the Losi team. I was attracted to the team because it is the best car on the market. I'm adapting well to the car but I definitely need more track time with it. I turn to John my pit man for any help or advice with the car.

Do you like racing indoors like this or would you prefer to be racing outside in the snow?
In the snow, definitely, snow is good!

Do you prefer traditional British ale, or lager?
Lager.

What do you think is the answer for world peace?
Everyone should race toy cars!

Phil from neobuggy had very kindly been lending the oople team a TMobile broadband adaptor so we could upload the report during the day - but it decided to stop working on sunday morning and we were left without internet access. Still - it's not all bad, McDonalds is only 10 minutes away and has free broadband, but it means we'll not be able to update the report quite as often.

Less than 10 seconds seperated the top ten in the final round (5) of qualifying, with Lee Martin coming out on top on 14 Laps / 10 Minutes 5.80 seconds. Adam Drake came in less than a second later with Neil Cragg a couple of seconds further back in 3rd in round.

Above: Lee Martin took his Associated RC8 round to win the fifth and final qualifier.

1/10th off road European Champion Hupo Honigl is here from Austria, racing the new LRP 8th scale buggy. This is Hupos first time on dirt with the buggy and only second time racing it ever, but it seems to be going quite well.

The buggy features an unusual rear suspension arrangement with what look like semi-trailing rear arms.

Hupo is also using Losi shocks on the buggy - but says LRP will bring out some large bore shocks similar to the Losi items later for this buggy.

Stu Evans of the oOple danceTEAM moved from Proline Crimefighters to Bowties which have a slightly rounder profile and different shaped block and said the difference was "like night and day - like black and white - like cheese and carrots" (that last one was a bit random - awesome).

Earlier on Stu had been 'skating around like a total maniac' but the bowties enabled him to get round the track. Thanks Stu! :)

Interview with Greg Degani / Z-Car

Name: Greg Degani
Age: 31
Country: USA

Car: Z-Car
Engine: RB
Fuel: Sidewinder
Sponsors: Z-Car technology, RB Concepts, Sidewinder Fuel, Pro-Line, HT Batteries, TOE racing.
How long have you raced r/c? 15 Years
First R/C car: Nikko.

You attended the Neo Event last year, welcome back to England, I see our cheerful weather didn't scare you off. What do you think so far of the current neo race?
It's going very well so far.

What is your favourite feature of the track and what would you change if you could?
The track is consistent, marshalling could be improved.

What do you think to the organisation ad the quality of drivers at this event?
Good organisation and good drivers.

Do you race any other classes, which is your favourite?
Not any more, I just race 8th buggy now. I used to race electric, mostly touring cars and stadium trucks, and some electric buggy – I used to drive for Associated and Kyosho.

Which is your all time favourite track anywhere in the world?
Ohh that's a good question, very good question. I'd probably say the track in South America where I won the worlds in 2002-2004.

Rumour in the pits is that you've recently signed up with TOE racing, a new name on the R/C market. What products have you received so far?
I've received a sticker and a cadburys crème egg. How did you know about the toe racing thing?
What do you mean, it's a new company on the scene...
It's actually a cooincidence, because when I was younger I had a really gnarly ingrowing toenail (sorry, no pics) and my nickname was 'The Toe'. So when I was offered products from the TOEracing guys I just couldn't refuse.

When you are wrenching on your car, do you like to listen to music, watch tv, or have no distiractions at all?
No, i like no distractions.

Other than R?C racing, what hobbies do you have?
I like to play poker!

Do you get much chance to practice at club meetings, or is it mostly large events that you attend?
Yeah I get chance to practice at club meetings a few times a month, I race at the Revelation raceway in LA, and the KZ Speedway in LA.

What is your favourite pie? American pie 1,2 or 3?
I guess probably the first one.

We are racing at a farming college, how do you rate your chances at the worlds this year at the 'farm 2' track in North Carolina? Do you think that having had practice racing on a farm this weekend will have adequately prepared you for racing at the worlds?
No, I don't think that racing here is adequate preparation, the track is completely different. I'd be happy to make the A-main at the world championships, it's going to be tough competition.

Are there any drivers who will attend the worlds that aren't present at this event, whom you consider to be tough competition?
Tebo and Pavidis probably.

Have you encountered any farm animals during your stay here and if you could be any farm animal, what would you choose to be?
I've seen some sheep whilst driving here, but haven't run any over. Oh man, I'd probably be a horse so I could be fast.

What is the strangest question that you have ever been asked in an interview?
What farm animal would I want to be?

Do you get stopped in the street and asked for your autograph? (beware of fraudsters and identity theft).
Away from racing? Nah, I wouldn't go that far. R/C racing isn't that big.

If you could be a racing tool, what would you be and why?
Maybe a caliper, because they're precise.

Can you sing, whats your favourite song & Do you do karaoke?
No, no I can't sing and I hate karaoke. My favourite song would be Van Halen, Hotford Teacher.

Have you ever tried proper English beer, the dark stuff with a frothy head?
Nah I've never tried it, I don't really drink beer, I drink soda.

Is there anything that you'd really like to achieve in the coming year?
Getting into the A main at the worlds would be a great achievement.

Any other comments to add to the interview?
You guys are crazy. Crazy British folk.

Richard 'Tricky" Taylor (2007 10th off road Euros TQ and all round legend) is here piloting his Losi 8ight. Richard is using a new not-yet-released LRP engine and likes to show off his new paint scheme (red and grey, says Stu)

Frederick Bentler from Denmark tried a Cadburys Creme Egg courtesy of the oOple team - he LOVED IT

Adam Drake didn't get a creme egg, but he is doing rather well at this event.

The fifth and final round of qualifying ended at 4pm and the first of the finals was scheduled to be on the line at 4 - so things had run slightly behind schedule.

Ryan Maifield had some engine trouble and in the final round had some glitching, so hasn't done as well as he'd hoped, laying in 12th overall after the 5th round of qualifying.

No driver has dominated here, with a different TQ in every round of qualifying - It's anybodys race! Adam Drake was the most consistent though, and with his win in round four, and another 2nd place in the final round he's the Top Qualifier here, just 1 point ahead of Mike Truhe with Darren Bloomfield a couple of points back. Adam still has to work for it however, and unlike the previous event won't automatically sit atop the A Main - instead having to bump up from the semis.

Joern Neuman, the winner of the Proline event here last year hasn't had a great time so far and lays in 24th - but still, everything is to play for yet.

1

Adam Drake

626 [208:2 (207:3) (203:7) 210:1 208:2]

2

Mike Truhe

625 [207:3 210:1 (15:195) 208:2 (194:16)]

3

Darren Bloomfield

623 [(203:7) 208:2 210:1 (191:19) 205:5]

4

Taylor James

619 [(205:5) 206:4 206:4 207:3 (202:8)]

5

Lee Martin

619 [201:9 (0:0) 208:2 (20:190) 210:1]

6

Neil Cragg

616 [204:6 (187:23) 205:5 (204:6) 207:3]

7

Richard Saxton

616 [206:4 204:6 (184:26) (193:17) 206:4]

8

Miguel Matias

614 [(184:26) 205:5 (182:28) 205:5 204:6]

9

Graham Alsop

609 [202:8 (201:9) 201:9 206:4 (191:19)]

10

Borja Hernandez Cordoba

606 [196:14 203:7 207:3 (194:16) (190:20)]

11

Yannick Aigoin

605 [199:11 (0:0) (197:13) 203:7 203:7]

12

Ryan Maifield

605 [210:1 191:19 204:6 (23:187) (89:121)]

13

Daniel Vega

599 [200:10 197:13 202:8 (55:155) (193:17)]

14

Jerome Sartel

599 [(192:18) 200:10 (192:18) 201:9 198:12]

15

Robert Batlle

596 [(189:21) 202:8 199:11 (188:22) 195:15]

16

Kevin Brunsden

594 [(157:53) (178:32) 196:14 198:12 200:10]

17

Davide Tortorici

592 [(190:20) 199:11 194:16 199:11 (192:18)]

18

Greg Degani

592 [(188:22) 195:15 (178:32) 196:14 201:9]

19

Elliot Boots

589 [197:13 192:18 200:10 (175:35) (36:174)]

20

Chad Bradley

587 [194:16 196:14 (168:42) 197:13 (189:21)]

21

Simon Willetts

583 [198:12 (185:25) (174:36) 189:21 196:14]

The Danish Xray team of Frederick Bentler and Claus Nielsen have come over for this years Neo event. The guys are running the latest available cars but should be changing over to the new '808' car around mid april when released.

Interview with Tommy Cheung / Kyosho

Is this the first Neo event that you've been to?
I've raced at Harper Adams twice before, once at the neoinvitational in 2006, and at a previous proline event.

Have you ever raced electric, or considered racing electric?
Yes, touring cars and buggies, but not at national level. It was a long time ago, the B3 was my last electric buggy.
i started off racing 8th nitro and always found it to my best path,

When did you first start racing, and what was the first track that you ever raced on?
Started when I was about 13 in 1984. I think it would be Goring, now known as remote world, Slough

Which is your favourite track to race?
I would say Slough.

What racing result are you the most proud of?
I think my best result was 1991 when i came 2nd at the Euros in France. (Jimmy - Legend!)

What hobbies do you enjoy when you're not racing?
Eating.

And what is your favourite food?
That would be cakes. Anything cake related, and sweet.

What was the first r/c car that you ever owned?
It was the Tamiya Bigwig.

On weekends when you aren't racing, what other hobbies do you have (apart from eating)?
I suppose staying at home with my girlfriend.

What is your full time occupation?
I run the model shop – Europe and Asia models in maidenhead. My family moved over from Hong Kong in the 1960s and already owned the shop, so I've carried on the business.

What is the craziest thing that you've ever done, that you don't mind telling us or being published on the internet?
I once put a drivers car down facing the wrong way for his final! So when all the other cars set off his went the wrong way, and everyone was shouting to me.

What classes do you race?
8th buggy, 8th truggy.

What do you think is the best invention ever?
Microwave, I use it so much now.

What is your favourite TV program or film?
Airplane.

if you got really cold in winter, would you wear a vest or suffer being cold?
I'd suffer being cold.

if you could be any racing tool, what would you be?
Any racing tool... the original Hudy driver, I think it's the first tool that everyone has copied now.

Have you ever climbed any mountains?
No, I'm not fit enough for that

What's your favourite place that you've ever been on holiday?
Hong Kong, there are no beaches or anything, it's really nice there.

Some action from the 1024 B final

Interview with Adam Drake

Welcome back to England to defend your neo title, you pretty much dominated the last event, however the cometition has clearly been tough this weekend with 5 different drivers TQing each round. Do you have any tactics planned for the finals?
Yeah, I'm just going to try and stay in a good position and go steady for most of the final, it'll be 60 minutes long so I need to try to stay near the front then at the end I can give it a shot.

What do you think of the track this time around? Is there anything you would change about it?
The track is excellent, it isn't as technical in terms of jumps but it is more technical on the turns, and I think that is why there has been a different TQ in each round.

How are you finding marshalling the track, do you ever feel frightened by the randomn driving in heat 1?
Yeah it can be a bit crazy, some of the marshal spots are very crazy. I'm glad I didn't have Mike Truhes marshal spot, it was a bit mad there with cars jumping across onto the straight.

Do you prefer cakes, or cookies, and which is your favourite?
I prefer cookies, chocolate chip, soft in the centre.

You've changed your sponsors from the last event, from Trinity to GRP for engines, and to Losi fuel. What inspired your change, and has it been easy to adapt to?
The biggest influence was probably the unbelievable support from GRP, both on and off the track. Also their willingness to listen to constructive feedback and improve the products.
It was a very quick and easy move to make, the power and reliability is very good. I'm still learning about fine tuning my engine, but yeah in all it's been a very swift move.

No doubt you'll be attending the World Championships in North Carolina this year, is it a track that you've raced at many times before, and what do you think will be the biggest challenge?
I think the biggest challenge is undoubtedly going to be the weather, for everyone there. Around September in North Carolina it can pretty much rain at any time, if it rains the track is very slick, if it's hot and dry the track tends to be dusty but with loads of grip.

What was your first ever car?
Tamiya Hotshot?

Do you still race electric?
No, I spend so much time racing gas that I don't get any time to race electric any more.

Do you keep all your old cars?
I do have a collection of some of my old cars, I have about 12 in my garage.

Since we met at the last neo event, have you achieved anything in particular that you are especially proud of?
Yeah, definitely. I won the ROAR national championships, that's a huge achievement. I'd never won the ROAR before, and that's like the real one, that's really important.

Aside from r/c racing, when you get chance, what other hobbies do you have?
I like ten pin bowling, and hanging out with my girlfriend.

What is your favourite flavour pie?
Cherry pie, with cream.

If you were buying some beer, would you choose something from the US or from Europe?
I'd probably choose something from Europe just to try something new. I have tried the traditional style beer, but I prefer a light beer.

Some other drivers have mentioned that one benefit of the nitro racing is the additional track time, however it appears to me that you spend a long time in between rounds waiting for the next race. Do you feel as though you get a lot of track time, and do you ever get bored in between races?
For the drivers who make the top finals you get more track time because the finals are longer. I don't get bored in between races as I usually prepare my car for the next race, mount tyres and stuff like that.

Do you have any further comments that you'd like to add to this interview?
I'd just like to thank everyone at Losi and GRP for all their support and I hope to have a good final tomorrow.
Thank you for your time, and good luck.

Some action from the 512 A final