This past weekend GLARCRC was host to the Novarossi Challenge which is usually held on the east coast, so this is the first time it's been out west. This was a race I wanted to do well at also was the the first major race for me with the OFNA X3-GT. I've had a handful of practice with the X3 but no qualifiers or long runs on the chassis. Friday was productive with finding the correct shock oil and tire shore to use for the weekend. The forecast predicted it to be hot all weekend. Qual one was late Friday and the track was cooling down I was on a decent run and made a few errors and mistakes that put me 3rd overall for the day. Saturday qual 2 I picked up the pace by a full lap along with the rest of the field. Qual 3 was in the heat of the day and again picked up the pace and improved my time along with taking the qualifier win. Qual 4 was important to me because I figured the main would be run in similar conditions. I had changed a few suspension angles and ride high and the X3 responded well. I was very confident and pleased with the performance. I ended up 4th overall. Sunday morning I checked every thing and made sure the car was ready to go. The weather started to change a few hours before we were scheduled to run the main. I decided to drop shore rating all the way around and boy did it pay off. I started the 45 minute main 4th and quickly found myself leading before the first fuel stop. I planned on going seven and a half minutes on a tank but ran out at the seven minute mark. That sent me back to fourth and I managed to fight my way back into the lead the within ten minutes and eventually took the win by five laps while cruising the last ten minutes. I'm very pleased with the reliability and durability of the X3-GT. I would like to thank Dave Starks for his excellent pit work, tuning and knowledge of set ups and everyone at OFNA for the support it's greatly appreciated.

Dj wins 2014 Hitec Trophy Chase Series with X3-e Sabre by DJ

Reported by Dj Sandate - The final Hitec series race concluded in Chula Vista at Heritage Rc Park over the weekend and I wanted to finish out the series with good races in nitro and electric X3's. My electric buggy has been pretty decent on the track and had the points lead going into the last race but only by a few points over Miguel Perez so I had to finish the race and keep the car together, the main had Miguel starting in front of me so I had to keep close and race him so he could make some mistakes and I could take over the lead, but we exchanged the lead a couple of times before Miguel got away as I felt like one of my batteries was going soft on punch and slowing down so I had to back of the pace and hopefully hold on to the lead. Miguel and I got way out in the race so when I paced back I managed the car with less braking and roll through the corners and finish the race in 2nd, it was enough to keep the points lead by 1 point and take the trophy. I was glad to hold off my buddy and former teammate so I can fill my trophy cup with a big bag of Skittles, yes my cup will have a good use beyond just being a self piece. Nitro was killer fun as I had my chance to take TQ in the 2nd round with my fresh engine all tuned up and a new set of the Pro-Line Holeshots, I was out fast and making ground on a back marker that just didn't get out of the way and I just got wiped out in a section where a marshal was not there and that cost me, OH well got the #2 starting position behind Brown. The main got off to a good start also as I stayed with John and raced with him but I knew I had to get out in front and make some distance because he was going to pit one less then I was, so for me getting a new engine in and taking far over the edge was not an option so push hard and hope to make the time, but that was the case and the track seemed to get really lose as it dried up and started to use up the tires so again I back off some of the pace to maintain my 2nd position since we got far out early. A couple of mistake by John got me back to him but was still not enough as his pit cycle was one less then mine, so I finished out the race in 2nd. Should have had better finishes in the other races but some bad maintenance and a couple of flame outs in races cost me so I think I finished 5th in the series, Oh Well till next time.

miguel and his day with his X3's by DJ

Had a great day of racing this weekend at Rd. 4 of the Grassroots Series. I TQ'd the electric race and ended up Qualifying 3rd in nitro. The Proline test track had an awesome layout thanks to Daniel Adams and Gerardo Gonzalez. Both My OFNA Racing X3 Sabre's were dialed!!! I was just fighting an engine problem in my nitro car. The mains were up and I was racing the Nitro buggy 1st. My confidence level was a little shaky at first as I was hoping I had resolved the engine issue I was having. I got off to a great start. Car was feeling good and no engine problems. I am coming in for my 1st fuel stop right behind Gerardo Gonzalez who was running in 2nd place. Jose Castelan pulls off an amazing fuel stop and gets me out of pit lane right behind Gerardo. Gerardo and I are battling the rest of the way and I ended up passing Gerardo with 3 min. left. I am comfortably in 2nd place coming into the last lap and low and behold I flame out!!!! and Gerardo was able to get by me. Jose Castelan gets me started up again and I was able to finish in 3rd place. My mains were back to back so now I am up for the electric main and I am feeling a little more confident as my X3 Sabre e was running perfect. I get off to a bad start and get bumped down to 3rd place. I battle back and am able to pass the 2nd place car and have my sights on 1st. Chris Austin from TLR was running a great race and I could not seem to catch up. I tried to stay smooth and keep an eye on Chris. Finally Chris makes a mistake and I was able to get right behind him on the last lap and it was basically a drag race to the finish. Chris was able to hold me off and I ended up in 2nd place. I would like to thank Jose Castelan for the amazing pit support and my sponsors: Ofna Racing, Vpprousa Racing, Nitro House, Team Novak, and Kalgard for all their support.

Miguel Perez takes win at HCRP with X3-e Sabre - 4/01/2014 by DJ

Reported by Dj Sandate - Well it was off to Chula Vista again for round 4 of the Hitec Series race. A few of my team members were going to be in attendance as well as my team manager D.J. from OFNA. The layout was going to have a few changes to it but not a total layout change so I was feeling confident with my chances of at least qualifying well. Qualifying got under way and I was up. I was running both Nitro & E 1/8 buggy. The track was a little rough but both my X3 Sabre's felt really good and I was able to qualify 2nd in Nitro and 4th in electric. I went back to the pit tables and gathered my thoughts to see what I can do to try and go a little faster.

It was time for the mains. The first class was E-buggy. I qualified in the 4th position just behind D.J. and I knew he was going to be hard to beat. The tone sounds and we were off. We came around the 1st corner and I go wide which was a bad idea and get taken out from behind and lost a lot of ground. I composed myself and just ran my race. I eventually started catching up to the leaders who were struggling with lapped traffic and end up getting by and leading the race. I kept it smooth and ended up finishing in 1st place. I had to go out and turn marshal the next race but I knew once that race was over I was up again in Nitro buggy so I was feeling pretty good with my win in E-Buggy and wanted to carry that over to Nitro buggy. The Nitro main came and I was up. I got the car out for the 3min practice and it was feeling good. I lined up in 2nd position for the 30 min main in anticipation for a good start. The tone sounds and we get underway. The leader and I broke away from the pack and are comfortably in front and in cruise control. Then drama hits!!! I come in for my first refuel and flame out!! I get re-started and drop down to the 7th position. I gathered myself and ran well for the rest of the race but could only make up 2 more positions finishing in the 5th spot. All in all it was a good day of racing. I want to thank my sponsor's: OFNA, VP-PRO and Kalguard lubricant's for all their support.

MARIO takes a win with H4 touring car. 3-23-14 by DJ

Reported by Dj Sandate - Joe and I headed over to Cal Raceway in Orange for some friendly club racing. It was about 90 degrees out that Sunday. Right off the bat my OFNA H4 Sedan felt hooked up. We were running Intermediate 17.5 stock sedan. It seems like everytime I run this car all I have to do is drop it on the track and drive, no matter what the conditions. The only decision I had to make would be what tires to run for the main. The program went so smooth that we had time for 3 qualifiers. I won all but 1 qualifier only because I was taken out and flipped over by a back-marker allowing second place to take away the TQ in the last round by 2 seconds. That last qual I had faster lap times than some of the 13.5 pro stock sedans.

So now I'm starting second in the main, but I'm not worried. All I needed was a smooth race. I knew my H4 was fast so I decide to be aggressive in the beginning. At the start, I punched it through the first turn after the straight and took the lead. I quickly pulled away and never looked back.

So H4's taking wins in Sportsman and Intermediate at Cal Raceway, good running from both guys, keep on racking them up.

Local racing for Joe and his H4 by DJ

Reported by DJ Sandate - Local driver Joe Pham has been taking his OFNA new H4 sedan out for some local club racing, a couple of practice visits first then getting it ready to do some racing. Going to Cal Raceway in Orange,Ca is his local track, in his second race with his H4 he managed to take Tq in his Sportsman class in 17.5 Touring and managed the win in the Main by taking the race with a 2 lap cushion, he said he really likes the car and turns good on and off power, it's predictable and easy to drive when pushing it. He mainly runs off-road but has been wanting to run some high speed racing so the H4 was his choice for that discipline.

Good job Joe looking to hear more about your racing with your H4 Touring car.