FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Former winners of the Reedy Race of Champions

0 Jan. 18, 2018, 4:05 p.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

Everybody knows that Friday is meant for reminiscing old times. Each week we take you back in time as we flashback to some of R/C racing's greatest moments, products, drivers, and more!

Flashback: 1987

Former winners of the Reedy International Off-Road Race of Champions

Mike Reedy, the founder of Team Associated's electric motor division called Reedy Modifieds, started the event that bears his name as a birthday party all the way back in 1987; he invited the top off-road drivers in the world to compete in a series of heads-up races with 2WD and 4WD buggies with each driver's finishes added together to determine the overall winner. The unique format makes for incredibly exciting action, and rewards consistency and racecraft above all-out speed (though that certainly helps). As electric off-road racing declined at the turn of the millennium, the Reedy Race was held in 2001 using 2WD buggies and stadium trucks before taking a brief hiatus; a pilot event was held in Japan in 2009 to gauge international interest for a reboot, and the race came roaring back to life in 2011. As you might imagine, the list of the drivers who've won this coveted title reads as a hall-of-fame with some of the most well-known racers in our industry's history.

Here's a list of every driver who has won the Invitational competition:

YearDriverCountryHost Track2WD4WD1987Chris AllecUSAHot Trax - Huntington Beach, CAKyoshoSchumacher1988Kris MooreUSAHot Trax - Huntington Beach, CAKyoshoKyosho1989Cliff LettUSARadio Controlled Hobbies - Costa Mesa, CATeam AssociatedYokomo1990Cliff LettUSARadio Controlled Hobbies - Costa Mesa, CATeam AssociatedYokomo1991Masami HirosakaJapanRadio Controlled Hobbies - Costa Mesa, CATeam AssociatedYokomo1992Rick HohwartUSARadio Controlled Hobbies - Costa Mesa, CATeam AssociatedYokomo1993Masami HirosakaJapanHobby Haven - Livermore, CATeam AssociatedYokomo1994Jeremy KortzUSARC Offroad Raceway - Fountain Valley, CATeam Losi RacingYokomo1995Greg HodappUSAM&M Hobbies - Corona, CATeam Losi RacingYokomo1996Mark FrancisUSASoCal Raceway - Garden Grove, CATeam AssociatedYokomo1997Mark PavidisUSAM&M Hobbies - Corona, CATeam AssociatedYokomo1998Brian KinwaldUSAM&M Hobbies - Corona, CATeam Losi RacingTeam Losi Racing1999Mark PavidisUSAM&M Hobbies - Corona, CATeam AssociatedYokomo2000Brian KinwaldUSAM&M Hobbies - Corona, CATeam Losi RacingTeam Losi Racing2001*Billy EastonUSAHot Rod Hobbies - Saugus, CATeam AssociatedTeam Associated2009Ryan CavalieriUSAYatabe Arena - Tsukuba, Ibraki, JapanTeam AssociatedTeam Associated2011Dustin EvansUSAWest Coast RC Raceway - La Mirada, CATeam Losi RacingTeam Losi Racing2012Jörn NeumannGermanyWest Coast RC Raceway - La Mirada, CATeam DurangoTeam Durango2013Ryan CavalieriUSAWest Coast RC Raceway - La Mirada, CATeam AssociatedTeam Associated2014Ryan CavalieriUSAOCRC Raceway - Huntington Beach, CATeam AssociatedTeam Associated2015Ryan MaifieldUSAOCRC Raceway - Huntington Beach, CATeam Losi RacingTeam Losi Racing2016Dakotah PhendUSAOCRC Raceway - Huntington Beach, CATeam Losi RacingTeam Losi Racing2017Ryan CavalieriUSAOCRC Raceway - Huntington Beach, CATeam AssociatedTeam Associated

In addition to the drivers taking part in the Invitational, the Open class gives entrants a chance for a breakthrough victory on an international stage - as well as the opportunity to earn a ticket to the Invitational the following year by winning either the Open 2WD or 4WD classes. Here are the Open winners since the re-boot in 2011:

YearClassDriverVehicle20112WDShaun DunlapKyosho 4WDTanner DenneyTeam Associated 20122WDChad DueTeam Associated 4WDJosh NumanTeam Associated 20132WDCarson WernimontTeam Durango 4WDRob Gillespie, Jr.Team Associated 20142WDJP RichardsTeam Losi Racing 4WDSpencer RivkinTeam Associated 20152WDKevin MotterTeam Losi Racing 4WDKyle McBrideTeam Associated 20162WDJoona HaatanenTeam Associated 4WDAlex KosciuszekTeam Associated 20172WDBrent ThielkeTeam Associated 4WDBroc ChamplinTeam Associated

Flashback Friday

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