IIC: Here's what else you missed

0 Oct. 22, 2014, 8:01 a.m.

10/22/2014
By Aaron Waldron

LiveRC.com

There's more that went down in Vegas last week than just a few days of great racing. Upon the racers' arrival to the Riviera on the Monday of each International Indoor Championship, they're greeted by a buffet that makes the drivers' meeting much more enjoyable. After the first rounds of practice are complete on Tuesday the racers are introduced the manufacturers that will be sponsoring and displaying at the event - along with an all-you-can-eat taco buffet complete with adult beverages that create the perfect atmosphere for mingling.

Also on Monday night, winners are awarded for the concourse competition that shows off the best looking vehicles at the race.

The stakes for the Concourse competition were raised when Tamiya announced that the winners would receive a TB-01 Ferrari Enzo kit for their efforts.

Lined up along the perimeter of the racetrack inside the ballroom at the Riviera were many of the race's main sponsors displaying their latest wares, creating a mini version of "the Strip."

The first year at IIC for Hobbico's top house brands couldn't have been timed better, especially with the new releases from Futaba.

The new 4PX not only made its way into the hands of a handful of A-main racers, and Futaba showed off new rpm, voltage, and temperature sensors that work seamlessly with the new receiver.

Three new high-voltage surface servos compliment the new radio system, featuring S.Bus2 technology that allows the servos to be programmed for deadband, transit speed, and end points.

Scotty Ernst chatted with Futaba's John Stokes:

Not only did Trakpower have their VR-1 charger on display:

But also a new TK955 soldering iron that features a digital temperature display.

Beside Muchmore Racing's Power Master World Edition II Evo power supplies and Cell Master Legend charger stood the new Hybrid Pro, an AC/DC battery management unit with built-in 12V power supply pumping out 24 amps capable of charging at 10A and powering other devices plugged into the unit's additional outputs.

Tamiya America's booth included their latest show-stopping TB-04 kits, the Raybrig NSX Concept GT and Eneos Sustina Lexus RC F.

Not only did Tamiya America's Fred Medel compete at IIC, but he checked in with Scotty Ernst for a chat:

ARC is one of the newest brands to step into the touring car scene. Not only did they have the largest team of drivers at IIC, including Singaporean sensation PY Tang, but their new 2015 edition of the R10 chassis as well. The biggest change of the new car is the rear ATS, or Active Toe system.

Willie Chung of Viper R/C Solutions, the North American distributor of ARC, talked with Scotty Ernst during the race weekend:

Hobbywing didn't have anything new to show off at IIC, but they didn't need to - their Xerun V3.1 has been one of the most popular speed controls in any class of racing lately. Hobbywing USA's Ron Schuur was on hand to help their team drivers, and received a visit from Scotty:

Bill Jeric's Tuning Haus had a nice display along the back straightaway, featuring four new options for the TC6.2 - aluminum CVA shafts, front and rear hubs, and a carbon fiber front bumper brace.

Bill also raced at the event, finishing in the C-Main for 1/12-Scale Stock and making the show in Formula 1. He took time out of his busy weekend to chat with Scotty:

For the fourth year in a row, PARMA/PSE had a booth at IIC with paint master Charlie Barnes slinging color trackside. Charlie will be starting an all-inclusive airbrush class at Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA. Stay tuned to LiveRC for details!

Ampdraw Hobbies from Encinitas, CA has been the official hobby shop for all ten years of the IIC. Emily DeJoode, the store's manager, says they receive a lot of on-roader business before and after the race each year in addition to a significant amount of foot traffic from interested spectators who happen to pass by the ball room!