This past weekend marked the return of the Hobby Haven Off-Road Shootout in Urbandale, IA. This event ran annually from 1999-2014, and this year’s event was back after a eight year hiatus.
During that eight year period a lot had changed in the RC industry. Mid-motor vehicles are the standard design now. Many 1/10 electric off-road events are now found indoors and held on high traction dirt or carpet surfaces. So in 2022 holding a 1/10 electric off-road race outdoors on a dirt surface without any special additives and using tires with pins is like taking a trip back in time!
Leading up to the event JConcepts team drivers Mack Vanderbeek and Chad Karstens put in a lot of hours working on the fresh layout and getting it ready for the race weekend. On Wednesday the track was hit with several inches of rain and it looked like the event could get delayed or possibly canceled all together. But thanks to better weather, and some peat moss for wet spots on the track, everything was good to go by the time the race started!
The track layout featured a long straight away that curved left into a sweeper. Then there was a single jump then a small roller.
Turning right off that roller you hit the most complicated portion of the track that was dubbed the “five pack”.
In the stock classes the preferred line was a double-single-double while in the modified classes the best line was a triple-double. But, one mistake in this section would cost you valuable time since it was hard for the marshals to run out and flip your vehicle back over.
Coming out of the “five pack” was a table top that you would roll down and then turn 180 into a double. Coming out of the double was a small a chicane then another 180 turn around a tree (yes, you read that right).
The heavy rains a few days prior actually benefited the racers as the track held together and didn’t break apart on the surface.
Between classes marshals would broom off certain areas of the track, and between rounds some water was applied to keep the track surface fast and consistent.
It didn’t take long for a groove to form so many of the team drivers switched over from Double Dees V2 to Sprinters and the new ReHabs.
There were 10 different classes to compete in and the race brought in 135 entries. The race program called for controlled practice on Friday night from 6-9:00 pm. Drivers could only run laps on the track when the class they were competing in was in session, so getting your vehicle dialed in for your limited practice runs was very critical.
On Saturday controlled practice was held from 8-9:00 am, followed by a brief driver’s meeting at 9:30 am. After that had completed a round of seeding began just shy of 10:00 am. Each seeding heat was four minutes long, and a driver’s best three consecutive laps were used to determine where they started for round one of qualifying. By doing this it would take care of any issues with transponders ahead of time, and also place drivers together that were on the same pace already. Shortly before 12:30pm the first round of qualifying began.
There were three rounds of qualifying and only a driver’s best two finishes were used to determine where they started on Sunday for the mains.
The top eight drivers were automatically locked in the seven minute long A Mains, and the number nine and ten drivers would bump up from the B Main for a total of 10 cars in every A Main.
Each lower main ran for five minutes, and some of the larger classes like 17.5 2wd Buggy (25 entries) and Spec Slash (22 entries) even ran C Mains.
The last round of qualifying was complete just past 8:30pm that night, and the JConcepts race team was able to capture five TQs in total!
- 17.5 2wd Buggy = Chad Rubenking
- Mod 2wd Buggy = Mason Fuller
- Mod 4wd Buggy = Drew Rubenking
- 40+ Mod 2wd Buggy = David Fast
- 13.5 SCT (Short Course Truck) = Chilly Duncan
Sunday was main day and the event was scheduled to begin at 9am sharp with no practice sessions. Unfortunately, the rains moved in and the race was delayed till 1pm.
Thankfully due the generosity of the many race sponsors there were several door prizes to hand out to the racers as they waited for the track to dry.
Each driver received one ticket for every class they signed up for, and it took over an hour to give everything away!
So the wait time flew by very quickly as drivers walked away with some great items!
When racing resumed there were many close battles on the track which included several of the lower mains as drivers battled for the final two bump spots. Let’s see how the team performed starting with the premiere class, Mod 2wd Buggy.
Team driver Mason Fuller is probably known more for his successful 1/8 off-road program, but years ago he got his start in competitive off-road racing at this very same event. He was back to compete once again in the Mod 2wd Buggy class, and he would take the win as he lead the field for the entire race! Joining him on the podium to complete the JConcepts sweep was fellow team drivers Alex Vanderbeek (2nd) and Drew Rubenking (3rd)!
Winning JConcepts products:
- Green compound Rips in the front
- Green compound ReHabs in the rear
- F2 body
- Dirt-Tech inserts
In the Mod 4wd Buggy class team drivers Alex Vanderbeek and Drew Rubenking would find their way back to the podium. During qualifying these two drivers battled it out as Drew was able to TQ round one and three while Alex bested him in round two. In the A Main, Drew would lead the field for one lap before a mistake in the “five pack” would drop him back to 4th place. Alex then took over the lead and never let it go as he crossed the finish line in first place! Drew would make his way back up to 2nd, and rounding out the podium for another JConcepts sweep was Alex’s younger brother and team driver, Owen Vanderbeek!
Winning JConcepts products:
- Green compound Double Dees V2 in the front
- Black compound 3Ds in the rear
- F2 body
- Mono Wheels
- Dirt-Tech inserts
In the 40+ Mod 2wd Buggy class team driver David Fast would lead the field for four laps before a bobble on the double on the backside of the track allowed fellow JC driver Mack Vanderbeek to take over the lead. Mack would go on to take the overall win with David finishing 2nd, and team driver Mike Sanders finishing in 3rd for yet another JConcepts podium sweep!
Winning JConcepts products:
- Green compound Groovy in the front
- Green compound Sprinters in the rear
- Mono wheels
- Dirt-Tech inserts
The 13.5 Stadium Truck class was the 3rd largest class of the weekend with 17 entries. On lap two of the A Main the leader would make a mistake coming off the table top, but team drivers Lee Conley Jr. and Chilly Duncan couldn’t capitalize on the mistake as they got tangled up. The turn marshal raced to fix them as the field started to pass by. On lap six the leader would make a mistake in the chicane section, and this time Lee was ready to pounce on him. Lee would go on to lead the final 17 laps of the race to take the W, and joining him on the podium in 2nd was Chilly!
Winning JConcepts products:
- Green compound Sprinters in the front and rear
- Finnisher body
- Dirt-Tech inserts
In the 13.5 4wd Buggy class team driver Chad Rubenking was able to get around the leader on the first lap after starting 2nd on the grid. He would continue to lead the rest of the race with the top qualifier on his tail, but he never gave back the lead as he crossed the finish line in 1st place! Joining him on the podium in 3rd place was fellow JConcepts driver Carter Larson!
Winning JConcepts products:
- Green compound Sprinters in the front and rear
- F2 body
- Mono wheels
- Dirt-Tech inserts
Chad was also the TQ for the 17.5 2wd Buggy class and started on the pole for the seven minute A Main. He would lead the pack for two laps before a mistake on the backside double would require him to get marshaled and dropped him back to 5th place. His fellow JConcepts driver Bradley Peterson would take over the lead followed closely by Sanders. Bradley would continue to lead the race as Chad finally made his away round Mike to bounce back up to 2nd place. Time would expire with Bradley taking the win followed by Chad (2nd) and Mike (3rd) to lock in yet another JConcepts podium sweep!
Winning JConcepts products:
- Green compound Rips in the front
- Green compound Double Dees V2 in the rear
- F2 body
- Mono wheels
- Aero S-Type 6.5″ Rear Wing
- Dirt-Tech inserts
In the 13.5 SCT class JConcepts driver Chilly Duncan led the charge for the team as he locked up the top qualifier position after two rounds! In the main event he would lead the pack for one lap before a bobble heading into the ‘five pack” caused him to drop to 2nd place by lap two. By lap three he would regain the lead once again, but then had to be marshaled on lap four after he caught a pipe trying to avoid a car he was lapping. His teammate Lee would jump into 2nd while Chilly dropped back to 3rd place. By lap seven he would overtake Lee and then tried to catch up to the leader who had a three second lead. A small mistake by the leader in the sweeper on lap 14 would wipe out that lead as Chilly caught up to him. He would continue to put pressure on the leader for a few more laps before taking the lead for good after something broke on the leader’s truck. This also allowed Lee to move up a spot and he joined Chilly on the podium in 2nd!
Winning JConcepts products:
- Green compound Double Dees in the front
- Green compound 3Ds in the rear
- HF2 body
- Hazard wheels
- Dirt-Tech inserts
Overall, it was a successful return of the Hobby Haven Shootout! JConcepts has been a proud sponsor of this event dating back to 2008, and we can’t wait to see what the future brings at this race!
Mason Fuller Tire Guide:
