The 2nd annual Team Associated Vintage Championships took place this past weekend in Las Vegas and was once again a big gathering of the worlds best drivers spanning across multiple generations. Over 770 vintage entries battled it out on the World Championship replica track.
The event is so much more than just the racing as it is truly a gathering of friends and rivals to celebrate the history of 1/10th scale off-road racing and to reminisce on the good ole days. Racers from across the world came to participate and show off their creations. Cars from the late 70s to the early 00s ripped around often raced by drivers younger than the platforms themselves.
Classes were separated by 2wd buggy, 4wd buggy, and truck, different eras, and stock and modified giving racers plenty of options. The largest and most competitive class was 2wd 89-93 Open with an astounding 175 entries. All Racers using 2.2″ wheels used JConcepts tires which is a huge honor. A large majority of the event was on JConcepts Rubber.
Racers were treated to 2 rounds of seeding, 3 rounds of qualifying, and double a-main events for all classes.
Top Seed Positions:
2wd 76-83 Open: Ron Rossetti
2wd 84-88 Open: Jason Ruona
2wd 89-93 Open: Jason Ashton
2wd 89-93 Stock: Jimmy Wright
2wd 94-98 Open: Greg Hodapp
Truck 80-90 Open: Jason Ashton
Truck 91-96 Open: Jason Ashton
Truck 91-96 Stock: Matt Ledger
4wd 83-85 Open: Simon Kemp
4wd 86-88 Open: Jason Ashton
4wd 89-93 Open: Jermaine Robinson
4wd 89-93 Stock: Nick Sava
4wd 94-00 Open: Ryan Cavalieri
The best 2/3 qualifiers would count towards starting position on the grids, the main events would have 15 racers and no bump ups.
Top Qualifying Positions:
2wd 76-83 Open: Jason Ashton
2wd 84-88 Open: Jason Ruona
2wd 89-93 Open: Spencer Rivkin
2wd 89-93 Stock: JR Mitch
2wd 94-98 Open: Brent Thielke
Truck 80-90 Open: Jason Ashton
Truck 91-96 Open: Adam Rayls
Truck 91-96 Stock: Matt Ledger
4wd 83-85 Open: Jason Ashton
4wd 86-88 Open: Jason Ashton
4wd 89-93 Open: Craig Drescher
4wd 89-93 Stock: Jimmy Wright
4wd 94-00 Open: Ryan Cavalieri
The legends class was a group of 15 extremely influential drivers battling it out for a single main event Saturday Night. The legends did not disappoint with an epic 5 minute main. It was the first main event followed by the A1 events for each class. The rest of the mains would be held Sunday.
Legends: 1st Scott Brown, 2nd Craig Drescher, 3rd Matt Francis
2wd 76-83 Open: 1st Jason Ashton, 2nd Mattaniah Schutte, 3rd Hiroaki Nakaya
2wd 84-88 Open: 1st Jason Ruona, 2nd Patrick Rossiter, 3rd Andrew Smolnik
2wd 89-93 Open: 1st Ryan Cavalieri, 2nd Spencer Rivkin, 3rd Jermaine Robinson
2wd 89-93 Stock: 1st JR Mitch, 2nd Jimmy Wright, 3rd Darren Windsor
2wd 94-98 Open: 1st Jason Ruona, 2nd Mitch Fiddling, 3rd Chris VanAir
4wd 83-85 Open: 1st Jason Ashton, 2nd Simon Kemp, 3rd Chris Allec
4wd 86-88 Open: 1st Jason Ashton, 2nd Ben Stian Haland, 3rd Justin Morgan
4wd 89-93 Open: 1st Craig Drescher, 2nd Jermaine Robinson, 3rd Mitch Fiddling
4wd 89-93 Stock: 1st Jimmy Wright, 2nd Darren Windsor, 3rd Nick Sava
4wd 94-00 Open: 1st Ryan Cavalieri, 2nd Mitch Fiddling, 3rd Steve Antill
Truck 80-90 Open: 1st Jason Ashton, 2nd Patrick Rossiter, 3rd Kraig Schall
Truck 91-96 Open: 1st Scott Brown, 2nd Adam Ryals, 3rd Steve Antill
Truck 91-96 Stock: 1st Stefan Palsson, 2nd Colby Poh, 3rd Matt Ledger