What’s better than a few hundred R/C racers, a great track and a great race crew? Take all of that and drop it off in Las Vegas, and you’ve got yourself the unbeatable combination known as the International Indoor Championships (I.I.C.).

The 2nd annual International Indoor Championships was held at the South Coast Casino and Hotel over Sept. 19-24. This year marked the largest number of entries and the biggest turn out of drivers to date.

Scotty Ernst, Jamie Tennes and the Trackside Crew put on another fantastic, trouble-free event. Racers and spectators alike were treated to great racing action by the world’s fastest drivers. A dozen or so National Title holders and a handful of World Champions attended to ensure the competition was close and tight.  

Few events compare to the I.I.C., and Novak is proud to be a part of these great races.  When the cards were dealt and the chips fell, Novak-equipped racers took the top qualifying positions in five of the eight available classes.

Thirty-six of the 80 A-Main drivers chose the Novak GTX as their ESC of choice, proving once again the GTX is still on top of the racing world and solidifying Novak’s place among the finest ESC manufacturers.

Craig Drescher skillfully piloted his Associated 1/12-Scale to an A-Main spot using the Novak GTB and Velociti 4.5R. This being his first 1/12 race in nearly a decade, everyone was very pleased. At one stage in the race, Mr. Drescher was the TQ of 1/12-Mod. But bad luck in the main put him off the track early.

Weylan Rose, “The Youngster from Washington,” repeatedly set the fastest time for the weekend in the 19-turn Rubber TC field, securing the No. 1 spot on the grid with his Novak/Shumacher ride. Weylan walked away from the field in the main to take home a huge win. According to reports, his 19-turn lap times were faster than many of the modified drivers. Go, Weylan!

Stock Rubber TC was taken down by repeat winner Jason Ertrachter. E.J. Evans, Billy Madison and Michael Bruce were equipped with Novak GTXs but just couldn’t catch Mr. Ertrachter. (A big thanks to E.J., Billy, Michael, as well as Tony Fiorella, and Brian Lutz for choosing Novak!)

1/12-Stock saw GTX racer Stephen Boice set the fastest time for the weekend, but unfortunately, the TQ curse got him. Jeff Cuffs walked off with an easy victory after Boice’s early “tap.” Seven drivers in the 1/12-Stock A-Main also used Novak’s GTX. (A big thanks go out to Frank Calandra Jr., Tom Firsching, Peter Robinson, Stephen Boice, Jeff Brown, Jarrod Langlois and Mark Smyka for making the GTX their ESC of choice!)

19-turn Foam TC could have been called “The Bobby Flack Show.” Mr. Flack displayed a calm visage as he piloted his Novak/XRAY/Checkpoint ride to the TQ and overall win. Fellow Novak teammate Paul Ciccarello was able to hold down the No. 2 spot with his Novak/Parma/Losi ride. Travis Schreven, Andrew Gray and Peter Robinson rounded out the top five in the 19-turn Foam TC finalists using the Novak GTX.

Mod Rubber TC was won by the favorite, Atsushi Hara. (We also want to thank Barry Baker and Mike Dumas for putting some Orange Power in the Mod Rubber Finals.) 

Mod Foam TC was TQ’d by Mr. Paul Lemieux, but the TQ jinx played on Paul as well.  Making a last round switch, GTX racer Mike Blackstock was able to put his XRAY in the No. 2 spot. This paid off big for Mike. He was able to maneuver his way passed Paulie to take home the overall victory. Mike Dumas followed in second, also using a GTX. Bobby Flack, Andrew Gray and Barry Baker rounded out the rest of the Novak runners in this A-Main. (Thanks, guys!)

1/12-Scale Modified is usually a great race, but every once in a while, you’ll get a runaway. Mike Dumas and his SpeedMerchant 1/12-Scale was the car to beat. Starting from the No. 1 spot, Mr. Dumas accelerated on the start tone and never looked back, leading the race wire-to-wire in true SpeedMerchant form. Blackstock, Mike McMahon and Drescher rounded out a four car Novak field.

After it was all said and done, I’d say it’s pretty safe to say that this was a great event. It was well organized with no delays and tons of great racing action accompanied by even better announcing. The mains had colorful commentary (by yours truly), and if you couldn’t make it to the event, the I.I.C. was broadcast live over the Internet with video and audio for free.

If you’ve got some time in September – or even if you don’t – plan on coming out to Vegas for the I.I.C. Novak and our drivers will be there, so stop by and say, “Hey!”