In what’s becoming my favorite event of the year, the 2006 Reedy Touring Car Race of Champions (R.R.O.C.) was another huge success.

In addition to fun and fast cars, Novak’s team was there represented by drivers and employees alike.

In case you’ve never heard of the R.R.O.C., here’s a bit of background. Mike Reedy started holding his “Reedy Races” to bring together the world’s best drivers in a very serious but fun event. Bypassing a few of the racing regulations has allowed Mike to organize a much more open format of racing, and he even added a few of his own rules that only his events use. It has really taken off over the past few years and gets better and better every time.

There are three classes: 19-turn Spec, Open Modified and the coveted Invitational Class. 

But before continuing, Novak Electronics would like to extend a huge congratulations to Travis “Micro T” Schreven and Mike Truhe for their wins in the 19-turn and Open Mod divisions.

Now back to the races.

Travis took his XRAY/Brood Novak GTX powered T2 sedan to the TQ position and easily put away the win in the first two of three A-Mains.

Travis knew how to handle the competition before he arrived. Recently, the XRAY team has been working hard on their asphalt program, and Travis was able to capitalize on their effort at Reedy. Travis used a GTX with 5673 Mega 8200 Cap and a standard profile No. 1 for maximum rip. Four out of 10 drivers in the Spec 19-turn A-Main chose the Novak GTX. 

Taking the top qualifying spot in the Modified Division was XRAY/Checkpoint/Novak driver Bobby “O” Flack from Michigan. But the TQ curse found its next victim, and Bobby placed third overall this weekend.

Mr. Truhe, a member of the very well known Team Losi camp, brought his JRXS to fifth on the grid. Luckily for him, the starts in the Mod were less than clean, which allowed some room for ol’Offroading Truhe to make his way to the front. If Mike Truhe’s name sounds familiar, it should. He is the 2005 ROAR Modified Offroad National Champ. This was Mike’s third appearance in the A-Main of the Reedy Race, and like the saying goes, “The third time’s a charm.” Mike used a GTX with the added 5679 Trans Cap Module for maximum protection and standard default profile No. 3.

Craig Drescher from the United Kingdom arrived ready to race and brought his prototype AE sedan to the No. 5 spot overall in the Invitational Class using a Novak GTB and prototype Novak Velociti Brushless Motor. This marks one of the highest finishes for a brushless system at a major international event.

Craig used standard profile No. 1 with a few minor changes. We turned the minimum drive to setting No. 1, and Craig preferred one setting lower on the drag brake (No. 3). Bad-racing luck pushed Craig from making a stronger push to the front of the field, but the Novak crew and Craig were very pleased with the brushless system’s performance and are looking forward to its next appearance at the IFMAR World Championships.

Paul Lemieux and Mike Blackstock, both members of the ever growing RC America/XRAY team, also finished inside the top 10 (8th and 10th), making the Novak GTX their ESC of choice also.

You guys remember Josh Numan, right? The 2005 Reedy Race Open Modified Winner? Well, Josh appears to have spent all of last year getting ready for his re-introduction to the Invitational Class. Numan put down consistent run after consistent run to bring home the third spot overall, right behind former World Champion Atsushi Hara (2nd) and the current World Champion Marc Rheinard (1st). Josh used a Novak GTX in harmony with his Tamiya/Checkpoint Powered 415MSX on default profile No. 3, as well as the 5679 Trans Cap Racing Module.

This year’s Reedy Race was another one to remember: Open Modified came down to the third main, and the overall point standings in the Invitational were up in the air until the final race. There were, again, many moments of ohhs, ewws and ahhhs from the spectators, proving once more that Mike Reedy had the right idea to start this event nine years ago. (A huge thanks to The Tamiya Crew, Mike Reedy, Sean Cochran and all the event sponsors that made the Reedy Race such a great time and huge success.)