Team Durango’s “secret weapon” for 2013’s 1/10 Scale IFMAR Worlds

This year, Team Durango is sending all of their team drivers to the 2013 1/10 Scale IFMAR Worlds in Chico, CA. Like all manufacturers, they’re hoping to walk away with all the marbles. Wins this year would be especially sweet for two reasons. The  first is that victories would provide a fitting payoff to the years of R&D time that Team Durango has invested in its patented Hybrid Gearbox Technology. Inspired by European racing practices, Hybrid Gearbox Technology helps racers optimize the vehicle’s weight balance for a variety of track/traction conditions. It gives the driver the option to put motor weight at the rear or mid-chassis, and further, to choose from 3- or 4-gear setups.

The second is the growing popularity of “sugaring” R/C tracks. Owners spread granulated sugar over the finished track. The resulting surface not only keeps dust down, but provides an extremely high-bite surface without the need to “groove in” the track. 2013 will be the first use of sugaring at the Worlds. That’s good news for Team Durango, because sugaring makes vehicles with mid-mounted motors the fastest way to get around the track. That leaves Team Durango with a proven mid-motor option ready for racing — and other manufacturers in a mad scramble to find one.

While the impact of Hybrid Gearbox Technology is unknown at present, answers are just around the corner. Team Durango will be posting and updating race results on its Facebook page daily throughout the Worlds event.

Patented Hybrid Gearbox Technology Four motor mounting options

Mid Motor Layout, with 3 gears

(one idler gear)

■ Ideal for: very high traction

Mid Motor Layout, with 4 gears

(two idler gears)

■ Ideal for: high traction