Hot Rod Hobbies

Your new "Tuesday Night Nationals" champions!

2010-09-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

Due to the fierce competition and customarily large turnouts on Tuesday nights, it has become affectionately known as "Tuesday Night Nationals" here at Hot Rod Hobbies. If you're looking for the best test of your driving skills, against some of the finest drivers in Southern California, it doesn't get any better than this. The champions had to face stiff competition, every night...so congratulations to all our winners and best of luck in the next series!

Rookie: Matt Heiman
Stock Electric: James Dyer
Spec Short Course: Mike Duncan
Intermediate Short Course: David Orner
Unlimited Short Course: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: Jimmy Webster
Expert Nitro Buggy: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Justin Good

(Classes not listed above had no champion this series, as no one completed the minimum five races required to be eligible.)

Friday night under the lights reminder, new rules for Spec Short Course...

2010-09-01T00:36:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that the first Friday of the month is this Friday, September 3rd...and that means it's our now-customary "Friday Night Under The Lights" practice night! Five dollars buys you all day practice until the lights go out, at 10:00pm. We supply the pizza, so you don't need to take a break from honing those driving skills to go get dinner!

Also, an important update for our Short Course drivers currently racing in the spec classes (both sportsman and expert). New rules are going into effect as of the next club racing series (starting this weekend), which include 27 turn brushed or 17.5 brushless motors in spec. Be sure to read up on the new rules, if you should be among those who would like to switch from the closed-endbell RTR motors, to the convenience of brushless, or would like to be able to perform regular maintenance on a traditional 27t brushed motor, rather than chucking your old RTR motor when it just isn't getting the job done and buying a new one.

New Saturday club racing champions are crowned!

2010-08-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Braving temperatures approaching (and sometimes exceeding) 100 degrees in the brutal summer months, these brave warriors of R/C took to the dirt week after week, honing their skills against the competition...until all challenges had been met and resoundingly answered. Congratulations to our new club racing champions...the targets are now painted on your backs, for the next series!

Rookie: Matt Heiman
Sportsman Spec Short Course: Keith Tarello
Intermediate Short Course: Trenton McAlister
Unlimited Short Course: Trenton McAlister
Expert Nitro Buggy: Andrew Suarez

(No other classes had a champion this series, as no one completed the minimum five races required to be eligible.)

Bring out your buggies & stadium trucks!

2010-08-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

So you say your 10th scale stadium truck or buggy is gathering dust, with the short course explosion that has happened at Hot Rod's? Well, it's time to bring them back out and race them. Jimmy Babcock has dubbed next month, "Tenth Scale September" here at Hot Rod Hobbies!

Sign up for at least one paid class at any race in September, and you can race your tenth scale buggy or stadium truck free of charge. If you are not interested in running a short course truck, eighth scale or nitro vehicle and only want to run a stadium truck or buggy, your entry fee will be only $5 per class! Jimmy wants to see the traditional 10th scale classes make a comeback at Hot Rod's and if it takes offering deep discounts and free registration, that's what he's willing to do to make it happen. Take advantage, this September! (Consult the Racing page for available classes.)

Also, for anyone who would be interested in the creation of a "track maintenance party" to perform regular repairs on the off-road track, click here and send an e-mail to Jimmy stating your interest in helping participate in something like this.

Hot Rod Hobbies: Now on Facebook!

2010-08-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are members on the Facebook social networking site, Jimmy has started up a Hot Rod Hobbies Facebook page, to keep all of you up to date on the very lastest goings-on at the shop and track! Facebook fans are currently enjoying videos of main event races from our "Tuesday Night Nationals" club racing!

Click the link above, or the Facebook button to the right, and you'll be directed to the Facebook page, then click the "like" button to stay informed!

Shootout video coverage at RCInsider.Com

2010-08-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

For those of you who were not able to be here at Hot Rod Hobbies for the 13th annual Off-Road Shootout, RC Insider has you covered! They've put up high quality video of several key races, as well as interviews shot at the event, with X-Factory's Brian Kinwald and Kyosho's Jared Tebo. Be sure to check it out and don't miss how stoked (or is that...soaked?) Zack Rogers feels, after winning Super Stock 4WD in only two mains...

Friday Night Under The Lights - August 6th!

2010-08-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

New rules added to Short Course club racing

2010-07-24T15:52:00.001-07:00

Just an update to let you all know that Jimmy has updated the Short Course rules for our club racing, creating a "Rookie Stock Short Course" category (as that's become the dominant rookie vehicle) and adding restrictions to ensure a more level playing field. Rookie has devolved into something of an "outlaw" class of late, so this should help the new guys get a better handle on their vehicles and ensure more consistent competition for them. If you're a rookie, read the new rules and make sure your truck conforms to the rules...we will be watching!

2010 Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout Results!

2010-07-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

It was a brutally hot weekend under the scorching SoCal sun, as racers from all over converged upon Hot Rod Hobbies to test their driving skills. Speed controllers were smoked, tires were scorched and in the end, champions were crowned. Congratulations to all of those who participated and to our winners, below!

Click Here for a complete results PDF of all main events!

Looking for photos? Look no further...click here!

Rookie Stock - Andy Armond
Stock Buggy - Chris Wesson
Stock Truck - Chris Wesson
Super Stock Buggy - Brent Calvert
Super Stock Truck - Brent Calvert
Super Stock 4wd - Zachary Rogers
Modified Truck - Jared Tebo
Modified Buggy - Ryan Cavalieri
Modified 4wd - Ryan Cavalieri
Spt. 1/8th Electric - Matthew Olson
Exp. 1/8th Electric - Mike Truhe
40+ Truck - Brian Halverson
2wd Spt. Spec Short Course - Josh Robertson
2wd Int. Short Course - Travis Erkeneff
2wd Exp. Short Course - Ryan Maifield
4wd Spt. Unlimited Short Course - Brian Sullivan
4wd Exp. Unlimited Short Course - Mike Truhe

Off-Road Club Racing Notes

2010-07-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

Jimmy wanted all of our club racers to be aware that there will be no nitro classes at the club race on Tuesday the 13th, to prepare the track for the Off-Road Shootout. Weekend club racers will note that the Shootout conflicts with the normal Saturday club race on the 17th, so they're encouraged to sign up for the Shootout...there will be no club racing that weekend.

Don't forget to send those entries in, folks - you don't want to miss out on this great event!

Friday Night Practice, New Club Racing Champs!

2010-06-29T22:40:00.001-07:00

Time flies when you're having fun, and our off-road club racers have certainly had a fun couple of months to start the summer! Expect the competition to start really heating up, as people start getting prepared for the big event races coming this summer (including the Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout). Your new club racing champions are below...and don't forget that this Friday, July 2nd is our monthly "Friday Night Under The Lights" practice night, from 6:00-10:00pm! Five bucks buys you practice time with your friends and free pizza!

Tuesday Series

Rookie: Mike Magness
Sportsman Spec Short Course: Hazmat
Intermediate Short Course: Austin Bishop
Unlimited Short Course: Crash
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: Michael Vincent
Expert Nitro Buggy: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Cody Chew
Expert Nitro Truggy: Stephen Bess

Note: Stock, Super Stock, Modified and Electric 8th scale had no Tuesday champions, as nobody completed the required five races.

Saturday Series

Rookie: Trenton McAlister
Modified Electric: Kuppler
Sportsman Spec Short Course: Mike Maniscalichi
Intermediate Short Course: D.J. Silva
Unlimited Short Course: Crash
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: Travis Mehteriah
Expert Nitro Buggy: D.J. Silva
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Steve Burnside

Note: Stock, Super Stock, Sportsman Truggy and Electric 8th scale had no Saturday champions, as nobody completed the required five races.

The 13th Annual Shootout Track Design Challenge

2010-06-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

The 13th Annual Hot Rod Hobbies Off-Road Shootout & Short Course Spectacular is fast approaching...and in the tradition of past events, Jimmy Babcock invites all of you budding track designers to submit your concepts for a killer track layout! All entries must be submitted using the template below. They can be dropped off at the shop, e-mailed to jimmy@hotrodhobbies.com or faxed to 661-255-2196. The winner of the design contest will be given their first class entry to the Shootout, on the house!

The Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout is a world class race, which routinely attracts off-road drivers from all over the country and indeed, around the world. Some of the top racers from Japan and Europe have come to our track for the Shootout, to test their skills against other off-road pros. Drivers who attend this event will be rubbing elbows with some of the best drivers in R/C, and if you're a rookie...prepare to be paired up with one of them as your mentor, in the R/C Pro-Am! It's a rare opportunity to learn from the best of the best.

This year's event features five Short Course classes...if you thought the competition was fierce at the "Tuesday Night Nationals" here at Hot Rod's, you haven't seen anything, yet! Get your entry in early, we expect a great turnout this year. Download the printable PDF entry form below to see the available classes and prepare for one of the biggest off-road races of the year!

Winners for Paved Oval 1st Half of 2010

2010-06-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

Once a month, on the first Sunday of the month, the paved oval at Hot Rod Hobbies experiences a breed of racing with electric cars that test the limits of both speed and traction. Every six months, new champions are crowned...and this past Sunday, they took their place among the kings of speed at Hot Rod's.

Only two classes saw enough racers complete the series minimum of four races. David Lopes took the crown in Sportsman 21.5 and in single-cell 17.5, Paul Cathey is now the man to beat, edging out Larry Ruby by one point. Congratulations to the winners!

Crazytown's lead singer, Shifty, at HRH (Video)

2010-05-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hanging out at Hot Rod's trackside, with XTreme RC Magazine's Derek Buono. Thanks to Michael Vincent, professional photographer and reigning Sportsman Nitro Buggy/Truggy champion on Tuesday nights, for sending this along!

Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout 2010 flyer

2010-05-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

(Click for print quality PDF version)
Summer is right around the corner, and that means it's almost time for the annual Hot Rod Hobbies Shootout! Racers will be coming from all over the country - and indeed, the globe - to experience the thrill of competition at this highly-anticipated event. Get your entries in early, we expect this year's turnout to be better than ever, with the addition of the new "Short Course Spectacular" - five different classes of Short Course racing! Rookies, don't forget about the Pro/Am, where you have a chance to partner up with a professional, sponsored R/C driver and get tips and setup help from the best!

We'll have more details on hotels and other information, as the race approaches.

New club racing champions have been crowned!

2010-04-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

The dust has settled, and after two months of hard-fought competition, our Tuesday and Saturday night club racing champions have been crowned! Summer is almost upon us, and the competition on the track is sure to heat up, along with the weather. Congratulations to the winners!

Tuesday Series

Rookie: Joe Anderson
Sportsman Spec Short Course: Brian Beaumont
Intermediate Short Course: D.J. Silva
Unlimited Short Course: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: Michael Vincent
Expert Nitro Buggy: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Michael Vincent
Expert Nitro Truggy: Aaron Waldron

Note: Stock, Super Stock, Modified and Electric 8th scale had no champions, as nobody completed the required five races.

Saturday Series

Rookie: Chandler Sykes
Stock: Kuppler
Super Stock: Tom Sobelman
Sportsman Spec Short Course: Lauren Bendrat
Intermediate Short Course: Larry Aronson
Unlimited Short Course: Robert Leos
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: Larry Aronson
Expert Nitro Buggy: Nick Tennant
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: JoJo
Electric 8th Scale: Gary Meissner

Note: Modified and Expert Truggy had no champion this series, as nobody completed the required five races.

Important note to nitro off-road drivers

2010-04-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Please be aware that no 8th scale nitro vehicles will be allowed to practice on the newly redesigned track from Wednesday the 28th through Saturday the 1st, as we prepare the surface for the JBRL Electric Series, round 3. Nitro WILL, however, be allowed to participate in the club races on both Tuesday the 27th (wet track) and Saturday the 1st (Dry track).

Friday night practice, JBRL Electric round 3

2010-04-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

The first Friday of every month is a special "under the lights" practice night, here at Hot Rod Hobbies! This is a great chance for you to come out after school or work and hone your driving skills, with a bunch of other off-road drivers! Practice will be held on Friday, May 7th from 6pm-10pm and your practice fee of $5.00 entitles you to free pizza! Come and socialize, get driving and pit tips from other drivers and dial in your vehicles for those all important race nights!

A note for our JBRL Electric Series participants, who are looking forward to the upcoming Round 3 event at Hot Rod's on Sunday, May 2nd: There will be practice on Saturday May 1st - from 10am to 3pm - with a club race starting at 4pm. The track will be run dry all weekend, to create that insane "blue groove" traction we all love so much!

Track rebuild on April 25th!

2010-04-14T12:20:00.001-07:00

It's that time, again! In preparation for round #3 of the JBRL electric series at Hot Rod Hobbies, we will be putting in a new off-road layout. As always, we need your help with the rebuild! Those of you who have the perfect layout in mind can submit your concepts using the PDF file below. Only designs using this template, with the proper lane widths, will be accepted. They can be dropped off at the shop, e-mailed to jimmy@hotrodhobbies.com or faxed to 661-255-2196.

On Sunday, April 25th, we will tear up the old track and install the new layout...and everyone who comes out to the track and works at least eight hours will get pizza, soda, and a month of their first class entry at our club races, for free. We hope to see you out there!

We are open Easter Sunday, April 4th!

2010-04-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

When you're done hunting for the treats the Easter Bunny left scattered around your house, and have finished the family feast, rest assured that your hardworking Hot Rod Hobbies staff will be ready to help you fill the rest of your lazy holiday with R/C action! Both the shop and the track will be open for normal business hours.

Also, don't forget about tomorrow night's practice under the lights! Show up with five bucks and get all the track time and pizza you can handle, from 6-10pm...see you there!

First Off-Road Champions of 2010 crowned!

2010-02-27T20:32:00.001-08:00

Neither rain, nor cold weather, nor the challenge of a brand new layout could slow these racers down...the first two-month series of off-road club racing is complete and the first Champions of 2010 have been crowned. As the weather begins to mellow out, expect the competition to start heating up even more! Congratulations to the new champs!

Tuesday Series

Rookie: Albert Bitar
Stock: Jimmy Webster
Modified: Derek Tarrant
Sportsman Spec Short Course: A.J. Warner
Intermediate Short Course: Austin Bishop
Unlimited Short Course: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: A.J. Warner
Expert Nitro Buggy: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Justin Good
Expert Nitro Truggy: Aaron Waldron
Electric 8th Scale: Stephen Bess

Note: Super Stock had no champion this series, as nobody completed the required number of races.

Saturday Series

Rookie: Kassi Carrillo
Stock: Dave Barber
Sportsman Spec Short Course: Bill Koontz
Intermediate Short Course: Josh Robertson
Unlimited Short Course: Tom Sobelman
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: Larry Aronson
Expert Nitro Buggy: Stephen Bess
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Shawn Silva
Expert Nitro Truggy: Kevin Kasten
Electric 8th Scale: Stephen Bess

Note: Super Stock and Modified had no champion this series, as nobody completed the required number of races.

2010 JBRL Nitro and Electric Series Flyers

2010-01-19T16:02:00.000-08:00

The dates and locations for the 2010 Jimmy Babcock Racing League Nitro and Electric series have been announced, but if you'd like a "hard copy" of the official flyers for each series, download the printer-ready PDF files below!

(Note: Each file is around 5mb)

New Short Course Changes, New Layout Coming!

2010-01-06T13:15:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have not been to the club races since the start of the new January-February series last week, there has been a change to the Short Course class lineup being offered at Hot Rod's. The "Expert" class has been eliminated and is now an "Unlimited" class, which will allow any motor wind and also the new 4x4 vehicles that are being released (check with the shop for details). The rules for the Short Course classes can be read here!

Also, we are putting in a new layout next Sunday (January 17th). As usual, anyone who is out there working for eight or more hours will receive a month of their first club racing entries free! Jimmy is soliciting track designs for the new layout, so if you have some big ideas you'd like to see in the new course, be sure to download and print the template below, to submit your entry (no special compensation for the winner of this design, just bragging rights). Only designs using this template, with the proper lane widths, will be accepted. They can be dropped off at the shop, e-mailed to jimmy@hotrodhobbies.com or faxed to 661-255-2196.

The final champions of 2009!

2009-12-28T15:35:00.001-08:00

Hot Rod Hobbies hopes everyone enjoyed the gift-giving holidays and are looking forward to a prosperous and fun 2010! The final off-road racing champions of 2009 have been crowned, and we anticipate a year of even more advancements and changes to the hobby and sport of off-road r/c racing! Congratulations to the winners, and see you in 2010!

Tuesday Series

Rookie: Cory Tarrant
Stock: Derek Tarrant
Modified: Steve Miltko
Sportsman "Spec" Short Course: Nick Johnston
Intermediate Short Course: Lyle Spangler
Expert Short Course: Tim Hanson
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: Hazmat
Expert Nitro Buggy: Chad Bradley
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Stu Thayer
Expert Nitro Truggy: D.J. Silva

(Note: Super Stock Electric and Electric 1/8 do not have a champion for this series, because nobody completed the minimum 5 races required.)

Saturday Series

Rookie: Kuppler
Stock: Dave Barber
Sportsman "Spec" Short Course: Tim Cunningham
Intermediate Short Course: Lyle Spangler
Expert Short Course: Ryan Kane
Sportsman Nitro Buggy: JoJo
Expert Nitro Buggy: Stephen Bess
Sportsman Nitro Truggy: Marc Rosales
Expert Nitro Truggy: Steve Burnside
Electric 8th Scale: Steve Burnside

(Note: Super Stock and Modified electric do not have a champion for this series, because nobody completed the minimum 5 races required.)

December 21st - Extended Shop Hours!

2009-12-16T15:54:00.000-08:00

In the interest of helping out all of you last-minute shoppers, Hot Rod Hobbies will be open extended hours on Monday, December 21st. The shop will open at 10:00am and we'll be open until 6:00pm. Visit the shop for those stocking stuffers, gift certificates, kits and everything else on your list...and have a happy holiday!