United States Mike Mazza-owner

[hakmazter]

http://casterracingusa.com/files/team%20drivers/194_2.jpg

[hakmazter]

Winner 2008 Hobby Haven Off Road Shootout B Main September 1, 2008.
Caster Fusion Sport RTR

Looking for sponsors.......

[vnmsgt]

Somehow I cannot believe that????? Your description of the day does not say anything about running A-main which B-main winners bump up to LOL!!! Just had to get that in there....

[hakmazter]

I left after marshalling. Probably would have won that too if I would have known....

or at least I would have not gotten last because people were breaking....

[vnmsgt]

Hey you need to clear you PM's. You cannot except anymore. Can I call you tomorrow about what we have discussed?

[hakmazter]

fixed. sure you can call me tomorrow....

[peasey]

Ok so why doesnt the team manager have a pic up??? I can just see what your gona come up with! LOL

[Dave D]

He's got too much PINK

[peasey]

LMAO

[fuzzy1]

Mike's paint job matches him perfectly! Puzzled!<*&

[hakmazter]

When the team manager takes a pic, then it will get to Julia.....

[vnmsgt]

When the team manager takes a pic, then it will get to Julia.....

Just send here the pic of his wrap you made.?&^

[cheesecake]

whats wrong with the photo from neobuggy?

[hakmazter]

Of all people, he should be wearing Caster gear......Don't you think?

[peasey]

LMAO Well I will have a surprise for you in the next couple of days

[skeller]

LMAO Well I will have a surprise for you in the next couple of days



Hmmm....??????

[hakmazter]

I am sure it will just be a pic of him in a Caster shirt. He is not inventive enough to go after us "veterans" in a forums....

[hakmazter]

OK, so here is the official story for the last race I attended that was in Florida. I went with Chris and met a bunch of my team drivers who were super cool. Chris F, Pete, JohnnyB, Flyin Ryan, and a fellow Italian Keith Dolente. I took a bone stock fusion sport to the track with my trusty m8. I learned a lot about racing there because it was so different from what I am used to.

First heat car felt really good, lots of power, but an occasional glitch of the steering servo suddenly going full tilt left about 3-4 times per lap. It caused all sorts of havoc for me and lots of crashes.

Race is over, I go marshall and then start wrenching. Johnny offers me a spare spektrum receiver and I try it for round 2. Round 2 still doing the same thing. I start thinking it is an electromagnetic field problem and with talking to flyin Ryan, we decide I can use his backup m11 to see if that is the problem. I put my receiver back in and get told there is no third qualifier and it is the main. So with no actual track time, I decide to play it fairly safe. No more glitching, but still having problems with the big jump in back as it is tilted to the outside and I am used to being centered in the track. I finally decide after a few drop out that I should play it safe, but I am frustrated that the back end feels so loose, but on the plus side, over on the right there are some technical turns that I can get through fairly quickly.

About 5 minutes in, I lose an e-clip and hinge pin. Chris runs over and pulls parts off one of his and gets me back on the track in under 90 seconds. I was impressed, but it put me way behind. Now I understand the importance of captured hingepins.

Keith is in second, I end up in third and I hear that one of my laps was 38 seconds and they are doing 36-38 so I am happy about that. I keep hoping that he runs out of fuel or breaks and then I remember that he is on my team and that would be bad. Race finishes and I end up third out of 9 buggies and I prove to the Florida guys that I can't drive, but I was improving.

I got to watch Pete, Johnny and Flyin Ryan race truggy and Flyin Ryan won the main. There were about 18 truggies there that day.

At some point I want to try a fusion pro and do my own actual setup at a real race and see how I do...but first I have to find out if the glitching problem was spektrum, airtronics, or a handling issue. All batteries were brand new.

I learned that there is definitely not a breakage issue in Florida after watching a few spectacular truggy crashes and watching myself launch into a pine tree a few times trying to make sure that Caster stuff is durable....lol.

[vnmsgt]

OK, so here is the official story for the last race I attended that was in Florida. I went with Chris and met a bunch of my team drivers who were super cool. Chris F, Pete, JohnnyB, Flyin Ryan, and a fellow Italian Keith Dolente. I took a bone stock fusion sport to the track with my trusty m8. I learned a lot about racing there because it was so different from what I am used to.

First heat car felt really good, lots of power, but an occasional glitch of the steering servo suddenly going full tilt left about 3-4 times per lap. It caused all sorts of havoc for me and lots of crashes.

Race is over, I go marshall and then start wrenching. Johnny offers me a spare spektrum receiver and I try it for round 2. Round 2 still doing the same thing. I start thinking it is an electromagnetic field problem and with talking to flyin Ryan, we decide I can use his backup m11 to see if that is the problem. I put my receiver back in and get told there is no third qualifier and it is the main. So with no actual track time, I decide to play it fairly safe. No more glitching, but still having problems with the big jump in back as it is tilted to the outside and I am used to being centered in the track. I finally decide after a few drop out that I should play it safe, but I am frustrated that the back end feels so loose, but on the plus side, over on the right there are some technical turns that I can get through fairly quickly.

About 5 minutes in, I lose an e-clip and hinge pin. Chris runs over and pulls parts off one of his and gets me back on the track in under 90 seconds. I was impressed, but it put me way behind. Now I understand the importance of captured hingepins.

Keith is in second, I end up in third and I hear that one of my laps was 38 seconds and they are doing 36-38 so I am happy about that. I keep hoping that he runs out of fuel or breaks and then I remember that he is on my team and that would be bad. Race finishes and I end up third out of 9 buggies and I prove to the Florida guys that I can't drive, but I was improving.

I got to watch Pete, Johnny and Flyin Ryan race truggy and Flyin Ryan won the main. There were about 18 truggies there that day.

At some point I want to try a fusion pro and do my own actual setup at a real race and see how I do...but first I have to find out if the glitching problem was spektrum, airtronics, or a handling issue. All batteries were brand new.

I learned that there is definitely not a breakage issue in Florida after watching a few spectacular truggy crashes and watching myself launch into a pine tree a few times trying to make sure that Caster stuff is durable....lol.

Well I know for fact you saw some pretty harsh crashes by all of us, especially in truggy. Took the beatings like champs! And now you know Mike why so much of a fuss about captured pins.?&^

[mikey]

hi Mike:can you put a Canada section for our new Guy

[hakmazter]

OK, went to my first RC Pro series race. I did not get out qualified in any of the heats by my daughter. However, I did get beat in the triple A main by her and she never had driven a 1/8 scale buggy before. She had raced a xxx and xxxt a few times a few years back. I was my own worst enemy and continually got DNFs because of not thinking about parts and their proper placement,

More importantly for me...I got to meet Carlton Eppes, David Alberico, and Mayor Frithe. All cool guys.

I think that Caster had a really bad weekend there. Even Cam ended up in third in the B-main. We came to the conclusion that c-hub is too twitchy and in general SUCKS! It is coming off his car this week to go back to PB.

I would post pics, but I am just too humiliated right now. I am going to destroy her at the next one in Omaha......

[YDBD]

That's so awesome that Brooklyn got ya...how old is she? My daughter Erin is seven and is working on her on road skills so far with Tamiya M03...

What's a good day to run at Hobby Haven? I get into Iowa on the 25th and need something to do...fusions shipped and should be there...

[Mr Fusion]

Wednesday nights for 1/8 electric. Track is usually in pretty good shape on Thurs morning (25th)

Right now Sunday is the weekend race day... mostly 1/8 nitros and slash, but electric 1/8 is ok to run with the nitros

[hakmazter]

She is 14. It was beginner's luck on her behalf as I had the Caster newbie syndrome.

[TommyD]

i don't know how it was a bad weekend, I made leaps and bounds on finding a set up for my truggy!! I might have burned up a 9 gallon motor but the worlds most expensive v-spec held up enough to win the B-main and bump!! It was nice to put a face with the "man" (even though you got beat by a girl) Thanks for the fast shipping LoL!! I guess Cams theory of getting **** canned and getting to bed at 5am must have a little merit....

[hakmazter]

Sweet, I didn't realize that you did well. Matt went home Saturday, you saw my luck, and Cam said he didn't bump and never mentioned how you did.

Congratulations!

It was nice to meet you also except for the part when you handed me my fusion in pieces...lol.

By the way, we should have brought a video camera because I am pretty sure that Brooklyn proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the fusion sport is durable. She was running a rtr setup with a MX3 radio and it survived a triple a main (30 min)

So I forgot the getting drunk part....but I was up until 2 at home wrenching and got back on the road at 6. Are there results at rcpro yet?

I tried to warn everyone I am not a rc driver...I also tried to convince Carlton I shouldn't be in the pro class.....

[hakmazter]

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00234.jpg

It was probably the fact that she had better wheels and tires on the yellow one.

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00236.jpg

Left side from driver stand

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00237.jpg

Center from driver stand

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00238.jpg

Right side from driver stand

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00243.jpg

Cam NOT following dress code

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00266.jpg

The best Caster driver there that day. Even in proper attire.

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00267.jpg

#6 What a bunch of crap. Apparently #7 did not have the capacity to go home and get more parts.

http://casterracingusa.com/files/news/p_00268.jpg

#5 This is the only time this has happened and will ever happen again. #5...and to think I brought her so I wouldn't come in last place.....#5...
This is not sitting well with me right now. Maybe it is karma for bashing Chris and JBlaze last year.....

[ochitone]

Oh my.......WTG Team Caster. It might not have been the weekend you where all hopeing for, but at least you can chalk it up to family fun and research and devolopment on the C-Hubs.....Don't worry Mike, my son has driven the XXXT and did good with it then I got 2 slash truck and we raced together and he beat me too. I think it has something to do with hand to eye cordination from playing video games. I keep telling myself that anyway, but my son cut half the track on last lap to beat me....Cheater...lol.....It's was all in fun though.....
Congradulations again....

[hakmazter]

Yes, C-Hubs SUCK! That is the opinion of Caster Racing USA.

They are great for tracks that are smooth, but when they start to blow out, they actually have too much steering and can create a tendency of throwing the car eratically when going up the face of a jump that is not perfect.

I am sure they work great over in the UK with carpet covered wood jumps, etc...

[bring it on]

I like the pics.

[hakmazter]

They would have been better if I would have been thinking and brought a camera instead of my daughter's cellphone....

I saw people with video cameras there. Just waiting for the youtube vids to pop up. When they do, I was running a Losi......lol.

[DustinH]

Here are som vids a friend of mine shot.

Here is some practice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEToyC2pPU4

Here is pro buggy A main:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtKCzuraJA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtKCzuraJA)

Here is the truggy A main:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD8r_bwBFnk

[bc24fl]

.......... When they do, I was running a Losi......lol.

OMG.... no comment!!!! :&!@:&!@:&!@:&!@

[skirkman]

hey how do i download the blank setup sheet???thanx:D

[DGKIRKMAN]

hey how do i download the blank setup sheet???thanx:D

DUHHH

[j_blaze14]

a prize for 6th place, i need to race up there :&!@:&!@ great job

[hakmazter]

It was a roar event. Not the mickey mouse stuff you guys have down there in Florida...

Hey, that is a dual meaning joke as usual..... ha ha hah ha....

[hakmazter]

OK, after a long retirement, I decided that I should get a RTR Blitz for AJ considering how much I love shortcourse and how Rick Jenkins thinks he is fast with his Blitz. I raced 5 times last year and hoped I could do more this year.

All I can say is that I really like the Blitz. How much do I like it? Well, 2 weeks ago I bought it, took it out of the box and drove it at the track. Never taking a lap, lined up for heat 1. Made it a lap on paper. Round 2, went 11 laps. Mains, could not run because there was a guy there with yellow AM.

It rained last week.

So last night, I took Brooklyn and AJ racing. We brought a 748 to run and planned on sharing the Blitz and maybe the 748. Unfortunately, Mr Yellow showed up again so I decided the easy solution was to just throw my M11 on the Blitz and park the 748 since Brooklyn didn't seem too interested. Luckily I brought a few maxamps 6500s. So AJ ran for 5 minutes, then I ran immediately after in the next heat. The only changes made were to crank down the throttle to 50% since he is 6 and has never raced before and has driven a car at hobby haven 2 times in the past 2 years. He did really good and I was proud of him. After round 2, Mom came and took him home so Brooklyn ran in the B main as AJ and I ran in the A.

I was pretty happy considering I never race, had zero experience with a completely stock rtr Blitz (I had to tighten 1 screw) (never adjusted threaded shocks even)

and I almost kept up with Trevor "Chilly" Duncan who works for RC Car Action. It was a good night.

http://casterracingusa.com/files/Mike/05-19-10%20Results.pdf

Now I am more ticked off than ever that we do not have a 1/10 shortcourse yet....

[REAPER]

We have been telling you.....

[DustinH]

Yeah!

[bring it on]

OK, after a long retirement, I decided that I should get a RTR Blitz for AJ considering how much I love shortcourse and how Rick Jenkins is fast with his Blitz. I raced 5 times last year and hoped I could do more this year.

All I can say is that I really like the Blitz. How much do I like it? Well, 2 weeks ago I bought it, took it out of the box and drove it at the track. Never taking a lap, lined up for heat 1. Made it a lap on paper. Round 2, went 11 laps. Mains, could not run because there was a guy there with yellow AM.

It rained last week.

So last night, I took Brooklyn and AJ racing. We brought a 748 to run and planned on sharing the Blitz and maybe the 748. Unfortunately, Mr Yellow showed up again so I decided the easy solution was to just throw my M11 on the Blitz and park the 748 since Brooklyn didn't seem too interested. Luckily I brought a few maxamps 6500s. So AJ ran for 5 minutes, then I ran immediately after in the next heat. The only changes made were to crank down the throttle to 50% since he is 6 and has never raced before and has driven a car at hobby haven 2 times in the past 2 years. He did really good and I was proud of him. After round 2, Mom came and took him home so Brooklyn ran in the B main as AJ and I ran in the A.

I was pretty happy considering I never race, had zero experience with a completely stock rtr Blitz (I had to tighten 1 screw) (never adjusted threaded shocks even)

and I almost kept up with Trevor "Chilly" Duncan who works for RC Car Action. It was a good night.

http://casterracingusa.com/files/Mike/05-19-10%20Results.pdf

Now I am more ticked off than ever that we do not have a 1/10 shortcourse yet....
Hey Mike, I fixed a problem in your quote for you. ?&^

[hakmazter]

Back to the topic at hand. Mikey is officially working on a 1/18 and 1/10 shortcourse now. He has been messing with it off and on, but now I believe it is a priority. I hope it to be the case.

[badassrevo]

I would put the 1/10th as Priority #1.

[Dave D]

Back to the topic at hand. Mikey is officially working on a 1/18 and 1/10 shortcourse now. He has been messing with it off and on, but now I believe it is a priority. I hope it to be the case.

Glad to hear you enjoy the Blitz. The first time I drove one it was a rental straight out of the box and ended up with the fastest lap time for the night in the stock corr class, that was back when stock was stock and not 10.5 brushless.

Anyway's is 1/18 scale popular every where except for around here. Just curiouse as to why he is spending so much time on them instead of on them instead of finishing up on the 1/10th that is making a comback.(IMO)

[YDBD]

1/18 is not popular here with Americans or Japanese.

[Dking]

Back to the topic at hand. Mikey is officially working on a 1/18 and 1/10 shortcourse now. He has been messing with it off and on, but now I believe it is a priority. I hope it to be the case.
Caster all ready has a 1/10th sc chassis. Do what losi did and shrink the 1/8th buggy and drop a 1/10th power train in. Body mounts and bumpers away from the best 4x4sc truck out there. Set it up for saddle pack like its big brother. :cool: Make the body realistic like traxxas did. HOME RUN

[Aggressor08]

Great result! I just wish I could have been there to shoot some video of all of you going around the track.

[hakmazter]

I am sure that it will be up through Chilly. According to the announcer, I was in second for about 20 seconds....lol.

You are just mad that you moved away and I am just mad that if you went stock, you might be beat by the Jedi Master....

[MADMIKE]

1/18th has completely went away in our area aswell.

[Aggressor08]

I am sure that it will be up through Chilly.

Cool. I'm sure he will post it up on the iowarctracks forums.

You are just mad that you moved away and I am just mad that if you went stock, you might be beat by the Jedi Master....

I am mad that I moved away. I doubt I would get a stock motor for my short course. Plus my SC10 would proly get beat by the Blitz anyway.:&!@

[hakmazter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVSLbDFhaf0

Trevor "Chilly" Duncan is the white and blue one with lights. I am the stock black one right on him most of the time and am in front for a few brief times around the 4 to 5 min marks.

[bring it on]

I like at the 2 minute mark it looks like you spin out someone and then he uses revierse and then again later. LOL It sure would be nice if the camera followed you.

[hakmazter]

people are not supposed to use reverse, but they do. Personally I think for shortcourse, reverse should be mandatory....

But then of course, I want to run short course like real life with no marshalls.

[Aggressor08]

people are not supposed to use reverse, but they do. Personally I think for shortcourse, reverse should be mandatory....

But then of course, I want to run short course like real life with no marshalls.

that is one reason I wouldn't race stock short course. plus some people also cut the track as seen in the video that you posted.

[hakmazter]

I am pretty sure that isn't because it is stock. OK, next time you are around, I will jump up to mod then. I would have done ok there also with a stocker.

[Aggressor08]

I am pretty sure that isn't because it is stock. OK, next time you are around, I will jump up to mod then. I would have done ok there also with a stocker.

nah. nothin against stock. I just know that at hobby haven there are a lot of people new to r/c. not that they are ignorant of the rules...just no one has told them. All that aside we are still just there on Wednesday nights to have fun

[bring it on]

Nice Driving

[Dave D]

Nice Driving there Mike. Looks like a cool stock class. You have to have money to be competitive in ours since the motor limit is 10.5. Makes it tough for true stock trucks.

[hakmazter]

Went again tonight. Ended up being late and ran round 1 on the mod class. Went 12 laps which was ok, but there were 5 or 6 that could go 13 or 14 laps obviously. Switched over to stock where I should have been and qualified 2nd by winning that round. Started second in the main and ended up second in the main. Should have been closer but I got tangled up 2 times and had another error on my behalf.

It was fun and I videotaped it from the top of the hill. If I go next week, I will be running MY Blitz and see if it makes a difference. I did run a one off Caster body in the main so I could see it better thanks to another guy having a stock black Blitz.

I figure I will lap AJ about 3-4 times.

[bring it on]

Nice to see you have time to play and have fun.

[REAPER]

No doubt, gotta enjoy this hobby too

[hakmazter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zNzxHXJ2kk

started second, ended second. I am trying to upload my video, but it is too big.

[bring it on]

you suck, can't you ever come in 1st? :&!@

[YDBD]

you suck, can't you ever come in 1st? :&!@


I'm just gonna leave that one alone...:#$

[Dking]

I'm just gonna leave that one alone...:#$
:#$:&!@:&!@

[Tron]

very cool to see a 1/10 SC truck is in the works.

My opinion is to go straight for 4wd Short course...OFNA/Jammin and Slash 4x4 are the only options and the 4wd trucks are so much more fun than the 2wd.

What is in the works? 2wd or 4wd?

[hakmazter]

all of the above in theory now that he finally thinks that sc is here to stay.

[jason]

all of the above in theory now that he finally thinks that sc is here to stay.
?&^

[expertbasser]

Mike:

I have a question for ya:

WHEN would YOU like to drive/race at MY home track? There's a big RC Pro Series race in August. It will be the final race, & I'll be THERE! Its also a DOUBLE POINTS race! I'll keep you posted on the exact day/date!

[hakmazter]

I am not that good. But that would guarantee you moving up a slot overall......lol.

[bring it on]

Hey Mike, I know you are leaving to Las Vegas soon and i just wanted to say have a safe trip and i hope you have a great time. Make sure you walk the strip and see all the really cool shows they offer for free. I wish we could meet up but it doesn't look good. Vegas is 7 hours away and i work all next week and sat:rolleyes:.

[expertbasser]

Mike:

I just tried to send you a PM & got THIS:

"hakmazter has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space."

Ya think its time to READ & DELETE some of the pm's?

LOL!!!:&!@

[hakmazter]

partially fixed. I can get probably 80 more pms right now.

[hakmazter]

I just got my new DX3s for this year. Way lighter than the m11.

[expertbasser]

you suck, can't you ever come in 1st? :&!@


Hey Mr. team manager! How bout some SUPPORT! LMAO!!!

WHEN I finish in the "A", I'm so happy, I could be TWINS!

[hakmazter]

I came in second last year in stock short course.

I honestly believe we have some locals that would give Rick a run for his money since I know how fast Alex from the plex is compared to guys here and famous people......

[bring it on]

I came in second last year in stock short course.

I honestly believe we have some locals that would give Rick a run for his money since I know how fast Alex from the plex is compared to guys here and famous people......
HUMMMM, When caster starts making money, buy me a plane ticket and i will come visit.;)

[hakmazter]

deal

[flatusboy]

Mike, I sent you an email about some possible places to peddle our goods. :-)

[hakmazter]

Yes you did and I forwarded it to my secret salesperson. I will call them later this week to verify he talked to them.

Thank you and I will let everyone here know what happened as a potential model for success.

[expertbasser]

I just got my new DX3s for this year. Way lighter than the m11.

YUCK!:eek:<*&