Eight Wins For Team Associated at the Spektrum Off-Road Championships

Wednesday, Nov 12, 2014 at 12:00am UTC

In its 5th year, the Spektrum Off-Road Championships hosted by Trackside Hobbies & Raceway has become one of the "must attend" events of the Fall. Located just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Trackside has recently changed ownership and is striving to become one of the most complete facilities in the nation.

Team Associated traveled to the event with defending champion Ryan Cavalieri leading the way. Out of the gate, "RC" showed everyone the pace in 2WD, 4WD and 2WD Short Course Modified, driving his RC10B5M, RC10B44.3 and SC10.2.

In the 12 rounds of qualifying among his three classes, Cavalieri set the fastest time in 10 of them to take the Top Qualifying position in all three classes. Also taking TQs for Team Associated were Cole Tollard in 2WD Modified Truck, Nick Achterkirch in 2WD Stock Buggy, Sarahann Ernst in 4WD 13.5 Buggy, Scotty Ernst in 2WD Stock Short Course, and Larry Wright in Novice.

Sunday morning, main day, the racers were greeted by the FOX6 news crew covering the event as a special interest segment.

Fresh off his live interview, Ryan Cavalieri lead the field around the challenging Trackside layout. With wins in A1 and A2 of 2WD Modified Buggy, Cavalieri and his RC10B5M set the fastest 2WD lap of the event on his way to taking the overall title. In 4WD Modified, Cavalieri again took the overall title; however, this time it was with victories in A2 and A3, again setting the fastest single lap of the event with his B44.3 Factory Team. 2WD Modified Short Course was a single 7-minute race that saw Cavalieri again check out from the field for his third title of the event, driving his SC10.2 Factory Team. 

A similar situation developed in the single 7-minute 2WD Modified Truck main event; however, this time TQ Cole Tollard crashed on lap two and gave the lead to teammate Brent Thielke, who held off a late race charge from TQ man Tollard to take the win.  Also taking wire-to-wire victories driving Team Associated vehicles were Sarahann Ernst in 13.5 4WD Buggy, Scotty Ernst in 2WD Stock Short Course, Nick Achterkirch in 2WD Stock and Larry Wright in Novice.

The Spektrum Off-Road Championships is one of those races on the calendar everyone should attend. With a great facility, fast group of local racers, and a layout that was simple enough to drive, but difficult to go fast on, it's every racer's dream. Thanks goes out to the whole Trackside crew for a great event and we look forward to returning in 2015.


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