Race Report
Maifield & Cavalieri Win Offroad Shootout
Event: Hot Rod Hobbies Offroad Shootout
Location: Hot Rod Hobbies, Saugus, CA
Dates: July 8-10, 2005
Vehicle Class: Electric and Gas Offroad
Ryan Maifield (left) and Ryan Cavalieri
Synopsis:
As the temperature rises in Southern California, racers flock to Hot Rod Hobbies
in the Santa Clarita Valley to compete in the 8th Annual Offroad Shootout. The
Hot Rod surface is a by-the-books blue groove track. The layout is built two
weeks in advance and allowed to dry to a hard crust that provides superb
traction and consistency.
This year marked the return of both Ryan Cavalieri and Jared Tebo to the Offroad
Shootout. In previous years, there has been a scheduling conflict that prevented
them from attending, but this year they both chose to compete against the top
offroad racers in the nation in preparation for the upcoming ROAR Nationals and
IFMAR World Championships. Also in attendance were top Associated/Reedy drivers
Ryan Maifield, Dave Montgomery, and Lloyd Dassonville. Team Losi also had their
top drivers in attendance, including Matt Francis, Travis Amezcua, Jesse
Robbers, Billy Easton, and Mike Truhe.
Throughout Friday and Saturday, drivers vied for the top spots and “A” main
positions over four rounds of qualifying. At the end of qualifying Team
Associated drivers took TQ honors in 2WD Modified, Truck Modified, 4WD Modified
and Pro Gas Truck. Additionally, Reedy Powered driver Ryan Maifield to TQ honors
in the highly competitive 2WD Modified class with Ryan Cavalieri TQ’ing the
other three classes.
2WD Modified
Starting from the pole position, AE/Reedy driver Ryan Maifield checked out
from the competition and cruised to a comfortable win in A1. Things were looking
similar in A2, until a shock malfunction on the second to last lap allowed the
competition to close in and forced Maifield to finish the race with only three
functioning shocks. At the start of A3 Maifield began pulling away from the
other competitors as teammate Jared Tebo picked his way to the front. As time
elapsed Tebo was able to reel in Maifield and make for a bid for the lead. An
untimely crash by Tebo relieved the pressure from Maifield and allowed him to
bring home the main victory and overall win.
Left to right: Mike Truhe, Jared Tebo, Ryan Maifield, Billy Easton & Travis Amezcua
Overall Results, 2WD Modified:
| Position | Name | Vehicle | Motor | ESC |
| 1 | Ryan Maifield (TQ) | FT B4 | Reedy | LRP |
| 2 | Jared Tebo | FT T4 | Checkpoint | LRP |
| 3 | Billy Easton | Losi | Trinity | Novak |
| 4 | Mike Truhe | Losi | Trinity | Novak |
| 5 | Travis Amezcua | Losi | Trinity | LRP |
| 6 | Jesse Robbers | Losi | Fantom | Novak |
| 7 | Billy Fischer | Losi | Orion | LRP |
| 8 | Ryan Cavalieri | FT B4 | Trinity | LRP |
| 9 | Josh Numan | Losi | Checkpoint | Novak |
| 10 | Brent Thielke | FT B4 | Reedy | LRP |
Truck Modified
Occupying the top four positions on the grid, Team Associated drivers were
primed to battle it out for the top position and overall champion. In A1
Cavalieri was able to distance himself from the battle for second after an early
crash by Tebo. That was until Maifield and Tebo began pushing to catch up, but
in the end came up a second short of Cavalieri. Things were looking good in A2
for Cavalieri to wrap up the overall title, but as Dave Montgomery continued to
pressure Cavalieri, a brush with the pipe forced an early retirement from
Cavalieri. Montgomery cruised to the victory in A2, setting the stage for a
showdown in the third main. As A3 proceeded, Tebo got out front and didn’t look
back, allowing Cavalieri, Montgomery, and Maifield to battle it out for the
overall win. In the end, with a last lap pass, Cavalieri crossed the line in
second securing the overall title.
Left to right: Ryan Maifield, Jared Tebo, Ryan Cavalieri, Dave Montgomery, Travis Amezcua
Overall Results, Truck Modified:
| Position | Name | Vehicle | Motor | ESC |
| 1 | Ryan Cavalieri (TQ) | FT T4 | Trinity | LRP |
| 2 | Jared Tebo | FT T4 | Checkpoint | LRP |
| 3 | Dave Montgomery | FT T4 | Reedy | LRP |
| 4 | Ryan Maifield | FT T4 | Reedy | LRP |
| 5 | Travis Amezcua | Losi | Trinity | LRP |
| 6 | Mike Truhe | Losi | Trinity | Novak |
| 7 | Josh Numan | Losi | Checkpoint | Novak |
| 8 | Matt Francis | Losi | Trinity | LRP |
| 9 | Billy Fischer | Losi | Orion | LRP |
| 10 | Billy Easton | Losi | Trinity | Novak |
Pro Gas Truck
With an even split between Associated and Losi vehicles, the 45 minute “A”
final was looking to play out as a classic dual. An early retirement by Amezcua
and Truhe knocked out two competitors and in typical gas fashion a few flameouts
and breaks took a few others out of the mix for the overall win. At the
30-minute mark, the only two vehicles on the lead lap were Cavalieri and Tebo.
Looking for an advantage, Tebo employed his custom-made quick-change system and
opted to change both rear tires in hopes of making up time on Cavalieri. In the
end, the gamble didn’t pay off and Cavalieri cruised to an 8 second victory
leading the 1-2-3 sweep for the Team Associated GT.
Left to right: Phillip Atondo, Jared Tebo, Ryan Cavalieri, Marty Korn, Joe Pillars
Overall Results, Pro Gas Truck:
| Position | Name | Vehicle | Engine | Fuel |
| 1 | Ryan Cavalieri (TQ) | FT GT | Trinity | Trinity |
| 2 | Jared Tebo | FT GT | O’Donnell | O’Donnell |
| 3 | Marty Korn | FT GT | Orion | O’Donnell |
| 4 | Phillip Atondo | Losi | Orion | Black Demon |
| 5 | Joe Pillars | FT GT | Peak | Black Demon |
| 6 | Aaron Waldron | Losi | Trinity | Trinity |
| 7 | Jimmy Babcock | Losi | Trinity | Trinity |
| 8 | Ryan Maifield | FT GT | Orion | Black Demon |
| 9 | Mike Truhe | Losi | Trinity | Trinity |
| 10 | Travis Amezcua | Losi | Trinity | Trinity |
4WD Modified
In preparation for the upcoming World Championships, many drivers chose to
focus on the competitive 4WD class. Reigning World Champion Ryan Cavalieri took
the TQ position and earned the right to start on the front row for Sunday with
his J-Concepts BJ4. In A1 Cavalieri battled it out with Truhe and crossed the
line less than a second ahead of the hard-charging Truhe. In A2, Cavalieri was
checked out from the field until he began slowing with a minute to go. This
allowed Amezcua to take the win of A2 and Cavalieri was again able to best Truhe
by only a few tenths of a second. A3 was shaping up to be a battle between
Cavalier, Truhe and Amezcua for the win. Early on, Amezcua broke in the fast
chicane, which left the Cavalier and Truhe to battle it out. An unfortunate
break by Cavalieri while in a position to win the event, handed the victory to
Truhe and regulated Cavalieri to the second position.
Left to right: Greg Hodapp, Ryan Cavalieri, Mike Truhe, Dave Montgomery, Billy Fischer
Overall Results, 4wd Modified:
| Position | Name | Vehicle | Motor | ESC |
| 1 | Mike Truhe | Losi | Trinity | Novak |
| 2 | Ryan Cavalieri (TQ) | BJ4 | Trinity | LRP |
| 3 | Dave Montgomery | BJ4 | Reedy | LRP |
| 4 | Greg Hodapp | X5 | Peak | Novak |
| 5 | Billy Fischer | Losi | Orion | LRP |
| 6 | Jared Tebo | BJ4 | Checkpoint | LRP |
| 7 | Travis Amezcua | Losi | Trinity | LRP |
| 8 | Josh Numan | Losi | Checkpoint | Novak |
| 9 | Matt Francis | Losi | Trinity | LRP |
| 10 | Ryan Dawson | Losi | Orion | Novak |