Roelof, are there any champion level drivers in Europe planning to run Nova Rossi engines in 1/8 onroad this season?

Good question.....
Not sure what is hapening with Novarossi. No new models are introduced, Ielasi has left (so it seems), Kurzbuch went to OS, Pietsch did go to Ielasi but probably with the knowledge to get OS based engines.
MAX seemed to have bought some machines from Novarossi so I was told. The only topdrivers so far I know running a Nova based engine are running a MAX engine like Balestri en RickV. Do not forget MAG tuned has also started an own line of Nova based engines, I believe no topnames are running it but who knows in the future.

What I do see are a lot of engines made from several components, like a normal long stroke P/S set placed in an xtra long stroke housing which you can see on the placement of the sleeve center pin and 2 cuts in the lip of the sleeve. You can also see it on the heads, like today the 21PT using the RB style head and many more things. I also see very low prices for top range engines. A Mesphito with steel bearings for just above 200 euro....

It is hard to tell what is going on.

I think it's awesome. I personally couldn't care less what top drivers are running. And I personally would never spend Speed money. So I think cheaper top-flight Novarossi engines is awesome..

The Novarossi factory has been closed since the start of the COVID lockdown in Italy and whilst most business and factories have reopened now Novarossi has not. Rumour has it there is no indication that Novarossi will reopen anytime soon. Ielasi hasn't 'left' Novarossi he was forced to goto OS because he couldn't get any parts from Novarossi anymore. MAX also started offering OS based engines last year and so the writing was on the wall then. For the record the Capricorn ONE O.S. based engines have been tuned by Ielasi for quite some time anyway so the move to OS for him isn't such a big deal.

There have been many rumours of Novarossi as a company being on the rocks financially for the last couple of years and it pains me to say it but it appears that unless they get some serious funding to clear the debts and reopen the factory its only a matter of time before a more formal announcement is made. If all this is really true we are on the brink of loosing a big name from the history of Nitro R/C.

I hate to see them go but they killed themselves. They can only blame them! I hope someone steps in and saves them.

Those years of massively overpricing their stuff and a few dud engine lines a couple years ago such as the Virtus line and the early Mitos took its toll on the iconic brand. I truly hope someone steps in to save the brand and turn it around. Trouble is nowadays the worldwide troubles will prevent this for the time being. A big shame for sure.

The emergence of O.S. on the on-road market really hurt them IMO.

They weren't easy to deal with. The prices became too high. Their products stopped being as good. They never held themselves accountable and they were vague when it came to sharing information on their engines. Often the engines didn't hold a tune. OS doesn't have that problem.

That's exactly what I mean, I didn't want to say it on the Novarossi thread though. The Virtus wasn't a bad motor, but it wasn't better than the previous model, and the Keep On wasn't that great either. The PTS was a better motor than those 2 IMO. ANd Mitos...

the selling price and the proprietary bearing size made itself into such situation today.

I had 4 Virtus engines (2x 21s and 2x 12s) and they were all crap - the older Keep Ons were marginally better. The last standard Novarossi engine I rated was the Flash series of which most of the tuner engines are based upon. Since then the stock Novarossis haven't been all that good to be honest. The Mephisto was better and addressed some of the issues but I fear it was too little too late. Now if only O.S. can sort out the relatively poor runtime they have it would be the perfect engine!

I only had one VIrtus and one Keep on, I wasn't that active during that time. My biggest complain about the O.S. is the price of the pipes. Im going to try a Hipex soon.

agreed, but i can't resist the ferrari type of screaming sound, hypex is not having the craving tone

Dan:
Are you sure the ONE engine by Capricorn are modified by Ielasi? I was told it was Fantini...

BB

I heard the same too. ONE modified by Fantini. And where can I get a Max modified OS?