Few forms of racing can be as mentally taxing on a driver as 1/12-scale on-road. These rocket ships require lightning fast reflexes, smooth driving skills, and confidence in your equipment. Team JR’s Frank Calandra, Jr. brought home the win at International Indoor Championships (IIC) in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a race that had some of the best drivers in the world on hand, Frank was able to win the first major indoor race of the season. The not-so-secret weapon that Frank used that allowed him to out-drive the competition was none other than his new Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM equipped JR Z-1. Just days after his win, Frank sat down with us to discuss the event, his performance, and how Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM technology helped him on his way to victory.

Horizon Hobby: Frank, first of all, congratulations on your win. You have to feel great after your performance in Vegas. What is your mindset now as you prepare for the US Indoor Championships in Cleveland, Ohio?

Frank Calandra, Jr.: I’m feeling pretty good. Before Vegas, I built two new cars, one for stock and one for modified 1/12-scale. I was able to mount the receivers on each of the chassis, bind them both to the same module, and not have to think about it after that. At previous events, I would have been swapping crystals, modules, or other components when running two different cars in two different classes. At the race itself, everything felt great. I felt very connected to my car.

HH: Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM technology has been in use by racers for nearly a full year now. How do you feel that upgrading to Spektrum modules and receivers has changed racing for you personally?

FCJ: The IIC was the first event where I used the Spektrum system. The advantage I gained by being able to go out and practice whenever I wanted to and not having to worry about crystals was immeasurable. I could go up to the driver’s stand whenever I wanted to, turn my radio and car on, and just practice. On the track, my car felt the same as it had when I was using a crystal-based system. I felt just as connected to my car as I had when I was using traditional crystal-based modules and receivers. In the end, I felt that I was able to get more practice and get more out of practice than I had at previous races.

HH: 1/12-scale has long been known as a class that requires lightning-fast reflexes and puts a premium on precise driving. What did you do in preparation for the IIC to make sure that your CRC Carpet Knife 3.2R (CLN1304) was as smooth and precise as possible?

FCJ: The track in Vegas was set up using our own CRC Fast Track carpet. Knowing that, we tested at our own facility. Our track was in need of new carpet anyway, so we installed new carpet here as well, which made our test facility identical to the track surface we would be seeing in Vegas. I ran a number of batteries through each of my cars after I built them. I also used these shakedown runs to test out the Spektrum module and receiver, along with my new JR 3650 (JRPSZ3650) digital servos. I ended up only running about five packs through each chassis before we left; the cars felt that good.

HH: Some racers have claimed that they have felt a lag or latency issue with Spektrum DSM systems when using it indoors. Did you have any of these issues?

FCJ: I had also heard these concerns, but I never had any of these issues in Vegas. I normally run my servos with positive exponential to make the steering feel more aggressive, allowing me to get more steering throw with less wheel input. If there were any sort of lag issue, I would have had to turn my expo higher to compensate for this, but that wasn’t the case. I actually ran less expo with the Spektrum module and receiver than I normally do. I felt more connected to both of my cars that I had with my older crystal setup. A small movement of the wheel translated into the desired servo movement. Through all of practice, qualifying, and the mains, I never felt any sort of lag or latency. It simply didn’t exist.

HH: What are your thoughts and feelings now that other Spektrum DSM components are almost here, such as the Telemetry System?

FCJ: Spektrum makes life so much easer for hobbyists than it has ever been. You don’t need to worry about crystals or frequency clips, and glitching is a thing of the past. And now that the Telemetry modules are about to be released, things are really going to get exciting. The more people know about their cars, the more they can fine-tune and improve their cars to go faster and be more efficient. With Spektrum 2.4GHz technology, the sky is truly the limit.

HH: Are there any final comments you’d like to share about the race, your new Z-1, or Spektrum 2.4GHz DSM technology?

FCJ: First of all, I’d like to thank the organizers and race directors of the IIC. They ran as close to a perfect event as I have ever seen. The races were all on time, and the race was well managed. As far as Spektrum, my new JR Z-1, and my JR 3650 digital servo, all of my radio components worked flawlessly. I felt like I was directly connected to my CRC Carpet Knife 3.2R through the Z-1. With the US Indoor Championships coming up, I am really looking forward to continuing my winning ways. With Spektrum and JR, I feel that I have a great shot at another title.

Congratulations once again to Frank Calandra, Jr., Team JR, Spektrum, and CRC. With the indoor season now in full swing, expect to see Spektrum in the winner’s circle more and more. We wish Frank the best of luck as he prepares to try to capture the 1/12- scale Masters title once again at the US Indoor Championships in November.

Race facts at a glance:

• There were 430 entrants in the First Annual International Indoor Championships.
• There were 83 racers at the event that used Spektrum, or roughly 20% of the field.
• Frank Calandra, Jr. is the Owner of CRC Racing, one of the leaders in 1/12-scale chassis.
• Jeff Cuffs qualified 2nd and won the Stock Foam Sedan Class. He also qualified 10th and finished 9th in the 19T Foam Sedan Class. Mo Denton was also in the Stock Foam Sedan A-Main, where he finished 6th.
• Along with Frank, Mark Strasnick also finished in the 1/12th Scale Stock A-Main, finishing 6th.
• Scotty Ernst, who has been the race director for IFMAR World Championships, The Reedy Race of Champions, and the US Touring Car Championships Sponsored by Novak, was the man who organized and ran the International Indoor Championships.
• The race was held in the ball room at the Star Dust Hotel.
• The IIC organizers provided real-time scoring and commentary on the Internet