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Anyone have any history on Masami and his choice to run 4WD with Schumacher (for what looks like one year), then go (permeantly) to Yokomo? I would be interested in the education.

I would assume that because of the Associated/Yokomo relationdhip back in the day, that choice would be somewhat obvious (that is an assumption), but I don't get Schumacher. Not that I see anything wrong with it... heck it was his car that got me interested in the Cat thanks to RCCA. I couldn't afford $400 for a kit back then, but I sure did dream about it.

I think it was because it was agood chassis. If you go to the link below and watch episoe 2 or 3 (can't remember which) Schumacher himself talk about it... I think that's what I remember... Cool stuff anyway.


http://www.centralbooking.org/rcracing.tv/

It is episode 3,... it was a bit confusing in the manner that he explained it, but it sounds like Masami was already driving a SWB Cat, then we won with a factory prepped XLB (LWB) Cat of which Schumacher still is the current owner (how cool would that be to own). Cool info, but I wonder why we choose Schumacher first then went to Yokomo. The 834b was out for a while before the XL was the WC.

Masami had the opportunity to run for Kyosho, but preferred to run the CAT. The 834b was well past its sell by date by 87 and it had already been well and truly beaten by the Optima. Yokomo arrived with a new undeveloped prototype YZ870c for the Worlds. At the 87 Worlds Masami was only sponsored by HPI motors and ran as a privateer.

He arrived with his own SWB CAT, as he wasn't sponsored he only had the car he had bought. Schumacher saw how good he was and lent him one of their Phil Booth specials for the meeting, which he won.

He was still unsponsored after the Worlds. Schumacher wasn't running any racers in Japan. Yokomo then offered both Masami and Masaki jobs in their R & D department, (who would turn down a job opportunity to build and run r/c cars every day) which started their long term relationship.

So there was a 870c at the WC in 1987? Who was the driver?

Thanks for the info terry, should have known you might have the answer.

Yes, there were a couple of prototypes running. They were driven by Gil Losi Jr who didn't do too well and by Jay Halsey who got it into the A final.