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So having built up my Pro Radiant kit a while ago now, I have been scouring the internet trying to locate a few spares to enable me to subsequently race it on the track without having to tiptoe around.... pretty impossible as spares are super scarce as it is in the USA, let alone over in the UK where very few were ever raced or imported bitd.

I then ended up reading through an old Radio Race Car Series magazine article which I actually featured in, and at that meeting the TOP Models team were running their newly imported car; the Pro Radiant. TOP Models was one of the largest UK RC based models shops in the UK at that time, and the period adverts in the subsequent Radio Race Car editions all touted the shop as the main AYK Pro Radiant distributor for the UK. A plan was developing in my head....

I set about trying to locate and contact the team manager and shop owner from that time.... a guy called Dave Vine, and with a bit of online poking about I eventually came up with an email addy, dropped him a line asking if he still had any of his old spares, and waited..... He eventually replied and we exchanged a few emails before he told me he still had a box of Race Prep Pro Radiant spares stashed away in his lock-up, and that I was free to buy it all if I wanted. He couldn't really remember what was in there but I was just pleased to have discovered something. Over the next 3-6months I sent the odd email prompting him, but he always replied to say he had been too busy and eventually I started to give up hope.

About another 12months went by and then I unfortunately heard that Dave has very sadly passed away. I have friends who were very close with him and it was certainly a loss for the RC community as a whole.

Fast forward until about 3 weeks ago and I get a random Fb message from a fellow racer stating that Dave's widow had contacted him to help clear out his old lock-up, and my name popped up in conversation in relation to the AYK stash. His wishes were followed through and I was offered the lot.

I collected it at the weekend, and MY LORD was I surprised when I got my hands on it all. Knowing how rare any Pro Radiant parts are in any condition, to see this many new in bag items all in one pile was just something else. There are multiples of everything, optional saddle pack chassis, steering set-ups, diffs and diff hardware, tie-rods and ball joint sets, shocks, slipper clutches, spur gear adapters and even the hens teeth gold rear bumpers and front one-ways. More spares than I will ever need, and will keep me on the track for a long, long time.

I have posted these pictures up on a few Fb pages over the past couple of days, but here they are again.

These are two particularly cool hop-up offerings from that time, the slipper clutch and spur gear adapters. Having spoken to quite a few Pro Radiant owners, not too many of them have ever seen one of these or even knew they existed.

Well played - congrats

I ordered a spare chain, and one of those spur adapters long ago. Wish I had back then the money to buy a bunch of the stuff, there was a hop up sheet and order form in the box.

Yeah I have seen a listing of the available hop-ups, coincidentally on the period TOP Models advertising.

There are a few of the spur adapters in the stash.

Wow nice score! Never owned one of those buggies but always thought they were super cool.

That really is a motherload. Nice! I had a Pro Radiant bitd. I sold it and have regretted that decision for a while now. Your posts do not help!

Have you raced one of these previously? I'm interested to hear a track report.

Holy Mother Of Gene Husting

matt1ptkn wrote: ↑Thu Oct 11, 2018 6:52 am

Have you raced one of these previously? I'm interested to hear a track report.

No I have never driven a Pro Radiant previously. I was an out and out Yoke guy bitd. I always liked the look of them though, and did race against some of the TOP Models team running them occasionally. I think the chain drive was seen as out-dated over in the UK and there were hardly any out on track as a result. I think today the chain drive will prove beneficial with modern brushless and Lipo power, especially with these original slipper clutches I have uncovered.

I built my original kit last year with the plan to run it, but was concerned about the lack of spares availability... but with this lot I think my plan can become a reality. I intend to build a couple of spare cars with what I have. Coincidentally I was also approached a few days ago by a guy who had seen the pictures of these spares on Fb and he subsequently offered me another Pro Radiant. It is in rough shape having been wet as a result of a house fire in the past. The owner has been unable to source spares to rebuild it but saw I had what was needed. Due to lack of funds he let me take it off his hands for a very good price indeed. Shouldn't take too much to swap out what is needed to get it up an running again, as all of the vital components are there and intact, and it appears to have a slipper clutch also. Pretty sweet deal I must admit. Just waiting for it to arrive in the post now. It has been a good few days

Quick clean up, changed out a few of the metal parts.....

So jealous. I’ve been scouring the inter-webs for one of those!

orangemazda wrote: ↑Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:31 pm So jealous. I’ve been scouring the inter-webs for one of those!

My thoughts as well! And I love seeing that orange color of the arms!

Those turned out great. I've got to agree with the guys above. I've always wanted one of these just because. Always love seeing the orange arms on these and I don't know why . Maybe its because its out of the norm and I've always rooted for the underdogs but these things always looked cool to me. Good to see this whole thing went to someone willing to still run these.

Todd

I know, i have been massively lucky with this lot. I am currently on build number 3 and seem to have sufficient parts to build a further 2 more complete cars, with still more critical spares available...