Category Archives: Vintage

Tamiya World Championship 1996

Our reader Søren Boy Holst who won the Tamiya World Championship 1996 and still races since 35 years without a break RC cars kindly provided us some insights, photos and video of it for which we are very thankful:

Attached is a podium photo from the Tamiya World Championship 1996 held at Kakegawa Circuit, where Søren Boy Holst from Denmark won the FWD class and became Tamiya World Champion. In the same season, he also won the Tamiya European Championship in Switzerland (where a young Marc Rheinard also participated in the FWD class) – making it a double victory year for him in the Front Wheel Drive category.

In the photo, Søren is seen at the top of the podium holding his trophy and his Tamiya FWD race car. The race marked the early use of the now-famous Kakegawa Circuit, which had only just opened that year.

Also present at the same event was Scotty Ernst (USA), now a legendary RC race announcer and founder of the ETS series, who competed in the 4WD Touring Car class. The US FWD Champion Fred Medel also took part in the FWD category.

If you have other photos, link to the TV article, or any other relevant informations from that race, please send it to me. – I had a fantastic time in Japan, and I plan to come back soon, this time with my family.

Noriko Hidaka, Mae-chan, and Dr. Taki appear at Tamiya RC Car 50th Anniversary Event



To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Tamiya RC car, the “Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix” recording race was held at the Tamiya Circuit in Shizuoka City on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Popular voice actress Noriko Hidaka, who served as the MC of the popular TV program “Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix,” Yasuyuki Maeda, also known as Mae-chan of Tamiya, and Fumito Taki, a Tamiya employee also known as Dr. Taki, gathered together for the first time in 35 years. RC fans who watched the program at that time participated from all over the country and struggled in the race to aim for the driver interview by Noriko Hidaka, which was also a specialty of the program. The venue was filled with smiles from start to finish, and it was a dream-like day that brought back fun memories of those days.

In addition, the “Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix Special” will be held at the Tamiya Kakegawa Circuit the following day, Sunday, April 13. The guests were Hiromi Kae, a TV personality who loves Mini 4WD and RC cars, and Satoshi Maezumi, a Tamiya employee who has won the Electric Off-Road All Japan Championship and is currently involved in the management of RC car events. Don’t miss this heated battle that unfolded on one of the world’s largest RC circuits.

Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix Special in Tamiya Circuit held on Saturday, April 12th in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix Special in Tamiya Kakegawa Circuit held on Sunday, April 13th in Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture

Tamiya Grasshopper & Hornet 40th Anniversary Video



Tamiya’s RC buggies, Grasshopper and Hornet, will celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2024. To commemorate the 40th anniversary, we will introduce videos from when they were released and events held in 2024 to commemorate the 40th anniversary.
The commemorative events were held at Tamiya Circuit on August 18, 2024, Pine Beach RC Raceway on November 10, 2024, and TAMIYA PLAMODEL FACTORY TOKYO from November 30, 2024 to January 26, 2025.  Event details: Tamiya Circuit (August 18, 2024): This was an RC fan meeting where participants brought their favorite Tamiya RC cars and enjoyed free driving and photo shoots. Mini RC games and a raffle were also held.  Pine Beach RC Raceway (November 10, 2024): Participants drove and raced in a driving event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Grasshopper and Hornet.  TAMIYA PLAMODEL FACTORY TOKYO (November 30, 2024 to January 26, 2025): A Grasshopper & Hornet 40th Anniversary Campaign was held, and various events were held.

A romantic story about the birth of the Tamiya RC buggy car



This time, we will talk about how to play with RC cars, which led to the birth of the Tamiya RC Buggy. It has been about 45 years since the birth of the Tamiya RC Buggy, and many people are still enjoying the Tamiya romance today. This video is full of emotion so that the romance of Tamiya RC cars can be conveyed to people all over the world, so please take a look.
Source: Paisen RC

Photos from Tamiya RC 50th Anniversary – Tamiya RC 50 Years Perfect Album



Includes all the latest models, including the Hornet EVO.
Tamiya’s first RC model, the M4 Sherman tank, released in 1974, and the world’s first electric RC car, the Porsche Turbo RSR934 Racing, released in 1976, as well as the latest models, including the Hornet EVO. In addition to the main electric car models, the book explains over 1,200 RC models released in the past, including trucks, gliders, and yachts. At the end of the book, there is a complete collector’s edition list that covers everything from RC car kits to spare parts, limited edition products, and export-only models.

Special interviews with Dr. Taki, Noriko Hidaka, and Mae-chan are included!
“Tamiya RC Car Grand Prix” is a legendary TV program that was broadcast for 15 years from 1984. This book features special interviews with the three cast members. We spoke with Dr. Taki, who gave us a clear explanation of RC, Noriko Hidaka, who is by far the most popular reporter among all the reporters, and Yasuyuki Maeda, also known as “Tamiya’s Mae-chan,” who played an active role as a host and commentator. We asked
Dr. Taki about the thoughts behind the 1/16 scale RC tank “M4 Sherman 105mm Howitzer,” which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024 and is being rapidly developed for commercialization. Looking back

At the memorable “Tamiya RC Guidebook”!
In 1978, the electric RC car boom that began with the appearance of the Porsche Turbo 934 Racing was in full swing. The “Tamiya RC Guidebook,” edited by Tamiya Model Design Room (at the time), was released as the official printed material to introduce Tamiya’s RC models. In addition to serving as a catalogue showcasing all of the Tamiya RC models sold at the time with beautiful photographs, the book also contains detailed information that was difficult to find at the time, such as basic knowledge of RC models, such as the type of radio wave used by the transmitter and how to choose a kit, tips on assembly and tools, tuning tips, and even practice methods to improve driving techniques, making it a veritable bible for anyone who enjoys Tamiya RC models. This book looks back on the history of Tamiya RC models, which were published in accordance with the era and the products released, using valuable “original items” in Tamiya’s collection.

Official product video of Tamiya 58336 The Hornet



The Legend Lives On
The revolutionary 1984 2WD off-road buggy is back and more fun than ever before! The Hornet stands as one of Tamiya’s most popular R/C cars ever released, helping launch a 2WD R/C buggy boom worldwide. Featuring excellent performance on both dirt and on-road tracks, this awesome buggy can take on any type of terrain. Just like the original, this re-release features an easy to assemble chassis and drivetrain consisting of a durable but lightweight ABS resin bathtub frame, diff gear loaded sealed gearbox, oil filled rear dampers, powerful RS 540 motor and high performance suspension system. The Hornet is perfect for those that used to have one, those that have always wanted one, and for those that want a revolutionary buggy that has earned its place in R/C history.

Specifications
★Length: 400mm, width: 230mm, height: 150mm. Weight: 874g ★Solid bathtub frame with side bumpers ★High performance Type 540 motor ★Independent swing axle front suspension with friction dampers ★Rolling rigid axle rear suspension with oil filled dampers ★Sealed rear gearbox to protect diff gear during off-road running ★Original 3-piece assembly wheels compatible with optional ball bearings (sold separately) ★Straight ribbed racing front tires ★Spiked buggy rear tires ★Durable, shock absorbent polycarbonate body shell ★Reinforced resin bumper ★TEU-101BK Electronic Speed Controller