Team Losi Racing
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Racing |
| Founded | circa 1980 |
| Headquarters | Ontario, California |
Key people | Bill Jeric, Jukka Steenari, Adam Drake, Mike Truhe, Richard Trujillo |
| Products | Radio-controlled Cars |
| Website | www.losi.com |
Team Losi is a USA based radio-controlled car manufacturer founded by Gil Losi in the late-1980s.
History of Team Losi
Team Losi's first vehicle, the JRX2, was a 1/10 Scale 2wd Off-Road racing buggy. When it was released to the public in 1988, the JRx-2 featured many innovations that were unheard of at the time, from its unique 5-link rear suspension arms, carbon-graphite chassis, and all-natural rubber racing tires, the JRx-2 set the stage for technological advancement and innovation. Team Losi, along with Team Associated, have helped shape the R/C industry into what it is today. The JRx-T was the first "purpose built" electric stadium trucks that didn't require racers to modify an existing buggy. The JRx-Pro SE was the first competition buggy to come standard with a molded composite chassis in an era where stamped aluminum and graphite plates were the standard. The Street Weapon was not only Team Losi's first on-road Sedan, but also the first IFMAR IWC Touring Car Championship Chassis.
Present Day
Losi vehicles are being designed by former IFMAR World Champion Jukka Steenari as well as many other talented engineers and product manager. Losi prides itself on its racing heritage, which includes multiple ROAR and NORRCA National Titles,aviation, European Titles, and of course IFMAR World Championships. In recent years, Losi has expanded their product line to include Ready to Run cars and trucks, Monster Trucks, and have recently dominated the super competitive 1/8 scale Buggy market.
The current product line-up from Losi includes vehicles for just about every RC application. The Team Losi XXX-CR, XXX-TCR, and XXX-4 Graphite Plus all carry the Losi banner in electric 1/10 scale off road races. The JRX-S is Losi's marquee touring car. The XXX-NT AD2 is Losi's nitro-powered 1/10 scale truck. The 8ight represents the first US-made 1/8 scale competition buggy. The addition of the 8ight-T Truggy rounds out Losi's nitro lineup.
Vehicles included in the Losi line-up include a wide range of vehicle types. For Monster Truck fans, there's the Aftershock and the LST2. Mini sized offerings include the Mini-T, Mini-T Pro, and Mini-LST as well as a Mini LST 2. Two XXX-T RTR's are available, one that comes equipped with a Team Trinity 19T Motor and a second that includes a Team Novak Brushless motor system. On-road fans have the Drift-R Sedan RTR. Losi has added a new truck, one of the first ever 1/36 scale RC trucks, called the Micro-T. The dirt oval racing enthusiast can choose from the, 1/10 Slider RTR, 1/18 Mini-Slider RTR, 1/18 Late Model RTR, and the 1/8 L8ight Model.
Current Chassis Lineup
Race Kits:
- XXX-CR
- XXX-TCR
- XXX-T MF2
- 8ight
- 8ight-T
- XXX-NT AD2
- XXX-4 Graphite Plus
- XX-4 Worlds Edition
- JRXS
- JRXS Type-R
- 1/8 L8ight Model
Ready to Run's:
- 8ight RTR
- XXX-T RTR 2
- XXX-T RTR 2 Brushless Edition
- XXX-NT RTR 2
- Drift-R Sedan RTR
- 1/10 Slider RTR
- 1/18 Mini-Late Model RTR
- 1/18 Mini=Slider RTR
Mini DT
Monster Trucks:
Discontinued Monster Trucks:
- Baja Beetle RTR
- LST RTR
Mini's and Micro's
Company Information
In the late 1990s, Ernie Provetti's company (Trinity) bought a 50% stake in Losi. Most (if not all) Losi Factory Drivers were using Trinity motors or batteries at the time. However, the partnership lasted only a few months before the two companies split.
Gil Losi Sr. of Team Losi sold the Team Losi brand to Horizon Hobby in 2001. Losi continues to operate in Southern California alongside Horizon Hobby.
Other, unusual items produced or endorsed by Losi include the PlayStation video game "Team Losi: R/C Racer" and a Team Losi line of high-performance yo-yos designed by Steve Brown. These were the 'Cherry Bomb' and the 'Grim Sleeper', both using Losi race-specification ball bearings.
In March 2007, Gil Losi, Jr., co-founder of Losi, left Losi for Kyosho America.
External links
- Losi - Official site
- TheDrake.net Official site of Losi racer Adam Drake
- LSTForums - LST, 1/8th and 1/10th scale discussion forum
- Vintagelosi.com Site with info and manuals for the late 80's and early 90's Losi Products