Team Losi

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Team Losi
Type Public
Founded 1988
Headquarters Ontario, California
Key people Gil Losi Sr., Gil Losi Jr., Adam Drake, Brian Kinwald, Matt Francis
Industry Racing
Products Radio-controlled Cars
Website www.losi.com
Image:8ight.jpg
The 8ight

Team Losi (or simply Losi) is a USA based radio-controlled car manufacturer founded by Gil Losi in the late-1980s.

Contents

[edit] History

Their first vehicle, the JRx-2, was a 1/10 Scale 2wd Off-Road competition-ready 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 has helped to shape what the RC hobby looks like in a number of different ways. The JRx-T was the first "purpose built" electric stadium truck that didn't require racers to retrofit an existing buggy. The JRx-Pro SE was the first competition buggy to come standard with a molded composite chassis in an era when stamped aluminum and graphite plates were king. The Street Weapon was not only Team Losi's first on-road Sedan, but also the first IFMAR IWC Touring Car Championship Chassis.

[edit] Present Day

Team Losi vehicles have been designed by former IFMAR World Champions Gil Losi Jr. and Jukka Steenari. Team Losi prides itself on its racing heritage, which includes multiple ROAR and NORRCA National Titles, European Titles, and of course IFMAR World Championships. In recent years, Team Losi has expanded their product line to include Ready to Run cars and trucks, Monster Trucks, and have recently announced plans to enter the super competitive 1/8 scale Nitro Buggy market.

The current product line-up from Team Losi includes vehicles for just about every RC application. The Team Losi XXX-CR, XXX-TCR, and XXX-4 Graphite Plus all carry the Team Losi banner in electric 1/10 scale off road races. The JRX-S is Team Losi's marquee touring car. The XXX-NT AD2 is Team 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 Team Losi Sport 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 XXX-S RTR 2. Recently Losi has added a new truck, one of the first ever 1/36 scale RC trucks, called the Micro-T.

Team Losi Sport cars and trucks often include genuine JR computerized radio systems.

[edit] Current Chassis Lineup

Race Kits:

Ready to Run's:

MT's:

Mini's and Micro's

[edit] 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. Team Losi continues to operate in Southern California alongside Horizon Hobby.

Other, unusual items produced or endorsed by Team 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 Team Losi, left Team Losi for Kyosho America.

[edit] External links