Schumacher Racing Products

Schumacher Racing Products (or just Schumacher) is a British manufacturer of radio-controlled cars and accessories with a primary focus on high-end racing products.

Stock Schumacher Menace GTR with body off.

Schumacher Racing Products
TypePrivate Limited Company (Ltd.)
IndustryRacing
Founded1980
HeadquartersNorthampton, England
Key people
Cecil Schumacher
Robin Schumacher
Phil Booth
Brian P. Vogt
ProductsRadio-controlled cars
Number of employees
30
Websitewww.racing-cars.com

History

Foundation

The founder, Cecil Schumacher, was a Cosworth transmission engineer who was recruited from Borg Warner to lead the design team to adapt the Hobbs transmission (which he had worked on) to handle the Cosworth DFV's power. Cecil spotted his workmates driving radio-controlled cars on the company's helipad and decided it needed a ball differential after noticing the cars skittered. He soon started noticing large areas that these early primitive cars could be improved. Having noticed high tyre wear he introduced the ball differential to radio-controlled cars.[1][2]

These ball differentials were used by his son Robin then his friends then local model shop requested to stock it and soon international orders followed. It came to the point that Cecil Schumacher was making more money from this side business than through his employer. So in 1981 Schumacher Racing Products was formed in Northampton, England.

The company has always operated out of Northampton[3] but sourced some components from China like most other successful RC companies; however, the majority of manufacturing remains in England and Schumacher remains very much an English company. Cecil Schumacher's son Robin Schumacher took over the business in 2001.

1980s

The first car to be produced by Schumacher was the XL Lexan chassis pan car in 1981 which had intentionally highly flexible chassis suitable for indoor racing. This was followed in 1983 by the "C" car which was made out of fibreglass reinforced epoxy resin sheet and designed specifically for racing on carpet. It included many features that are still around on every modern 1/12-scale car; race wins include the euros in 1985 and 1988.

In the latter half of the 1980s, off-road RC cars increased in popularity. In 1986 the first 4WD 1/10-scale off-road buggy was launched, called the SWB CAT. This launched the CAT (Competition All Terrain) brand for Schumacher. This first variant SWB (Standard Wheel Base) 4WD car was an instant success with serious RC fans with its popularity cemented into history when Masami Hirosaka won the 1987 IFMAR off-road RC World Championships[4] having been lent a works car after Schumacher scouts noted his driving form during practice sessions.

1990s

Following the success of the first generation of off-road CATs, Schumacher continued to produce many successful off and on-road electric cars. The popularity of the touring car class seriously affected the off-road world during the 1990s. Schumacher stepped down the development of this class through the 1990s. Schumacher was then starting to dominate a niche in the "fun" car sector, with high-power/speed nitro-powered models capable of real speeds in excess of 80 mph.

2000s

Over the turn of this century the Schumacher product line-up became quite familiar with the "fun" cars with increasing number of nitro products; however it remained in the 1/10 competition touring cars market.

2010s

The flood of cheap high-volume low-margin ready to run cars produced in Asia meant the company no longer produce a nitro car or fun car. Schumacher now concentrate on the high level 1/10-scale electrical competitive market. Alongside their Mi touring car range the company re-entered the off-road scene with the CAT SX (4WD) and Cougar SV (2WD). Vintage racing of older designed cars became popular with Schumacher re-releasing the CAT XLS in 2017 and then the Top Cat. In the mid 2010s a move was made to help the sport grow with the introduction of a number of lower priced competition cars. The Mi1 touring car was introduced alongside the ever evolving top spec version. And then a move was made to re-establish 1/12th electric carpet racing with the launch of the Supastock and Eclipse range. It also increased its distrution business of other none competing RC products.

2020s

In January 2020 Schumacher won IFMAR 1/12 World Championships held in Milton Keynes

Racing Success

IFMAR World Championships

Year Title Driver Model Reference Report
1987 1:10 4WD Off-Road Masami Hirosaka|[5] CAT XL[6] report
2020 1:12 Elec. Track Marc Rheinard Eclipse 3 report
2020 1:12 Elec. Track, Stock Andy Murray Eclipse 3 report

European Championships

1985 - Andy Dobson 1:12 1988 - Phil Davies 1:12 1988 - Jürgen Lauterbach, 3rd 1:12

ROAR National Championships

Year Title Driver Model Ref. Report
1987 1:10 4WD Off-Road Jim Dieter "Dieter" CAT [7]
1995 1:10 4WD Off-Road Brad Reelfs CAT 2000 EC

BRCA Nationals

BRCA

National Manufacturer Series

Great Britain See Schumacher BTCC

Competition cars

[8]

1/10-scale 4WD off-road buggies

Date Name Kit and launch RRP No. Details
Dec 2019 - Present Cat L1 Evo K183
Apr 2018– Nov 2019 Cat L1 K176
Dec 2015 – 2018 CAT K2[9] K159 Kit
K169 Assembled
Dec 2013 – 2015 CAT K1 Aero[9] K147 Kit
K149 Assembled
Dec 2012 – 2013 CAT K1[10] K135 Pro K1 Kit
K136 Pro K1 Assembled
June 2011 – 2012 CAT SX3[11] K119 Pro C/F Kit
K120 Pro C/F Assembled

K121 S1 Kit
K122 S1 Assembled
Launched at January 2011 Nurnberg Toy Fair it is an update of the SX2
Jan 2009 – 2011 CAT SX2 K101 – Pro C/F Kit
K102 – Pro CF Assembled
K103 – S1 Kit
K104 – S1 Assembled
Jan 2008 – 2009 CAT SX[12][13] K078 (4–2) NI-MH Kit
K079 Stick LiPo Kit
K091 LiPo Phil Booth Signature
K092 LiPo S1 Composite Assembled
Launched at January 2008 Nurnberg Toy Fair
Never (2005) CAT 4000[14] This car never went into production but prototype was seen at several BRCA National and Regional events in early 2005
2002–2004 CAT 3000 Evo[15] KO19X
2000 CAT 3000 KO19X
1997 CAT 98 U421D
1997 CAT 2000SE U408M Update of the 2000 based on spec of Jukka Steenari's 1996 Euro Champ car
1997 CAT 2000ECS U401F Cheaper version of the EC (no slipper etc.)
1995 CAT 2000EC U498Y CAT 2000 with new shell, sus. geometry and laydown shocks.
1993 Oct CAT 2000 U460M
1993 (March) Bosscat Works U455H
1992 Bosscat Sports U444W
1992 Bosscat Competition U440S
1992 Procat SE U427F
1989 Procat U409N
1989 CAT XLS T403 Saddle Pack
1987 CAT XL 4wd T401 Stick Pack
Longer wheelbase and bodied version of the T400
1986 SWB CAT T400 First 1/10-scale off-road racing buggy

1/10-scale 2WD off-road buggies

Apr 2019–present Cougar Laydown[16] K180 Kit Evolution design for carpet, Astro and Clay
Feb 2017–present Cougar KC[17] K170 Kit Evolution of the KF2 design for carpet and Astro
Jan 2017–present Cougar KD[18] K170 Kit Evolution of the KF2 design for Dirt
Jan 2015 – 2019 Cougar KF2[19] K155 Kit
K156 Assembled
Evolution of the KF
Nov 2013 – 2015 Cougar KF[20] K143 Kit
K144 Assembled
Mid-motored belt drive using a lot of CAT K1 ideas for high grip such as astro turf
Sept 2013–present Cougar KR[21] K139 Kit
K140 Assembled
Rear motored for dirt
2012 April – Nov 2013 Cougar SVR[22] K133 Kit
K134 Assembled
Developed from the Cougar SV but for dirt and low traction surfaces.
2012–present Cougar SV2[23] K123 Kit
K124 Assembled
Launched at the Nurnberg Toy Fair in Feb 2012
2010–2012 Cougar SV[24] K111 Pro CF – Kit
K112 Pro CF – Assembled
K113 Race S1 – Kit
K114 Race S1 – Assembled
There was a "2011 Spec" edition that had some upgrades.
2002 Fireblade EVO mk.2 KO15T Chassis mods for strength, new frt & rear towers, larger rr whl bearings
1999 Fireblade EVO mk.1 KO15T Evolution of Cougar 2000 series
1998 Fireblade USA U424G Upright shock angles (equal frt & rr), 7 cell slots, new motor position
1997 Fireblade 2000 U407L
1995 Club10 Mk 2 Cougar U441T
1995 Cougar '95 Team U499Z
1995 Cougar 2000 '95 spec U474A Also known as "XPC" spec with narrow chassis, SACs
1994 Cougar 2000 '94 spec U457J As per 1993 car, but now with Co-Axial driveshafts & diff to match
1993 Cougar 2000 U457J Double deck composite chassis, geared drivetrain
1992 Cougar 2 Works U452E
U453F
1992 Cougar Club 10 U441T "Sport" version of Cougar. 540 motor + MSC
1991 Cougar 2 Team U431J Roller d/shafts, fully ballraced inc. steering
1991 Cougar 2 Racing U430I Slipper, 10 sealed ballraces, full spring set
1991 Cougar 2 Sport U429H Hybrid 23 mm diff, varishocks but no slipper and not fully ballraced
1990 Cougar U415T
1988 Topcat U404J F1 style lay down suspension
1987 CAT XL 2wd T402

1/10 4WD electric touring car

Date Name Kit and launch RRP Details
2019 – Mi7
2018 – 2019 Mi6evo
June 2014 – 2018 Mi5Evo[25] K148 – Pro C/F Kit
K150 – Pro C/F Assembled
2013–present Mi1v2[26] K151 – Kit
K152 – Assembled
Update of Mi1
May 2013 – 2014 Mi5[27] K137 – Pro C/F Kit
K138 – Pro C/F Assembled
Jan 2012[28] – 2013 Mi4CXL[29] K127 – Pro C/F Kit
K128 – Pro C/F Assembled
2011–2012 Mi4CX[30] K117 – Pro C/F Kit
K118 – Pro C/F Assembled
Late 2010 – 2013 Mi1[31] K115 Kit
K116 Assembled
Mi4LP[32] K107 – Mi4LP Pro CF Kit
K109 – Mi4LP Pro CF Assembled
K108 – Mi4LP Race S1 Kit
K110 – Mi4LP Race S1 Assembled
Mi4[33] k094 Pro-CF – Assembled
k093 Pro-CF – Kit
Aug 2008[34] Mi3.5[35] K082 – Race-S1
K081 – Pro-CF – Trg 5 Cell
K080 – Pro-CF – Trg 6 cell
May 2007[36] Mi3[37] K073 Mi-3 Pro
2005–2008 Mi2 EC[38] K058 – Touring
K059 – USA Foam Spec
2004 Mi2[39] K046 Mi-2 S1
K047 Carbon
2003 Mission[40] Mission S1 K026
Mission Carbon K?
1999–2001 SST 99 Pro
Approx 1997 SST2000
SST Sport
SST Sport Lancer EVO 6
SST Sport Volvo S40
SST Subaru WRC
SST Axis 2[41]
SST Axis
Cat 2000 Touring Escort Cosworth
Alfa Romeo 155
Opel Calibra
Mercedes C-Class
Ford Mondeo
1995 Bosscat Touring U473Z – Escort Cosworth
U483J – Alfa Romeo 155
U484K – Opel Calibra
U485L – Mercedes C-Class
U486M – Ford Mondeo
Wildcat Touring Escort Cosworth
Alfa Romeo 155
Opel Calibra
Mercedes C-Class
Ford Mondeo

1/12 2WD Electric Pan Car

Date Name Kit # Details
2019–present Eclipse 3
2019 Eclipse 2 K177
2016–2018 Eclipse K169
1981[42] XL Lexan Pan Car Schumacher First Complete Car with the flexible lexan chassis
1983–1988 C-Car C200
C204 Euro Spec
FRP chassis
1984 – 198?[43] B-Car[44] Simpler version of the C Car for club racing
1988 – 1990[45] C-Car SPC C204 FRP chassis to replace the flexible lexan

1/12 GT12 circuit and 1/12 oval

Date Name Kit and launch Details
2012 April – 2014 SupaStox K131 – Four-cell NiMh/1S Lipo
K132 – 6 cell NiMh/2S Saddle
K141 – 1S with Hotrod Oval Body
K142 – 2S with Saloonstox body
2014 Nov SupaStox GT K154 – S1/Diff
K157 – C/F
2016 Jan - 2019 SupaStox ATOM K163 – Sport with fixed rear axle with no diff, no side dampers, old style SupaStox rear wheels

K164 – Pro with C/F Pro diff, side dampers, left rear wheel clamp, new Atom GT12 wheels
2019 Sep - Present ATOM 2 K179 S2 GT12 Kit Alloy
K184 S2 GT12 Kit Carbon Fibre

Other Cars

Date 2020 Scale 1/10 Power Electric Drive FWD/4WD Type Touring Car Name Mission FT Kit K187 Notes Schumachers first front wheel drive touring car.
2010 1/10th Nitro 4WD Fun Touring Car Fusion 28 Turbo[46] K106 – Red/Silver – RTR
K105 – Blue/Silver – RTR
2008 1/8th Electric 4WD Touring Car Menace GTRe Based on the Nitro car but with a three-speed gearbox and disc brake
2005[47] 1/8th Nitro 4WD Touring Car Menace GTR
2004 1/10th Nitro 4WD Fun Touring Car Fusion R12 K037

R12 Team Spec
– K042
The Fusion R12 is developed from the SST Mission electric car
2002 1/10th Nitro 4WD Fun Touring Car Fusion 21[48] K028 + BMW 3 Touring Body
K029 + Subaru Rally Body
K030 + F155 Truck Body
K033 RTR + BMW 3 Touring Body
K034 RTR + Subaru Rally Body
K035 RTR + F155 Truck Body
K050 + Skyline Body
K051 RTR + Skyline Body
2000s 1/6 th Electric 2WD Track Car Big 6 Lotus Elise Sport S996
2000s 1/6 th Nitro 2WD Track Car Big 6 Lotus Elise Sport S1020
1995 1/10th Electric 2wd Touring Car Club10 mk.2 U439R – Cosworth Touring
U475B – Alfa Romeo 155 Touring
U476C – Opel Calibra Touring
U477D – Mercedes C-Class
U478E – Ford Mondeo Touring
1995 1/10th Electric 2wd Touring Car 911 turbo SE Based on the Cougar mk1
1992 Nitro Pan Car Daytona
1990s and 2000s N/A Electric 2WD Fun Car WILDCAT
1992 1/10th Nitro 2WD[49] Pan Car Daytona
1990s 1/10th Electric 4WD Rallycross RS 4x4 Based on the Procat
1995 1/10th Electric 2WD Offroad Truck Club 10 mk.2 Storm truck U443V Cougar Mk2 based
1991 1/10th Electric 2WD Offroad Truck Shotgun truck U419X Cougar based
1/10th Nitro 4WD Fun Touring Car Fusion 28[50] K077 Skyline; Red/Silver – RTR
K083 ARR – No Body
K084 No Body – RTR
K075 Skyline; Blue-Silver – RTR
Nitro Truck Riot 2
Nitro Truck Riot S1174
1/10th Nitro 2WD Truck Nitro 10 190 Evaluation
911 Sport
Based on the Club 10
1/16th Nitro 2WD Micro Truck Rascal 2
Nitro Nitro 21 XT-R 3E
Nitro Offroad Buggy Storm 2000
Nitro Offroad Buggy Nitro 10 Panther
Nitro Offroad Monster Truck Nitro 10 Racing Truck
Nitro Offroad Monster Truck Menace
1/8th Nitro 4WD Offroad Buggy Swift
1/8th Nitro 4WD Offroad Buggy Swift 2
1/8th Twin Nitro 4WD Monster Truck Manic
1/8th Nitro 2WD Stunt Truck Havoc
1/10th Electric 2WD Touring Car Alfa Romeo 155 U492S – Alfa Romeo 155 Touring Wildcat Chassis

References

  1. "Interview with Cecil". RC Racing TV. 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. Burr 2015, p. 156.
  3. "The Hobby Hub". Radioracecar.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  4. "Past IFMAR WC´s – 1987 IFMAR Worlds Championship". 12 November 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2015 via YouTube.
  5. "FLASHBACK FRIDAY: A complete timeline of Schumacher CAT 4WD buggies". www.liverc.com. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  6. Interview with Cecil, RC Racing TV, 2006, retrieved 29 July 2012
  7. https://www.dirt-burners.com/rcdox/Race%20Reports%20etc/1987%20ROAR%20US%20Nationals%2C%20Atlanta%2C%20USA%20%28RCCA%2C%20dec%2087%2C%20US%29.pdf
  8. "View topic – Schumacher time line". RC10Talk.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  9. "CAT K1 Aero". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  10. "CAT K1". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  11. "New CAT SX3 Launched". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20090816041310/http://www.glypo.com/reviews/catsx/index.php. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. "Big Body Clip 1/10 – Metallic Purple (8) # CR079 from Schumacher RC Racing". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  14. "Schumacher CAT4000 Prototype – Simon Moss". Oople.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20040604054055/http://www.racing-cars.com/cat3000.asp. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. "Cougar Laydown". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  17. "Cougar KC". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  18. "Cougar KC". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  19. "Cougar KF2". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  20. "Cougar KF". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  21. "Cougar KR". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  22. "Cougar SVR". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  23. "Cougar SV2". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  24. "Cougar SV". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  25. "Mi5evo". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  26. "Mi1v2". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  27. "Mi5". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  28. "The new Mi4CXL has been officially... – Schumacher R/C Racing". Facebook. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  29. "Mi4CXL". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  30. "Mi4CX". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  31. "Mi1". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  32. "Mi4LP". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  33. "Mi4". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  34. "Schumacher Mi3.5 Competition TC | The Latest RC Racing News!". Socialrc.wordpress.com. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  35. "mi35". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  36. "Let's Build a Schumacher Mi3! – R/C Tech Forums". Rctech.net. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  37. "Mi3". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  38. "Mi2 EC". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  39. "Mi2". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  40. "Mission". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  41. https://web.archive.org/web/20020404230600/http://www.racing-cars.com/sstaxis2.asp. Archived from the original on 4 April 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  42. "Schumacher XL | Classic RC". Classicrc.wordpress.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  43. "Schumacher B-Car | Classic RC". Classicrc.wordpress.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  44. Original Pan Car Advert
  45. "Schumacher SPC | Classic RC". Classicrc.wordpress.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  46. "Fusion 28 Turbo". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  47. "Schumacher Menace GTR". Rcuniverse.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  48. "Fusion 21". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  49. "View topic – My Vintage Schumacher Daytona Project". RC10Talk.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  50. "Fusion 28". Racing-cars.com. Retrieved 26 November 2015.

Works cited

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