Masami Hirosaka


Masami Hirosaka (広坂正美, Hirosaka Masami, born February 26, 1970, Kyoto, Japan)[1] is a Japanese radio controlled car driver who is considered to be the world's most successful with a record fourteen IFMAR World Championships in 1/12 scale electric, 1/10 scale Pan, 1/10 scale 2WD off road and 1/10 scale 4WD, all electric. Hirosaka's peers have nicknamed him "Master Masami".[2] He was considered to be one of the highest paid drivers in RC racing, until he retired from the activity. His last IFMAR race was the 2008 world championship in Thailand. His retirement ceremony was on May 3, 2009.




Contents





  • 1 Early years


  • 2 Later activities


  • 3 Equipment


  • 4 Achievements


  • 5 Complete results

    • 5.1 IFMAR Worlds


    • 5.2 JMRCA All-Japan Championship results



  • 6 Notes


  • 7 References


  • 8 External links




Early years


Masami was first brought into RC car racing at the age of seven by his father Masaaki; a former motorcycle racer,[3] who finished 2nd at the 1971 Suzuka 6 Hours,[4] a research and development employee of ABC Hobby and later with Yokomo and radio controlled car racer and designer, when he brought him a Tamiya Lamborghini Countach. They raced together for four years until upon realizing Masami was the better driver, Masaaki retired from racing to focus on becoming his mechanic.[2]


In 1987, during a world championship round for the 4WD off-road at Romsey, England, Hirosaka arrived as a privateer with a Schumacher CAT, bar being provided power sources from HPI Japan. He had shown promise during practice and was brought into attention by Phil Booth, Schumacher's works driver[5] who referred him to Cecil Schumacher, who provided him a longer wheelbase version called the CAT XL, then unavailable in Japan and was raced by a majority of racers.[2] Despite being near-stock with much of the running gear added on from his old CAT, Hirosaka managed to win the title.[2][6] After the win, he was given numerous offers from sponsors before he ultimately settled with Yokomo.[2]



Later activities


As well as driving for Yokomo and Associated Electrics where he helps develop and design new cars and tests the resulting prototypes, Hirosaka held a job as a sales engineer for Yokomo.[2] Of all his IFMAR championship wins, only his first title was won driving cars from neither of these manufacturers. He was driving a Schumacher CAT XL.


For once or twice a week, he practices for 100 runs, a majority of these is done on-road to improve his reflexes.[7]


In a 1998 interview with Germany's KEIL DTM magazine, Hirosaka listed his other hobbies as computers and theater. His father who is now semi-retired, runs an RC car preparation service whilst doing contract work for Kyosho. In a 1999 interview with RCCA, he said that he has appeared several times on Japanese TV, and in a cartoon. He also says that he has several non-RC sponsors, such as Pioneer.


In his later career, he mentored teammate and compatriot Naoto Matsukura[8] and was the lead organizer of the 2015 IFMAR 1:10 Electric Off-Road World Championship[9]



Equipment


Throughout his career, Masami preferred to race with stick transmitters,[10] largely as when he began racing, Japanese branded wheel transmitters did not exist; he once experimented with wheels but felt sticks gave better car control.[11] Up until 1987, he used Futaba transmitter;[12] after that he switched to KO Propo which he used through his career. Under his arrangement with Yokomo, his car ran on Reedy motors, a subsidiary of Associated Electrics.


Throughout his career, Masami has always raced in the green over white with pink flames (similar style to those found typically in hot rods), but since the 1990s, the pink colour has become less dominant part of the colour as he added the orange and red to form part of his current colour scheme.



Achievements



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Masami is R/C racing's equivalent of baseball's Lou Gehrig or basketball's Michael Jordan—a born natural.

Radio Control Car Action's Steve Pond on Masami.[13]



Throughout his competition career, Hirosaka has a total of 307 victories out of a total of 447 races, with 47 second-place finishes and 27 third.


He has a total of 37 World Championship starts with 25 podium appearances including 14 championship titles and 35 A-main appearances.


Out of a total of 70 JMRCA All-Japan Championship appearances, he won 52 of those spanning 21 consecutive years (1986-2006), 67 of those are A-main appearances.[14]


In 1998, he is one of two drivers to achieve an electric car clean sweep at the JMRCA All-Japan Championship, the only driver to achieve this more than once (also 1987, 1989 and 1992) and the only one to achieve five out of five wins in eligible classes, a feat no longer possible since 2005 when the 1:10 Racing class was discontinued.[15]


An article by Radio Control Car Action list him on the top spot as the five greatest driver of all-time in 2010[16] In the 2015 edition of the Top 10 best of all-time, he was beaten to the spot by Ryan Cavalieri.[17]


Listed in RCCA in its May issues as one of the 10 Best Drivers between 1989 up to 1992. When the readers ranking was introduced, he was ranked 5th in 1996, 2nd in 1998 and 3rd in 1999. Hirosaka is the only few non-US drivers to be honored and the only foreigner to regularly appear in the list.



Complete results



IFMAR Worlds

































































































































































































































































































Year
Result
Class
Venue
Car
Motor
Source
1986
16
1:12 EP Track
Las Vegas

ABC KSC ALF 11
M&Y 480 RS

1987
8
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Romsey

Associated RC10

HPI UNO

1987

1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Romsey

Schumacher CAT XL

HPI UNO

1988
1
1:12 EP Track
Baarn

Associated RC12L
Reedy

1989
1
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD

St Ives

Associated RC10
Reedy

1989

1
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD

St Ives

Yokomo YZ-870C
Reedy

1990
2
1:12 EP Track
Singapore

Associated RC12L
Reedy

1991
1
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD
Michigan

Associated RC10L
Reedy

1991

2
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD
Michigan

Yokomo YZ-10 Works '93
Reedy

1992
3
1:12 EP Track
Michigan

Associated RC12LW
Reedy

1993
4
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD
Basildon

Associated RC10L
Reedy

1993

1
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD
Basildon

Yokomo YZ-10 Works '93
Reedy

1994
1
1:10 PRO 10


Yokomo
Reedy

1994
3
1:12 EP Track
Paris

Associated RC12LS
Reedy

1995
2
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD


Associated RC10L
Reedy

1995
3
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD


Yokomo
Reedy

1996
1
1:12 EP Track
California

Associated RC12LC
Reedy

1996

1:10 PRO 10
California

Reedy

1997
3
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD

Pomona

Associated RC10L
Reedy

1997
1
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD

Pomona

Yokomo
Reedy

1998
2
1:12 EP Track
Newcastle

Associated RC12L3
Reedy

1998
4
1:10 PRO 10
Newcastle

Reedy

1999
1
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD

Rauma

Associated RC10L
Reedy

1999
14
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD

Rauma

Yokomo
Reedy

2000
1
1:12 EP Track
Tsukuba

Associated RC12L3
Reedy

2000
1
1:10 PRO 10
Tsukuba

Yokomo
Reedy

2000
3
1:10 ISTC
Tsukuba

Yokomo
Reedy

2001
6
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD


Associated RC10
Reedy

2001
5
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD


Yokomo
Reedy

2002
1
1:12 EP Track
Krugersdorp

Yokomo 12LY
Reedy

2002
4
1:10 ISTC
Krugersdorp

Yokomo 12LY
Reedy

2003

1:10 EP Off-road 2WD


Associated RC10B4
Reedy

2003

1:10 EP Off-road 4WD


Yokomo BX
Reedy

2004
1
1:12 EP Track
Florida

Associated RC12L4
Reedy

2005
6
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD


Associated RC10B4
Reedy

2005
5
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD


Yokomo BX
Reedy

2006
2
1:10 ISTC


Yokomo
orion

2007
4
1:10 EP Off-road 2WD


Associated RC10B4
Reedy

2007
4
1:10 EP Off-road 4WD


Yokomo BX
Reedy

2008
3
1:10 ISTC


Yokomo
Nosram


JMRCA All-Japan Championship results

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Year
Result
Class
Venue
Car
Motor
Source
1982
14
1:12 EP Racing

Chukyo Racecourse

ABC


1983
3
1:12 EP Racing

Chukyo Racecourse

ABC


1984
17
1:12 EP Racing

Shinjuku NS Building

ABC


1985
2
1:12 EP Racing

Nagoya Racecourse

ABC ALF-10


1986
1
1:12 EP Racing

Komazawa Olympic Park

ABC KSC ALF 11
M&Y 480 RS

1986

2
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD

Mobara Futaba Course

Associated RC10


1986
20[18]1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD

Mobara Futaba Course

Yokomo YZ-834B


1987
1
1:12 EP Racing

Kawasaki Racecourse

Associated RC12

HPI UNO

1987
2[N 1]1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD

Yokohama

Associated RC10

HPI UNO

1987
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD

Yokohama

Schumacher CAT XL

HPI UNO

1988
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD


Associated RC10


1988
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD


Yokomo YZ-870C


1989
1
1:12 EP Racing


Associated RC12


1989

1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD

Yomiuriland

Associated RC10GX


1989
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD

Yomiuriland

Yokomo YZ-870C


1990
1
1:12 EP Racing
Yokota Hobby

Associated RC12


1990
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD

Yomiuriland

Associated RC10


1990
2
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD

Yomiuriland

Yokomo YZ-870C


1991

1:12 EP Racing
Yokota Hobby

Associated RC12


1991
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Yatabe Arena

Associated RC10BX


1991
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo YZ-10 Works '91


1992
1
1:12 EP Racing
Yokota Hobby

Associated RC12


1992
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Woody Dome

Associated RC10


1992
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Woody Dome

Yokomo


1993

1:12 EP Racing


Associated RC12


1993
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Yatabe Arena

Associated RC10FX.S

[19]
1993
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo YZ-10 Works '93


1994
1
1:12 EP Racing
Bellser Kit

Associated RC12LS


1994
2
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD


Associated RC10

[20]
1994
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


1994
1
1:10 EP Racing


Yokomo YRX-10

[21]
1995
1
1:12 EP Racing
Bellser Kit

Associated RC12LS


1995
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Yatabe Arena

Associated RC10B2
Reedy
[22]
1995
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


1996
1
1:12 EP Racing
Bellser Kit



1996
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Woody Dome

Associated RC10


1996
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Woody Dome

Yokomo


1996

1
1:10 EP Racing
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


1996
5
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


1997
1
1:12 EP Racing




1997

2
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Woody Dome

Associated RC10


1997
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Woody Dome

Yokomo


1997
1
1:10 EP Racing


Yokomo


1997
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert


Yokomo


1998
1
1:12 EP Racing
Yatabe Arena



1998
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Yatabe Arena

Associated RC10


1998
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


1998
1
1:10 EP Racing

Kei Tune RS

Yokomo


1998
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Kawaba RC Plaza

Yokomo


1999
1
1:12 EP Racing
Kawaba RC Plaza



1999
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Yatabe Arena

Associated RC10


1999
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


1999
1
1:10 EP Racing

Kei Tune RS

Yokomo


1999

2
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2000
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2001
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Yatabe Arena

Associated RC10


2001
1
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2001
1
1:10 EP Racing

Kei Tune RS

Yokomo


2001
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2002
2
1:10 EP Off-Road 2WD
Yatabe Arena

Associated RC10


2002
1
1:10 EP Racing
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2002
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Ichirino RC Plaza

Yokomo


2003
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Ichirino RC Plaza

Yokomo


2004
1
1:12 EP Racing
Yatabe Arena



2004
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Kawaba RC Plaza

Yokomo


2005
1
1:12 EP Racing
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2005
5
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Kawaba RC Plaza

Yokomo


2006
1
1:10 EP Touring Expert
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2006
8
1:10 EP Off-Road 4WD
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo


2007
2
1:12 EP Racing
Yatabe Arena

Associated
Nosram

2007
3
1:10 EP Touring Super Expert
Yatabe Arena

Yokomo
Nosram

2008
1
1:12 EP Racing
Yatabe Arena

Associated
Nosram


Notes




  1. ^ Won by invited driver Gil Losi, Jr. but awarded to Hirosaka per rules.




References




  1. ^ "Top Ten Drivers". Radio Control Car Action. Air Age Media. May 1989..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em


  2. ^ abcdef Bacon, Bill (April 1992), "Masami Hirosaka: The Master Speaks", Radio Control Car Action: 24–25


  3. ^ "廣坂物語". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  4. ^ "プロフィール ひろさか". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  5. ^ Team Yokomo Malaysia. "Team Yokomo Malaysia Blog". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  6. ^ Filip M. Gieszczykiewicz. "FAQ for R/C electric off-road racing". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  7. ^ Bacon, Bill (April 1992), "Masami Hirosaka: The Master Speaks", Radio Control Car Action: 26


  8. ^ "Thailand unearths exciting new talent » Red RC – Events". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  9. ^ p12, http://news.efra.ws/fileadmin/news/2015/10/2015%20%20Electric%20All%203%20Sections%20Minutes%20Final%20PW.pdf Archived 2016-03-26 at the Wayback Machine


  10. ^ "How To Get Into Hobby RC: Radios and Motors". Tested. Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  11. ^ Masi, Frank (August 1994). "Sticking with the Stick". Radio Control Car Action. Air Age Media: 61.


  12. ^ "廣坂物語". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  13. ^ Pond, Steve (November 1990). "Masami's Yokomo". Radio Control Car Action. Air Age Media.


  14. ^ XOOPS Cube. "RC Maniax - Masami's Report". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  15. ^ "全日本選手権タイトルホルダー(電動カテゴリー)". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  16. ^ "5 Best Racers of All Time". Radio Control Car Action. Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  17. ^ "Fast Laps: Who Is the Best Driver Ever?". Radio Control Car Action. Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  18. ^ "廣坂物語". Retrieved 3 January 2016.


  19. ^ "廣坂物語". hirosaka.jp. Retrieved 2016-07-05.


  20. ^ "廣坂物語". hirosaka.jp. Retrieved 2016-07-05.


  21. ^ "廣坂物語". hirosaka.jp. Retrieved 2016-07-05.


  22. ^ "廣坂物語". hirosaka.jp. Retrieved 2016-07-05.



External links


  • Team Yokomo Main site










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