dNaNo,
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:37 pm
As I write this the president of Kyosho, Aki Suzuki, along with representatives from Kyosho America (the US distributor and a separate corporate entity) are in Lincoln Nebraska home of Hobby Town USA hopefully finalizing a deal that could put the dNaNo racing system in at least a few of their stores across the country.
If in deed that’s why they are in Lincoln this could be big. If the roomers are true, and so far they’re starting to look that way, Hobby Town (or someone else if not them) will get the dNaNo first as early as Sept/Oct, the idea being to promote the in store racing aspect, with Kyosho America providing support. Then in 2009 it will be released for general US distribution through Kyosho America. Not only will current Kyosho America dealers be able to get and sell the dNaNo’s but as is currently the case in Japan for around $20,000 any bar, store, pool hall, arcade, yacht culb, etc. can buy the commercial dNaNo package, with it they get a track, the commercial timing and on-line system, Circuit-Cards and business software, and of course wholesale prices on dNaNo’s just like a Kyosho dealer, however part of the contract is that you must hold weekly races, and there are internet sales restrictions for non-Kyosho dealers.
Qick (for me) rant:
So far on US forums the kiddies have been looking at just the dNaNo cars and fleeBay prices and missing the whole point, wa-wa-wa all they do is complain. Are we collectively so ignorant in the US that our children, whether 6 or 60, think that the worlds most advanced RC car to date should cost no more than an Xmod simply because it’s smaller. Ok I’m done bitching and back on track. The hell I am; they can’t even distinguish between MSRP, projected retail, MAP and sale pricing, from the price they currently see on eBay where someone has to physically go to the manufacturers store in Japan (not the cheapest place to shop in the world) pay full Japan MSRP since it’s the Manufacturers display store, pay eBay/PayPal, and shipping, no shit that’s expensive. But, and I wish they could read my lips, if they would just let it reach retail stores and wait until the initial rush settles down before they started screaming and bitching they might be pleasantly surprised. But no they would rather tell the manufacturer to forget it, too expensive for Kmart shoppers, don’t sell it here if you do you’ll have to give it to us at a loss, and buy the way store owners don’t carry it we aren’t going to buy it form you, even if the initial test batch is selling out at full Japan MSRP. Ok now I’m done.
Back on topic:
Thing is that dNaNo is not just an incredibly hot car it’s a complete commercial racing package for stores, entertainment centers, etc. that comes with a nearly hands free business friendly timing system connected to the dNaNo My-Lap online server using Circuit Cards, they work like phone cards, to activate the system. Sure the track owner holds regular scheduled official races but it’s like a big arcade game and any group of friends or even a single individual can start a race at any time or just practice. You just swipe your Circuit Card identify your cars (swipe them too) select the type of race you want on the screen put your car on the track and the race is on. It’s actually pretty cool after a day of racing or just practicing you can go home and review all of your results on-line. It’s at the discretion of the track owner but like many of the old slot-car parlors they will likely have demo or rental cars too so that you don’t actually have to buy a car to race. Bottom line is that for the first time merchants have a haste free financial insensitive to keep a small RC track up in their place of business.
Ok so the tracks cool but the cars hot; to start with it’s small, fast, controllable, not prone to electronic interference, crystal free, has a 30+ minute run time per quick change replicable battery charge, can run up to 40 cars in a small room without a glitch, is actually race-able on a track out of the box but can still be hopped up to the max. Not to mention that Kyosho has pulled out all the stops when it comes to developing hop-ups, not just the standard ball diff, tires, and such but even a roll detecting gyro that works with the cars digital steering and ESC to stabilize high speed cornering.
Even that’s not the half of it what people are missing is just how adjustable and body friendly the chassis actually is using hub spacers and steering arms to determine front and rear wheel offset opening up a whole new world of wheel options for those of us who like to modify our cars. For example not only can I make a dNaNo fit perfectly inside a SuerSlick, 1/43 scale model body, or Lexan shell pulled from any of the hundreds of 1/43 scale die-cast cars. when I do I can use wheels with the correct diameter for that body too.
Of course just in case you don’t want to modify/make your own body Kyosho has been pumping out their Autoscale bodies at an impressive rate and have already stated that unpainted dNaNo white body sets will be coming too.
Have to get back to work but I wall be adding photos to this post, shortly.
If in deed that’s why they are in Lincoln this could be big. If the roomers are true, and so far they’re starting to look that way, Hobby Town (or someone else if not them) will get the dNaNo first as early as Sept/Oct, the idea being to promote the in store racing aspect, with Kyosho America providing support. Then in 2009 it will be released for general US distribution through Kyosho America. Not only will current Kyosho America dealers be able to get and sell the dNaNo’s but as is currently the case in Japan for around $20,000 any bar, store, pool hall, arcade, yacht culb, etc. can buy the commercial dNaNo package, with it they get a track, the commercial timing and on-line system, Circuit-Cards and business software, and of course wholesale prices on dNaNo’s just like a Kyosho dealer, however part of the contract is that you must hold weekly races, and there are internet sales restrictions for non-Kyosho dealers.
Qick (for me) rant:
So far on US forums the kiddies have been looking at just the dNaNo cars and fleeBay prices and missing the whole point, wa-wa-wa all they do is complain. Are we collectively so ignorant in the US that our children, whether 6 or 60, think that the worlds most advanced RC car to date should cost no more than an Xmod simply because it’s smaller. Ok I’m done bitching and back on track. The hell I am; they can’t even distinguish between MSRP, projected retail, MAP and sale pricing, from the price they currently see on eBay where someone has to physically go to the manufacturers store in Japan (not the cheapest place to shop in the world) pay full Japan MSRP since it’s the Manufacturers display store, pay eBay/PayPal, and shipping, no shit that’s expensive. But, and I wish they could read my lips, if they would just let it reach retail stores and wait until the initial rush settles down before they started screaming and bitching they might be pleasantly surprised. But no they would rather tell the manufacturer to forget it, too expensive for Kmart shoppers, don’t sell it here if you do you’ll have to give it to us at a loss, and buy the way store owners don’t carry it we aren’t going to buy it form you, even if the initial test batch is selling out at full Japan MSRP. Ok now I’m done.
Back on topic:
Thing is that dNaNo is not just an incredibly hot car it’s a complete commercial racing package for stores, entertainment centers, etc. that comes with a nearly hands free business friendly timing system connected to the dNaNo My-Lap online server using Circuit Cards, they work like phone cards, to activate the system. Sure the track owner holds regular scheduled official races but it’s like a big arcade game and any group of friends or even a single individual can start a race at any time or just practice. You just swipe your Circuit Card identify your cars (swipe them too) select the type of race you want on the screen put your car on the track and the race is on. It’s actually pretty cool after a day of racing or just practicing you can go home and review all of your results on-line. It’s at the discretion of the track owner but like many of the old slot-car parlors they will likely have demo or rental cars too so that you don’t actually have to buy a car to race. Bottom line is that for the first time merchants have a haste free financial insensitive to keep a small RC track up in their place of business.
Ok so the tracks cool but the cars hot; to start with it’s small, fast, controllable, not prone to electronic interference, crystal free, has a 30+ minute run time per quick change replicable battery charge, can run up to 40 cars in a small room without a glitch, is actually race-able on a track out of the box but can still be hopped up to the max. Not to mention that Kyosho has pulled out all the stops when it comes to developing hop-ups, not just the standard ball diff, tires, and such but even a roll detecting gyro that works with the cars digital steering and ESC to stabilize high speed cornering.
Even that’s not the half of it what people are missing is just how adjustable and body friendly the chassis actually is using hub spacers and steering arms to determine front and rear wheel offset opening up a whole new world of wheel options for those of us who like to modify our cars. For example not only can I make a dNaNo fit perfectly inside a SuerSlick, 1/43 scale model body, or Lexan shell pulled from any of the hundreds of 1/43 scale die-cast cars. when I do I can use wheels with the correct diameter for that body too.
Of course just in case you don’t want to modify/make your own body Kyosho has been pumping out their Autoscale bodies at an impressive rate and have already stated that unpainted dNaNo white body sets will be coming too.
Have to get back to work but I wall be adding photos to this post, shortly.
. I'm really a n00b to Dnano's so do you guys have an idea of US MSRP?