Masami Hirosaka, an RC car racer, and his father Masaaki gained recognition when Masami won the IFMAR Off-Road World Championship in 1987, earning Masaaki the title of champion mechanic. Following this victory, They remained undefeated in the 4WD class until 1993. Although Masami missed out on the championship in 1995, he reclaimed the title in 1997.
However, the 1999 World Championship brought an unexpected and devastating blow when they failed to qualify. This bitter disappointment was a crushing blow for both Masaaki and Masami. Determined to reclaim their title at the 2001 World Championship, they began developing a prototype car to win. After countless trials and errors, they finally perfected a prototype in 2001. Unfortunately, the championship was postponed due to the September 11 attacks in the United States. The Hirosakas chose not to participate in the 2002 and 2003 World Championship, and in 2004, the Hirosaka team disbanded when Masaaki decided to pursue his own path. Therefore, the opportunity to participate in the World Championship with stealth car was lost forever.
Now, twenty years later, the legendary Off-road car which was thought never to see the light of day again has been revived.
In the summer of 1987, Masami won the World Championship, earning Masaaki the title of Champion Mechanic. Masaaki then reigned for many years as the world's top mechanic and designer.
Masami missed the podium in the 1995 World Championship, but in the 1997 in the U.S.A. California, he reclaimed the title with the first-generation MX-4 developed by Masaaki specifically for this competition. It seemed they were once again on the path to continue their champion journey.
At the 1999 World Championship held in Finland, they suffered an unexpected setback in the 4WD class, finishing in the B-final and failing to advance to the top. It was a humbling experience for them not to make it to the A-final at the World Championship.
After countless trials and errors, they finally completed the prototype car, which would succeed the MX-4. They departed for the United States on September 11th, equipped with this new car. However, the championship was postponed due to the impact of the simultaneous terrorist attacks that occurred on the same day.
Due to the postponement of the 2001 World Championship, both On-road and Off-road World Championship were held simultaneously in 2002. To focus on On-road racing, they had to forgo participating in Off-road race. In 2003, they continued to prioritize Gas-Powerd cars, thus missing out on another opportunity to compete in the 4WD Off-Road race.
In 2004, Masaaki left Yokomo, where he had served for many years, and established Hirosaka. With the dissolution of the Hirosaka father-son team, the prototype car in development was destined to remain unfinished and unseen.
A model named "Target The 2001 World Championship," aimed at reclaiming the World Championship title, embodies the ideals envisioned by the two. Designed by Masaki Hirosaka and test-driven by Masami, this chassis is adorned with an exclusive design body featuring the iconic Masami color scheme by Hyakutake Design. It is truly the pinnacle of 4WD Off-Road buggy, deserving to aim for the world's top spot. Twenty-five years have passed since that humiliation of 1999. For twenty years from Masaaki retired, father and son have each walked their own paths. To finally redeem themselves from the lingering disgrace and achieve vengeance, this ultimate stealth car is crafted by the strongest duo for the last time.
In the 1990s, the center-midship and belt-drive 4WD layout was considered the "winning car layout." Motor mount, pulley, and other components have been redesigned according to modern standards, resulting in a refined and highly efficient drive system.
The main chassis, cut from 3mm thick carbon material, provides unparalleled rigidity, enabling exceptional performance. Milling processing is applied to the motor mounting area, allowing for the motor to be mounted as low as possible.
The duralumin front brace is finished with an artistic sense of unity with the main chassis.Essential for Off-road buggies, it features a skid angle to enhance traversing capability on rough surface, assisting in controllable driving.
The front and rear lower arms are crafted from cut out nylon for ultra-high rigidity. They possess a balanced level of flexibility, allowing them to fully exploit the characteristics of long-span suspension arms with ample travel. Not only do they exhibit exceptional strength, but they also offer top-level impact resistance.
Bulkheads, motor mount, steering knuckles, and other critical parts requiring strength and precision are all aluminum-milled with a gold anodized finish. By minimizing the use of molded parts, unparalleled precision and durability are achieved.
Equipped with aluminum universal shafts both front and rear, balancing lightness and high efficiency. By significantly reducing rotational mass, the sharp throttle response befitting a pure competition car is achieved, ensuring sharp throttle response in all situations.
The rare titanium-colored carbon graphite, unique to Hirosaka, asserts the exceptional nature of the car. Beyond its functional aspects like robust pitching stiffness and shocks retention rigidity, it enhances the car's special ambiance to the fullest.
Designed with particular attention to shape, the 3mm thick gold carbon-finished front shock tower serves as the face of the car. It bears a serial number and the inscription "MX-4," serving as a mark of authenticity for this special model limited to 100 kits worldwide.
To enhance the suspension, front and rear aluminum big bore shocks are employed. They boast a rugged appearance with a dedicated gunmetal anodized finish, while also offering advanced traversing capabilities across various track surfaces. Equipped as standard with X-rings to ensure high sealing performance and smooth operation.
An exclusive original design body, sculpted from clay by Mr. Kimura of Team Azarashi. It merges a nostalgic design with modern sophistication, resulting in a special and dynamically crafted form.
A genuine Masami color scheme by Hyakutake Design, which has long been responsible for Masami Hirosaka's race body painting. Each piece is meticulously painted by hand with skilled craftsmanship. A unique color scheme body that is one-of-a-kind in the world.
A specially designed under cover to protect the slim main chassis. Made from black polycarbonate, it is lightweight and offers superior strength. Because it is molded in color rather than painted, there is no risk of color peeling due to impacts or abrasion from the track surface, allowing for aggressive driving without worry.
The tires and wheels feature the versatile standard 2.2-inch diameter commonly used in competition. This allows for a wide range of tire options to suit different track surfaces and driving situations. The clamp-style hex hubs are lightweight with lightening holes for improved performance.
Masami Hirosaka personally hand-cuts each G-force soft compound tire, renowned for high grip, for use as front tires. Additionally, these tires are fitted with BB inners molded by Masami Hirosaka himself, maximizing tire performance.
In addition to the standard slipper clutch, a direct spur gear holder is included. It features extensive lightening for a lightweight finish, enhancing throttle response and directness, resulting in sharp driving feel.
Aiming for World Number One.
At the end of my time with Yokomo, I crafted 12 prototypes in pursuit of the world championship, even participating in pre-worlds events. However, plagued by various misfortunes, we had to cancel our participation in three world championships.Ultimately, I left Yokomo, withdrew from the forefront of the racing world, and the MX-4 project was left incomplete.
By a stroke of luck, I have now been given the opportunity to develop the next version of the MX-4, a long-held dream I never thought would come true. While I no longer aspire to compete in the world championships, I asked myself: what kind of machine could we have created if we had continued 20 years ago? I combined the knowledge I had accumulated with recent trends to shape a new vision.
Although it is not perfect, I named it MX-4 FOREVER to symbolize its lasting impact. I am personally satisfied with how it turned out as my final creation. It's a dream, but I envision Masami standing at the top of the podium with the MX-4 FOREVER.
In 1999, streak of World Championship victories of 4WD which Masaaki made was broken at the event in Finland. Two years later, we approached the race with thorough preparation.
However, the postponement of the race due to the 9.11 attacks in the United States and circumstances that forced us to choose other categories compounded, ultimately leaving us without a chance to attempt a comeback. Then, our partnership dissolved. Now, 20 years later, even though in a different form, I am overwhelmed with emotion to be able to take on this challenge again.
The MX-4 FOREVER is a masterpiece crafted with memories of those times, created with the image of racing in mind. I hope you will join us in experiencing the atmosphere of the World Championships from back then!
| Length | 405mm |
| Width | 245mm |
| Height | 145mm（Include rear wing） |
| Wheelbase | 276mm |
| Front tread | 235mm |
| Rear tread | 245mm |
| Tire Width/Diameter | 32/91mm(Front), 42/91mm(Rear) |
| Secondary reduction ratio | 1.9:1 (20T/38T) |
| Body | Team Azarashi Design original body, pre-cut and painted by Hyakutake Design. |
| Wing | GENOVA kit standard wing. |
| Overall weight | 1500g |
| Separately Required Items | Transmitter, Receiver, Steering servo, ESC (Electronic Speed Controller), Drive battery, Motor, Charger (for battery charging) |
Included with the product:
MX-4 FOREVER assembled kit, Exclusive box made of paulownia wood, MX-4 FOREVER disassembly diagram, Memorial photo signed by Masami and Masaaki Hirosaka
MX-4 FOREVER exclusive paulownia boxes are produced domestically in Japan by the established Japanese company "Kitamura Mokkou Co., Ltd.," with a history of 76 years. Each box is meticulously crafted by skilled artisans.
Masaaki's graphics are handled by his younger brother, Mitsumi Hirosaka. With the addition of the MX-4 FOREVER logo, the finished product exudes even more luxury.
Each purchaser will receive a personally signed photo from the legendary father-and-son Masaaki and Masami.
* The images are for illustration purposes and are subject to change.
Sales price：2300 usd
Production quantity：First come first served, limited to 100 kits worldwide
Payment method：Payment with PayPal
*Overseas sales price include shipping and handling fees, so they may differ from Japan sales price. please note that.
Japan time: June 1, 2024 (Sat) 12:00 to
September 16, 2024 (Mon) 23:59
*Sales will end as soon as the planned quantity is reached.
*Please check the time yourself as there are time differences depending on the country.
Scheduled to ship by the end of October 2024.
*Delays may occur depending on production status.
[ HOW TO ORDER IF YOU LIVE OVERSEAS ]
Please send an order request email to the above address, including your name, postal code, address, phone number, product name, and quantity.
You will receive a reply email from the person in charge within a few days.
We will explain the payment method etc. via email.
Your order will be officially confirmed once payment is completed.
If you do not receive a reply email within a few days, it may have been sorted into your spam folder.
In that case, please send a message to Gforce's Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/gforcehobby/
[ REGARDING THE POST-SALES SUPPORT CONTACT ]
*Aftermarket parts sales and repairs will be handled at RC Shop Hirosaka.
For inquiries, please use the order address.
