In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Massachusetts team driver, Andrew Bishop!
1. How did you first hear about racing RC cars? And what classes did you compete in?
My dad was actually the first once to introduce me to RC cars. The first real car I can remember enjoying a lot was an Associated M18T
2. In your region you do quite a bit of racing on off-road turf. So what advice do you have for off-road dirt drivers that are trying out turf for the 1st time?
Don’t be afraid to try new setups and be patient with the surface. There are times in the past when I was first introduced to turf and would tell myself, “That setup would never work!” then I end up running it consistently on most turf tracks. One thing I notice with dirt drivers is that they tend to not want to drive the car hard similar to how you drive on dirt. Don’t be scared to push the car hard through the corner! It will get traction and you will do great!
3. Off-road carpet tracks have been gaining momentum here in the states the last few years. But it doesn’t seem like many tracks have converted over to a turf surface. Why do you think this is and how do you see turf becoming more popular here in the US?
I think many tracks are skeptical of turf especially considering most pro events are not correlated to high traction surfaces such as carpet or turf and many drivers tend to not want to stray away from the surface they are used to. I think turf will become more popular as it is much easier to maintain your vehicles to be clean and race ready. It is also easier to work with for track owners such as track changes or putting a track in a public area. Not only that but, the traction can be much more predictable making for tighter racing overall and making it more interesting for racers and spectators alike.
4. To date what is your favorite JConcepts product of all time and why?
I would ever have to say the JConcepts Parts Tray or the F2 line of bodies. I find myself using my parts tray all the time holding diffs, holding screws during rebuilds, used for a spot for quick change tuning parts and various other things. The F2 has always been my go-to body on all my buggies through the years. It provides an incredibly consistent feeling to the car no matter what platform it is.
5. You are obviously highly skilled when it comes to RC cars, but what is one skill or hidden talent that folks might be surprised to find out about you?
One hidden talent about me is that I was able to self-teach design based programs such as Photoshop, Adobe after effects, Vegas pro, etc. as I have a lot of interest in media and the major aspects behind it.