In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Texas team driver, Dillon Caldwell!
1. When and how did you get started in RC? And what class do you compete in or did you primarily bash your vehicles?
I got my first car (Traxxas stampede) in 2010 from my dad and bashed it for a few months. Then we took our pretty new Slashes to the Futaba Nitro Challenge in St. Louis, Mo. to drive on the new layout after the race on Sunday night. Ryan Lutz and Berry Pedit were there driving their nitro truggies and Berry let me drive his. Then Berry talked Ryan into letting me drive his truggy, while Berry talked to my dad about racing, and the next thing I know, he buys a HB D8 converted to electric and that’s how I started racing.
2. What is one tip you have for new drivers getting into RC racing that you would like to share?
I’ll share one tip that Jared Tebo shared with me at the Nationals in 2019 that helped me a lot! Mental focus is everything. If you want to win, you have to have that in your mind every second of the race, no mistakes, hit your marks, focus, focus, focus. He told me that in June, but it didn’t click for me till late July of 2019. It’s easier said than done, but he was right! Once you laser in your focus, your skills will be brought to a whole new level. And of course, maintain your cars well and always be working on improving your setup.
3. Nitro or Electric racing. If you had to eliminate one all together which one would it be and why?
I would pick nitro over electric any day of the week. Nitro has a much larger hobby aspect to it. There’s more to be perfected and there’s more that needs to be known before you hit the track. First, you need to know your engine well so that you can hit the track with it tuned properly for the environment/track. Second, if you have a nitro car completely setup properly, they drive like a dream. Third, are the long races! Endurance, skill, focus, strategy as far as pit stops, tire selection, diff oil choice, and it’s a team sport with driver and pit crew.
4. On many indoor dirt off-road tracks it seems like the hot ticket is to run slicks. Do you prefer slightly treaded tires or slicks? And why do you think things have moved this way?
Since I am a 1/8 scale driver, I would prefer some tread, since slicks are generally more twitchy/harder to drive, as far as my little experience with them have been. But slicks are faster and if they can be used drivers have to use them to be competitive and I think that’s why things have moved that way. (Similarly with the clay compound in 1/8 scale. If it can be used, USE THEM! Cause they will be faster).
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?
I’ll throw out a couple since one specifically doesn’t come to mind. I am an airbrush artist for RC car bodies. But that’s not too hidden. I used to be very competitive with BMX racing. I could manual through rhythm sections and all of that cool stuff. Ha-ha! And I used to be pretty good at finger boarding. That one again.. not too hidden if you’ve seen my YouTube channel. Lol!