Friday5 With Team Driver Ken Peterson

In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Kansas team driver, Ken Peterson!

1. When you first got into RC racing, what pro driver did you look up to and why? Or maybe there was a local/regional driver that you followed?

Gil Losi Jr. hands down. Gil and his dad “Pops” were always a class act at the track and Gil Jr. helped me tune my cars at a number of national events when I was on the team back in the late 80’s. I grew up in my dad’s machine shop making RC car parts on the milling machine and lathe, so I was always inspired by Gil Jr. creating and racing his own car. I remember watching him at the Ranch Pit Shop for the 1986 ROAR Nationals debut of what would eventually become the JRX2. Lastly, when he raced his hands shook just like mine did, yet his lines were always super smooth!

2. 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?

I prefer treads, but as long as the racing is not twitchy, or inconsistent, I don’t mind running slicks. Where I race at HP Hobbies in Hutchinson, KS it is most often slicks, but it’s usually a consistent feel behind the wheel. I think it has moved toward slicks as a result of multiple innovations of clay compound tires. At my home track the dirt and track prep has been the same for 15 years, but once clay compounds hit, we started ticking off faster lap times on less and less tread. Guys want to go fast and if you can get them to work, slicks are always faster.

3. If you have been racing for a while now you have probably glued up 100s of tires. So what gluing tips do you have for beginning racers?

I prefer a thicker viscosity glue so that it does not run out of control. A key mistake guys make is not getting glue between the slot of the rim and the bottom of the tire bead. The JConcepts glue bottle tips are a great tool to ensure you get the glue placed right where you want it when you are pulling back the bead of the tire. If you only get glue on the outer bead of the tire and rim, under acceleration the tire will expand more and deliver an inconsistent feel on the track.

4. When it comes to new products released from JConcepts, what are you most excited to see and why? Is it a new body, new tire, new accessory, etc.?

Tires! I am amazed at the innovation and development that goes into each new generation of tire and how the newer tread pattern / carcass separates so clearly from the last. When Bar Codes came out, pin tires were essentially retired. Dirt Webs made Bar Codes obsolete, and as good as they were, the Ellipse quickly eclipsed the Dirt Webs. I’m curious and excited to see what tire innovation will emerge from the JConcepts factory next.

5. Name one thing people might be surprised to know about you.

I used to be an Anchor/Reporter in TV news. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy announcing races and using my photography and editing skills to create promotional videos for tracks and races. Our sport is largely hidden within old rundown buildings located in lower rent areas with very little public foot traffic, so anything to increase exposure is good for growing the sport!