In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Indiana team driver, Ben Ellis!
1. How did you first hear about racing RC cars? And what classes did you compete in?
I had a cousin that worked for Hobbico back in the early 90’s. We visited with him and his family for Thanksgiving one year (1992 maybe?) and he showed me his RC10 and RC10GT. He even let me drive his RC10, which I immediately broke. I was hooked after that. My mom and dad got me a Radio Shack car shortly after that I played with for several years, but it wasn’t until I was 12 that I got my first “real” RC car. It took me a full summer mowing lawns, but I saved up enough to buy a RC10T3 kit with the mechanical speed control. I built it on my own, half of it backwards, which I found out the first time attending a race. We’d gone to P&T Hobbies and Raceway in Mitchell, IN. Seeing I was new and my truck rarely went forward, the locals (Rodney Fields, Jarred Fields, J.W. Elliott) jumped in to save us and basically rebuilt my truck that first evening at the track. They really showed my dad and I who we could expect at the RC track, a great group of people looking to help and have fun! Once I was up and running, I raced Novice then Stock Truck for several years.
2. As a new driver for JConcepts in 2022, what do you feel you bring to the team and what are some of your racing goals?
Although I’m new to the team in 2022, I raced for JConcepts previously from 2010-2016 when I stepped away from the sport to pursue ATV racing. So in that regard, I bring some familiarity back to the team with my return to the sport. Team members I’ve raced with in the past know I’ll be the first to jump at the opportunity to help, whether it’s changing a set of tires in practice, fixing a car, mounting tires, our team shines the most when everyone succeeds and I’m always going to do what I can to help every team member achieve those goals. In regards to 2022, I’m new to RC again. While I have a fair amount of previous knowledge, a lot has changed in 6 years and now there’s plenty to learn. While I’m learning all the new ins and outs, I bring a fresh set of eyes to the team to think outside the box and not get stagnant in their testing and general program.
As for racing goals, I’m aiming for top 5 at any national level event I attend in the stock classes: 2wd 17.5, 4wd 13.5, Truck 13.5. A podium would be an extra successful weekend in this first year back in the sport. We’re also adding a track to our property this year, so I’ll have an opportunity to practice more than I ever have to get closer to this goal.
3. In your opinion, what needs to be done to make RC more “mainstream” and get more people involved?
Racers, spectators, family, etc. all need to continue to support company’s like LiveRC and MOD. How can we go “mainstream” without a format to showcase this great sport in a video format, being hosted and treated the same as the “mainstream” sports anyone would follow? That, and as corny as it may sound, more of these race reports, photos, and videos being shared across social media! This day and age something goes viral every 12 seconds according to the survey I made up for this joke, but seriously an awesome race moment, the right people seeing how much fun someone had at an event, it could change the direction of our sport at a drop.
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.?
I’d really have to break this question into two categories. “Performance” and “WOW factor”. Anytime JConcepts releases a tire I get super excited because I know it’s something Jason has worked endlessly on, and it’s for sure going to be an arrow in my quiver I’ll need to ensure my “Performance” is better than the competition. I get equally excited when JConcepts releases a new body, because let’s face it, every single body released by JC makes you geek out and say “WOW”, think how cool that’d look with your paint scheme on it.
5. Name one thing people might be surprised to know about you.
Man, you saved the hardest question for last! I’m a pretty open book, so surprising someone seems impossible. I hunt and fish, I airbrush these awesome JConcepts lids, I work on ATV’s and Dirt Bikes for a living, and while it’s the opposite of a surprise I have the best wife, family, and team supporting me! Oh wait, you only wanted one……my bad…..