In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Missouri team driver, Travis Sutton!
1. When and how did you get started in RC? And what class do you compete in or did you primarily bash your vehicles?
Like most people I started with a store bought Nikko or Tyco. My uncle had always been into hobby grade RC, and the first one I can remember growing up was his Tamiya Clod Buster. Eventually in 1993 I had saved enough money to buy my first hobby grade and that was a Kyosho USA-1. Currently I race with MTRC, Trigger King, and Childress R/C racing series. In those series I run Retro, Sportmod, and Promod monster trucks. From 2014 to 2019 I raced 1/10 off-road at the local track in 2wd buggy, 4wd buggy, stadium truck, and short course 2wd.
2. What is your favorite class to race in today and why?
I think my favorite class to race is the Sportmod monster trucks. Their power isn’t unmanageable due to them using 17t brushed motors, therefore they are a little more realistic looking during racing. It also reminds me of my favorite era of monster trucks during the 90s.
3. From your experience what is the easiest AND hardest maintenance task on your RC cars?
I think the easiest is rebuilding shocks. The hardest is tearing the truck down to split the gear cases open to replace gears inside.
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’m honestly excited about anything new that comes out. To me that means there are just that many more options for the consumer.
5. Name one thing people might be surprised to know about you.
A lot of close friends know this but others may not. My passion for RC drove me to quit a job of 16 years and invest in the equipment needed to start Sutton Motorsports & Machine. I basically started out making RC pulling truck kits and race parts for the R/C monster truck segments of the hobby. Now it is a full time waterjet business and I’m still making RC parts but also doing one off and small run parts for some of the biggest businesses in the world.