In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Ohio team driver, Nathan Clark!
1. Which professional driver did you follow when you first started RC racing, and why? Or perhaps you followed a local or regional driver?
A couple of the guys who I looked up to when I first started racing were Dan Griffin and Brandon Marsh. Dan took me under his wing when I was young and gave me some things to work on all the time, and really helped me understand the mindset I need to have going into certain situations and how that can change depending on what the goals are. Brandon Marsh was always a really great person to be around at the races as well, as he is a great friend that introduced me into plenty of other racing friends. Lastly, my dad has always been my best friend at the racetrack, as we’ve always gone and raced together. It’s a great way we bond together, and while we may bicker some every now and again, we’ve learned so much about one another by being able to be together at the track for the last 15 years.
2. In your opinion, what needs to be done to increase participation in RC racing, or RC in general?
In my opinion, to increase participation in racing there needs to be a way to have a lower barrier of entry into the events. Even something as simple as making sure there is a extra car at each track for anyone to try out if they wanted could go a long way. I’ve seen many times where people would come into the tracks and would want to try it and think it’s cool, but can’t do it due to not having a way to try the hobby out. There’s a large community of people out there that play with RC cars just out in their backyard, and if we can introduce these people into racing, I think we could make great strides into increasing participation.
3. What is your biggest win to date and why?
Two races stick out in my mind. I won the Region 5 race in Stadium Truck in 2015, which is my best win, but personally I like looking back at my best performances I still think making the Mod 4wd A-Main at the CRCRC Midwest Championships in 2016 was probably my greatest achievement, as I started 7th in the B-Main and bumped up into the A. Getting to race with the fastest guys in the country was such a great time and I am glad I was able to do that.
4. To date what is your favorite JConcepts product of all time and why?
I would have to say the Dirt Web tires have to be my favorite product from JConcepts. That tire was and still is so consistent to use anywhere I go. You can throw them on and every tire choice can be based off of that on dirt. Every compound of the tire was useful at some point, as I remember using golds all the time, silvers for a little extra grip, and blues and greens for when it gets a little loose. We even used black ones down in South Carolina when we took a trip down there.
5. Besides RC cars, what other hobbies are you into?
Besides RC, I bowl collegiately, and when I’m not in college, bowling, or racing, I enjoy anything where I can compete against anyone else, and watching competitions.