In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Massachusetts team driver, Tom Bishop!
1. How did you learn about RC car racing? What class did you participate in to begin with and why?
I started racing back in the early 90’s. I had a buddy that would race and I decided one day to go and check it out and have been hooked since. The classes I ran when I first started was modified truck and modified buggy since they were the classes he ran and I wanted to compete against him. They were also the two biggest classes back then until we started to dabble into the world of 4wd as well. The world of 4wd drive changed when the BJ4 released by JConcepts came along, and it was a game changer in the world of 4wd cars and the way they handled.
2. In your region you do quite a bit of racing on off-road turf. So what advice do you have for off-road dirt drivers that are trying out turf for the 1st time?
For a driver coming from the 1/8 dirt side of things I would say tire selection is a big one. I tell people all the time the only way to get better is tracktime and tires. The driving style is a little different going from a dirt track to a high bite turf track, but as I always tell people when at the track, or if I see a new face, I always say hi and let them know the trailer doors are always open if they need help. I think getting help from a local driver is a huge asset to the track as well as all their sponsors.
3. If you have been racing for awhile, what would you say is the number one technology advancement in RC to date AND why?
Boy where to begin with this one. So much has changed from the days of being at the track and going to the board to get your frequency clip and hope no one is on the same channel and turned their radio on while you we on a good run. And then we turn to the brushless motors and speed controls wow talk about a game changer! You could run for longer, no longer had to cut brushes or true comms , and it was more plug and play. Then came along LiPo batteries and you no longer had to hope you got a full peak into your battery to make your 5 minute main. As for tires the selection that we have now is amazing with all the different compounds. If you wanted that back in the early 2000s it’s was a science experiment to make the tires softer. Your monthly subscription to RC Car Action Magazine would keep you updated month to month with new products, but now with social media you hear about a new product being tested or used at the track side within days.
4. Name one JConcepts product that you feel is overlooked by many but you find it very useful.
As for a tool that I feel gets over looked is the JConcepts Metal Car Stand. It’s not only a car stand, but also a shock rebuild stand as well. It will hold your 1/8 or 1/10 shocks so your not playing the balance act while you wait for the air to settle out of them.
5. Besides RC cars, what other hobbies are you into?
Other things I like to do outside of racing is I like to give back to the community by being and umpire for baseball in our area with anything from Little League to High School. In the winter time here in the Northeast I do a lot of ice fishing. Catch and release is what I practice. I take a quick photo and make sure the fish swim off to grow bigger and catch them another day.
