In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to North Carolina team driver, Justin Doyle!
1. How did you learn about RC car racing? What class did you participate in to begin with and why?
My dad worked for a Cadillac dealership in south Florida, Bayview Cadillac. He and a bunch of co-workers would parking lot race early Saturday mornings. He would bring me along at the crack of dawn it felt like at the time and we would help set up 2 x 4s that made the track. That is how I learned about RC racing.
I’ve raced a lot of different classes when I was young, but the class that really made me fall in love with the hobby and made it mine was Stadium Truck. A lot of people say Stadium Trucks look goofy, but there was something amazing about the Losi XXT that rocked my world. I loved the body styling, I loved the big yellow wheels, just something about it! I was hooked.
Photo credit: Radio Control Car Action Magazine
2. 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?
- Take your time. Focus on function (a tire that doesn’t come off of the rim) not looks. Most excess glue will fade away anyway.
- Make sure your hands are clean of oil. Wash your hands with dawn soap before starting.
- Make sure the glue you’re using is not stale. I like to use a sharpie and mark on the bottle the the date I opened it. When you shake the bottle it should look like water not gel. If I have glue for six months it becomes house hold super glue not tire glue anymore.
- Clean the bead of the tire with simple green. Wheels are fine you don’t need to clean them.
- Don’t forget to punch holes in the tire before gluing.
- Fit the tire and foam on the rim and massage it and roll it against the table applying pressure to get everything to seat. Then inspect the tire to make sure the bead of the tire is sitting nice on the wheel.
- Glue the inside of all the wheel/tires first. This will help you get your flow going and won’t be visible if you really make a mess.
- When you’re running glue around the tire find a comfortable position to hold the tire. I pull the bead back with my thumb, insert glue and work my way around the tire.
- I have really grown to love thin glue over medium because it finds it’s way around the bead so quickly and easily.
- JConcepts Satellite Tire Rubber Bands are a must. I don’t put the bands on the tire until after I glue in most all cases, but sometimes with a really soft tire the band can help you keep the bead on the wheel nicely.
- When you put the band on it’s normal for some glue to squeeze out. Wipe it off as you rotate the tire for a cleaner look.
3. When life interferes and you can’t wheel your RC car, how do you quench your thirst for RC? Do you work on your car, listen to a RC podcast, watch some racing videos, read RC magazines or books, etc?
I love looking through vintage Radio Control Car Action magazines. I am also a top fan of the Radio Impound Podcast. If you’re patient you can get some really good info by listening.
4. To date what is your favorite JConcepts product of all time and why?
That’s tough so many great products. It has to be the Dirt Webs. The tread pattern was so visually appealing and so dominant on the track. And that name!
5. Besides RC cars, what other hobbies are you into?
I love mountain biking and bass fishing.
