In this edition of the JConcepts Friday5 we talk to Iowa team driver, Owen Vanderbeek!
1. When you first got into RC racing, what pro driver did you look up to and why? Or maybe there was a local/regional driver that you followed?
I’ve always looked up to my dad in racing, especially when racing RC and at the beginning of my career. I haven’t seen my dad in his prime of RC, but I’ve heard good things about his driving. I watch him driving now and I love how he picks up on racing lines very fast. I’ve always looked up to his competitive grind and how much effort he puts into his program and now my program to make sure we stay competitive all the time.
2. Name a RC class that you would like to see increase in popularity and why?
I would love to see Mod 2wd Buggy have a bigger turnout at big and small races. I think if more people get away from the stock racing it’ll be a more competitive and fun racing atmosphere for everyone and test a driver’s real abilities.
3. If you had to guess where the 1/10 off-road electric scene is 10 years from now, would you expect to see more dirt, carpet, or turf tracks and why?
Unfortunately, I think carpet will be the big new form of the 1/10 racing scene. The dirt 1/10 scene is slowly dying because of the increased popularity in carpet and more facilities going up that’s only 1/10 carpet. In 10 years there’s probably only going to be 10 or less dirt tracks which is sad to see because I’ve raced dirt 1/10 my whole life and I’ve slowly watched tracks close, and now it’s to the point where I don’t even have a local dirt RC track within an hour away. If I want to race dirt, I have to go to the HobbyPlex in Omaha which is two hours away.
4. Which JConcepts product is your favorite to date, and why?
I really like the JConcepts 7″ rear wing because there are durable and cool looking.
5. You are obviously highly skilled when it comes to RC cars, but what is one skill or hidden talent that folks might be surprised to find out about you?
I’m pretty good at weight lifting and video games such as Rainbow Six Siege, iRacing, and Call of Duty.