Talk-It-Up Tuesday with Jared Tebo

Each year here in the United States there are an elite list of races that factory drivers attend fighting for the win. One of those races is the legendary Silver State Nitro Challenge. This year's Pro Buggy and E-Buggy class victories belonged to one man. Starting out in the sport as a gas truck racing sensation over a decade ago, and has now become one of the nation's fiercest competitors in almost any class, is the one and only Jared Tebo.

 

For this edition of "Talk-It-Up Tuesday" we have joined Mr. Tebo for a little chat about his recent Silver State success, upcoming races, and more!
 

 
 

LiveRC: Welcome to "Talk-It-Up Tuesday" Jared, let's start off by talking about your recent E-Buggy and Pro Buggy wins at the Silver State Nitro Challenge. You didn't TQ either class, but were clearly the man to beat in the mains. What sort of changes did you make between qualifying and the mains?

Jared: Thanks. Yeah qualifying was pretty up and down for me. I had one TQ run in all three classes, but as the track got rougher, I could not get another good run in. I made changes to all three cars for the finals. Mainly just suspension setup changes.
 
 
LiveRC: You definitely had the speed in Pro Truggy as well, however, in your words what kept you from the top step of the podium in that class?

Jared: HAHA....well in my own words, "it was all my fault". My truck was really good and I had some great lines. I just got a little loose on the first lap coming onto the back straight and that started a 5 minute disaster game of pinball. It took me a while to get back in my groove, but then I was able to come back and almost catch Ryan. I was happy to come back to 2nd.
 
 
LiveRC: Jumping back to earlier this year, you won the Mod 2wd buggy class at the Cactus Classic. Obviously you will be shooting for a World Championship win this year in California for both 2wd and 4wd 1:10 buggy. When will you start training for the race, and what sort of things do you do to prepare yourself for an event like the Worlds?

Jared: Yeah my main goal for 2013 is a 2wd World Championship. The training started the day after the worlds in 2011. We are always trying to get better and give us the advantage for the race. I will be doing more practicing and testing this year with 1/10 to prepare. The main thing I try to work on for events like the worlds is confidence. If you can bring a couple jars of confidence with you to the race, it helps out more than anything else.

LiveRC: As you may have heard, Silver Dollar R/C is replacing their racing surface with fresh dirt and track design with the help of The DIRT's Joey Christensen. Do you think the new dirt and layout will be a radical improvement for 1:10 racing and the upcoming national and world championships at Silver Dollar?

Jared: I think that it will be a major improvement. The dirt they had was going to be impossible to hold a good 1/10 race on. It will be interesting seeing what kind of dirt they will be getting, also with Joey building the track. His style of tracks are not what we normally drive on for 1/10. We will just have to wait and see I guess. I am lokking forward to it either way. Having a World Championship in the USA is awesome, I can't wait! My family will be there and it will be fun either way.

LiveRC: At this point who do you feel will be your biggest competition for the 1:10 World Championship win?

Jared: Its hard to say. Cavalieri is always good come Worlds time, but I think Maifield really wants his first World Championship. Jorn is also very fast and wants redemption from 2011. It will be a wild race I think. I personally can't wait, and I just hope I'm right up there fighting for the title!

LiveRC: Who do you think is going to be the next up and coming racer that you've seen lately in your travels?

Jared: Thats a tough one too. There are some pretty good kids around. On the professional side I think David Ronnefalk is getting much better.
 

LiveRC: We are very sorry to hear about the recent loss of your daughter, Isabella. Tell us a little about your inspirational new Allebasi product line and what it will consist of.

Jared: Thank you. Well I'm not 100% percent right now. My plan is get JTP started back up and do my apparel with that, and website for my racing. I will do some Allebasi apparel as well, but I would like to do some events with Allebasi. I personally have really lost my enjoyment at some of the events. The races seem to be all about entry numbers and money. They are ran terribly and are just not fun at all. I'm thinking of doing some driving schools as well. I want Allebasi to be more than just a shirt. I want to share her love, her story, and see her bring a smile to someones face.
   
LiveRC: Outside of R/C you have been known to be involved in everything from motocross, bmx, hot rods, motorcycles, fishing, etc. What is your biggest hobby right now outside of R/C racing?

Jared: HAHA.....yeah my hobby list is quit long. I'm no longer riding motocross. I'm officially retired and it feels good. I have a couple new things I'm doing. I started cycling late last year and I am really enjoying that. It is very freeing and we have some beautiful sceneary out here that I can enjoy. My other thing is painting art. I started painting last year and have really enjoyed it. I don't really have a specific style, I just paint with how I am feeling. I do like the graffiti style though.
 
  
LiveRC: What would you say is your best and worst moments in R/C racing?

Jared: My best moment is RC was TQing and Winning the 4wd World Championship in 2007. I've never had that same confidence while driving. It just felt awesome to do the hard work, drive good, have no issues, and win the race. My worst was in 2012 at Argentina. I felt that I had done all I could to be prepared. I was driving really good and being smart about my setup and saving my best for the racing. Then the engine flamed out just as I took the lead in the semi. I felt like I was in a dream. I still can't believe that it ended that way.
  
LiveRC: What is your favorite product in R/C right now?

Jared: My KO PROPO EX-10 radio. It requires no maintenence and works everytime. I love driving and not so much working on my cars. The radio is the perfect tool!

LiveRC: In your opinion, what does R/C need to take it to the next level of popularity amongst the general public?

Jared: Its hard. There are two side to that. There is the amateur side and the professional side. I think there are too many classes. The days at the races are way too long and not organized. Most of them are ran terribly, even at the club level. It has to be fun. People are not going to spend money if it isn't fun. Tracks need to look at that I think, and see if their customers are having fun.

LiveRC: If you could be a professional at any job, sport, or hobby (besides R/C) what would it be and why?

Jared: I have always wanted to be behind the wheel of a full size car. I don't really care what style, just a full size car.

LiveRC: What is one thing that most people don't know about Jared Tebo?

Jared: Most people probably don't know that 2013 is my 13th year as a professional RC car driver. I'm only 26 and still feel like the young kid out there, but I'm not anymore. It has been a great 13 years, and I still feel like I have many more good years to come!
 

LiveRC: Thank you for spending some time with us today Jared, is there anything that you would like to add?

Jared: Yeah no problem, thanks for having me on here. I would really like to thank everyone at Kyosho, Orion, AKA, Sidewinder, KO Propo, UP-Grade RC, TD Paints, Lunsford, X-Gear, Rock Brook Church, LiveRC.com, and my family for all the support. I look forward to seeing you all at the races. God Bless.

  

  JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF "TALK-IT-UP TUESDAY!" 

  

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