Talk-It-Up Tuesday with NeoBuggy's Phil Mortstedt

  

Welcome to LiveRC's weekly column, "Talk-It-Up Tuesday!" Here we spend a little time talking with industry icons including racers, manufacturers, team managers, developers, promoters, and everyone in between! Sit back, relax, and go behind the scenes as we interview them all!

 

Each year there is a specific list of races that major car manufacturer's and sponsors consider to be exceptionally important to perform well and hopefully win. This list includes races such as World Championships, National Championships, and various events around the world that have been around for decades. One event that was started only a few short years ago, but has quickly made its way to the top of the importance list is none other than the Neo Race. The concept and main man behind this prestigious event is NeoBuggy's very own, and our good friend, Philip Mortstedt.

 

For this edition of "Talk-It-Up Tuesday" we decided to sit down with our good pal from across the pond to talk about the upcoming Neo race, NeoBuggy, and more!

 

 

LiveRC: Welcome Phil to the LiveRC "Talk-It-Up Tuesday"! You are known around the world for your involvement in R/C racing. How did you get started in R/C?

Phil: I got sucked in by an ad on the back of a cartoon comic actually, bought my first car – a Kyosho Wild Dodge Ram in the local hobby shop and it wasn’t long before I graduated to something a little faster and wilder – a Kyosho MP7.5! I raced a little for a couple of years but the nature of living in London, UK but only racing during the summer when I was in Sweden (Swedish parents) meant that I didn’t improve year upon year so pretty quickly I found myself interested in the very new world of RC media!

LiveRC: Without a doubt, your site (NeoBuggy.net) is a huge sensation in the R/C industry. Tell us a little about how the concept and idea for NeoBuggy came about.

Phil: Back in late 2002 I was in charge of a gossip page that didn’t last very long and NeoBuggy went online in January 2003, I started the site mainly as a bit of fun and a hobby and it grew quickly.
 

 

  

LiveRC: Where did you come up with the name "NeoBuggy," and what does it mean?

Phil: Back in 2003 I was 16 at the time and the Matrix movies had just come out and it seemed like a cool name.. ;) It’s a unique name and I instantly took a liking to it!

LiveRC: What do you see in the future for R/C racing, and R/C media?

Phil: I think there are two answers to this question; what I can see, and what I’d like to see in the future… Starting with the first one, RC racing is too closed off, too exclusive and difficult to get into, although this is perhaps the nature of it’s relative success as well ? Its difficult to forsee much growth on the racing side, in terms of RC Car sales there is tremendous potential, however in this slim sector, manufacturers continue to fight amongst themselves for a slightly bigger slice of the cake – rather than pool together, take control and thus grow together. Having just returned from a race in Asia, it feels like this is where the market is right now, the money is there, the best facilities are there and things are happening, Europe and the US have stagnated a touch. In an ideal world I’d love to see interest from outside sponsors and television, however the racing format would likely be ripped up and tailored – a concept that a few of the older heads in power might prefer not to see – its easier if things stay the same… In the next 5-10 years I think some of the greater middle Eastern countries have fantastic potential for growth in consumers – Iran, UAE, Kuwait, India – whether this translates into racers we’ll see.
 

LiveRC: Do you feel that yourself and the media sources in R/C have played a key role in the recent growth of our hobby?

Phil: I think its foolish to believe your own press however its no secret that 1/8 buggy has seen a decade of dominance, perhaps a lucky coincidence, I think timing was good which saw 1/8 buggy grow as well as NeoBuggy. Taking a broader perspective the growth of online RC Media has certainly changed the world map of RC – someone in Australia now has access to video footage of races and drivers from N.America or Europe, where once they may have been completely isolated. RC is truly worldwide, reflected in our visitor base from 135+ countries.
 

LiveRC: Each year you host the annual Neo race there in the UK, which we are honored to be a part of, can you tell us a little about the history of the event?

Phil: Well hehe, it wasn’t the rosiest of beginnings that’s for sure, the first ever Neo race in 2005 was held in Antwerp, Belgium on the docks – an event that will live in infamy, trucking in 500 tonnes of dirt into a disused warehouse and only 3 people building the facilities (myself included) from 7AM – 2-3AM every day… hard work. The track was pretty terrible and the racing line blew out quickly and we were hampered by smoke and poor electrics, not to mention my fellow race organiser being detained for the first day leaving a rather nervous and naïve 18 year old Phil running the show… ;) But no regrets, it launched the race! The next year we moved to the Harper Adams facility in the UK and work with some great guys – the DXR team who build the track and let me focus on the admin and race promotion side. We’re now doing the 8th Neo Race and I can promise it will be the best ever, not least weather wise!

LiveRC: The event has become one of the most anticipated events of the year for many drivers, what are your goals for this year's race?

Phil: Maybe a bit less controversy, although a touch of that isn’t a bad thing ;) Honestly doing my best so everyone goes home on Monday night having had great fun and looking forward to the next one, if there is one.
  

  

LiveRC: You have seen, met, and followed along with a LOT of drivers over the past years. Who has impressed you the most as an upcoming racer over the past five years?

Phil: Its difficult to not go for the names that already are stars in their own right – the likes of Tessmann, Phend, Ronnefalk and Boots have all matured during ‘my time’ in the class, the nature of racing is such that to grab the spotlight and finish first, first you must finish ;) Looking back further you have the current troop of Tebo, Batlle and Savoya – each one achieving fantastic things.

LiveRC: If you could name one driver "The GOAT" (Greatest of all Time), who would it be?

Phil: I’m going to have to sit on the fence and name a few!! Yuichi Kanai – he might not be at the top anymore, but he’s a real legend of the sport and the only guy to have raced in all the World Championships ever held – so kudos to him and for having such a huge impact on the design side. Mark Pavidis & Jeremy Kortz - both having appeared in so many Worlds finals and also Yannick Aigoin – he won his first Euros in ’98 ( 15 years ago!) and he’s still schooling the young punks how to wheel a car, not forgetting the Samurai – Atsushi Hara, I have a great deal of admiration for a driver that can compete at that level in so many different classes – that takes more than skill and dedication!

LiveRC: If you had a flat tire on the side of the road, and could call ANY pro R/C driver to come change it for you, who would you call and why?

Phil: Knowing RC Pros as I do, I think I’d rather prefer to call one of their pitmen! They might know what to do!!

LiveRC: Do you do ever put down the camera to do a little racing yourself?

Phil: As long as no one’s watching and there’s sturdy track fencing… ;) Honestly I’ve been fortunate to observe, watch so many tens of thousands of laps of Pros going round, I take pleasure from seeing them control a car to the finest degree – I simply don’t have the patience and talent for it so I do the next best thing ;)

LiveRC: Best race you've ever attended?

Phil: I’d say the 2010 Worlds in Pattaya, Thailand – not for the well publicized nightlife etc as every night we ended up being the last track to leave, but the buzz, energy around that event was great.
 
LiveRC: Worst race you've ever attended?

Phil: Overall, the 2012 Worlds in Argentina were pretty dire, a giant backwards leap for the industry for several reasons which are well documented – the club did the best job possible with the resources they have, but after the high of Thailand in 2010 came the lowest of lows of Argentina unfortunately – I think 1/8 buggy is still suffering from a hangover.

LiveRC: Favorite part of any R/C racing event outside of the racing itself?

Phil: Easily meeting old friends and making new ones and that goes hand in hand with the variety of countries I end up travelling to – coming into contact with great people from different cultures and visiting new places is a bonus.

LiveRC: What is something most people don't know about Philip Mortstedt?

Phil: Hmmm… theres quite a lot actually! First off, I’m Swedish but born and raised in London, so a bit of dual nationality and idendity even… I’ve never driven a single lap of any of the Neo Race tracks – even with a borrowed car – yes slightly depressing that one… The rest I’m saving for my biography ;)

LiveRC: What does a day in the life of Philip Mortstedt look like?

Phil: A normal day would be waking up at 7, checking emails whilst in bed, a flight of stairs later and into the office at home and starting the day, working on any news items or more often advertising / business stuff. At the moment the Neo Race takes up a lot of time so working a lot on ensuring the event will be a success. I also have a few other projects outside of NeoBuggy so whatever takes precedence!
 

LiveRC: Will we see you at the upcoming ROAR 1:8 Offroad Nationals?

Phil: Yep, I’ll be there, excited as its my first time in Texas, can’t wait!

LiveRC: Phil, thanks so much for spending some time with us and all that you do for the industry! Is there anything you would like to add?

Phil: I’d like to thank Live RC for the opportunity and hopefully gave you a small glimpse into my world – its not all fast cars, girls and planes! 

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

blog comments powered by Disqus