Interview: 1/8 offroad championship record holder Ty Tessmann

 

The 2012 offroad racing season has been one to remember, with the IFMAR 1/8 World Championships still ahead of us. There is a long list of drivers with the talent and the potential to win this IFMAR World Championships, but one young man stands out above the crowd. Perhaps it is because he started of the 2012 offroad season by dominating with a double victory at the Dirt Nitro Challenge. As the ROAR 1/8 Offroad Fuel Nats approached, he proved he was a winner and here to stay with yet another victory in both buggy and truggy. Last but not least, the ROAR 1/8 Offroad Electric Nats were once again dominated by the now familiar race winning purple, black, and white Hot Bodies.

 

So who is this driver you ask? He is the first ever to win all three 1/8 ROAR National Championships in one year, none other than young gun Ty Tessmann.

 
In between his race schedule, school, and training for the Worlds, we found a free minute with Ty for an interview.

LRC: Ty, thank you for taking some time with us! So when and how did you get started in R/C racing?

Ty: When I was about 8 my Grandma and Grandpa gave me a Tyco R/C car for Christmas and I really liked it, I drove is until it wouldn't run anymore and then my Mom and Dad bought me a hobby grade car. Shortly after we started a club locally and got a track going and it snow balled from there.

LRC: What was your first major race win that you can remember?

Ty: I won some races in Canada but for me the Pro Truggy at at the 2010 Nitro Challenge was the race that meant the most to me.

LRC: Did you ever imagine you would become the first ever to win all three 1/8 National Titles in one year?

Ty: I hadn't really ever thought about it but it was definitely one of my goals to win the nationals and to win all three 1/8 titles in one year makes it even more special to me.

LRC: What is it going to take for you to finish off the year with what some may call “A Perfect Season” and win the IFMAR World Championships in December?

Ty: I'm going to need to be blessed and its gonna take a lot of hard work. My dad and I need to be focused on making everything perfect with my car, plan our strategy and try not to make any mistakes and hopefully that will be enough.

LRC: We’ve noticed you have been racing more 1/10 scale than usual, will you be attending the 2013 IFMAR 1/10 Worlds?

Ty: Yes, I have always loved running 1/10th off road, so yes I will be attending the 1/10 worlds.

 
LRC: What is a day in the life as Ty Tessmann consist of exactly?

Ty: Well I get up around 8 and then have breakfast usually toast with peanut butter, then check LiveRC.com, NeoBuggy.net, RedRC.net for any news. Then I head to my R/C room to wrench on my cars for an upcoming race or practice night, then answering any emails I have, and then its usually off to the track in the evening. Some days I help my dad with his job usually doing painting and renovations, he jokes that if I don't work hard at my craft I'll get stuck doing his.

LRC: What are some of the school subjects that interest you most?

Ty: I am most interested in maths and sciences

LRC: R/C has become a career for you as a racer, do you plan to become part of the industry outside of racing as an engineer, designer, etc. in the future?

Ty: Yes I would like to become an engineer after my racing is over, I'm working with Solidworks program now to get familiar with it, playing around with designing some parts.

LRC: Outside of racing what are some things you enjoying doing with your time?

Ty: Me and my dad are building a Ford Ranger prerunner. I also enjoy mountain biking, camping and fishing.
 
 

LRC: There are more and more ladies racing R/C these days, do you have your eye on any of them?

Ty: That's top secret information...

LRC: Be honest, have you ever flashed a ROAR championship trophy or two as a pick up line?

Ty: No, I actually hadn't thought of doing that, I might give it a try :)

LRC: If you weren’t a professional R/C racer, what would you most likely be doing?

Ty: R/C has been a major part of my life for so long that I haven't really ever thought of doing anything else.

LRC: If you could race anything in the world, what would it be?

Ty: Probably race off road trophy trucks, I like doing anything in the dirt.

LRC: Well Ty, we really appreciate your time and getting to talk with you today. Where is the next race we will see you and the family?

Ty: My family and I are heading to the Proline Gas Champs next week. then my dad and I are going to the worlds warm up.

LRC: We look forward to seeing you then! Is there anything you would like to add?

Ty: I would like to thank Live RC for giving me this opportunity and providing my family an awesome way to watch my races when they can't be with me, I would also like to thank all my sponsors Hotbodies, HPI, Proline, OS, Airtronics, Muchmore, Lunsford, Tekin, PM Hobbycraft, Dialed INC, Savox, Avid, Upgrade, Thunderpower, Kustom RC Graphics. I want to thank my Dad, Mom and Sister for all the time they have devoted to my career and all the help, love and support they have given me, I couldn't have come this far without them. Most important I would like to thank my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ without him and his blessings I wouldn't be where I am today.

 

 

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