TALK IT UP TUESDAY: Four former Reedy Race champions

0 Jan. 20, 2015, 9:31 a.m.

1/20/2015
By Aaron Waldron

LiveRC.com

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!

Among major racing events in RC, the Reedy Race stands alone as the only invitational event that pits the world’s best against each other in a series of heads up races. The list of those who’ve won the coveted title reads as a Hall of Fame of sorts, and an drivers who take the championship earn the right to compete every year they wish. With one day until the start of the 2015 Reedy Race of Champions, I talked to four former champions - Rick Hohwart, Brian Kinwald, Dustin Evans, and Jörn Neumann - to hear what they think about one of the biggest accomplishments in their careers.

RICK HOHWART - 1992 CHAMPION

With more experience than any other driver entered in the Reedy Race of Champions, former Invitational champion Rick Hohwart is always good for a surprise round win or two. The founder of the original Peak Performance, former President at Team Orion, and now the department manager at Reedy Modifieds, Rick is the only driver who has won the Reedy Race as both a driver and a driver’s sponsor.

Aaron Waldron: Since your Reedy Race invitational class win in 1992, the world of RC racing has evolved dramatically. How much different is it to compete in the Reedy Race of Champions with today’s equipment, on today’s tracks, than it was over 20 years ago?

Rick Hohwart: Obviously the cars are faster, tracks are different, and drivers are better, but other factors like luck and strategy still play an important role in determining the final result.

AW: Do you think that your racing style particularly suits the heads-up format of the Reedy Race?

RH: I race better than I qualify so the format definitely helps me; especially now that I don’t race as much as I used to and I only race off-road once or twice per year. Anything can happen in a race, so even though I don’t think I have a realistic chance of winning overall, a win in any single heat is possible.

AW: Does your win mean more to you now than it did 1992, having had the chance to see how the legacy of the race has endured the decades?

RH: Yes. Looking back, I see that my name is listed among the biggest names to have ever raced R/C cars so it is certainly one of my greatest accomplishments and one I am most proud of. At the time, I was winning a lot of races and a podium contender at any on or off road race I attended. The result was not completely unattainable, so at the time it was like winning any other race. Only later on do you realize that it was a pretty big deal.

AW: With so many changes among drivers and teams heading into this year’s World Championships, who do you think will be the one to watch at the Reedy Race?

RH: Ryan Cavalieri has to be the favorite going in. He has proven that he has the right mindset for the format and knows how to win it. His main competitors might be slightly faster on a given lap but they are not as consistent over 12 rounds. Those that are as consistent as he is are not as fast.

AW: In your mind, where does the Reedy Race rank among the most prestigious titles in RC?

RH: Nothing can beat a World Championship title, but a Reedy Race Invitational title is a close second. However, I do feel the Reedy Race is a more difficult race to win. Once you get to the mains at the Worlds, the fastest driver usually wins. But the Reedy race takes a lot more than speed; luck, consistency, perseverance, skill and the ability to run fast in both 2WD and 4WD are all important factors.

BRIAN KINWALD - 1998 AND 2000 CHAMPION

Like is the case for most major electric off-road races in RC, Brian Kinwald owns at least a share of some form of record in the history books. By winning the Invitational class in 1998 and 2000 (interrupted by Mark Pavidis achieving the same feat in 1997 and 1999), the two-time World Champion is one of just five drivers (along with Lett, Hirosaka, Pavidis, and Cavalieri) to win the Invitational title more than once. Brian will once again compete at the prestigious race when he lines up for round one on Friday morning.

Aaron Waldron Since your Reedy Race invitational class wins in 1998 and 2000, a lot has changed in off-road racing. How different do you expect it will be to compete in the Reedy Race of Champions with today’s equipment, on today’s tracks, than it was over fifteen years ago?

Brian Kinwald: Well yes, a lot has changed as far as the cars and equipment. Cars now are so much better right out of the box that it tightens up the field quite a bit. The cars are a lot faster and tires have evolved immensely, making the racing a lot closer and faster. But racing is racing, and when you’re doing it, it still feels the same… just a bit quicker now.

AW: Do you think that your racing style particularly suits the heads-up format of the Reedy Race?

BK: Not necessarily. I don't think there is a style that suits the race, but being smart and being able to see ahead of you and predicting stuff happening helps.

AW: Does your win mean more to you now than it did back then, having had the chance to see how the legacy of the race has endured the decades?

BK: I don't think it means more now, but I might appreciate it more now that I’m older and know how hard it is to actually win it.

AW: With so many changes among drivers and teams heading into this year’s World Championships, who do you think will be the one to watch at the Reedy Race?

BK: Well if I have to pick one person, that’s a no brainer: Ryan Cavalieri. He knows how to win it, and has before, which makes it even easier because the pressure to win it for the first time isn't there. Now Ryan just gets to see how many he can get, and he’s really good at OCRC (and everywhere for that matter, but I’m sure he’s even more comfortable there than most places). So yeah, he’s my pick, but I’m keeping an eye on Spencer Rivkin.

AW: In your mind, where does the Reedy Race rank among the most prestigious titles in RC?

BK: To me, it’s a close second to an IFMAR World Championship mainly because it’s the only other race that the same guys from all over the world attend. At the same time, though, it might be even harder to win because so much is out of your control.

DUSTIN EVANS - 2011 CHAMPION

Colorado native Dustin Evans has been a finals contender at big races across the country for a long time, but broke out as a true threat to win any event in 2011 after beating Ryan Cavalieri for the Invitational title. The TLR driver backed up the performance with a ROAR National Championship later that year, and TLR rewarded him by putting his paint job on the box of the 22 2.0. Evans lost the tiebreaker for the overall victory in 2013, and will no doubt be looking to join the exclusive company of multi-time winners this weekend.

Aaron Waldron: When you won the Invitiational class championship in 2011, it kicked off the best year of your career. How important is it to start the year with the momentum of doing well in the Reedy Race?

Dustin Evans: Starting off the year with momentum at the Reedy Race would be good, of course, but you can't be too upset if you’re not on the podium because so many things have to fall into place to do well.

AW: Do you think that your racing style particularly suits the heads-up format of the Reedy Race?

DE: I have always done well at Reedy, so I would say it fits my style of racing. You have to stay calm and get the best finishes every round, without getting too high on round wins or too low when you have a bad round.

AW: Since your big win in 2011, both the 2WD and 4WD classes have changed dramatically - including both of your cars, now that you’re behind the wheel of the 22 2.0 mid-motor and the 22-4. How have you been preparing for the race?

DE: Yeah, it’s pretty crazy when you look back at the last couple years and and see how many things have changed in our industry. I have been putting in a lot of effort at home to get ready for Reedy and this whole year, spending time at my local track, MHOR R/C, club racing and practicing as much as possible.

AW: This is a Worlds year, and many drivers have switched teams and cars since last year. Who do you think will be your toughest competition?

DE: A lot of people have made changes, but the fast guys will always be fast. I would say electric racing is more competitive than it ever has been, with many people that can win. It’s hard to name just a few people as I believe this year more people than ever have a chance to win.

AW: What meant more to you to win - the ROAR Nationals, or the Reedy Race of Champions?

DE: They are both very special and very different races to win. I would have to say Reedy though, because it was against an international field and holds so much prestige within our industry.

JÖRN NEUMANN - 2012 CHAMPION

The Reedy Race of Champions is truly an international event, with drivers invited to compete from all over Europe and Japan. The fastest stars from around the globe have competed at the Reedy Race, but in seventeen tries only one non-U.S. driver - seven-time electric off-road world champion Masami Hirosaka - had ever won the Invitational, and he did it twice in 1991 and 1993. German off-road racer and European Champion Jörn Neumann shocked the RC world in 2012 with a clutch performance that netted one of the biggest titles in RC racing.

Aaron Waldron: Since your Reedy Race invitational class win in 2012, a lot has changed in off-road racing. How different do you expect it will be to compete in the Reedy Race of Champions with today’s equipment, on today’s tracks, than it was over ten years ago?

Jörn Neumann: I think the biggest difference is that all drivers using mid-motor cars now. When I won 2012 it was all about rear-motor. Another big change is that now tire additive is allowed, which was not legal before.

AW: Do you think that your racing style particularly suits the heads-up format of the Reedy Race?

JN: Yes, I like the heads-up racing format as I am normally better in the finals than in qualifying.

AW: When you won the race, did you know then that you had become the first European champion in Reedy Race history?

JN: Yes, as it was told to me directly after I won.

AW: Three years ago, you were the star of Team Durango’s small team. Do you have a different mindset going into this year’s race as more of an underdog?

JN: I have the same mindset at every race I attend to get the best possible results. As Team Durango stopped their pro team at the end of last year, I will be competing this year without a fixed chassis sponsor.