TALK IT UP TUESDAY: Pro-Line Team Manager Daniel Adams

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Mike Garrison

0 March 12, 2019, 8:41 a.m.

By Mike Garrison
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!

For this week's Talk It Up Tuesday we sit down with Pro-Line Racing team manager, Daniel Adams, to discuss the team, his roles as team manager, strategy, products, and more.

LiveRC: Welcome Daniel to this week’s edition of “Talk It Up Tuesday”! Let’s start by talking about you and your history in R/C. When, where, how, and why did you get started in R/C car racing?

Daniel: Thanks Mike. I actually started when I was about 10 my Dad’s friends had the Tamiya Fox and Hornet, and they would drive them around the neighborhood.  From there I got a Blackfoot and it escalated quickly.

LiveRC: When, where, how, and why did you decide to make a career out of being a team manager?

Daniel: I never planned to be a team manager it just happened over time while working here at PL. The acting manager left to pursue another job. I was already helping at events and was a race director for many years so most racers already knew me. Basically I took over from there.

LiveRC: Being a team manager is not an easy task, and there is a lot of work behind the scenes that too often goes unnoticed. What are some of these roles for you as Pro-Line Racing’s team manager?

Daniel: Event planning and preparation takes a large amount of time. I also manage budgets and work with the promotions department to sponsor other events worldwide. While at PL I have multiple roles from inventory to helping our shipping team as well as R&D.

LiveRC: The 20th Annual Dirt Nitro Challenge is in the books. According to our research, Pro-Line Racing has won more Pro Nitro Buggy class DNC championships than any other brand. Why do you feel Pro-Line has been so successful at this event over the years?

Daniel: We strive for world class products and never settle for less. We work very closely with our team of drivers and our consumers to make sure they have the best equipment possible.

LiveRC: The 2019 DNC headed “home” to California on an all-new temporary track at the Southern California Fairgrounds. With no prior knowledge of the track surface and tire choice, how do you as the team manager prepare for this?

Daniel: When it’s a new venue it totally changes the tactics going into the event. What I generally do is pack some of everything and hope for the best. This year being is Perris, California, the shop is only 30 minutes away if something drastic happened we were ready.

LiveRC: Despite being competitors and many of your drivers running different chassis sponsors, does the team collaborate and work together to test and determine the best tires to run at events like this, which provide minimal time on the track for practice and no previous knowledge of the track surface?

Daniel: At every event we work together testing and watching the surface for changes. I’m blessed to say that out current team works very well together in all aspects of testing and deciding what to run.

LiveRC: Pro-Line Racing is one of the major sponsors of The Dirt Nitro Challenge, along with many major events around the nation. What brings the company back year after year to support this race through sponsorship?

Daniel: Joey and the PL family have been working together for many years. He strives to put on world class events which is what brings us back each time. These are super fun events, and a great time to catch up with friends and customers.

LiveRC: What is one thing most people don’t know about Daniel Adams?

Daniel: Actually I like working on the cars more than I like driving them these days. I have always like tinkering with things but as I get older the driving skills are slipping down that slope…LOL!

LiveRC: Your personal favorite Pro-Line Racing product, and why?

Daniel: I Honestly can’t pick just one we have so much awesome stuff right now coming through the pipeline, but if I must the MT 4x4. I carry one in the truck and it’s a great stress reliever 😊

LiveRC: Thank you so much for joining us today Daniel. We know you are a very busy man and have a lot of prep work for your team to do, so we will let you get back to it. Is there anything you would like to add before we go?

Daniel: Thanks Mike. I just want to thank PL for allowing me to be involved for the last 14 years with the team here. Also all the drivers and customers I have met along the way, and of course my wife Ronnie and my kids Megan and Andrew who have been super supportive of my running around the world. See you at the races!