Talk It Up Tuesday: Ty Tessmann

This week just before the 2021 Dirt Nitro Challenge we caught up with contender Ty Tessmann as he traveled back to the west coast from the east coast after winning the Chi-Town Showdown. #TalkItUpTuesday

LiveRC: Hope all is well, how were things up in Canada over the winter?
Ty Tessmann: We had a really nice winter up until about a week ago when the "polar vortex" hit, the temps have been as cold as -34F at home.

LRC: How hard is it to travel down to the states at this time?
TT: Actually travelling down to the states is not near as hard as travelling back to Canada, our government is making it very difficult for Canadians to return home if they do travel out of the country, so we definitely want to make the most of our time in the US when we are here.

LRC:You aren’t really one to change sponsors often, it was a really big deal when you switched from HB Racing to Team Xray, what prompted the changes from Pro-Line to Hot Race and OS Engines to FX Engines?
TT: You are correct, I do take my sponsorships very seriously and have never been one to hop around from team to team. Both of my changes for 2021 took a lot of consideration and very careful thought and it was not done lightly, but I am 100%...scratch that 110% confident in the decisions. As far as OS goes, we have always had a very good relationship with them and they have been very good to me over the years, but with FX engines being made by the Hudy family, we felt that we wanted to help promote and support them with their engine program. The Fx engines are an extremely good fit for me and the quality is top notch just like everything that the Hudy family makes. As far as the tire deal goes, when we ran for Proline, it was a privately owned company, we worked very well with everyone there and had a lot of input, once the company sold to Horizon we just didn't feel it would be the same dynamic. We had already had some experience with Nicola from Hot Race and had a very good feeling about how much passion he has for racing and winning, and that essentially was the main reason for making the switch. I am very excited to be working with Hot Race and FX for the foreseeable future.

LRC: The other inherent question with the Hot Race move is with you being a prominent 10th scale racer (Just won Chi-Town in 2wd and 4wd mod) what brand of tires do you run at 1/10th scale events?
TT: Hot race is working on 1/10 tires right now I am just running whatever works best at the track I'm at and giving feedback to Hot Race on what I find. Nicola is very passionate about racing so it is very nice working with him and I'm sure we will have great 1/10 tires very soon.

LRC: What event are you most looking forward to in 2021?
TT: Honestly I am looking forward to racing as much as I can, but I am really excited for DNC as it will be the first race with my new sponsors. The Hot Race tires work amazing, the FX engines are running flawlessly so we are super pumped with the new race package and can't wait to get racing.

LRC: Where would you like to see the next 1/8th scale worlds? Everything still seems up in the air, do you want to go to Brazil or where would you like to see it?
TT: I actually would like to see the next 1/8th worlds in Chico, CA at the Silver Dollar Raceway. I think it would be awesome to have it there, they have a great facility worthy of the worlds and the track is always awesome and once you are there everything is close and easy to get to.

LRC: Any more progress on the Trophy Truck or have you guys moved on from that?
TT: We actually finished the truck a couple of years ago, and it is a blast to drive. It was a long project and probably will never be actually "finished" but it was well worth it. I am going to have to bring it down south one of these days.

LRC: Is there anyone you would like to thank?
TT: Of course I would like to thank all my sponsors, they provide me with the best products to race with. I think I have a really good set of sponsors and I am excited for what the year will bring. Xray, RC America, Hobbywing, FX Engines, Hot Race Tires, MKS, A Main Hobbies, HUDY, VP fuels, Protek Rc, EZ Customs, Stickit1, Lunsford, Avid rc, OCRC and 110% Racing.

I cannot thank my family enough for all they have done for my career, my Dad who knows more than anyone else I know and is always working to make me the best I can be, my Mom who does all the behind the scenes work to make sure that everything runs smoothly for us when we are travelling, and my sister who has done my website from the beginning and continues to take care of this for me. They are the backbone to my career and have made it what it is today. Most importantly I want to thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who has given me the talent he has, I wouldn't be where I am today without him.

Thanks Tyler and Live RC for giving me the opportunity to do this interview, and I hope to see everyone at the track very soon.