LiveRC Exclusive - Time Out with Dustin Evans!

0 April 18, 2011, 2:58 p.m.

LiveRC Exclusive: Time Out with Dustin Evans

A name that you have been hearing more and more about is TLR's Dustin Evans. Evans is fresh off of the 2wd Buggy EOS Win, which is just another trophy on the Colorado native's wall of fame. We were fortunate enough to get to spend some time to talk with Dustin Evans and sit down for a LiveRC Driver Bio!

LiveRC: Dustin, first of all, thank you for taking time out with us for a LiveRC Driver Bio. Let's start at the beginning, when and how did you get started racing r/c cars?

Dustin: Not a problem, thank you guys at LiveRC for all you do for the industry. I actually started racing R/C cars around 6 years old and was always an on and off thing for me. I raced Go-karts a lot of my time growing up and would just race R/C as something to do in my off time, but over the last 5 years R/C is what I have been really committed to doing.

LiveRC: What was your first major race win?

Dustin: I would definitely have to consider my Reedy Race of Champions win in the invitational class earlier this year my first major race win. To win such a prestigious and challenging race was absolutely amazing!

LiveRC: Did you ever think that you would find yourself as one of the nation's top drivers?

Dustin: When I got back into R/C 5 years ago I knew I wanted to put a lot of effort into it and see where it would take me, but I never really thought I would be at the point I am today. All the hard work has been paying off and I am very grateful for the position I am in. It has been a great experience to this point!

LiveRC: When did you first get to be a full sponsored driver?

Dustin: After I had been back into racing for about a year I got picked up on a regional level by TLR and was super excited about it. Later that year I went to the Nationals and the Hotrod Hobbies shootout, making a couple A-mains in the very difficult modified classes which allowed me to move up with TLR and I am very thankful for the opportunities they have given me. So to answer the question, haha, I first became fully sponsored about 4 years ago.

LiveRC: Is r/c what you do as a full-time job now?

Dustin: R/C is what I do as a job now, but I am finishing up college and also still work for Monster energy drink doing promotions. It’s a pretty busy schedule!

LiveRC: How often are you at the track either practicing or club racing between major races?

Dustin: When I am at home I always club race twice a week and usually go practice one other day a week, but I am going to be at the track even more than that now.

LiveRC: We know that you can not only wheel 1/10 cars, but 1/8 nitro as well. Which is your favorite to drive?

Dustin: I really like racing 1/10th electric and 1/8th gas, but I definitely have to say I like racing 1/10th electric more. I hope to be doing some more 1/8th nitro racing though in the upcoming years, but I know 1/10th electric is always were my roots are.

LiveRC: Tell us a little about your experience and win in Sweden for the European Offroad Series.

Dustin: The EOS pilot race over in Sweden was a lot of fun. It was great to meet a lot of new people that were very welcoming over in Sweden and also to race at a new track/facility. The event was run amazing with time tables for practice and racing. Also with Scotty Ernst running the program you always know it’s going to be a great event. The win over in Sweden was awesome as it came down to A3 between Cavalieri and I, with each of us having a win in the prior 2 A mains. In A3 we were bumper to bumper for the whole 5 minutes till Cavalieri made a mistake on the last lap, allowing me a little bit of breathing room. It was definitely one of the best races I have been involved in and was great to come out on the winning side.

LiveRC: Unlike many of the top drivers, you aren't from California. Does it make it difficult for testing and development living in Colorado?

Dustin: I don’t think it has made it to difficult for testing and development as we have come a long way with the TLR 22 since the first pre-production car. I have teammate Matt Chambers also living nearby in Colorado so we do a lot of testing together. But with this being said I am going to be spending my summer out in California working a lot with Dan (Dyno) Hissam, the mastermind behind the 22, and all my TLR teammates in California getting ready for the worlds later this year in Finland.

LiveRC: Between testing and racing, how much would you say that you travel per year?

Dustin: Up until this year I was traveling probably once a month, but since the beginning of this year I have been traveling a bit more, probably about 2 weeks a month on average I would say.

LiveRC: If you could be at your level in any other sport, what would it be?

Dustin: If I could be at this level in any other sport it would definitely be full size racing, in either Formula 1 or Nascar. That was always my dream growing up, but being where I am in R/C is pretty awesome too!

LiveRC: What is the next major race we should keep an eye out for you at?

Dustin: My next major race will be next month in Finland for the Worlds warmup. It will be great to get out there and do some testing on the track and getting everything ready for the worlds later in July.

LiveRC: Thank you so much Dustin for taking some time out with us, is there anything else you would like to add or throw a shout out to?

Dustin: Definitely want to thank all my supporters and all the TLR customers out there along with my Sponsors: TLR, Losi, Orion, Xcelorin, Spektrum, Upgrade-Rc, Shortcoursehobbies.com, Spy optic, OC_RC raceway, Bradley Fine Line Designs, and LiveRC.Com.

Photos Courtesy of TLR, LiveRC, RedRC, & RCCarAction