5 Questions: Under the hood Scott Hughes

Radio Control Car Action, Aug 2000 by Gonzalez, George M

Age: 24

Last big win: '98 Truck Nats

Home track: Pro-Line test track

First RC car:Tamiya Rough Rider

Sponsors: Pro-Line, Associated, Reedy. LRP MIP, KO Propo, Kimbrough and Thunder Pants

Radio Control Car Action: Congratulations on your win at the Silver State Championships. Who do you think were your toughest competitors there?

Scott Hughes: It took me a little while to get around Austin Dvorak and Billy Easton. I battled with them for a couple of laps until I was able to make a pass.

RCCA: I noticed you were using Mugen's new MT12 rear exhaust engine. What do you think?

SH: Well, thanks to Steve O'Donnell, I was able to run that motor. The first time I ran it was in the B-main. I noticed that it had better fuel mileage and a lot more bottom end. It was also very reliable and easy to tune. Thanks, Steve!

RCCA: I heard they had to scrub one of the qualifiers. How did that affect your standings?

SH: I don't think it affected me that much. I was the sixth qualifier in the B-main, and I don't think I would have been able to improve my best time. Who knows? Maybe it would have helped me, but in the end, it didn't matter.

RCCA: At what point during the 45-minute A-main did you realize that you had a shot at the championship?

SH: I actually thought I had a good chance when I was leading in the B-main. I ended up lapping most of the field after the first 20 minutes. I passed Mark Pavidis for the lead in the A-main, and at that moment, I knew it was my race.

RCCA: How did you celebrate your big win? Did you have time to cruise the strip after the race?

SH: I celebrated my win by cleaning my truck for the trophy presentation. It had been a while since I was at the top of the podium, so I wanted my truck to look real pretty. Unfortunately, there was no time to cruise the strip; Mark and I had a four-hour drive ahead of us, and it was already 6:30 p.m.