Under the hood: Brian Burkhart

Radio Control Car Action, Aug 2002 by Vogel, Greg, Vieira, Peter

LAST LAP

Who is going to win the IFMAR On-Road and Off-Road Worlds, and why do those drivers have the edge?

I think Matt Francis will win because he has been winning almost every event he enters.

Marko Meglen

I hope Scott Brown will attend and win because he works at my local racetrack, and he helps me dial in my XXX-T. Scott is a great pro racer.

Glen Antonov

I'm not sure who will win the Worlds because I have just started following racing events, but I think that if Jukka Steenari attends, he has a good shot at winning.

Edward Velarde

Paul Lemieux for on-road and Matt Francis in off-road because those guys just rule, and Team Losi is the best RC manufacturer, in my opinion.

Philippe Langevin

David Spashett all the way, baby! He's got some serious edge to win anything, anywhere, anytime.

Brandon Kelter

Kinwald rules! He will win truck and buggy because he practices and races at Socal raceway, and they have the best off-road track - better than anywhere else! He is also the best under pressure; anyone will tell you that.

Jimmy Willis

[Hey Jimmy, they don't race trucks at the Worlds-Ed.]

NEXT MONTH'S QUESTION

Why do you race 4WD buggies? Why don't you race 4WD buggies? Tell us what the class has to offer, or what you think it needs.

Respond by clicking "Last Lap" at www.rccaraction.com.

5 QUESTIONS

DRIVER: Brian Burkhart

AGE: 27

LAST BIG WIN: 2002 Snowbird Nats, 19T and 4-Cell Pro Mod champ

SPONSORS: Jaco, SMC, Racetech, Team Luna motors, Protoform, IRS, Airtronics, Keyence, Wolfe Motorsports

WHEN I'M NOT RACING, I: play a lot of softball, go to NASCAR races and just try to stay busy. If you're in Elkridge, MD, you might spot me riding my Yamaha R1.

RC CAR ACTION: What would you say is the most misunderstood thing about oval racing?

BRIAN BURKHART: That it's easy! I have a lot of respect for on- and offroad racers, but look at what happened to Paul Lemieux when he tried to run oval at the Snowbirds; he wasn't anywhere in the ballpark. It's easy to drive an oval car. but it's a whole 'nother thing to be fast.

RCCA: How do you reply to someone who says that it's all about the car, and even if you have the skill, you need the right equipment to win?

BB: Everybody thinks that it's the best batteries and the best motors that win an oval race, but quite honestly, it's not even close to that-especially with the advent of 4-cell oval racing.

RCCA: So you're a fan of 4-cell?

BB: Absolutely. It's going to single-handedly save oval racing. I think the 6-cell classes at the Snowbirds were a waste of time; the cars weren't a whole lot faster. I had the fastest 4-cell car and ran 4.1s; the fastest 6-cell cars were running 3.9s. For the extra work the 6-cell cars require, it really isn't worth the time and effort. It's something the factory guys almost have to run if they offer it. simply because it's supposed to be the fastest class, but I think winning 4-cell was 10 times more prestigious than winning 6-cell.

RCCA: What do you think of 1/12 oval?

BB: The little cars are a lot of fun when you're racing with the right people. I'm gonna run 1/12 scale next year at the Snowbirds, simply because I don't think I'll be too welcome in a 19-turn class anymore. The 4-cell 1/12 cars are actually more difficult to drive than 4-cell 1/10 scale, but 1/12 can be a lot of fun.

RCCA: How do you like the Keyence Zefo-V Extreme speed control? Do you really use all the adjustments it offers, or are you a plug-it-in-- and-go kind of guy?

BB: Quite honestly, I think it's the best speed control on the planet right now. It's the only ESC whose features I've been able to use and actually feel a difference on the track, Drive frequency, brake frequency ... I use all that stuff. It's a good speedo.

RCCA: And you definitely use it well! Good luck, and thanks for sharIng your car with us.