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Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 6:26 pm
by Dirtdiver
Thank-you for answering our questions Jeff.
The last question I have is could you update us on what Mike and Steve Dunn are doing these days and if they are still involved in RC?
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 7:40 pm
by JHarris
Ayk Viper wrote:It's wrong to dilute this thread with thanks but even more wrong not to thank you and Mike for your time and effort. Thanks indeed!
You're welcome. I know there's a lot of interest in Race Prep, the Pro Radiant and the Dunn brothers. If I can help bridge the gap between the questions and answers, I'm happy to help.
Dirtdiver wrote:Thank-you for answering our questions Jeff.
The last question I have is could you update us on what Mike and Steve Dunn are doing these days and if they are still involved in RC?
Mike and I just had this conversation earlier today. I have forwarded your question for a response in his own words.
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:57 pm
by Bongo Fury
JHarris wrote:The R & P brushes is a great success story. I would say that we first sold these in 1985 or 1986. We sold in the millions. Thats the truth. Every R or P brush that was sold went through our shop first no matter who packaged it. Early in our venture into the motor brush market I was testing a number of different brushes. There were so many different compounds that it was easy to get them mixed up. So at that point I decided that I was going to have some sort of ID mark on the compound. Thats why I came up with the R & P. It turned out to be the best marketing decision we ever made. When the consumer went to replace his motor brushes, he was most likely to ask for the brush with an R or P on it. The brushes worked really well. They were still one of the best on the market til the end of the brushed motor. For the life of me I cant figure out why none of the other Mfg.s put ID marks on their brushes. I think Trinity put an "S" on one of their brushes indicating a Spec brush. Many of the top Mfg.s would buy brushes from us. Some even swallowed their pride and put them in their team motors even though they manufatured their own line of brushes.
Wow, much appreciated.
Probably not surprising I agree, I tried a lot of brushes, some better here and there, but overall generally just ended up using the old tried and true, and rarely felt out motored. (course there was a lot of other stuff involved, bushing prep, springs, wire wrapping etc.)
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:03 pm
by JHarris
Here's a few pictures. I must apologize for the flash spots, but these are pictures of prints. They are not perfect, but they are better than nothing! I will put a brief description with each photo.
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:08 pm
by Bormac
VERY VERY COOL!
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:12 pm
by JHarris
Here's a few more from the 1988 4wd nationals at Hot Trax in California. Again, a brief description with each photo.
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 9:13 pm
by uzzi
Very cool thanks for sharing!
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:59 am
by carloco8
Wow, great stuff here! I still remember the Race Prep track that was out in Chatsworth, CA. Good times
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 3:52 am
by Bormac
For me it would seem the Dunn Family were the 'white knights' of off road electric racing in the USA back in the day. A family business that took on a brand less known than others, made it their own and succeeded with it in super style.
A success story in anyone's language.
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 5:08 am
by GJW
you were a winner before ya even raced in those shorts mate.
this is a great thread thanks very much.
JHarris wrote:Here's a few pictures. I must apologize for the flash spots, but these are pictures of prints. They are not perfect, but they are better than nothing! I will put a brief description with each photo.
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 6:06 am
by prp
Jeff,
Mike can give us some informations on the car , from the 1987 worlds in Romsey.
Prototype car for the Boost/Pro Radiant with Radiant parts...?
I search a short and Tshirt ...
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 6:27 am
by Dirtdiver
Jeff-
Was the ceramic armature used on both stock & modified motors or only stock motors? I always thought just stock until I found this Race Prep ad.
http://www.rc10talk.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=11691
Thank-you
dirtdiver
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:15 am
by JHarris
marui hunter 73 wrote:you were a winner before ya even raced in those shorts mate.
The shorts were actually a carry over from Mike's dad's off road racing (CORR type). Butch's team wore them back then and Mike carried on with the look in RC. Race Prep drivers were very recognizable, and looked pretty cool at the same time! For those searching for something similar, the shorts were cotton type, much like sweat pants and had an elastic waist. If anyone finds some, let us all know!!!
The ceramic armature was used in modified motors. There were some complaints of breakage, but I personally never saw it.
bormac wrote:For me it would seem the Dunn Family were the 'white knights' of off road electric racing in the USA back in the day. A family business that took on a brand less known than others, made it their own and succeeded with it in super style.
A success story in anyone's language.
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Very well put! The Dunn's were/are great people. Even as different as Mike and Steve were, they still had the same core values and both would have done anything for anyone. Steve was a little more "outward" while Mike was more reserved, but you couldn't have found nicer guys. Even to this day I would consider myself to be very loyal to Mike and the Dunn's and would still do anything for them. If Mike was to re-enter the rc market today with a product, I would use, promote and support him and that product, no matter what the part, product or it's function. Knowing Mike and his attention to detail, I would have complete confidence in anything he produced.
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 5:23 pm
by JHarris
Dirtdiver wrote:Thank-you for answering our questions Jeff.
The last question I have is could you update us on what Mike and Steve Dunn are doing these days and if they are still involved in RC?
Steve sold his retail store operation about 3 years ago and has relocated to North Carolina. He is not currently involved in the RC business but continues to race as a hobby.
I sold the Race Prep Mfg. business about 8 years ago. I have not raced R/C for about 3 years. I am currently involved in Website design and team management for Jammin Products. The entire family races Dwarf Cars on dirt ovals during the summer in Arizona where we live and continue a family business non R/C related.
Re: If you could ask Race Prep's Mike Dunn......
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 5:29 pm
by JHarris
prp wrote:Jeff,
Mike can give us some informations on the car , from the 1987 worlds in Romsey.
Prototype car for the Boost/Pro Radiant with Radiant parts...?
I search a short and Tshirt ...
The Romsey car was basically a Radiant with our Mid-motor conversion kit on it. The weight on the car (coins) was attached to meet the minimum weight requirement. It was spread out just to try and keep the balance of the car. The coins may have been British coins. This was the first race we had ever raced using the 6 cell 5 minute format.
The boost body was sold in the US by Race Prep as an option only. We used it with the saddle pack chassis option. This is the only other body we sold or used on the Pro Radiant.
Although one of my best races with the Pro Radiant was at the worlds in Australia, I think the best performance ever for the Pro Radiant was when Steve won the Winter Nats in Florida. He was on his game. It was a total Race Prep effort. Car, Motor, Batteries. I didn't make the main and I watched all three mains from the sidelines. I think I was more excited about the win than anyone there. Including Steve. I know he won at least one of the mains, maybe two. The car was decked out with Skulls on the wheel covers and everything.
The Pro Radiant also won a ROAR National Championship in Las Vegas. It was the first ROAR Stadium Truck Nationals. We converted it by putting truck bodies and Losi JRX-T tires on. I won the main and got a championship ring. (never got a ring for my ROAR 4wd Modified win in Savannah, Ga. or my ROAR 2wd Stock Truck win in Ohio) Jack Johnson won the 2wd Championship ring with a Losi. The Pro Radiant pretty much dominated that class. I don't think any other 4wd car at the time would hold up under the loads of the bigger tires.
Attached is a pic of the ring thanks to the Pro Radiant