Jim Silvay; 2005 QSAC West GN Champion
A Champion everywhere he goes
                                                              I had the opportunity to speak with Jim shortly after
                                                              he returned home in Gilbert, AZ from the last QSAC
                                                              West series race in Boulder City, NV.
                             
                                                               KSR: So Jim what is it that you do for a living that
                                                               lets you travel around and race RC's?
                                                                Jim: I work for Intel, in the maintenance group. I
                                                               managed a hobby store from 1984 to 1988 and
                                                               wasn't making enough money so I went to school for
                                                               HVAC worked for Sears for two years then went to
                                                               Intel.
                                                                KSR: What are your plans for next year, are you
                                                               going to run GN again?
                                                                Jim: Not sure, whether it will be Truck or GN,
                                                               Russ Poole owns the Truck That I ran this season,
                                                               and he will be moving from the Sportsman class to
                                                               the Truck Class next year. So I will be running his
WCM Sprint Car in the Open Wheel class.
KSR: Now I guess its no secret you came from
the world of 1/10 scale, do you still race the
smaller scale stuff?
Jim: Yes I've been around the block a few
times... I started with 1/12 scale back in the
early 80's and that's how I met Tony Neisinger,
then I went to 1/8 scale for the longer main
events. In the middle of 2003 Tony Evans and
Warren Stanley Talked me into 1/4 Scale but I
still race 1/10 oval electric, I try to make some
of the Southwest Tour races, mostly the ones
in Arizona and California. I use to go as far as
Florida for the snow birds race.
KSR: What are some of your accomplishments in the smaller scale stuff?
JIM: Well I won the 1998 and 2000 1/10 Mod Championship, 1998 Mod Truck Champion, and I
won the 2000 4 cell Mod National in California; That was where I ran against Factory Drivers. I
have three track records in AZ and
two in CA.
KSR: Do you have sponsors in 1/10 scale?
JIM:  yes KSGMotorsports for cars, Kisbey
Modifieds for motors, Pro-match For Batteries
and RC4Less for tires and I also get some help
from JR.
KSR: Think you'll ever come up north for the
Northwest Nationals?
JIM: Well some day I might change my
schedule around to where I can make the trip,
it is a long way to go.
KSR: Do you see any changes in the future
as far as settling into one scale or the other?
Jim: No I'm pretty content with what I'm doing now, I am on the QSAC West Board of Directors
and I plan on winning a championship in what ever I run next year.
KSR: What has been the biggest challenge for
you coming into Quarter Scale?
JIM: Well when I started in 03 I wanted to
prove to people that I could win in a quarter-
scale, I wanted to put it on the pole every time,
lead the most laps and Run like a bat out of
hell.
Then in 05 I changed my attitude and I settled
down and let the race come to me. I would just
hang out mid pack and let all the carnage
happen, then in the second half of the race
I would focus on getting to the front.
KSR: Who has taught you the most?
JIM: Tony Evans hands down, he has made
my learning curve that much quicker.
KSR: Do you think Quarter Scale can become bigger than it is?
JIM: Yes but First the manufactures need to step it up and put out better stuff, they need to  listen
to the racers and make the changes to better the car. Second the drivers need to clean up there
driving and the officials need to call the dirty driving and crack down on it. Make the calls! I have
seen guys quit because of the dirty driving with no consequence.
Quarter Scale is different from the small scale in the way that the big name racers are marketing
the cars to the guy running his car in the street or in his back yard.
Quarter Scale racers can only market to racers.
Quarter Scale scale needs better marketing, sites need to update more often, people need to
see more info on the cars and the racing.


Jim Silvay receiving his 2nd place   
 trophy for the Truck Class in the
2005 Super Nationals.
Left: Tony Evans, Center Russ Poole, Right Jim
Silvay
Jim Silvay with his 1/10 scale KSG oval car