As we continue on our journey around the UK's top 1/10th off-road drivers, we find ourselves today at a point I have personally been really looking forward to. Our journey so far has given us some truly inspiring insights into the minds and attitudes of the racers that set the very high standards for off-road competition in the UK and beyond. On that very note, it would be remiss for us not to speak to Tom Cockerill, Schumachers young super star who seems to have taken his off-road career to that very highest level over the last few years. With a new working relationship for Tom for his sponsors Schumacher off the track and a truly formidable reputation on the rostrum, Tom is steadily becoming a real force to be reckoned with both in domestic off-road fixtures and on the European racing scene. Tom added the 2010 2wd National Championship to his already healthy race record, and with so many questions rushing around my mind that I would like to ask the rising super star, I settled down in conversation with Tom and really tried to get inside the mind of one of the UK's top off-road racers.
ORRC - Who was responsible for introducing you to the hobby? recount how it happened?
Tom - I followed my brother into racing, but as a family we got involved through a guy who lived in our street who used to race, and on a family trip to Florida in '94 we visited a track, where we bought a Losi XX.
ORRC - Over your years of off-road racing, how many different cars have you owned? name them?
Tom - Erm....lots! I guess over time I've pretty much had/owned most of the cars that were around from about 98 onwards.
Tom - My local club at York (YORCC), it's an indoor track in a sports/school hall with some carpet laid out and wooden jumps.
ORRC - What is your favourite RC tool? the one you just could not be without in your pit box?
Tom - I've never really had one of those tools that you never know where it came from. But recently, as I've become more focused on setups, my ride height gauge is something I've always got out on the table to check it before every run.
ORRC - When you make adjustments to your set-ups, do you ever find that you can dial things too far and loose what you previously had with handling characteristics?
Tom - All the time, especially in testing. If I find a setting that I feel improves the car I will keep adjusting it to the extreme, to find the point at which it no longer becomes an improvement. It means that when I'm at a race I already have a good idea of what adjustments to make and in what quantity to get the desired results.
Tom - Preparation! Without preparation you'll never be comfortable with your car because you know that there's something that could be done to improve it. Every time you put your car down to race, you should know that there is nothing else you could've done to improve it.
Tom - Not really, just making sure I have enough of everything, and then a few more. Make sure the cars are prep'd and ready to go. If I have any things I'd like to test I sometimes build up sub assemblies so it can be a quicker test.
ORRC - When your buggy passes you down the straight on a track do you ever get the sensation that you are connected to the car other than via a radio link? instinct, intuition etc?
Tom - Not really, I guess you always drive on instinct, as we can't feel what the car is doing, just see it.
Tom - Making a mistake! Especially if it's on the opening couple of laps, but you just need to get your head down and do the best job you can.
ORRC - Can you remember the first time you landed a big double in one? where and when was this?
Tom - I can't remember, but it was probably at my local club as there used to some wild jumps made. The first time I landed one was probably more luck than skill, and after plenty of attempts that ended with a broken car!!
ORRC - Has your racing style changed as you have moved higher up the drivers ranks? how?
Tom - I think I've become more of a conservative driver and less all out attack. You still need to be able to pull out the special laps when required, but generally consistency will be king at the top, as any mistake cost you too much time.
ORRC - Now you work for Schumacher do you ever want time away from RC? or is your passion for the sport helping you take work home so to speak?
Tom - I don't see my job as racing, as I'm more on the design side. Obviously there is lots of testing to be done, but that's totally different to actually turning up at the track, meeting friends from all over the place and actually racing.
ORRC - Over your years of competition, can you describe the most memorable time that you raced and why it was?
Tom - Probably two occasions, the first would be the Euros in 2007 when I made my first Euros A final. The other would be the 2010 season when I won the 2wd National Championship. Whilst the last national was one to forget, the season as a whole was very good results wise for me.
Tom - I'd like to say circle because its smooth, however most will probably disagree so we'll go somewhere in the middle with hexagon, almost smooth but not quite!
ORRC -Do you like to race on high grip or slippy surfaces, or a mixture of both?
Tom - I'd prefer to race on clay all the time. Although I think I do better on Astro, I think clay is more rewarding and makes you a better driver.
ORRC - Whats the one thing about your current 2wd or 4wd buggy that you consider its most important advantage?
Tom - The 2wd is exceptionally good in high grip conditions. It generates so much steering that you can carry very high corner speeds. The 4wd is almost opposite, it seems to be a very easy to drive car which lots of people like because it allows them to do clean runs.
Tom - Empty my gear out the car and leave it a couple of days. I never like going straight back into it, but depending when my next meeting is will depend when I start preparing. A national for example will take a couple of nights work minimum. I will make a few notes at the meeting or Sunday night of things I learnt, need to do, so I don't forget anything for the next meeting.
ORRC - With brushless and lipo technology, 2.4ghz and core less servos, aluminium chassis and carbon fibre parts...all this technology, where will race buggy's progress next?
Tom has forged an enviable race record during his last few seasons and if we had to predict a UK driver who has the potential to succeed on the Worlds stage, Tom would be at the top of that elite pile. His fresh mind set and driver skills that far supersede his years really make Tom Cockerill 'one to watch' during 2012. 2WD or 4WD his performances on the track speak for themselves:
2008 EFRA 2WD European Championships A finalist
2008 EFRA 4WD European Championships A finalist
2009 EFRA 2WD European Championships - 6th
2009 EFRA 4WD European Championships - 12th
2009 BRCA 2WD National Blyth - 1st
2009 BRCA 4WD National Blyth - 4th
2009 BRCA 4WD National Talywain - 2nd
We would like to wish Tom and Schumacher all the best of luck for the 2012 season and we hope to see his postive influence at Schumacher continue in the development of high quality racing products.
To learn more about Schumacher racing products visit http://www.racing-cars.com/
To investigate getting the highest quality paint job on your buggy shell visit http://www.kifopaint.com/
To learn more about RC accessories from RudeBits visit http://www.rudebits.co.uk/
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