Slayden Builds R/C T-Maxx, Revo for Seasock

PLANO, TX (January 11) – The first week of 2005 was exciting for John Seasock … even before he drove Traxxas’ bigger-than-life T-Maxx™ into United States Hot Rod Association Monster Jam® competition.

Steve Slayden, Traxxas’ award-winning radio-controlled monster truck racer, built a T-Maxx and a Revo™ especially for Seasock. Slayden presented the trucks to Seasock before the 15-year veteran of full-size monster truck racing headed to Houston’s Reliant Stadium for the USHRA Motor Spectacular.

“I built the T-Maxx and the Revo just like I would for myself,” said Slayden, who has been an R/C enthusiast for 18 years. “I basically tore down and rebuilt each truck. I checked out everything on them. I made sure all the rod ends and the balls move freely, and added many of the Traxxas accessories. I gave each truck an overall adjustment and set the geometry settings and stuff. Each truck has a very good base setup. This should get him started; then he can tweak them for his own driving style. He’s ready to go.

“It’s the same stuff I run … but I didn’t give him all my tricks. Most of the Traxxas accessories are on them though. What I didn’t install on the trucks I left as options for him to add later, like the forward-only and the close ratio two-speed gear set. That’s his choice if he wants to change the trucks’ performance in that respect.”

Slayden has a vast knowledge of racing, maintaining and improving the performance of nitro and electric R/C cars and trucks. Although he has won countless R/C events, Slayden is envious of Seasock.

“I think what he’s doing is awesome,” Slayden said. “I wish I was in his shoes. As much as I like racing the little ones, I’d sure like to jump into a big one. I look forward to watching his progress this year and see how the full-size T-Maxx performs. Hopefully, he will do well and represent Traxxas well.”

Seasock, who was incredibly busy preparing for his first competitive runs in Traxxas’ full-size T-Maxx, couldn’t be more thankful to have his own R/C T-Maxx and Revo.

“I haven’t had a chance to drive the R/C monster trucks yet, but I’ll definitely be practicing in the next few days,” Seasock said from his New Orleans shop Tuesday. “We have to break them in because MTV is going to film us racing them for an episode of ‘Wild Boys’ next week.”

As the only driver with the opportunity to drive an R/C replica of the monster truck he races in USHRA Monster Jam competition, Seasock is like a child in a candy store.

“It’s an awesome situation,” Seasock said. “I can’t say enough about it because it’s something the fans can really relate to. During the Pit Party in Houston, so many fans came up to me and said, ‘Oh man, I have a T-Maxx.’ I got on the computer today and answered 438 emails. Fans are emailing me asking what’s it’s like to drive the T-Maxx. They also tell me how great it is that Traxxas has put a full-size T-Maxx into competition that looks like the R/C T-Maxx they drive. At least a dozen people today asked if they can buy a body that looks exactly like the T-Maxx I drive in the Monster Jam events. They also asked if they bought one of the replica bodies and they sent it to me, would I autograph it.”

Seasock is ecstatic over his relationship with the leader in Ready-to-Race® nitro and electric models.

“This is really great,” Seasock said of his special relationship with Traxxas. “You couldn’t ask for a more perfect merger. Monster trucks and R/C trucks go hand-in-hand. Everybody at Traxxas is so great do deal with, too. You couldn’t ask for more talented people who work in every area of the company. You call the tech line to ask about a product and they’re always happy, polite and nice. Friends I have who own hobby stores always brag to me about Traxxas’ customer service being the best in the world. There’s a lot of pride in the company and I’m proud to be a part of all that.”