1985
POMONA, CA
JAMMIN JAY HALSEY WAS OFF-ROAD RACING’S TOP
RACER AT THE TIME AND HIS WIN IN 1985 LAUNCHED HIS
RACING CAREER AS WELL AS THE REIGN OF THE RC10
BACK THEN THINGS WERE DIFFERENT.
The companies weren’t as big as they are now. Back then it seemed like
just another race. I think I raced my car the following weekend after the
world championships. At that time, I was having the time of my life traveling
all over the world with Associated. We had to do a ton of work to the cars
to get them to work right. You couldn’t get everything you needed from the
hobby shop like you can
today. When I won, it was a
big win for Associated, but
also Novak because I used
the first electronic speed
control. The win was big for
Pro-Line too because we ran
their front tires. When I won,
it didn’t feel as good as it does now. I
don’t even have the car. We won so
much that year. It felt kind of like just
winning another race. When I look back
on it, I know it was a big deal. I
remember camping with family at the
campground next door. Today, the
racers complain about the hotels they
stay in. They don’t know how good they
got it. I remember building my car on
the picnic table at the campground. We
built the first prototype 4WD car right on
a picnic table. Times have changed, but
the competition was still good back
then. When I was preparing for the
worlds, I would go to a track with 30
charged battery packs and run battery
after battery. I think our win really put Associated on the map. I wouldn’t
consider myself Tony Hawk, but he was around skateboarding when it
started. I am kind of the same way because I was there when off-road
started. I think it helps with my name recognition and I think my win will be
remembered for a long time. It definitely helped with my career and getting
into TV commercials.”— Jay Halsey
““AT THAT TIME I WAS HAVING
THE TIME OF MY LIFE
TRAVELING ALL OVER THE
WORLD WITH ASSOCIATED.”
f JASON’S PICK | jasons@airage.com
A NEW ERA IN RC IS LAUNCHED
The 1980s were the golden years for off-road racing. 1⁄10-
scale off-road was exploding and becoming very competitive.
Team Associated had seen a ton of success in on-road with
its nitro and electric platforms, but they were now
jumping into the off-road
game. Jammin Jay Halsey
was off-road racing’s top
racer at the time and his
win in 1985 launched his
racing career as well as
the reign of the RC10.
Longtime RC enthusiasts
will remember that timeless 2-page ad with Jay
Halsey next to a scale
detailed RC10 that looked
like a full-size buggy. The
RC10 was the buggy to
beat for several years, as
it was faster, stronger and
better than anything else at the time. This was the car’s first
major win and Associated’s first off-road world championship.
Jay Halsey became an RC celebrity overnight and eventually
used his RC talents in the motion picture industry. Halsey
currently owns Jammin Products, which is a division of
OFNA.
