Exclusive Tekin Interview with Jim Campbell

Exclusive Tekin Interview with Jim Campbell
by Tony Arnold - StampedeProject.com
RC Car - January 2008

Long ago, two companies introduced the world of RC to leading edge ESCs, one of those companies was Tekin (pronounced Tee-Kin). Tekin's ESCs dominated racetracks and were so good that many still see use today. Despite the loyal fans that revered Tekin's electronics as ahead of their time, the doors closed in 2001. Tekin's California operation was not packed up and liquidated like most company closings, but was shut down like it was closed for the weekend with parts on the bench andinventory on the shelves from 2001 to 2004. After the realization that Tekin only needed a few key things to restart operations, Jim & Sherri Campbell purchased Tekin's assets in 2004 and gave the company a fresh start with a move to McCall Idaho.

The Campbell's love of RC's and backgrounds in circuit manufacturing made restarting and revitalizing Tekin easier. They sorted the inventory, added new management, and even built a new building complete with a private indoor carpet test track. The immediate result was the G11 being re-introduced and an updated Rebel 2 that was again a huge hit. Tekin has continued its momentum with a new innovative and a very powerful set of ESCs, brushless systems, chargers, and accessories that are again forward thinking and producing top race placements from mini to 1/10th scale classes. In an exclusive RC Car interview, I talked with Tekin’s humorous and visionary owner, Jim Campbell, to get the details on the “new Tekin”.

Q Tell us about your RC passion and what you have done at Tekin.
A. I bought my first Tekin speed controller in 1987 after seeing a RC race track from the window of the hospital as my son was born. He spent his first weekend at the track and RC has been part of our family since. We wanted to see those great Tekin ideas continue to evolve to the next level. Our goal is to use our own knowledge of advanced engineering design, premium grade electrical components and RC passion to take Tekin products to a whole new level of refinement, usability, and power.

Q How will design and product development be done going forward?
A. Our intent was to carry on the Tekin tradition first by reviving some already legendary quality products like the G11 and Rebel 2, and then make improvements based on both in house anduser testing. Innovative features on the B1, R1, and FX series like Push Control, an on-board temperature indicator and a PC Hotwire interface for custom user setups were the result oflistening to our Tekin racing team users. By analyzing power systems we developed the Battery Nurse to combat storage problems and assure the best power available from NiMh packs. Our plan is to continue to innovate and make the most powerful, flexible, and user-friendly products.

Q Since you mentioned new innovations, what's coming next?
Quite a bit. Our newly released mini and 10^th scale brushless systems feature MiniRage and R1 series ESCs paired with our Redline motors, but that is just the start of our brushless focused systems and components. We have a full line of mini to 1/8th scale brushless motors, including a ROAR legal brushless stock motor compatible with both sensorless and sensored controllers in final phases of testing. Tekin’saccessory line will be growing to include our Hotwire PC to ESC interface, LiPo battery packs and chargers, and even high-torque servos, and we have more ideas in the works.

Q What's Tekin's new goal and where do you see the RC market growing?
A. We want to continue the history of supporting car/truck manufacturers with the best aftermarket power available. The 1/8th scale electric buggy category is ready to explode and could be a whole new category along with rock crawlers. Both markets will need good cleanTekin power.

Q Is there a possibility that we might see some crawler and 1/8^th scale systems from Tekin?
A. The Rebel 2 is already a big success the crawler market due to the value and high BECoutput for driving high-torque servo needs. We envision the Rebel 2 continuing to evolve and improve to fit the needs of its users. Like many in the market we believe brushless 1/8^th scale racing will become its own category at some point. We are even building an outdoor dirt track for our daily “testing” and have a number of 1/8^thsystems which we are experimenting with. Once we complete our R&D testing cycle we will release the R18 and R1MT systems for eighth scale buggies/truggies and monster trucks. Our prototype systems have easily exceeded the torque of nitro systems, which will add lots of excitement to racing. We will be offering a controller, motor, battery, charger and servo for a complete 1/8 racing setup.

Q Where do you see the industry going with the brushless and Lithium power?
A. LiPo power is beneficial to all systems brushed or brushless and even offer more power to drive electrics on nitro machines. Brushless and lithium based power are advancing exponentially faster than nitro technology, however I doubt brushless systems will overtake the sound and mechanics of nitro that many love. Brushless and LiPo sure make RC very powerful, easy, and much more neighbor friendly…with the flip of a switch you are off and running. We are going to see some interesting changes in the way people think about brushless and LiPo once more national head-to-head races have electric victors instead of nitro. One great A-Main winning driver running electric in a field of nitro could change the market suddenly.

Q What would you say to those that haven't tried Tekin products?
A. Tekin built great products in the past and had an extremely loyal worldwide following. We are committed to earning our customers continued support with products that deliver as promised and are properly supported through Tekin directly and through a larger than ever dealer network. Quality is directly controlled in our Mccall, ID facility and we have an excellent in-house team of engineers and technicians who support our entire product line. Give us a try, I think you will be impressed with the new face of Tekin.

Final Call – Behind Scenes at Tekin
Jim is a very busy guy and since he has never given an interview since the purchase of the company I really didn’t know what to expect – was he some eccentric introvert that hated talking? Hardly. I caught him in the middle of yet another NTB (nitro to brushless)1/8^th scale buggy conversion and became a new friend instantly. Jim was a blast to interview and is the kind of guy you could talk to for hours and in fact, the interview generated enough notes and quotes to fill an entire magazine. Including the “in testing” R18 eighth scale brushless system (which was awesome), I was given the behind the curtains tour of Tekin’s R&D lab which has all sorts of secret products in development that I am biting through my tongue to stop from talking about. In only three years, the Campbell’s restarted Tekin, delivered new products already producing trophy-winning results. Tekin’s return and innovations are going to assure the continued growth of electric power and assure some friendly competition in the market. One thing was clear from our discussion; Tekin is back and stronger than ever.