This year was a difficult year for me, as I had to balance my racing with school. As a senior in high school, this was a crucial year for college applications. My racing schedule had to be changed, as I was unable to race at the US Nationals or the EP Buggy Worlds due to school. The year started out with the launching of the Pro5 chassis. I was very fortunate to be part of the product development team for HPI Racing and for this particular project. I took TQ and Victory at a big Hong Kong invitational charity race, which was held at the shopping mall on carpet. The win not only was a good start for the year but also help propel the sales of the Pro5 in China and Hong Kong. My EP racing results this year was just ok to me, even though I had several podium finishes at high level races, I wanted to do better at Reedy where I finished 11th. The Reedy race was definitely a highlight for me this year as I was able to win two rounds at an incredibly high-level, and … [Read more...] about 2015 Reflection
Racing History
2014 Highlights
2014 was a breakthrough year for me as my results were the best since racing rc cars. At the beginning of the year, I knew 2014 was going to be an important year for me as two world championships in two major categories which I race in. I wanted to do well in Electric Sedan because this is a class I’ve had to work hard to catch up with, since my racing has always been more focused on nitro cars. Some highlights of the year started with the crazy non-stop racing at Snowbirds. My new home track RCI hosting the AOC races where not only did we have fun racing, but also enjoyed the F1 race in Shanghai. I am hoping more people will join the fun in 2015 at AOC Shanghai! My 1/8 GP On Road results were the best ever; I won all the races I entered this year including two big races in Taiwan, a race in Shanghai and the annual Byron Challenge in Chicago. 1/8 GP is by far my best class and favorite class so I hope I will do well in the 2015 Worlds in Brazil. For Nitro Sedan, this is … [Read more...] about 2014 Highlights
2013 Highlights
I wanted to share some thoughts about my 2013 experience and how much fun I had racing around the world. I am thankful to have a family who supports me and especially my Dad and Mom for always encouraging me to live my dreams. I also want to thank Ai, my friend and mechanic who knows what I need to win races. My sponsors, without you, I cannot realize my goals and dreams and I thank you for supporting me and giving me the opportunities. And to all my friends, old friends, new friends, this is what this hobby sport is all about and I am so lucky to know all of you around the world, thank you for your friendships. And finally, I want to thank God for giving me everything, without him, I would not be here and it gives me peace to know he is there with me all the time. I missed about 30 days of school last year :) Actually, I dread missing school because catching up with school work is really hard. We’ve (My Dad, Ai and I) traveled all around the world and last year we made 3 trips to … [Read more...] about 2013 Highlights
2012 Highlights
2012 was a very successful year for JJ's racing career. At 14 years old, he had 12 first place finishes and 9 TQ's in both onroad and offroad classes, at races all over the world. Some of his victories in 2012 include winning first place and TQing at the Byron World Challenge, taking first place at the Mugen Cup in China, finishing first in front of EC Kim from Korea and Atsushi Hara at the HPI Works Challenge in China, and taking TQ and winning both the 2WD and 4WD classes at the RCI Offroad Grand Opening race. At the Super Grand Prix One F1 RC league finale, after 6 months and 6 rounds of intense racing, JJ was crowned the Grand Champion beating out over 78 drivers representing 27 teams. JJ was also the only driver to set a lap time under 15 seconds. JJ dominated at the first ever Horizon Hobby Cup, taking victory in each of the 10-minute triple mains from pole position in the 4WD Short Course class, as well as securing the overall victory in the 2WD Buggy class. At … [Read more...] about 2012 Highlights
2011 Highlights
At age 13, JJ’s driving began to improve further as he qualified into the A Main at the Winternats in Florida. 2011 also was the 1/8 IFMAR Worlds in Miami where JJ represented Team USA. At the summer Byron’s World Challenge, JJ also made his first podium in the US. Other highlights of the year included podium finish at the Timezone nitro and electric race in Washington state, coming in 5th in the Hong Kong International Indoor Carpet Invitation, runner-up at the Hobby Pro nitro race in Hong Kong, and winning the Beijing International Invitational. 2011 also marked the year Mugen Seiki Racing and Novarossi signed JJ as their factory driver. … [Read more...] about 2011 Highlights
2010 Highlights
After competing mostly in Asia, 2010 was the first year JJ began to compete in North America. The US Nationals in Lincoln Nebraska was the first test for 12 year old JJ to see how he would match up against top US drivers. Mentor Mike Swauger and the entire Mugen USA team was there to support him. 2010 was also the IFMAR Sedan World Championship in Houston Texas. JJ did well bumping up from 1/16 round to the ¼ round finishing #34 in the world. Other races that year included the KM Asia Cup in Hong Kong as well as the Japan Nationals. … [Read more...] about 2010 Highlights
2009 Highlights
JJ started to compete more outside China in order to gain more experience with higher competition. Major accomplishment includes winning the Tamiya Asia Championship Junior Title. … [Read more...] about 2009 Highlights
2008 Highlights
In 2008, JJ started driving electric cars for the first time, at his very first electric race in Shanghai, he qualified into the A-Main with many top Hong Kong and Chinese drivers in attendance, quite a surprise to all. The same year, a major international nitro race in Shanghai was held at the TRS race track. Fukuda from Japan was the top invited driver and it was that race JJ began to compete seriously in the nitro class. … [Read more...] about 2008 Highlights
2007 Highlights
At the age of 9, JJ became the top 14 and under driver in Shanghai, China. … [Read more...] about 2007 Highlights
2006 Highlights
6 months after getting into the sport, JJ was starting to win races and got sponsored by Kyosho Hong Kong as well as World Model Hong Kong. JJ attended the Kyosho Asia Cup and after the race, was invited to join the Kyosho World Cup in Paris, France. Together with his family and coach (Tommy Dai), JJ competed in his first ever international race. … [Read more...] about 2006 Highlights