David Spashett – RC Racing Legend and Multi-Time World Champion

Early Life and Introduction to RC Racing

David Spashett, born in South Shields, England, is one of the most accomplished radio-controlled (RC) car racers in historyifmar.org. He discovered RC racing as a youth in Britain, quickly showing talent at local club races. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Spashett had dedicated himself to on-road electric classes, particularly the fast and precise 1/12th scale pan cars. His early exposure to the competitive UK racing scene, coupled with a supportive racing community, set the stage for an extraordinary career. Spashett honed his skills as a teenager, developing a smooth driving style and meticulous mechanical understanding that would soon propel him onto the world stage.

IFMAR World Championship Triumphs

Overview: David Spashett’s name is etched in RC racing history as a five-time IFMAR World Champion across multiple classes. He achieved an unprecedented feat in 1998 by winning three different classes at a single World Championship event – a record that remains unmatchedthercracer.com. Below is a detailed timeline of his IFMAR World titles, including the year, class, and car he drove:

• 1994 – IFMAR 1/12th Scale On-Road (Modified) World Champion: Spashett clinched his first World Championship in France in 1994, driving a Team Corally SP12G2 1/12th scale pan carcorallyforum.com. This victory made him the first-ever British racer to win an electric on-road Worlds, heralding a new era for UK drivers.

• 1998 – IFMAR 1/12th Scale On-Road (Modified) World Champion: In the 1998 Worlds (hosted in Newcastle, England), Spashett reclaimed the 1/12th title. That year he drove a Trinity Switchblade 12SJ chassis to victorycompetitionx.com, showcasing his continued dominance in the class.

• 1998 – IFMAR 1/10th Scale Pro10 Pan Car World Champion: At the same 1998 event, Spashett also topped the 1/10th scale Pro10 class, driving a Trinity Switchblade-based 1/10 pan carcompetitionx.comcompetitionx.com. This win demonstrated his versatility in handling the bigger, faster pan cars in addition to 1/12th scale.

• 1998 – IFMAR 1/10th Electric Touring Car (ISTC) World Champion: Spashett made history by winning the inaugural touring car world championship (then a provisional class) in 1998liverc.com. He drove a Team Losi Street Weapon – an on-road conversion of Losi’s XX-4 off-road buggy – to claim the titleliverc.comthercracer.com. By sweeping all three classes (1/12th, Pro10, and Touring) at the 1998 Worlds, Spashett achieved a historic triple victory, the only driver ever to win three World Championship classes at one eventthercracer.com.

• 2006 – IFMAR 1/12th Scale On-Road (Modified) World Champion: Spashett capped off his IFMAR World title collection with a win in the 1/12th Modified class at the 2006 World Championship in Collegno, Italycorallyforum.com. Driving the Corally SP12X “US Spec” chassis, he proved that over a decade after his first title, he was still at the pinnacle of 1/12th scale racing. This 2006 title was a fitting bookend to his IFMAR World Championship career, coming 12 years after his first.

These World Championship victories underscore Spashett’s multi-class mastery. He not only conquered the elite 1/12th category multiple times, but also excelled in the larger Pro10 pan cars and was the very first to wear the crown in touring car (ISTC) competition. Each title was won with a different car, reflecting his adaptability: from the precision of Corally 1/12th pan carscorallyforum.com, to the American-made Trinity pan car, and the Losi touring car that he helped developliverc.com. Spashett’s 1998 triple-win, in particular, remains one of the legendary performances in RC racing, often cited as a benchmark of driving skill and technical acumenthercracer.com.

European and National-Level Achievements

Beyond his world titles, David Spashett amassed an extraordinary record in European and domestic competitions. He captured an estimated 13 European Championship titles across various classescircusrc.com – a testament to his longevity and dominance on the continental stage. These European victories span 1/12th scale (his signature class) as well as 1/10th touring car and possibly other classes. For example, Spashett won the prestigious EFRA European Touring Car Championship in 2001, adding to a tally of European titles that few, if any, have matchedserpent.com.

On home soil in Britain, Spashett similarly left an indelible mark. He is a multi-time BRCA British National Champion in 1/12th scale on-road, touring car, and other categories. Notably, after stepping away from 1/12th racing for several years, he returned to the UK national series and promptly won both the modified and stock 1/12th titles in the 2012–13 seasonredrc.net. Even decades into his career, Spashett continued to collect national honors – for instance, he claimed the BRCA 1/12th Sport class championship again in 2017/18 while racing under his own Zen Racing bannerredrc.net, and as recently as 2022 he added another British 1/12th title to his name (this time in the 13.5T spec class). His consistency at the national level, from the 1990s through the 2020s, underscores his enduring skill.

In addition to electric on-road racing, Spashett has occasionally ventured into other disciplines, demonstrating his versatile talent. He has raced 1/8th scale IC (nitro) on-road in the UK, even taking wins in BRCA national eventscircusrc.comcircusrc.com, and he has competed in off-road classes earlier in his career. These forays highlight that his competitive drive spans the full spectrum of RC racing. Overall, with dozens of national wins and multiple European Championships to his credit, Spashett built a résumé at the regional level that is as impressive as his global achievements.

Driving Style and Technical Strengths

David Spashett is widely admired for his driving style and technical prowess. On the track, he is known for a super-smooth, precise driving style that prioritizes consistency and control. Race observers frequently comment on how Spashett’s calm, tidy laps allow him to excel, especially as track conditions evolve. For example, in a 1/12th national event report it was noted that “as the grip built and the track evolved it was the super-smooth style of David Spashett that came to the front”redrc.net. This trademark smoothness has been a hallmark of his driving since early in his career; he rarely appears to be over-driving the car, instead carrying high corner speeds with clean lines and minimal mistakes. His level-headed approach under pressure has earned him a reputation for being mentally tough and consistent in long mains.

Complementing his driving technique is Spashett’s deep technical understanding of RC cars. He has a background as a mechanic and setup specialist, often tuning his cars to perfection for each track. Spashett’s cars are known for their balance and reliability on race day – a result of his meticulous preparation. He has even shared his knowledge with the community through workshops and online sessions. In a chassis setup workshop, Spashett revealed many of his “Speed Secrets,” emphasizing how to fine-tune a 1/12th scale car for “reliable and consistent performance.”youtube.com This philosophy of prioritizing consistency over outright aggression in setup is central to Spashett’s success. He focuses on hitting an optimal setup window (suspension tweak, tires, weight distribution, etc.) that allows him to drive within his smooth style and maintain pace even as conditions change.

Spashett is particularly renowned for his expertise in pan car (direct-drive) setup and tire preparation – critical elements in classes like 1/12th scale. His peers often mention that his cars seem to handle effortlessly, a testament to how well he can dial in settings like tweak, ride height, damping, and tire compound. In the pits, Spashett has been a sought-after source of advice; he has mentored many racers on finding the right setup balance. His technical strength also extends to understanding electronics (motors, batteries, and ESC tuning) to ensure consistency throughout a run. This combination of a smooth driving style and engineering-minded setup approach has made Spashett exceptionally difficult to beat when he’s at the wheel of a well-prepared car.

Association with Schumacher Racing and Car Development

Throughout his career, David Spashett has been associated with several top RC manufacturers and has played roles in car development and team leadership – most notably with Schumacher Racing and Team Losi (Horizon Hobby). In the 1990s, Spashett’s world championship runs brought him into collaboration with manufacturers like Corally (for 1/12th) and Losi (for touring cars). After winning the 1998 touring car Worlds with the Losi Street Weapon, he continued to work with Team Losi and its parent company Horizon Hobby. In fact, for many years Spashett was employed by Horizon Hobby UK, where he contributed his expertise to product development and team managementredrc.net. He was heavily involved in the Team Losi touring car project, lending his first-hand racing experience to the design and refinement of competition touring cars. His input was instrumental in cars like the Losi XXX-S and JRXS series that followed the Street Weapon era. By translating his on-track knowledge into design improvements, Spashett helped ensure those cars were race-winning machines.

Spashett’s association with Schumacher Racing is another important facet of his career, especially in the UK. Schumacher, being a leading British RC marque, had close ties with top UK drivers. Spashett interacted with Schumacher both as a rival driver and as a collaborative partner. In 2006, for example, he was featured in a media tour of the Schumacher factory, giving viewers insight into the car-building processyoutube.com. This appearance underscored the mutual respect between Spashett and Schumacher’s leadership – he had long been part of the British RC racing fabric that Schumacher nurtured. In later years, as Spashett returned to high-level 1/12th racing, he often competed with Schumacher prototype cars or provided feedback on their development. It is widely acknowledged that his knowledge influenced the design of Schumacher’s modern 1/12th chassis (the Schumacher Eclipse series). While not an official Schumacher employee in title, Spashett worked closely with Schumacher’s engineers and junior designers (like Andy Murray) in testing and refining these cars, ensuring they remained at the forefront of the class. His decades of setup insight were invaluable to Schumacher’s on-road program, and the brand’s success in 1/12th (including back-to-back World Championship wins for the Eclipse chassis in recent years) can trace some lineage to Spashett’s guidance and feedback.

Beyond Schumacher, Spashett’s car development influence extended to other brands too. He was part of Team Corally’s history – winning Corally’s first World Championship with the SP12G2 in 1994corallyforum.com – and later, in 2006, validating the Corally SP12X platform with another Worlds wincorallyforum.com. This dual success, 12 years apart, helped Corally refine their 1/12th designs over time. Spashett has also worked with smaller niche brands: he spent time with Team Trinity in the late ’90s (hence using the Trinity Switchblade car in 1998), and more recently he has been involved with the Shepherd brand in 1/8th IC on-road. Spashett’s role often goes beyond just driving – he provides setup clinics, tests prototype parts, and helps shape the direction of new models.

In terms of company leadership, Spashett took on a more direct leadership role after his main competitive peak. After leaving Horizon Hobby in 2013, he co-founded Zen Racing, a UK-based company that is part hobby shop, part race team, and part manufacturerredrc.netredrc.net. With Zen Racing, Spashett transitioned into a managerial and developmental role: he sources or develops racing products (such as Zen’s own line of pan car components and accessories) and leads a team of drivers at major races. His experience made him ideally suited to guide product strategy – under Spashett’s leadership Zen became a distributor for brands like Roche and Shepherd, and even started producing its own chassis conversions and parts. By 2023, Spashett’s entrepreneurial direction led Zen Racing to take over the operations of Shepherd Micro Racing (along with Brilliant RC), famous for 1/8 nitro on-road carscircusrc.com. This move effectively put Spashett at the helm of an iconic RC marque, leveraging his vision and experience to lead a manufacturer. As part of this, he has been overseeing car development (for example, shepherding Shepherd’s 1/8 car updates) and expanding the brand’s reach. This chapter of his career solidifies Spashett’s evolution from driver to industry leader.

Mentoring and Contributions Beyond Driving

Outside of his own racing results, David Spashett has made substantial contributions as a mentor, ambassador, and innovator in the RC community. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, as he took on senior status in the sport, Spashett became a mentor to younger racers. He has always been approachable in the pits, often advising up-and-coming drivers on everything from driving technique to car setup. Many top British on-road racers (such as Olly Jefferies, Ollie Payne, and others) have cited Spashett as an influence or occasional coach in their development. His calm demeanor and wealth of knowledge make him a natural teacher. Spashett formalized some of this mentoring through team management roles – for example, at Horizon Hobby he helped groom team drivers, and now at Zen Racing he actively builds a team of talented young racersredrc.net. Upon launching Zen, Spashett said his goal was “to build a fresh young race team in the on-road racing market and to hopefully find the next generation of superstars.”redrc.net This emphasis on youth development shows Spashett’s commitment to giving back to the hobby that made him a champion.

Spashett has contributed to the RC industry in other significant ways. He’s been involved in organizing events and promoting the sport. For instance, he has helped run or advise on prestigious races (like the International Carpet Challenge events in the UK) and often appears in media. Spashett has co-hosted online Q&A sessions and “speed secrets” webcasts, where he answers technical questions for racers worldwideyoutube.comyoutube.com. By sharing his “speed secrets” and setup philosophies publicly, he has educated countless hobbyists. Additionally, Spashett’s reputation led him to be a spokesperson in the media: he has been interviewed on podcasts and even appeared on television coverage of RC racing. His insights on topics such as the evolution of RC technology, the mental aspects of competition, and the future of classes like 1/12th scale are highly respected. In a 2023 interview, Spashett discussed the “health and future for 12th [scale]” and recounted what it was like to compete against legends like Masami Hirosaka in the 1990siheart.com – preserving the history of the sport for new fans.

Furthermore, through Zen Racing and his new role with Shepherd, Spashett is influencing the business side of RC racing. He is effectively an industry executive now, making decisions about product lines, fostering sponsorships, and ensuring that high-level RC racing remains vibrant. His leadership in taking over legacy brands demonstrates a commitment to sustaining the hobby’s infrastructure for future generationscircusrc.com.

Legacy and Reputation in the RC Community

David Spashett’s legacy in RC car racing is profound and multi-faceted. As a driver, his record of five World Championships across three different categories places him among the all-time greats of the sport. He is frequently mentioned in the same breath as other RC legends like Masami Hirosaka and Lamberto Collari. Spashett’s ability to dominate multiple classes – from the tiny 1/12th electrics to the larger touring cars – marks him as one of the most versatile drivers ever. To this day, the 1998 Worlds where he swept 1/12th, Pro10, and Touring is remembered as one of the greatest single-event performances in RC historythercracer.com. This accomplishment alone would cement his legend, but he built on it with a longevity that saw him winning titles over a span of decades.

Within the RC community, Spashett is revered not just for his trophy haul, but for how he achieved it. His peers and fans laud his sportsmanship, professionalism, and the analytical approach he brings to racing. He has been described as a thinking-man’s driver – always prepared, always composed. Many enthusiasts became fans of Spashett due to his smooth, unflustered driving and his polite, humble demeanor off the track. He set a standard for excellence with integrity, showing that you can win at the highest levels without resorting to mind games or ego. This has made him a role model for racers who value camaraderie and respect in competition.

Spashett’s influence on car design and racing technique will be felt for years. Cars that he had a hand in developing have themselves become World and European Champions (for example, the Schumacher Eclipse and others he tested have gone on to win titles under drivers like Marc Rheinard and Michal Orlowski). His published setup tips and workshops continue to guide racers globally. Every time a driver applies one of “Spashett’s speed secrets” – whether it’s a tweak in the chassis or a mental approach to finals – that’s part of his legacy at work.

Finally, David Spashett’s reputation as an ambassador of RC racing is firmly established. He has given countless interviews and even helped bring RC to broader audiences (through TV shows and public demonstrations). Even in retirement from full-time professional driving, he still competes at select events and often finds his way to the podium, much to the delight of long-time fans. There is a generational bridge in the pits when Spashett is present: younger racers, whose parents watched Spashett in the ’90s, now race alongside him and learn from him. The RC community holds David Spashett in the highest esteem – as a champion, a teacher, and a pioneer. His name is synonymous with excellence in electric on-road racing, and his legacy inspires both contemporaries and the next wave of drivers to pursue the sport with the same passion and dedication that he has shown for over thirty years.

Sources: David Spashett’s world championship results and car detailscorallyforum.comthercracer.comliverc.com; reports on his European and British championship winscircusrc.comredrc.net; analysis of his driving style and setup philosophyredrc.netyoutube.com; information on his roles with Horizon/Losi, Schumacher, and Zen Racingredrc.netyoutube.comcircusrc.com; and various RC news outlets and interviews that have documented Spashett’s career milestones and contributionsiheart.comredrc.net.