Ten Questions with Silverback Racing

We asked ten questions of Daniel Johnson, the founder of the racing team known as Silverback Racing, and John Hanson, his top lieutenant. Each issue we’ll be asking 10 questions of someone in the diecast racing community. This issue, we’re talking to a team!

1 . Q: Did you play with Hot Wheels as a kid? If so, what was your favorite car?

A (D. Johnson): I loved anything diecast as a kid. My uncle and I used to paint model aircraft all the time. I had quite a few Hot Wheels as a kid and my favorite car was the Ferrari Testarossa. It had exceptionally beautiful lines in that casting.

2. Q: What do you think attracts people to the sport of diecast racing?

A (D. Johnson): The competition, the thrill of having your car run down the track and winning. Most people who are in the sport are extremely competitive and have that will to want to win.

3. Q: You head a team, rather than a channel. What made you pick this way to participate in the sport?

A (D. Johnson): Well, when I started in the sport, I did not have any content to start a channel. I was also very new to the competitive side of the sport. I wanted a place where people from various skill levels could come together in a partnership and family style element to help each other in the sport. The team element has always strengthened bonds within people chasing one common goal. The team element helped me to strengthen my skills. Silverback Racing TV on YouTube will be active in September.

4. Q: How many people are part of Silverback Racing?

A (D. Johnson): We currently have 8 team drivers. We are always looking to expand.

5. Q: How do you recruit team members?

A (D. Johnson): I normally just put out a blast on the Silverback Racing Facebook page. Interested drivers will then reach out to me. Then we converse and see if the chemistry is right and then if so, they join the team. I am currently working on a more formal process.

6. Q: John, what appealed to you about joining a racing team, and Silverback Racing, specifically?

A (J. Hanson): I was really a noob at Hot Wheels racing. I started, of course, watching 3DBotMaker, then all the other race channels. It got me hooked. Now I have a test track and mods. It’s exciting to watch and actually hear your name when you race your cars on other tracks... Now with Silverback, I was watching Rust Belt’s daily races and Daniel Johnson was looking to put a team together and I hopped on it and it’s been a blast.

7. Q: You’re sponsoring races at other people’s tracks. What does that entail?

A (D. Johnson): It all depends on the owner of the racetrack and what their stipulations are. I normally find a track that I would like to have a race and I will approach the owner and then ask them what it would take to host a race at their track. Then we negotiate and the rest is history. The first track that allowed us to host a race series was Rust Belt Raceway. The Silverback Racing Invitational is going to be on August 15th , 2020.

8. Q: For the Silverback Invitational, you’re sponsoring a Customs race. For the St. Jude’s fundraiser, you’re doing a non-mail-in stock race. Do you have a preference for types of races you’ll sponsor?

A (D. Johnson): It does not matter to me. I will sponsor any kind of race if the track is a good one and the track owners are responsible. I am currently working on a drag track of my own. Tentatively named the Silverback Racing proving ground. It will be a spring-loaded drag track which would enable me to have a quicker track. It would allow me to race Real rider tire cars. I am thinking on doing a ranking system from 1 to 10 and that would be the hierarchy of the track. It would allow people to enter the ranking, but they would have to beat the number 10 ranked car to get in. I would also host pink slips, cash days and grudge matches.

9. Q: Would you like to see the development of more independent teams like your own?

A (D. Johnson): Absolutely. I think it would be great for the sport.

10. Q: What do you see as the future of Silverback Racing?

A (J. Hanson): We want to be known in the diecast community as a great race team: a team you can join and be treated like family.