Van DeWitt

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Van DeWitt

About Van DeWitt

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Co-Founder of the Micro Crawler Club / Crawler Crate / Utah RC Rally Club.
Graphic Artist, Event promoter, community leader, course builder.
I enjoy all forms of ground-based RC, from racing to crawling, across every scale.

However, crawlers are where my true passion lies—especially in the micro and nano scales. There's something incredibly rewarding about building, modifying, and driving tiny rigs that perform far beyond what their size would suggest.

What first pulled you into modifying RC cars?

As a creative, I always feel the need to leave my mark on everything I build. Whether it's graphic design or RC projects, I strive to make each piece uniquely my own by modifying and refining every detail to match my personal aesthetic. There's something satisfying about transforming an idea into something original—and if it happens to impress my friends along the way, even better.

What’s a build you’re especially proud of and why?

It's always my newest build.
I'm not sure if it's my ADHD or simply the way my creativity works, but the moment a project is finished, my mind is already moving on to the next challenge. I take pride in my previous builds and enjoy looking back at the work I've done, but what really excites me
is the process of creating something new. Every build presents a fresh set of problems to solve, ideas to explore, and skills to develop. That's the thrill I keep chasing—the excitement of turning a new concept into reality and seeing where the next challenge takes me.

What’s the most frustrating or challenging moment you’ve had while building?

Course building is by far the most challenging type of project I take on. Designing layouts and obstacles that keep drivers coming back is both rewarding and stressful. The challenge lies in finding the perfect balance—creating obstacles that test a driver's skill without making them impossible to conquer.

My goal is to build courses that are approachable and enjoyable for newcomers while still offering enough complexity and replay value to keep experienced competitive crawlers engaged. Every obstacle, line choice, and terrain feature is carefully considered to create a driving experience that is both fun and memorable. When drivers keep
coming back to tackle the same course in new ways, I know I've done my job right.

What did it feel like the first time you drove an RC car you’d put a lot of work into?

It took me a long time to truly understand the concepts behind competition crawlers and scale builds. My first year in the hobby definitely didn't produce my best work, but with every build came new lessons and improved skills. Over time, my competition crawlers started conquering lines that once seemed impossible, and my scale builds began earning admiration from fellow hobbyists.

The maiden voyage of every new build is always a special moment. No matter how well a rig is maintained, it will never look quite as pristine as it does on day one. I don't build shelf queens—my rigs are built to be driven, and driven hard. Scratches, dents, and trail scars are all part of their story. Because of that, I always make sure to document and photograph each build when it's fresh off the bench and looking its absolute best before it heads out to do what it was built for.

What are your top three tips for someone new to RC modding?

1. Don't Be Afraid to Make Mistakes
The creative process is built on failure, learning, and having the courage to try again with a different approach. Every mistake teaches you something valuable and helps you grow as a builder. Don't overthink it—just go for it! Some of the best ideas come from projects that didn't go according to plan.

2. Think Beyond a Single Brand
Don't limit yourself to parts from one manufacturer. Look across different brands and find ways to combine components that weren't necessarily designed to work together. Cutting, grinding, drilling—whatever it takes to make a part fit and achieve the look you're after. Mixing and matching parts is one of the best ways to create something truly unique that few others will be able to replicate.

3. Learn to Work with Styrene
Get into styrene as soon as you can. It's one of the most versatile materials available to builders and opens up an entirely new level of customization. With a little practice, you can shape, cut, and fabricate almost anything your imagination can dream up. It's inexpensive, easy to work with, and incredibly rewarding when you see your ideas come to life.

What keeps you motivated when a build doesn’t go as planned?

I tend to follow the creative flow wherever it takes me, and along the way I inevitably run into challenges that can completely drain my motivation. Sometimes I'm able to push through by stepping back, researching solutions, or reaching out to friends for advice
and a fresh perspective.

Other times, the best thing I can do is put the project on the shelf for a while. It might sit there for days, weeks, or even months until the inspiration returns and I'm ready to tackle the problem with a fresh mindset. More often than not, the solution that seemed impossible before becomes obvious once I've had some time away from it.
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned is that it's okay to step away from a project. Creativity isn't always a straight path, and forcing progress can sometimes do more harm than good. Time has a way of providing clarity, and when the right idea finally arrives, the project can move forward stronger than ever.

Where do you usually find inspiration for your builds?

I would say my inspiration comes from a combination of many different sources. It can be influenced by builds I see within the RC community, movies and TV shows I've watched, video games I've played, or just the media I've consumed throughout my life.
All of those experiences contribute to the ideas that start forming when a new project lands on my workbench.

Often, as soon as I get a new RC, my mind starts racing with different directions I could take the build. The foundation is usually the stock vehicle, and from there I start imagining what I can do to make it cooler, more unique, and more reflective of my personal style. Every build becomes an opportunity to experiment with new ideas and techniques.

I never leave any of my RCs completely stock. At the very least, they'll get a custom wrap or some visual modifications to make them my own. For me, customization is one of the most rewarding parts of the hobby. It's a chance to express my creativity and build something that reflects what I think looks cool while standing out from everything else on the trail or course.

Have you ever brought one of your builds to a meetup, trail event, or competition? What did it feel like?

One of my favorite parts of the hobby is attending RC events and sharing my work with the community while seeing what everyone else brings to the table. There's always something new to learn, whether it's a unique build style, an innovative modification, or a creative solution to a problem I've encountered myself.

I enjoy talking with other builders about their projects and learning how they achieved certain looks or performance upgrades. Those conversations often inspire new ideas and techniques that I can apply to my own builds in the future. The RC community is full of talented and passionate people, and being surrounded by that creativity is incredibly motivating.

It's also a great feeling when others recognize the effort, craftsmanship, and creativity you've put into a build. Hearing positive feedback from fellow hobbyists and seeing them appreciate the details you've worked so hard on is extremely rewarding. That sense of connection and validation is one of the reasons I keep pushing myself to create better builds and continue sharing them with the community.

Is there anything you’d like to say to the Batrazzi?

Batrazzi makes some killer upgrades, backed by excellent quality and outstanding customer service. They have become my go-to hop-up manufacturer for all of my FMS rigs, and even a few other platforms whenever I can make the parts work. Their products are well-designed, durable, and consistently perform the way I expect them to.

If I had one suggestion, it would be to release more parts, faster! I'm always looking for new upgrades and customization options, and finding parts for FMS rigs that match Batrazzi's level of quality isn't easy. The demand is definitely there, and I'd love to see their catalog continue to grow so I can keep building and pushing my rigs to the next level.

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Van DeWitt

About Van DeWitt

What first pulled you into modifying RC cars?

What’s a build you’re especially proud of and why?

What’s the most frustrating or challenging moment you’ve had while building?

What did it feel like the first time you drove an RC car you’d put a lot of work into?

What are your top three tips for someone new to RC modding?

What keeps you motivated when a build doesn’t go as planned?

Where do you usually find inspiration for your builds?

Have you ever brought one of your builds to a meetup, trail event, or competition? What did it feel like?

Is there anything you’d like to say to the Batrazzi?

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