Schimmel & Sutherland announce TLR departure
Just days after Team Losi Racing made an announcement on its ‘New Vision’ for 2025 and the introduction of their all-new 2025 Ambassador program, IFMAR World Championship Finalist Brennan Schimmel and leading US Stock Offroad racer Nate Sutherland have each separately announced via their social media their departure from the iconic offroad chassis brand. Both drivers highlighted the manufacturer loosing its ‘team dynamic’ in particular over the last year, no doubt the departure of the popular figure Thomas Tran a contributing factor. Joining TLR five years ago, Sutherland, a winner at the recent Florida Carpet Championship, stated he ‘wasn’t planning on leaving’, the Iowa driver also confirming his departure from one time RC racing powerhouse Pro-Line tyres which was bought by TLR owners Horizon Hobby four years ago. 22-year-old Schimmel, took direct aim at the TLR’s owners, saying that the ‘company let the team down and dumped its core people like they had no value, like they didn’t exist.’ With TLR’s very low profile presence at this year’s IFMAR 1:8 Offroad World Championship in Spain fuelling much talk in racing circles about their future commitment to competitive racing, lets hope we are not witnessing the demise of a brand that was created by one of the great pioneers of RC racing, Gil Losi Snr, and which has played such a major part in the history and great rivalries of offroad racing.
Schimmel announcement
It’s that time of the year folks and it’s time to make some moves. Years ago I joined a team, a team with enthusiasm, drive and vision, real vision. I was part of a group of people that worked together as a TEAM and it felt like family. Over the last year, that team fell apart. It was washed away by the very organization that let it grow and thrive for decades. Now, through all the turmoil and all the sacrifice, that company let the team down and dumped its core people like they had no value, like they didn’t exist. This exit post isn’t just for me, it’s for all those that have dedicated their time to make TLR a great brand and something that racers loved.
I will always be grateful for the friendships and memories that were made but I will also remember how this corporate company treated this team and discarded people like they had no value. This is not the end for me but only the beginning. I should have followed my gut but my loyalty kept me on board. Thank you to Frank Root, Ben Ellis, Thomas Tran, Todd Hodge, Dakotah Phend, Tater Sontag, Cole Tollard, Austin Cracknell, Tom Postalwait, and so many more for helping me grow and accomplish new levels in my RC career. Thank you to those that sit behind computer meetings and fire countless employees and put many individuals in horrible positions at the end of a year. My story has just begun.
Good luck to everyone Happy Thanksgiving and I will see you all next week in Cleveland!!!
Sutherland’s announcement
It’s silly season and it’s time for me to leave two companies I wasn’t planning on leaving. I joined TLR five years ago with what I thought was a great team dynamic but that is no longer there. I’ve had a great year and I’m happy I got to work with the guys I did. Huge thanks to Dakotah Phend, Tater Sontag, Brennan Schimmel, Cole Tollard, Talon Henley, Thomas Tran, and many more that I got to work with this year. I’ll never forget the memories and friendships I’ve made from TLR and Proline but I’ll also never forget some other stuff that wasn’t so great. Hopefully this isn’t the last from me, we’ll see what 2025 holds and I’ll make announcements once I know. Happy thanksgiving to everyone and see everyone at Cleveland onroad and off-road to end my year off!
Source: Brennan Schimmel [Facebook] | Nate Sutherland [Facebook]
