Search found 253 matches

by tmbnorm
Sun Mar 20, 2011 6:13 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.
Replies: 16
Views: 18053

Re: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.

If I remember correctly, the COM on the winning cars was about 3/4" or 7/8".
Both of these had steer of about 3-4" over 4 feet and ran smooth. But this was a smooth
aluminum Piantidosi track.

So, I guess the suggestion for the rough track is COM of 1" or higher and less steer?
by tmbnorm
Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:20 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.
Replies: 16
Views: 18053

Re: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.

What is considered "mild steer in"?

With our cars in the past two years
1st in pack and 2nd in district.
1st in pack and 1st in district.

3" or so over 4' was about right?

are you suggesting 1" over 4'?

Thanks
by tmbnorm
Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:38 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.
Replies: 16
Views: 18053

Re: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.

If rules allow, I would try: extended wheelbase central com position rather than rearward, for equal weighting on wheels (try that both ways, if you can do trial runs or 2 cars) com as low as possible, to reduce tipping actions when wheels get jarred sideways mount front wheels so that the most-rou...
by tmbnorm
Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:35 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.
Replies: 16
Views: 18053

Re: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.

We ran on a track like this for our district race last year. They spent several hours using wall spackling and heat guns (to dry the spackling) on the poor old track to make it smooth. I tried to help as much as I could. It was short and rough. We had had rail rider with a COM right at the front of...
by tmbnorm
Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:35 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.
Replies: 16
Views: 18053

Re: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.

I had not thought about running the wheels inside out. The inner edge of the Awana wheels is very sharp. One issue of the track I think is the that the center guide strip is solid. So if you do jump and get on it.. you just keep going and you are not held inside it. We dont get any practice on the t...
by tmbnorm
Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:12 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: How to setup for short, really rough tracks.
Replies: 16
Views: 18053

How to setup for short, really rough tracks.

I have searched here some, but can't really find a consensus. How do you set up for a short (32' or so), really rough wooden track? My son and daughter have races at Cub Scout events. Both have won Pack races for cubs and siblings. Last year, the son went undefeated in Pack and District on a 40' smo...
by tmbnorm
Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:52 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Hunter's 2011 entry
Replies: 11
Views: 16110

Re: Hunter's 2011 entry

Do you have the "official" scales? Scales can differ slightly.
by tmbnorm
Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:21 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Hunter's 2011 entry
Replies: 11
Views: 16110

Re: Hunter's 2011 entry

On a 32' track, you might get away with the 7/16" COM.
Do you get to test?

If so, you could have some lead tape and move it if needed. We used lead tape from ceiling fans.
by tmbnorm
Tue Feb 15, 2011 1:55 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Hunter's 2011 entry
Replies: 11
Views: 16110

Re: Hunter's 2011 entry

7/16" an inch is very aggressive... If everything else is OK, it could be really fast, but if anything is slightly off, it could make things worse. What is the track length? On a short track, the COM might be good. On a longer track, it could lead to wobble. Since we never had any opportunity t...
by tmbnorm
Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:35 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: anyone ever hear of a blackwood derby
Replies: 8
Views: 8630

Re: anyone ever hear of a blackwood derby

The barrel is 50' from the end of the ramp... I just don't see any of the cars coming close to that 50'.

And I hope they use the C6-0 motor or D12-0 motor.. these do not have any ejection charge.
The ejection could cause pieces of the car to turn in to shrapnel.
by tmbnorm
Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:58 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Do you hold back info locally?
Replies: 64
Views: 64641

Re: Do you hold back info locally?

The car that came in 3rd at Pack was running really slow... the Dad was about to give up on trying to get it right. I took the car.. made it a 3 wheeler, did a quick alignment and boom, it was faster than my Son's car. When so involved, do you 1. Change the car yourself with no explanation, 2. Chan...
by tmbnorm
Mon Mar 22, 2010 11:19 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Do you hold back info locally?
Replies: 64
Views: 64641

Re: Do you hold back info locally?

Last year, my son's car won Pack undefeated. We had a test and tune before the district. We were able to get the car a little faster. The car that came in 3rd at Pack was running really slow... the Dad was about to give up on trying to get it right. I took the car.. made it a 3 wheeler, did a quick ...
by tmbnorm
Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:17 am
Forum: Other Vendors
Topic: Revell Pinewood Derby Products
Replies: 4
Views: 8557

Re: Revell Pinewood Derby Products

I am torn over the use of precut bodies. Many families do not have the tools to cut a car. It is a help to them to have a precut body.. but how hard is it to cut out a wedge? It is not fancy, but a wedge works. We had one of those Revell Luge Racers at our District Derby. I thought it was neat, but ...
by tmbnorm
Mon Feb 15, 2010 9:06 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Beat by luck?
Replies: 25
Views: 18481

Re: Beat by luck?

Was your son's car in the low 1.8s? and the other car in the high 1.6s?

Did either car wiggle down the straight away? When they ran head to head, where did the separation occur?
by tmbnorm
Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:50 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Beat by luck?
Replies: 25
Views: 18481

Re: Beat by luck?

Flukes can and do happen. One year at Pack, a boy and his Dad were literally putting the car together the morning of the race at the gym. They glued on weight and put on the axles and wheels at check in. The car finished 3rd in pack. He could just be playing dumb about not knowing about it being a r...