Search found 35 matches
- Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:11 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: Finishing weight gain?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7833
Re: Finishing weight gain?
We had one coat of primer, one coat of paint, and one clear coat. All were Testor's One Coat lacquer. Total weight added was only 0.1 oz.
- Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:42 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: 1st in House
- Replies: 18
- Views: 13991
Re: 1st in House
I check every car that finishes at my workshop against an old 'test' car that's built fairly well, but has previous version of wheels, no RR etc... Usually any well built car will beat it. Maybe next year I'll get a better version of the 'test' car built. I brought my boy's old car from last year t...
- Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:35 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: Track Speed Change in Mid-Derby?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 14368
Re: Track Speed Change in Mid-Derby?
Our race times this year on a track that is nearly 50 feet long were an average of 0.2 seconds higher than last year. Differences from one year to the next can be due to differences in temperature, levelness of the track (fore/aft, side to side), track section alignment, racers have built better/wo...
- Wed Feb 08, 2012 9:05 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Single most important element???
- Replies: 16
- Views: 14230
Re: Single most important element???
Thank you to all that posted replies. Here's how I approached this year's car: I bought a lot of accessories via Craigslist to resell to our Scouts for them to save some cash. In the box was a pre-cut dragster body that my son wanted to use. I cut it on the table saw to remove the axle slots then u...
- Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:51 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: Track Speed Change in Mid-Derby?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 14368
Re: Track Speed Change in Mid-Derby?
Our timer goes through holes in the track and screws in place. I'm not sure I can see how it can be bumped one way or the other, at least in our case. I think the one we were using was set with magnets (?). Could it be that the screws weren't in all the way and it got bumped. If it is a laser, coul...
- Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:45 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Single most important element???
- Replies: 16
- Views: 14230
Re: Single most important element???
Two important elements beyond anything else: 1) Axle prep 2) Wheel alignment / Tuning Even more important than weight placement in my opinion. I've seen ridculously small cars win (shorter than 7") because they had superior axle prep and wheel alignment. Many Cubs in our pack show up on test an...
- Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:34 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: Track Speed Change in Mid-Derby?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 14368
Re: Track Speed Change in Mid-Derby?
I don't buy the graphite theory. The finish line timing sensor probably got bumped. All it takes is a little bump and your times improve (or get worse) drastically. Our race times this year on a track that is nearly 50 feet long were an average of 0.2 seconds higher than last year. We borrow the tra...
- Wed Feb 08, 2012 7:49 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: 1st in House
- Replies: 18
- Views: 13991
Re: 1st in House
Not as far as I know. I wish they had state-wide races, or higher level than districts. It would be interesting to see how we would rank vs. the others across the region.geauxturbo wrote:Do they have council races after districts?
- Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:31 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: 1st in House
- Replies: 18
- Views: 13991
Re: 1st in House
Me and the boy finished the tuning and were thinking, "now what?" RACE. Against every hot wheels or other car in the house. One particular Gold colored futuristic rail riding Hot Wheels gave his PWD car a run for its money but came up just short. At 1.4 oz it would've gotten smoked in the...
- Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:20 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: Wheel question
- Replies: 23
- Views: 16344
Re: Wheel question
I agree with FS. Changing the wheels in the pit just before a race can doom any chances of winning, as you may not have enough time to get the alignment right. We are allowed to lightly sand or lathe our wheels to remove minor imperfections, but not appreciably lighten our wheels. I used the pro hub...
- Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:40 pm
- Forum: General Topics
- Topic: General question on adjusting
- Replies: 14
- Views: 11925
Re: General question on adjusting
I'm hoping we have a test and tune. 5' doesn't inspire a lot of confidence ;) Based on my experience in my Pack, most cubs and adult helpers haven't even done half of what you've done. We got a good feel for our car on a 6 foot inclined board with yardsticks for a rail. We knew the car would be fas...
- Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:16 pm
- Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
- Topic: 1st in rank, 3rd in pack, on to districts...how to improve?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7857
Re: 1st in rank, 3rd in pack, on to districts...how to impro
My cub won his den and pack race. We weren't satisfied with the margin of victory, so we polished up new axles and put new wheels on the car. Cub seemed to think that we used the wrong end of the RR tool on the rears and had only 1.5 degree bend on rears instead of 2.5. It sure seemed that way with ...
- Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:10 pm
- Forum: General Topics
- Topic: General question on adjusting
- Replies: 14
- Views: 11925
Re: General question on adjusting
Thumbtack worked like a champ. Running true with only rears, wheels moving to axle heads. We added the front wheel and its steering nicely into the center rail, rears staying out and off the rail, front is going in and riding. 2.25" over four feet and it doesnt "slam". Thanks! We use...
- Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:08 am
- Forum: General Topics
- Topic: How Important is Staging?
- Replies: 22
- Views: 19814
Re: How Important is Staging?
I staged cars last week for my son's derby. I don't believe there is an exact answer. Ideally, assuming no track imperfections, you want the DFW to stay off the rail as long as possible. However, we have a case in lane 3 of our track where there is a slight bulge between lane 2 and 3 at the top of t...
- Fri Feb 03, 2012 7:31 pm
- Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
- Topic: That last paint step
- Replies: 12
- Views: 9992
Re: That last paint step
Beautiful car! Best of luck to your boy. Hope to see some pics of trophies after your race!