Search found 190 matches

by Shawn Stebleton
Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:49 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Indented DFW vs. DogTrot Alignment
Replies: 14
Views: 14240

Re: Indented DFW vs. DogTrot Alignment

I haven't used the block check, either, but we have the Piantedosi Classic track with the taper on the entry end of each section. I use a 3' level as a straightedge to make sure the lane guides are aligned properly. I make sure to check both sides and ensure the lane guides are flush with the level ...
by Shawn Stebleton
Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:42 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Mid-Build Evaluation: On to the hard part-Alignment -Advice?
Replies: 27
Views: 21436

Re: Mid-Build Evaluation: On to the hard part-Alignment -Adv

ALIGNMENT: Finally, to wrap up this lengthy post, I have built a little 16' test track and will be shooting for the 1" drift over 4 feet. I read about. I know the theory behind rail-riding, have read on it, and know about aligning the rears first, then adjust the DFW to move to the rail. It se...
by Shawn Stebleton
Fri Feb 21, 2014 2:11 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Have you seen issues with fixed axle location rules?
Replies: 13
Views: 30437

Re: Have you seen issues with fixed axle location rules?

My dislike for slots is kindled anew - this evening, while working on "P'u" (a block that came right out of the box at 127 grams, so I just had to build it), even carefully using all the proper tools and aftermarket guides, I still managed to pop a corner off the end. :burningmad: We'll s...
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 20, 2014 2:36 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Weight Placement
Replies: 38
Views: 48492

Re: Weight Placement

But first I want to let you know that I want a COG of no less than 5/8. I don't have a track to test these on and I don't want to risk having the wiggles with an aggressive COG. Also, we are dealing with a standard cub scout wheel base. 1. Is it worth placing the 0.05 square tungsten plate under th...
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 20, 2014 2:23 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Weight Placement
Replies: 38
Views: 48492

Re: Weight Placement

Shawn, does your Team race on a "Best" track only or is there a circular arc track involved? How long is the "Best" track? Our pack's track is a Piantedosi Classic (wooden) 3-lane track, about 40' in length, but we use the junction of the last two sections as the finish line. Ev...
by Shawn Stebleton
Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:12 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Weight Placement
Replies: 38
Views: 48492

Re: Weight Placement

Well, my son's car last year was not the fastest to the bottom of the incline entering the curve in all of its races, but always had the most speed exiting the curve. Alignment was almost spot on (probably the most crucial aspect of the build), but the extra speed coming out of the curve sure doesn'...
by Shawn Stebleton
Wed Feb 12, 2014 7:44 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Bushy Run District 2014 Cub races
Replies: 20
Views: 25448

Re: Bushy Run District 2014 Cub races

I can't complain at all. My sons have learned a LOT! That's the most important aspect of this whole Pinewood Derby thing. That and being able to spend time with them explaining physics, wood working, polishing, etc. Hopefully they will remember the time we spent together fondly as the years go by. I...
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:35 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Weight Placement
Replies: 38
Views: 48492

Re: Weight Placement

Yes, positive camber. My bad. I had a thought in my head for a different topic about running the back axles flat vs negative camber when I wrote that above. Thanks! At least it's hard to get the axle head pointed down mixed up!
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:31 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Bushy Run District 2014 Cub races
Replies: 20
Views: 25448

Re: Bushy Run District 2014 Cub races

Hey tmack. I just went through some notes and discovered that the "1st place" winner was the 2nd place winner last year, between our boys. Don't know if that factored into selecting which of the tied cars was declared the winner.
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:07 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Indented DFW vs. DogTrot Alignment
Replies: 14
Views: 14240

Re: Indented DFW vs. DogTrot Alignment

Are you referring to a large (greater than the dominant-side rear wheel gap) obstruction? Yes Have you seen any obstruction of that size on the tracks on which you have witnessed racing? If so, what was the cause? The only things I can think of are 1) a very badly misaligned track joint, but I doub...
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:54 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Pack Race, Check. On to districts!
Replies: 4
Views: 6659

Re: Pack Race, Check. On to districts!

I agree. Don't worry about track times from one year to the next. Track setups can vary. The district track we raced on has varying best times, this years off by 0.069 sec cumulative over 3 runs from last year. That's 0.023 per run. This year's first place time would have been 4th place in last year...
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:38 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Weight Placement
Replies: 38
Views: 48492

Re: Weight Placement

We have to use slots, but cut off the back and add to the front. The pack races on a Piantedosi Classic wood track and lately the district has used an old Best Track with the sharp 2' curve. I haven't measured clearance, but it has never been a problem. We've run on the tight curve Best Track only t...
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:25 am
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Have you seen issues with fixed axle location rules?
Replies: 13
Views: 30437

Re: Have you seen issues with fixed axle location rules?

Always struck me as odd that maximum nose and tail length from the axles aren't part of the rules. If the dimensioning is to ensure track clearance, need to make sure that the nose doesn't dig in and the tail doesn't drag. The district my boys have raced in only require slots (they check for solid ...
by Shawn Stebleton
Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:33 am
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Weight Placement
Replies: 38
Views: 48492

Re: Weight Placement

- Minimize inertia for pitch but control maintaining front wheels sufficiently weighted on track while transitioning from curve to horizontal. This is exactly what my sons and I tried to accomplish with the vertically-oriented tungsten plates in the location they were placed. I couldn't have said i...
by Shawn Stebleton
Wed Feb 05, 2014 8:59 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Bushy Run District 2014 Cub races
Replies: 20
Views: 25448

Re: Bushy Run District 2014 Cub races

Yes, next year will be the first that we won't be at the district race. It's amazing we've been to 8 straight--all of them since they started it back up. What's kind of funny is that my older son Jacob would not have qualified his first year if the district had had a race--he was middle of the pack....