Search found 16 matches

by tomormatt
Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:33 am
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Which of the rules "in the box" prevents use of lathe?
Replies: 13
Views: 20948

Re: Which of the rules "in the box" prevents use of lathe?

I like the suggestion on measuring the wheel (as long as standard wheels would not have enough variation to create a false positive). I also like inserting a rule preventing any removal of material from inside the wheel; however, just wondering if that is difficult to see without removing a wheel. I...
by tomormatt
Mon Feb 09, 2015 7:10 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Which of the rules "in the box" prevents use of lathe?
Replies: 13
Views: 20948

Re: Which of the rules "in the box" prevents use of lathe?

Sorry if I was not specific. The purpose of my post was to pose that question - do the RITB prevent the use of a lathe? I had assumed that the rule regarding rounding wheels would prevent the use of a lathe, but it is more because I cannot think of how else that would be applicable. I am not opposed...
by tomormatt
Mon Feb 09, 2015 2:30 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Which of the rules "in the box" prevents use of lathe?
Replies: 13
Views: 20948

Which of the rules "in the box" prevents use of lathe?

Making my annual pilgrimage to DerbyTalk. Although I am no longer the Cub Committee Chair (our BSA Committee Chair for that matter) in our unit, I have been asked to run the Pinewood Derby again this year. As background, our district has not typically had a Pinewood Derby so the rules for the pack d...
by tomormatt
Tue Apr 15, 2014 1:02 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Help with statistical analysis
Replies: 11
Views: 16628

Re: Help with statistical analysis

I am pretty sure that many cars will go faster as races progress as I have found that my cars often need a breaking in period. I will usually spin the wheels a significant amount of time before racing as I have often seen a pretty substantial impact the more a car races. I learned lots from this rac...
by tomormatt
Sun Apr 06, 2014 3:09 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Help with statistical analysis
Replies: 11
Views: 16628

Help with statistical analysis

We had our Pinewood Derby last week and it went as well as it could have. Per my earlier posts, I inherited a totally unplanned derby with four weeks to go. I made the decision to bite the bullet and purchase a Best Track and Champ timer and it made for a successful event. Our pack is not an ultra c...
by tomormatt
Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:50 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Huge thanks to Best Track
Replies: 1
Views: 8017

Huge thanks to Best Track

I made another post regarding the mad scramble I am currently in after assuming responsibility for our derby with less than four weeks to go with no track, no timer, and no plan. This is on the heels of a disastrous derby last year and I was unwilling to have a repeat potentially losing a whole grou...
by tomormatt
Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:58 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

You and I could not be more aligned. People seem to grasp that the scout should be involved, but I have always pushed back hard when people infer from that the parent should be involved only minimally. When my son was a wolf, he was as involved as he could be at that age, but I obviously did most of...
by tomormatt
Thu Mar 06, 2014 12:40 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

Just went through our District newsletter last month that announced the district Pinewood derby. The wording on rules is as follows: "BSA rules will apply and a copy is included in the kit". I would guess that we are in compliance as we (just coincidentally) did the same thing. I am a litt...
by tomormatt
Thu Mar 06, 2014 12:26 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

Thanks Randy and congratulations on your software. I have worked in software / Saas for the last 15 years (on the finance side as a CFO), but I have seen enough development cycles to know the effort it takes to create a product like that. Rest assured we will comply with the license requirements. I ...
by tomormatt
Thu Mar 06, 2014 12:19 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

That is a good point Stan. I should have probably mentioned that our district (Ventura Council) has not had a district-wide derby for the past couple years. At round table last month they indicated they are going to try for one this year in June. I have contacted the individual who is taking the lea...
by tomormatt
Wed Mar 05, 2014 9:31 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

I thought the amount was ridiculously high, which is one of the reasons that I told them to consider purchasing the track as it would pay for itself in a few years. We are in Southern California so everything seems to cost more in this area. I was told that they contacted a couple vendors and everyo...
by tomormatt
Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:58 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

Great idea. I have emailed the round table participants soliciting help from anyone familiar with GPRM software. Our pack does not send winners to district (probably one reason that our pack is not overly competitive) so I do not have to worry about winning entries at the pack level being out of com...
by tomormatt
Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:23 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

I intend to have the boys registered and in the software in advance. I am planning on using an average time having each entry do one heat in each lane. One reason I went with the whole system is I want to use a time based system and was not comfortable with any timers that required installing a swit...
by tomormatt
Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:16 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

You are correct on the rules out of the box. For some reason I thought that language was from the sheet included in the kit, but I must have confused it with the rules we used when my son was in the pack. I guess this is more of a free for all than I had originally thought. Although our pack is not ...
by tomormatt
Wed Mar 05, 2014 5:14 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice needed
Replies: 21
Views: 31884

Re: Newbie assuming derby responsibility - much advice neede

Thanks for the input. I am planning on setting up the night before to allow plenty of time. I will remember to be cognizant of the cord placement. I am reasonably confident I am going to be the proud owner of a new track. I am also the committee chair for our BSA unit (troop, varsity team, and ventu...