Search found 6835 matches

by Stan Pope
Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:29 am
Forum: General
Topic: Track selection
Replies: 14
Views: 23736

Re: Track selection

Yes, I agree. It would be hard for most of our packs to match the track setup of our coucil/district race, since it is a custom track using the aluminum plating from Beta Crafts. In that case, it would be better to at least try to match the type of track (s-shape, sloped, concave) since some design...
by Stan Pope
Sun Jul 20, 2003 10:56 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Track selection
Replies: 14
Views: 23736

Re: Track selection

I generally agree with your comments. My post was not an endorsement of Piantedosi tracks. It was a statement regarding maximizing your unit's chances at the district races. Now, here is an endorsement: Piantedosi tracks are the best tracks I've seen. At the Sycamore Invitational last year, two top ...
by Stan Pope
Sun Jul 20, 2003 7:25 am
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: The "Thrill" of the Race
Replies: 53
Views: 78391

Re: The "Thrill" of the Race

To me, it is the consistency over the course of a race that determines the fastest car. It is more of a challenge to perform at a top level heat after heat, since there are many variables that can affect a car's performance over the course of a race. It shows a well designed car and the skill of th...
by Stan Pope
Sat Jul 19, 2003 10:46 pm
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: The "Thrill" of the Race
Replies: 53
Views: 78391

Re: The "Thrill" of the Race

Just because you have one bad heat you still are not out of the money. Top cars' times tend to group close to the low time within a few thousandths of a second. A bad run costs hundredths of a second or more, and easily wipe out accumulated thousandths of a second advantages. Early this year I comm...
by Stan Pope
Sat Jul 19, 2003 9:25 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: To True or not to True, that is the question!
Replies: 43
Views: 53931

Re: To True or not to True, that is the question!

"Lathes" come in many shapes, sizes and configurations. Safety and machining concepts are applicable to all. Those concepts may be taught, sometimes in very small steps, to youngsters. The fundamental lathe concept of a workpiece rotating on a fixed axis and acted upon by a movable cutter ...
by Stan Pope
Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:30 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Track selection
Replies: 14
Views: 23736

Track selection

The first question to answer when selecting a track for your organization is, "What kind of track will our winners race on next?" Different tracks put a premium on different aspects of design. If my race winners go race at a district or area race and if my track emphasized different design...
by Stan Pope
Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:09 pm
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: The "Thrill" of the Race
Replies: 53
Views: 78391

Re: The "Thrill" of the Race

Timers (clocks) are great for tuning up the cars. When the racing starts, turn them off! Racing the clock requires that the participants trust the clocks and the knowledge ond thoroughness of the clock's operator. There are too many ways for the clocks to be compromised. Scouts and parents can be sa...
by Stan Pope
Fri Jul 18, 2003 10:49 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Staging the car
Replies: 12
Views: 16294

Staging the car

My frau taught her den members to gently pull the wheels to the ends of the axles while checking that the car was staged pointing "straight down the track." Due to respective braking torques, starting at the ends of the axles is superior to starting against the car body (assuming usual tor...
by Stan Pope
Mon Jul 07, 2003 4:48 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Which race scheduling method do you use?
Replies: 28
Views: 104718

Re: Which race scheduling method do you use?

Even without the hardware upgrade, there are alternatives that may make for better results and more interesting racing. You wanna award 4 place trophies? Yes, you _can_ do it with some DE charts but the accuracy is poor. You can also run a quad-elim and give 'em good accuracy and more racing.
by Stan Pope
Sat Jul 05, 2003 7:20 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Which race scheduling method do you use?
Replies: 28
Views: 104718

Scheduling Methods that I Use

For district races (50 to 120 per category) I use Quintuple Elimination - No Chart. For small groups I prefer compound Partial Perfect N charts. Quintuple Elim - No Chart (3 racers at a time) takes about the same time as a charted double elimination, but individuals get much more racing, the results...