Derby Talk

May want to have extra wheels on hand. I have heard mixed reviews on the DW hub shaver. Will likely take a few tries to get a clean cut hub.

I think the wheel quality changes per mold depending on the production run.

Could just be to mark which wheel goes where.

Just the difference of negative cant rears and positive canted DFW will keep the back off the rail.

Having only 3 wheels touching any part of the track, including the rail, is preferred. So steer the down wheel into the rail. You can also take advantage of the slop in the wheel bore to have a very slight 1* angle in your axles and still have flat sitting wheels. For weight, having it centered if f...

After my first work shop I wish I would have had an assistant, my son isn't quite experienced enough to demonstrate on his own. Make easy to read posters at each station with basic steps or printed multiple packets with the workshop steps. At the time I ran out of paper right when I went to print ou...

Those classes usually still keep the width limited enough not to have 2 cars bump. NPWDRL for example uses 3.5" width and max length of 8.25". That does still exclude some models that are too long. Weight is also increased to 6oz. Recently they moved to running only 2 cars at a time though...

It is common for straight runners to get a little ahead on the slope but they lose any gain during the flat where they don't maintain a straight line like a rail runner.

Red rocket as well as other car finish protectants like Liquid Glass or Legend's cures harder then the plastic. They are applied like any other conventional car wax but don't actually use wax. The first step being plastic scratch remover for qtip polishing takes down the bumps, RR is used as a secon...

Main thing I see is that your steer is really shallow. Even many of the best racers start around 4" in 4'. Have you test run it on a track? If so, how stable does it ride? I would think with that low of steer it wouldn't hold it to the rail very well. If you have a test run session before your ...

Damn! You and your son have some skills. If you are trying to still make it fast I would suggest keeping only a small slab of the body pine wood for holding the axles and weight. Use something lighter like basswood to build out the size needed. Balsa is even lighter but is much more delicate for car...

Adjust the support legs up or down the track to achieve different angles.

Here is the set of finished trophies. I am just waiting for the plaques to get made to attach them. Doing 1st-3rd and Best in Show.

A lot depends on the slope angle, start gate and timer. For multiple adult leagues they have been maintaining a 27.1* slope angle. I guess one of the early big leagues were using that angle and everyone wanted to match their test tracks to it. Then after that league broke up others that started kept...

Yes. 2 hack saw blades will match the slot. In my opinion if I have to buy a tool to accomplish something for car building I try to make it something to add to my general shop use vs a unitasker pwd tool. I can understand that others may have a different mindset or like the convenience of a speciali...