Derby Talk

We used a Belkin USB to Serial adapter however neither of the serial ends was fitted with the screws (both ends had female lugs?) so the fit had to be reinforced with good old Duct Tape where the serial cable meets our Grand Prix timer. LOL If you go this route MAKE SURE to secure the cables well. I...

Randy - Can GPRM be utilized to run this "multiple elimination" style racing? Can I at least still use it to time every heat so that if a very competitive situation develops I can still extract the data for on-site review? I believe this is possible even if the software isn't actually &qu...

Wow! Dave - Don't worry. No one is trying to keep Stephen or Craig (most competitive builders in our Pack) from the trophy round. Just the opposite. We're trying to match like performing cars against each other DURING the race so that no one has to bear watching a car getting slaughtered for more th...

Thanks for the quick replies. Randy - There is no question we're moving backward. That was the Committee's goal. They have been informed of this but like the "quaintness" of a paper system - sigh. Stan - I tried to establish what this format would be called. Essentially two cars start with...

OK...I need some help. For a couple years now we've relied on Grand Prix race management software, a Micro-wizard timer & my Dell 9300 Inspiron to schedule & track the races. At best this method has been called "accurate & fair" & at worst "downright boring". This...

Regarding the parents complaints your son couldn't make such a car: All fine comeback suggestions so far but I'll add another. Volunteer to be on the Pinewood Committee next year. Then try hosting a "Build Workshop". It took 2 years for us to convince the Pack Committee but now Stephen tea...

Smoke, The same thing happened my son's first year. But that year our Pack had different rules than the District so he could have extended the wheelbase but we didn't know this until race day when we saw all the "pro-looking" cars. Figuring the car was already a winner, all he did was a qu...

Rick,

Tracks vary so much that I doubt you'll get much information about times. We have a wooden Piantedosi so our times won't be relevant to your situation at all.

Warp, How old were the 12's you found? We just checked five 12's that were "fresh in" & four of them have the worst death wobble I've ever seen! #15 was almost as bad. One #7 was pretty good. I'm going back to the wheel bin & see if I can find him something worth working with but t...

Nice set up. But where is the cordless drill & duct tape??? LOL

I copied the red car for my entry in our 2006 open class race. I used a current kit just as the builder likely did for the Down & Derby movie. I picked up one of the old kits at a Boy Scout swap meet a few years ago. http://www.ctpumpkin.com/steve/pwd2.jpg I can't bring myself to open the packag...

Stephen has had great speed results so we don't plan to mess around much this year. Between rail-riding & wheel dressing last year we've pushed that envelope far enough. Rather we plan to focus on advanced finishing techniques with an (as yet not purchased) airbrush.

OK....I got really irked at Michael's & will probably never go back in there. I've been researching this a while now. I even spoke with a guy who does "body art". There are some very fancy airbrushes. Some of the kits run $400 without a compressor. I'd really like a gravity feed unit b...

Stephen & I are restoring an old Schwinn Stingray right now. The Sherwin Williams aerosol paint is factory color matched (Crazy EXPENSIVE $18.75 per 12 oz can). To save a couple bucks I stopped at a Sherwin Williams automotive finishes store on Friday for the compatible Urethane primers & cl...

Kayjon, Where are Builder Jim's recommendations? The "Alexander" car has the sort of graduated striping & flame look I think he's after. I assume that is done with a piece of tape & a low volume tip? Can the same airbrush deliver that fine detail & still paint the car or is the...