Test cars for track testing

[Vitamin K]

So next week is our testing night for our track and hardware and software. I'm planning to run a mock race, so I'm needing to throw together some cars to run for the heats (we have four tracks, so I'll plan on making four test cars, with each car having multiple identities.)

One car will be my old pinewood derby car from 1986! With original wheels, even, save for one.

The rest will be planks with Pinecar wheels, that are taking up space in my toolbox.

Any suggestions for a dirt-cheap, easy-to-attach ballast?

[whodathunkit]

Any suggestions for a dirt-cheap, easy-to-attach ballast?

Adhesive stick on wheel weights.. cost $2.89 - easy to attach.

Dirt Cheap.. Rocks from out side not so easy to attach with out high dollar glues or tapes.

[gpraceman]

Stop by a tire store and see if they have some old rim weights that they'd will be willing to give you.

[FatSebastian]

Any suggestions for a dirt-cheap, easy-to-attach ballast?

Short of free scrap metal, pennies are just about the cheapest ballast per ounce, but they are not easy to attach unless you place them in a few penny-sized holes drilled in the blocks.

[Vitamin K]

Any suggestions for a dirt-cheap, easy-to-attach ballast?

Short of free scrap metal, pennies are just about the cheapest ballast per ounce, but they are not easy to attach unless you place them in a few penny-sized holes drilled in the blocks.

Hmmm, well, in this case, my "test cars" are pieces of 1/4" pine cut to a 1.75" x 7" rectangle. Maybe I could wrap pennies up into a block or cylinder of aluminum foil and attach them to the top with a rubber band or two.

Gives me something to do with my penny jar, at any rate.

[FatSebastian]

Hmmm, well, in this case, my "test cars" are pieces of 1/4" pine

For this shape body, we have used lead fishing tackle weights shaped like bullets. Place the flat ends of two weights together, and superglue them, and you get a nice aerodynamic shape. A row of these hot-glued across the back of a plank actually works surprisingly well. They aren't "dirt cheap" but they are reasonably cost-effective and convenient.

[Vitamin K]

So I decided to go with pennies, because, cheap.

What I did was weigh out the pennies needed and break them into two stacks. Then I wrapped each stack in aluminum foil to make a cylinder and then taped the cylinders to the top of the test car.

The result:

Pretty? Nuh-uh. But it's properly ballasted now, and four or five of these bad boys should serve our testing needs well. Never thought I'd be happy to have an abundance of Pinecar wheels lying around.

[FatSebastian]

So I decided to go with pennies, because, cheap.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term Penny Racer (which some dads might remember).

[Vitamin K]

So I decided to go with pennies, because, cheap.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term Penny Racer (which some dads might remember).

Wow, I actually remember those. Put a penny in the back, little car does a wheelie. I wonder what else is buried in my subconscious.

[Stan Pope]

Now, align those cars!

Cars 1 & 2: Left front wheel raised; Right front wheel toe-in. Detect issues on right side of rail!
Car 1 positive camber on DFW. Wheel contact low on rail.
Car 2 negative camber on DFW. Wheel contact high on the rail.
Cars 3 & 4: Right front wheel raised; Left front wheel toe-in. Detect issues on left side of rail!
Car 3 positive camber on DFW. Wheel contact low on rail.
Car 4 negative camber on DFW. Wheel contact high on the rail.

Make sure that rear wheels stay off the rail.

Takes 4 runs of each car, once in each lane, to verify the track.

[whodathunkit]

Stan, would he want to fully lube the wheel first.. (befor testing alignment)
what might come into play if the bores have no lube?

[Vitamin K]

Now, align those cars!

Cars 1 & 2: Left front wheel raised; Right front wheel toe-in. Detect issues on right side of rail!
Car 1 positive camber on DFW. Wheel contact low on rail.
Car 2 negative camber on DFW. Wheel contact high on the rail.
Cars 3 & 4: Right front wheel raised; Left front wheel toe-in. Detect issues on left side of rail!
Car 3 positive camber on DFW. Wheel contact low on rail.
Car 4 negative camber on DFW. Wheel contact high on the rail.

Make sure that rear wheels stay off the rail.

Takes 4 runs of each car, once in each lane, to verify the track.

Man, I wish I'd had time to do alignment on these monsters. As it was, I had just enough time to finish the last one and throw it into a box last night to bring to track testing.

Maybe next year, I'll try those alignment mods for testing, Stan. Or if I get tapped to help for Districts...hmmm.

Stan, would he want to fully lube the wheel first.. (befor testing alignment)
what might come into play if the bores have no lube?

I always lube before doing anything for which a wheel is gonna spin on an axle. The only time I have wheels and axles attached sans lube is when I'm using them to approximate weight placement.

[Stan Pope]

Man, I wish I'd had time to do alignment on these monsters. As it was, I had just enough time to finish the last one and throw it into a box last night to bring to track testing.

Sorry I wasn't able to get in and comment earlier. Some way-station between here and DT was haired up. But Randy got it fixed.