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Post by resophonic1 on Jan 25, 2011 12:40:32 GMT -7
My sons pack race is next month and we sat down last night to talk about a car design for this year. I always send him to the photos section of PDDR for ideas. No surprise he wants to build a version of LA3. We can run an extended wheel base in his pack. I know there is always a balance between fall time and extending the wheel base. I have the following question for discussion because I just do not have a grasp on how much speed a front and rear wheel fender can add to a car.
Which would be faster assuming the same COG
A) LA3 Body Type with 4 - 3/4" wheel base moved to the rear with all 4 fenders
or
B) LA3 Body Type with 6" wheel base moved to rear with only rear fenders
Both cars will be set up to rail run.
Just curious what you think, maybe run a 5" wheel base and still add front fenders. I will not have any test time on the car before the race. Any help on a wheel base and number of fenders would be appreciated.
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Post by W Racing on Jan 25, 2011 23:31:07 GMT -7
Hi Resso!!!!!
Good to hear from you! I agree with 5 Kids on the wheelbase. Even if you were not going to do front fenders...
Post some pics once you are done!!!!
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Post by *5 J's* on Jan 26, 2011 2:47:33 GMT -7
You would be faster if John just let you borrow LA3 I am not an expert on fenders, I use them but get beat by alot of people who don't... I pick: C) 5" wheelbase + 4 fenders A 5" wheelbase gives you more stability than the 4-3/4" and gives you a more hill time than the 6". So, go with a 5" wheelbase on an extended? I was just trying to decide if I wanted to go with 5", 5.5" or more towards 6". I certainly agree with the rationale, just don't have any experience with extended wheelbase cars to compare actual times. (The only extended wheelbase I have built was the Spec/Tuner, and for the most part the wheelbase was set with that body)
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Post by Bones on Jan 26, 2011 6:52:53 GMT -7
Go with 5/8" from the rear of the car.
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Post by W Racing on Jan 26, 2011 8:12:41 GMT -7
For a novice cub scout car the full extended wheelbase is likely best....
However for PDDR racing gains can be had by going shorter...
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Post by resophonic1 on Feb 21, 2011 21:02:41 GMT -7
Well we finally completed the car. We only did the rear fenders but they did not extend below the body. This was a fun car for my son and I to build. He was really into it this year. He picked the theme and colors for the car. We had a good day of racing! His car won a Design award for Judges Favorite. He also won first place for Webelos I's and first place overall for the pack. I helped 6 other dads and sons with their cars this year. My sons car one first overall by less than one one hundredths of a second. Between first and third overall was less than two one hundredths of a second. It made for some exciting racing. Anyway thanks to all the PDDR gang who continue to be a major influence for my son each year around Derby Time. Also a special thanks to Jewkes and ___ire for their awesome products! This is a little video I put together to feature his car.
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