dko
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God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on Mar 20, 2011 16:01:06 GMT -7
My son is the defending district Champion ;D and we are hoping to maintain the title as it will be his last year racing . We placed second at the pack level after being pack champions for the previous two years. We actually helped the scout and father team that beat us. They are good friends and honestly we were happy to see them win. My son and I talked about this prior to helping them and prior to the race. They beat us 5 out of 6 races by an average time of barely less than .04. Just looking for tips to makeup some time. We struggled getting our pack car aligned right so we decided to rebuild. Here's what we have for a fresh start: 3 wheel RR pine block with standard axle slots (required by rules) BSA speed axles right front bent with K groove. Measure at .0885 (BSA axles required by rules) BSA Stockers matched set #4 wheels trued not lightened (per rules) 1/4 in. tungsten cubes ___ graphite (no oil allowed) Thanks to John we are off to a good start! We have sanded the block down to .5 oz (16g) so with wheels and axles we are at (.95oz.) without paint. My first question (of many I'm sure) is with polishing the speed axles. They are deburred and trued. I have micromesh 4k to 12K. I also have mothers polish. Where should I start and a finish? Is 12,000 enough or should we finish with the mothers? I just don't want to take off any more metal than I have to.
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dko
STOCK
God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on Mar 22, 2011 18:26:21 GMT -7
Progress picture. Primer is next.
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dko
STOCK
God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on Apr 27, 2011 19:16:51 GMT -7
My son and I finally found the time to finish up the car. The district race is this weekend. Many of the details are noted above. We ended up with a 3/4 in. com. Is that okay? All I know about the track is that it's made of "space age aluminum" (to quote them). I'm trying to find out the length and maker of the track as well. We have the drift set at 4 in. in 4 feet. Is this too much or too little drift? Any suggestions would be appreciated. The open cavity on the bottom of the car will be covered.
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Post by W Racing on Apr 27, 2011 19:43:07 GMT -7
3/4" on the COM is perfect!
2.5" in 4 feet ought to be a nice place to be... Givin no test track. With a test track you could go less... 2.5 should be safe
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dko
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God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on Apr 28, 2011 2:58:41 GMT -7
W racing, Thank you. We'll shoot for 2.5 then. I'm amazed at how finely you can tune this setup. We've been bending nails in the rear for years. It is such a pain. The block and the kgroove is the way to go. ___, Thank you for the compliments. I wish that we would havemade time for another lighter colored stripe on our car. Your car looks nice. I only hope that ours goes 1/2 as fast as yours and we'll be in good shape. Another question, do most people epoxy their axles in once they have things set? I'm worried it may get thrown off of adjustment.It seems so fragile.
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Post by downslope on Apr 28, 2011 4:42:06 GMT -7
Nice car I did notice in your pic the pocket hole in the bottom. If you haven't already put a piece of tape over it that could give you a few thousands.
Just my two cents
Downslope
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dko
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God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on Apr 28, 2011 14:26:39 GMT -7
downslope, Thanks! We cut out two pieces of black aluminum tape to cover the pockets on the bottom. Every few thousandths counts! 2DB, I hope your right about the [glow=red,2,300]PAIN[/glow] prediction! I had the same thoughts about the volunteers (I'm one of them). I just didn't want to say it. I'll talk to the guys handling the cars just to remind them how much time kids and dads put into their cars and how they should be treated like fine china. Hopefully they'll get it but not everyone is as nutty about this stuff as we are!!! I did find out some track info. Here's what I got: "We have a BestTrack track, www.besttrack.com/Pretty sure we have the 35ft track. Each piece is 7ft: 1 for the starting piece, 1 for the bend, and 3 for the straightaway." BestTrack is certainly good news! Is the 3/4 com and 2.5in. drift aggressive enough for that short of a track? I'm helping with the setup tomorrow night so hopefully I can test run but we also have to register and turn in our cars (which I don't like) tomorrow eve. as well.
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Post by W Racing on Apr 29, 2011 7:01:45 GMT -7
Shorter track = less steer
The least you want to go is 1 3/8" However without a test track... 2.5 is a good spot to be. You might even go to 2.25"
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dko
STOCK
God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on Apr 29, 2011 9:04:18 GMT -7
W racing, Thank you. It took me a while but I finally got it to consistenly roll between 2 and 2 1/2 in 4 feet. That was without graphite so I hope that won't throw it off. Shorter track, less steer. Got it! I love these races. So much nervous energy and excitement. My son told me last night that even if we don't win that he hopes his friend does (we helped them win at the pack level). I reminded him of how much time we spent working together and how much I enjoyed that. He agreed.
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Post by 2FAST4U on Apr 29, 2011 12:12:50 GMT -7
My son and I finally found the time to finish up the car. The district race is this weekend. Many of the details are noted above. We ended up with a 3/4 in. com. Is that okay? All I know about the track is that it's made of "space age aluminum" (to quote them). I'm trying to find out the length and maker of the track as well. We have the drift set at 4 in. in 4 feet. Is this too much or too little drift? Any suggestions would be appreciated. The open cavity on the bottom of the car will be covered. Very nice job with the car.... looks like you and your boy had lots of fun together and that is what it is all about... ;D
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Post by W Racing on Apr 29, 2011 12:16:48 GMT -7
W racing, Thank you. It took me a while but I finally got it to consistenly roll between 2 and 2 1/2 in 4 feet. That was without graphite so I hope that won't throw it off. Shorter track, less steer. Got it! I love these races. So much nervous energy and excitement. My son told me last night that even if we don't win that he hopes his friend does (we helped them win at the pack level). I reminded him of how much time we spent working together and how much I enjoyed that. He agreed. That is great! Sounds like you have raised him well! Have Fun!!!! ;D ;D
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dko
STOCK
God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on Apr 29, 2011 20:32:55 GMT -7
2fast4u and Wracing, Thank you very much. We had a good time tonight helping setup and register. He was helpful and polite. He was supportive of the other racers . I'm very proud of him.
Our time was 2.954 twice down the 35 ft best track. I left it alone but now I'm kind of wishing I would have put a little less steer in it as I saw no shimmying (sp?). I can't believe you guys go sub 3 on a longer track. There were three cars right there with us on the times and one that was definitely faster at 2.951 (but not consistently). The father tuned the kids car for over an hour then didn't pass tech inspection. His nondominanat front wheel would not meet the measurements, it was sticking out too far. So he tried to bend it to fit and messed up the car. The drama followed. He was angry that they he was forced to make an adjustment that wasn't clear in the rules. The debate ensued. Long story short they let him take the car home tonight to fix it even though the email with the rules stated that "Registration: 7 PM to 8:30 PM ***THERE IS NO REGISTRATION ON SATURDAY MORNING ******" Now the rules themselves attached to the email state "All cars must be Registered. Registration is (typically) the evening prior to race day." As far as I'm concerned (and I am a race official, just not in charge) there was no hardship with this situation (someone sick or hurt and couldn't come tonight...) so this guy should not have been able to take "his" car home tonight to fix and obviously tune as well. So I politely disagreed and stated that if he could take his car home then everyone else should be able to as well. We would have loved the opportunity to tune some more tonight. In fact even before all of this came up I expressed concern at the planning meeting about turning in the cars the night before the race so people could tune their cars obviously to no avail. Opinions? Arguments to help us?? Thanks for letting me vent. I know this is about the kids and having fun.
One other thing, this fellow has a screw to adjust underneath the car to take care of the steer. I know I have seen this on the internet somewhere but I can't (or maybe I should say cant) remember where. Anyone else seen this somewhere? Again thanks for letting me vent.
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Post by W Racing on Apr 29, 2011 22:21:47 GMT -7
2fast4u and Wracing, Thank you very much. We had a good time tonight helping setup and register. He was helpful and polite. He was supportive of the other racers . I'm very proud of him. Our time was 2.954 twice down the 35 ft best track. I left it alone but now I'm kind of wishing I would have put a little less steer in it as I saw no shimmying (sp?). I can't believe you guys go sub 3 on a longer track. There were three cars right there with us on the times and one that was definitely faster at 2.951 (but not consistently). The father tuned the kids car for over an hour then didn't pass tech inspection. His nondominanat front wheel would not meet the measurements, it was sticking out too far. So he tried to bend it to fit and messed up the car. The drama followed. He was angry that they he was forced to make an adjustment that wasn't clear in the rules. The debate ensued. Long story short they let him take the car home tonight to fix it even though the email with the rules stated that "Registration: 7 PM to 8:30 PM ***THERE IS NO REGISTRATION ON SATURDAY MORNING ******" Now the rules themselves attached to the email state "All cars must be Registered. Registration is (typically) the evening prior to race day." As far as I'm concerned (and I am a race official, just not in charge) there was no hardship with this situation (someone sick or hurt and couldn't come tonight...) so this guy should not have been able to take "his" car home tonight to fix and obviously tune as well. So I politely disagreed and stated that if he could take his car home then everyone else should be able to as well. We would have loved the opportunity to tune some more tonight. In fact even before all of this came up I expressed concern at the planning meeting about turning in the cars the night before the race so people could tune their cars obviously to no avail. Opinions? Arguments to help us?? Thanks for letting me vent. I know this is about the kids and having fun. One other thing, this fellow has a screw to adjust underneath the car to take care of the steer. I know I have seen this on the internet somewhere but I can't (or maybe I should say cant) remember where. Anyone else seen this somewhere? Again thanks for letting me vent. Best Wishes to you guys! ;D ;D ;D
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Post by W Racing on Apr 29, 2011 22:55:23 GMT -7
A set screw could do this... However it seems strange on the DFW.
Another way is to drill a hole at an angle on a dowel. Place an unbent axle in the hole and then drill a hole for the dowel in the car so that the dowell can rotate for adjustment purposes and then use a set screw to adjust this...
That could be very nice if done properly...
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dko
STOCK
God Bless America! [Mo0:19]
Posts: 48
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Post by dko on May 2, 2011 8:11:13 GMT -7
No surprise but my son ended up getting 2nd place. This was disappointing but okay because our goal was to win the district once and he did so last year. They had trophies for 1st through fourth place so really I feel bad for the kid who was in 5th. He got hosed because the rules weren't followed and enforced. What a shame. It really left me with a sour taste considering that this could have been remedied prior to the race starting as I talked to the main race officials again.Unfortunately my son knew that the father took the car home and felt they were cheating. We had some discussions about following rules, enforcing rules and most importantly being an honest scout. I clearly put too much thought into this stuff. What could I done differeently as a father and a scout parent/volunteer? I guess I could have tuned his car for an hour instead of volunteering my time to be helpful but somehow that doesn't set well with me either. I'm truly grateful for everyone's help here.
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