Shimmy with short wheelbase?

[Bubba]

So I have a little problem with the 3 year old's car - in progress pic shown below:



It has a bit of a shimmy to it that when run against some of our other Open Class cars appears to be costing it about 1 to 1-1/2 car lengths on our 28' track. It has the lead (barely) at the bottom of our gradual slope wood track ramp, but loses it's edge and then some doing the "shimmy shimmy shake" on the flat.

I tried canting the axles in the rear a bit more and turning the front wheel a bit further into the rail in the hopes of quieting it down a bit, and it seemed to help a little. But it would be nice to see "The King" run a bit smoother.

We don't usually have this kind of behavior, at first glance I'm attributing it in large part to the extra short wheelbase (3-7/8" to match the pics we have of the "real thing"). I think the formula goes something like this:

Short wheelbase * moderate alignment skills = "Shake it baby!!!"

Any thoughts on how to quiet her down a bit more?

Thanks in advance,

Bubba (and Little Bubba)

p.s. The undercarriage is pine, the body is Balsa. We have about 3 oz. of lead weight located directly on top of the rear axle, net effect is about 0.9 oz. on the front, 4.1 oz. on the back. Our Open Class rules would allow for added weight if that helps to settle her down any.

[Mzbhavn]

cool car I'd like to see more pics of the king

[ACME Racing]

Tell us about your wheels and axles? What is your steer right now?

[2FAST4U]

Jan 16, 2008 9:54:12 GMT -7 Bubba said:

So I have a little problem with the 3 year old's car - in progress pic shown below:



It has a bit of a shimmy to it that when run against some of our other Open Class cars appears to be costing it about 1 to 1-1/2 car lengths on our 28' track. It has the lead (barely) at the bottom of our gradual slope wood track ramp, but loses it's edge and then some doing the "shimmy shimmy shake" on the flat.

I tried canting the axles in the rear a bit more and turning the front wheel a bit further into the rail in the hopes of quieting it down a bit, and it seemed to help a little. But it would be nice to see "The King" run a bit smoother.

We don't usually have this kind of behavior, at first glance I'm attributing it in large part to the extra short wheelbase (3-7/8" to match the pics we have of the "real thing"). I think the formula goes something like this:

Short wheelbase * moderate alignment skills = "Shake it baby!!!"

Any thoughts on how to quiet her down a bit more?

Thanks in advance,

Bubba (and Little Bubba)

p.s. The undercarriage is pine, the body is Balsa. We have about 3 oz. of lead weight located directly on top of the rear axle, net effect is about 0.9 oz. on the front, 4.1 oz. on the back. Our Open Class rules would allow for added weight if that helps to settle her down any.

it is the big rear spoiler on the back og the car...
this is causing the shimmy

[Fat Boy]

i think its because " the view" is on the tv !!

man "rule" # 23