Another Build for Eliminator

[CivilWarTalk]

Okay, I'm interested in doing a razor wheel car, and I have a bunch of questions. To keep it simple and within my wheelhouse, as well as pocketbook, I've picked the Eliminator class.

These cars have some similar characteristics to BASX cars, but are different too... Here are my questions, if you feel comfortable replying below, great. If you'd rather PM your answers, that's fine too, I can keep a secret!

Are the bodies of competitive razor cars narrower than wide body cars?

Are the rear wheels drilled canted or straight? They look like they are typically run straight.

What size wheels should I buy? Do you have a recommendation? I don't have a track to goof around on, so I don't know where to start. I see choices ranging from 0.75" to 1.00" for the wheel height.

Do I need a custom bent axle for the DFW, or would you typically use the same axle as a fat wheeled car?

Are there any considerations about the wheelbase I should consider?

 

[Reecedad]

Okay, I'm interested in doing a razor wheel car, and I have a bunch of questions. To keep it simple and within my wheelhouse, as well as pocketbook, I've picked the Eliminator class.

These cars have some similar characteristics to BASX cars, but are different too... Here are my questions, if you feel comfortable replying below, great. If you'd rather PM your answers, that's fine too, I can keep a secret!

Are the bodies of competitive razor cars narrower than wide body cars?

Are the rear wheels drilled canted or straight? They look like they are typically run straight.

What size wheels should I buy? Do you have a recommendation? I don't have a track to goof around on, so I don't know where to start. I see choices ranging from 0.75" to 1.00" for the wheel height.

Do I need a custom bent axle for the DFW, or would you typically use the same axle as a fat wheeled car?

Are there any considerations about the wheelbase I should consider?

I was hoping someone would have replied to this by now- I was interested in their response as well.

 

[Craven]

+1

 

[CivilWarTalk]

Don't look at me, I didn't even get any private messages....

Maybe I'll do a photo study and share my findings....

 

[ZZRacing]

I run the 86 bore jewkes wheels for eliminator. The axle holes are drilled straight with a 5 inch wheelbase. My eliminator bodies are typically the same width as my basx cars. If you have questions I will try to help but in a pm.

 

[CivilWarTalk]

Okay, I did some photo analysis on three Eliminator Class cars, let's see what I came up with...

I've concealed the bodies to protect the innocent.....

The above car measures at 815 pixels, and we know that should equal 7 inches...
The wheel diameter is 148 pixels, that's about 1.25 inches
The wheelbase is 675 pixels, or about 5.8 inches
The Chassis Width is 205 pixels, or about 1.76 inches, but width may be off due to angle.

The above car is 889 pixels long at 7 inches
The wheels are 126 pixels in diameter, or about 1 inch
The wheelbase is 716 pixels, or 5.6 inches
The Chassis Width at the rear is 215 pixels, or 1.69 inches

The above car is 859 pixels long at 7 inches
The wheels are 127 pixels, or a bit larger than 1 inch
The wheelbase is 644 pixels, or 5.2 inches
The Chassis Width at the rear is 220 pixels, or 1.77 inches

Don't blame me if I got my math wrong!

Now, if someone was racing a car under 7 inches, I've been snookered....

Very interesting indeed!

 

[Reecedad]

Okay, I did some photo analysis on three Eliminator Class cars, let's see what I came up with...

I've concealed the bodies to protect the innocent.....


View attachment 661
The above car measures at 815 pixels, and we know that should equal 7 inches...
The wheel diameter is 148 pixels, that's about 1.25 inches
The wheelbase is 675 pixels, or about 5.8 inches


View attachment 662
The above car is 889 pixels long at 7 inches
The wheels are 126 pixels in diameter, or about 1 inch
The wheelbase is 716 pixels, or 5.6 inches


View attachment 663
The above car is 859 pixels long at 7 inches
The wheels are 127 pixels, or a bit larger than 1 inch
The wheelbase is 644 pixels, or 5.2 inches

Don't blame me if I got my math wrong!

Now, if someone was racing a car under 7 inches, I've been snookered....

Very interesting indeed!

Excellent work. Did you also determine the width of the bodies? I'd bet you find some to be smaller than 1.75".

 

[CivilWarTalk]

Excellent work. Did you also determine the width of the bodies? I'd bet you find some to be smaller than 1.75".

No, I didn't get those measurements. I did note that each body had a varying degree of narrowing as it got to the front end, some appeared to narrow on the DFW side, others on both sides. I may do another study and will look to review the measurements on the chassis width.

 

[Reecedad]

No, I didn't get those measurements. I did note that each body had a varying degree of narrowing as it got to the front end, some appeared to narrow on the DFW side, others on both sides. I may do another study and will look to review the measurements on the chassis width.

Please post your results.
I did some research myself on a narrow body but please take my findings with a grain of salt- I've only been playing with these little cars since March. But I made a few 1.5" bodies and they performed better than my 1.75" bodies.

My builds are so bad, it takes 1/4" out of my wiggles

 

[King Racing]

My current car is 1.68" wide. straight drill with 1" wheels .086 bore.
I cant recall the wheel base but 5+"

 

[CivilWarTalk]

Please post your results.
I did some research myself on a narrow body but please take my findings with a grain of salt- I've only been playing with these little cars since March. But I made a few 1.5" bodies and they performed better than my 1.75" bodies.

My builds are so bad, it takes 1/4" out of my wiggles

Okay, I added the width calculations for the three cars at the rear axle, the bottom 2 photos are pretty straight on top down, but the top photo is angled, the measurement may be off.

My current car is 1 3/16" wide. straight drill with 1" wheels .086 bore.
I cant recall the wheel base but 5+"

Wow, a best track center lane is 1 and 5/8", or 1 and 10/16", so your body is 7/16" smaller than the center guiderail on the track? Is that measurement at the rear axle line?

 

[King Racing]

I stated the width completely wrong. My current build for unlimited is 1 3/16. The eliminator is 1.68 at the rear axle. I apologise for the false information.

 

[CivilWarTalk]

I stated the width completely wrong. My current build for unlimited is 1 3/16. The eliminator is 1.68 at the rear axle. I apologise for the false information.

Okay, that makes more sense! Thanks for clarifying that.

 

[CivilWarTalk]

Well, I've got Bad News and Good News....

The Bad News is that I've decided against doing an Eliminator car, maybe I'll revisit the idea over the winter, but right now it doesn't seem to fit into my racing plan as I'd hoped. I can't deny that this deep dive into the construction of Eliminator cars wasn't instructional, and it may assist in my next venture.

Don't dispair, I'm still going to turn to the Racing Dark Side....

Good News! I've recently ordered a bunch of parts for an Unlimited car! Bearings and Razor Wheels, Oh my!

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

Picking the Unlimited class over the Eliminator class? You are a glutton for punishment!
Good luck!

 

[quadad]

I haven't had much time for forums for a while, but I do have a comment about the whole body width, wheelbase, etc. chase that was going on here. My two cents is that there is no magical wheelbase. Wheelbase is more important for street stock and street pro where you are trying to fit fenders in properly. For the razor wheel cars, anything goes. Long ago I built a bearing car that was purposely short wheelbase and used 3 independent axles just to counter the long wheelbase, solid rear axle trend at that time. The more moderate wheelbases that seem to be the trend today allow people to not have to pack so much weight behind the rear axle - which is a build simplification. In general though I will always argue that you can find a proper mix of wheelbase, COM and steer to suit your build preference. Rear width accommodates the weight needed and front width is narrowed to keep rear wheels properly located and the front end from wiggling too much. Every time someone says "you have to do it THIS way", they have been proven WRONG. So, pick your flavor, make it work and some day, try another and make that work !

 

[CivilWarTalk]

Picking the Unlimited class over the Eliminator class? You are a glutton for punishment! Good luck!

Yes, that might be true!

I haven't had much time for forums for a while, but I do have a comment about the whole body width, wheelbase, etc. chase that was going on here. My two cents is that there is no magical wheelbase. Wheelbase is more important for street stock and street pro where you are trying to fit fenders in properly. For the razor wheel cars, anything goes. Long ago I built a bearing car that was purposely short wheelbase and used 3 independent axles just to counter the long wheelbase, solid rear axle trend at that time. The more moderate wheelbases that seem to be the trend today allow people to not have to pack so much weight behind the rear axle - which is a build simplification. In general though I will always argue that you can find a proper mix of wheelbase, COM and steer to suit your build preference. Rear width accommodates the weight needed and front width is narrowed to keep rear wheels properly located and the front end from wiggling too much. Every time someone says "you have to do it THIS way", they have been proven WRONG. So, pick your flavor, make it work and some day, try another and make that work !

Good points!

My only reason for doing the photo study was to get an idea of what common build techniques were used in this class. For sure my study was actually much wider in scope than what I shared here, and I encorporated any ideas that I felt were important, and noted a number of ideas of things to try.

I'm sure when I build my first eliminator, although I may copy, or compromise between two or more examples I've examined, the final overall build will be my own. Hopefully in a few months I'll be ready to make my ideas into a speedy toy car.

Good grief, we race toy cars. What am I going to get into next, speed chugging beers?