another new addicted PWD Dad

[viowes]

Just registered! Had our son's first PWD! Unfortunately I fell into the same trap all of you have warned about or posted on in one way or another....too many sites and online stores selling to many fancy toys and gadgets....but being the dad I am, I spent way to much on a bunch of stuff that really likely didnt do that much. After all that time spent for both of us, 4th in den and middle of pack in total....but the car did look nice at least (and we did take first in the outlaw adult division at least with a 3 wheel extended base car which in all honestly we put more work into!). What has really awesome however was it turns out my son is a much better sport and more mature it seems than I am HAHA as he just took it in stride and cheered for his friends....I certainly did the same but totally admit that behind the cheering, my own frustration was unusual even for me and made me want to go even further researching this to ensure that future races are much better.....I have no problem loosing to a better built car ....what is killing me is spending that time and money on all the gadgets and parts out there from all those websites, and only NOW realizing that that is really only a small part of the battle and if you dont know how to properly use them or implement them or even what they mean and are meant to do then well its pretty useless....(like perma graphite coated nails and wheels which cost twice as much but apparently are useless and running cars on treadmills....bah)

Unfortunately I only found DD4H site the day after the pack races as I scoured the net in my brief bout of insanity in search of a better source of information that I can take to next years race.....but once I found it, registered immediately to it and this forum as soon as I could!

in anycase im starting now (even though its a year away and my wife thinks im crazy) and have gotten some inexpensive test tracks (the plastic ones that look like big hot wheel track, 2 lanes at 32 feet) just to start comparing and the first thing ive done at this writing is to go ahead and get a car made from DD4H that meets my interpretation of the local rules here...and then im going to use that as a guide to what to shoot for....ill run my cars against it and compare and "reverse engineer" back and read every one of these forums until I am swimming in information and hints....then its the DVD and then getting some practice blocks and wheels and axels and both my sona and I learning how to use the proper tools in the proper manner and with some hard work and a bit of luck hopefully my son and I will be able to post a few wins over his next 3 to 4 years of cub scout racing!

thanks for any help and support anyone can offer! its much appreciated!

 

[W racing]

Welcome! You are in the correct place! Sounds like a good plan to have John build you a car to have as an example.

 

[Papa V Racing]

Viowes:

Welcome

I can say that these guys are really open and really cool to talk to ... I am not racing a car myself as I am in the slow process of building as time and money allow. I have had many conversations with several racers... They are the BEST, on this forum I have felt right at home so to speak, they like to build beautiful and fast cars that inspire us all that are new to the Hobby/Sport for both young and older. In time we will learn and be able to duplicate how they work out issues with proper set up, tuning, building a solid car .... you will not waste money on gadgets or be disappointed with DD4H and others...

I have watched last years races on you tube search for this NPWDRL 2012 pick the different classes to watch you will not be disappointed....

If you get a chance on the next race and can sit in on it and watch the Live Feed and chat with racers you will see the Love & Passion they have not just for the Hobby but for each other... Again They are fun to be around and very very helpful...

V

 

[Chief]

Welcome to the forum! Everyone here can relate to just how you feel right now. Great job on your cars, my first car as a cub scout didnt even win last place. If time allows, dont wait to build a car next year, build it ASAP and send it in proxy... And by all means research the forum there is tons of info and ask any questions that you may have!

 

[E.T.Racing]

Welcome! You have definately found the right and in my opinon the only place to get the best PWD advice any where. It is never too early to start building a car the earlier you start the more time you have to fix and tune.

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

Be careful with the hot wheels track. If you are racing on a center rail track the 2 types of tracks demand 2 different types of builds. You should jump in on the NPWDRL racing action and by next year you will destroy everyone in your area.

 

[Quicktimederby]

+1 Jump in and race!! Don't expect much from the first few just try to improve from your previous month. Once you get the hang of a few things then start shooting for the top spot. It is amazing how fast you can get in a very short time. Always remember there is no replacement for quality tested and proven parts. Hope to see you on the track.

Be careful with the hot wheels track. If you are racing on a center rail track the 2 types of tracks demand 2 different types of builds. You should jump in on the NPWDRL racing action and by next year you will destroy everyone in your area.

 

[viowes]

Thanks all for the warm welcome! I will definitely be starting right away....it may take a number of attempts to even get the general idea down so I dont want to waste time LOL! The plastic trap was bought from ABC pinewood and although like a hotwheels track in that its plastic and bendable, it does look like a center rail type track. The only thing ive noticed looking at the pieces (which just arrived) is that at each two foot connection, there are some inconsistencies between the transitions....but they seem small...ill put them in my hallway and see.

Im thinking this is fine to start out or i may get that derby magic one which is also plastic track but comes with a timer....but my impression is that I may not be able to resist saving up for that BestTrack test track (one lane aluminum track) LOL...those things are pretty expensive.... and I had a good chuckle seeing some of the posts with pics showing where some of you put those darn things in your house LOL!....my wife would have a fit! (she may still have one once I set the plastic one up in my hallway!)....

I may also take your suggestion about the NPWDRL...ill go read the forums on the topic and see what I need to do....but small steps first for me...figure out what I did this time, compare to what the DD4H car looks like, learn from the forums and dvd and then start applying on a few new blocks and go from there....

maybe this year wait wont be so long after all!

a funny very important tip came up at this recent pwd....one of my sons friends built a car that didnt run fast at all but he wanted it to be cool looking, and being the age he is, he wanted lego Ninjago characters on it....so he put all of it on and the dad then put the axels wheels and weight (just plain ole lead weights shoved in holes drilled in the side)....to his suprise his car was over at weigh in but because he had shaved the car down thin enough just to be a platform for the lego, there was very little he could do to remove weight short of drilling out lead (nasty stuff...tungsten all the way)....well just as the two of us where scratching our heads, his son grabbed one of the characters and pulled it off the lego base to play with it while he was waiting....BING the weight went down....short of it... by adjusting the lego and which pieces to keep he was able to not only bring his car weight down to spec but also fine tune it with the small lego pieces (and some tungsten putty of course)! Anyway thought it was a funny little thing that there was no forum topic on...LEGO Weight Tuning, the new concept (joking of course!)

 

[45t]

Ok, who is going to start making a tungsten lego blocks in various weights?

 

[Crewzin]

Start racing ASAP. I entered my first race in June last year and lost badly.. But dang ive never had so much fun loosing.. This is a whole new world of derbying, just made that word up.. The guys were awsome. Felt like a winner. They will help you.

 

[clp]

Welcome Viowes, I got my start in the Pinewood derby the same as you. I married a woman with 3 kids and the youngest asked to be in cub scouts. I ended up becoming the Cub Master for our area right off the bat and we had this thing call the Pinewood Derby race to prepare for. Well my life changed forever after our first race. There is a movie out there called "Down and Derby" It is so funny but captures alot of what we are dealing with in this competion.
I wish you the best and as you already know there are many gimicks out there. You should ask here before purchase. Save yourself a many a dollar that way. I have a 2 lane freedom track with a K3 fast track timer and race software and I do pinewood derby work shops for those parents that where in my shoes back then when I started this 3 years ago. I now run the District Pinewood derby Races on a 6 lane track and Host the Council Races in my area for the top 18 cars over all on my freedom track. I have no idea how much money I have spent on this stuff over the years ,but It has been alot. But I guess it has been worth the investment in my community and my step son and countless Parents with there sons/daughters. Me and my son did not place in our first distric race of 70 cars. But we came back and won 1st place for the past two years in the District race. We have yet to win 1st in the Council race but we are steady working on it. I always encourge my scouts to build 3 to 4 cars every year just so they have lots of practice and Mom and Dad and Siblings can race in the open class. The more you build the better you will get.
Good Luck, I know exactly how you feel and where you are.