We have an old wooden test track, so my guess is always what runs well on this track will run well on most aluminum tracks. Downside you cannot tune the car razor sharp.
Car weights
- Thread starter Reggie
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We have an old wooden test track, so my guess is always what runs well on this track will run well on most aluminum tracks. Downside you cannot tune the car razor sharp.
That is basically true. If you run stable on a wood track, most of the time, it is good on an aluminum track also.
I couldn’t agree with you more... We are also tuning on wood and if stable on my track it’s good on aluminum. I’ve found you can get away with a little less steer on the aluminum vs wood. I’ve found that I can steer the car to where it’s sligtl unstable and then give a touch more and get good results. We recently tuned a car where it was slightly unstable on our wood track producing slightly slower times but ran better than expected for aluminum. Just some food for thought.
right... generally, I can tune a boy's car to have 1/2"-1" of steer less on an aluminum track
all cars are not built the same. What might end up 0.005 on one car could only end up 0.001 on another... Or, it could go the other way
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Ember
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Hello Reggie,
I often use wheel weights . I fully respect the speeds the top racers have achieved, but I am also aware there is a lot of politics in league racing. Because of this I don't generally put a lot of credence in what Pro racers are using at any given time. If you take DWS fenders for example, just a few months ago they would garner snickers from most top racers, but after a few wins they are getting copied by nearly everyone, does that mean X3 fenders are now junk science ?....of course not. Some time back wheel weights and Nellie Faye fenders dominated, times change, Pinewood politics change, but physics do not.
Wheel weights offer a quantifiable advantage over traditional weighting.
1. Puma Cub weights are positioned extremely low on the car body, this lowers the cars COG, resulting in a more stable car. An inherently more stable car needs less steer, less steer = faster times.
2. The lowered weight also gives a slightly larger motor compared to traditional weight located at the same area of the car. The same weight hanging below the car, is a bigger motor than the weight in the car, which in turn is a bigger motor than the weight on top of the car. This is true for all tracks that have an incline followed by level sections.
3. Wheel weights allow you to concentrate weight in a smaller longitudinal area on the car, this results in a lower rotational MOI , and less work for the car as it transitions through the curve. A tungsten plate running across the car, is slightly more effective than the same plate running the length of the car.
Wheel weights might not be for everyone, but they are very effective when done correctly. Their effectiveness is not based on their designers personality, but on sound science.
I often use wheel weights . I fully respect the speeds the top racers have achieved, but I am also aware there is a lot of politics in league racing. Because of this I don't generally put a lot of credence in what Pro racers are using at any given time. If you take DWS fenders for example, just a few months ago they would garner snickers from most top racers, but after a few wins they are getting copied by nearly everyone, does that mean X3 fenders are now junk science ?....of course not. Some time back wheel weights and Nellie Faye fenders dominated, times change, Pinewood politics change, but physics do not.
Wheel weights offer a quantifiable advantage over traditional weighting.
1. Puma Cub weights are positioned extremely low on the car body, this lowers the cars COG, resulting in a more stable car. An inherently more stable car needs less steer, less steer = faster times.
2. The lowered weight also gives a slightly larger motor compared to traditional weight located at the same area of the car. The same weight hanging below the car, is a bigger motor than the weight in the car, which in turn is a bigger motor than the weight on top of the car. This is true for all tracks that have an incline followed by level sections.
3. Wheel weights allow you to concentrate weight in a smaller longitudinal area on the car, this results in a lower rotational MOI , and less work for the car as it transitions through the curve. A tungsten plate running across the car, is slightly more effective than the same plate running the length of the car.
Wheel weights might not be for everyone, but they are very effective when done correctly. Their effectiveness is not based on their designers personality, but on sound science.
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Ember
Guest
You're welcome.
I'm not sure why NYC is banning wheel weights this year, you can clearly see the inside of the wheel with Cub weights installed, so I'm not certain what their logic is. They are also banning aftermarket axles in the Pro Stock class, and of course no oil as always. IMO they are headed in the complete wrong direction with this race, it's really a shame.
I'm guessing you meant your car is running 2.994, not 2.94 ?
I agree that there are a lot of politics and drama in top level PWD racing. But at the end of the day, if there is a faster method or product available, the pros will use it if it means winning. The wheel weights are completely legal in the SS class, hopefully you will join us in that class to demonstrate the speed of the wheel weights. If you can find a way to win, the crowds will follow.
Actually on our test track out of ten runs and a little tweaking on the steer. The best run was 2.947. That's with 24 cubes and com of about 7/8 on 5 inch wheelbase. The fastest car we have built to date.
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Ember
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A Krytox like mix. 2.3 gram wheel 1.17. Hollow body car about 7 grams. I don't know if they will allow it in NYC. You can barely tell. It definitely sounds hollow. I haven't read the 2018 rules yet but I was told graphite only.
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Ember
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I might race a car in the league at some point, just to see how far behind I am from the top guys like you, JBD, DWS and a few others., I don't have the experience to win at that level with wheel weights, or any other kind of weights for that matter. I suspect however, that you could pull it off.
In fact, I'll make you a friendly wager. I'll give you $100 if you build a SS car with Puma weights and win with it. I'm sure Joe will supply you with the weights free of cost. It would be an excellent experiment, what do you say?
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Ember
Guest
A hollow body is no problem. Oil is a big no no, I heard they will be applying graphite to circumvent any oil cars in the field.
I'm hoping to start league racing soon. Basx class. I have found out rather quickly this is an expensive hobby. Buying wheels and axles, wheel bore treatment, weights it adds up. The wife is not crazy about it.I might race a car in the league at some point, just to see how far behind I am from the top guys like you, JBD, DWS and a few others., I don't have the experience to win at that level with wheel weights, or any other kind of weights for that matter. I suspect however, that you could pull it off.
In fact, I'll make you a friendly wager. I'll give you $100 if you build a SS car with Puma weights and win with it. I'm sure Joe will supply you with the weights free of cost. It would be an excellent experiment, what do you say?
He has already ran wheel weights if they were fast he would still be running themI might race a car in the league at some point, just to see how far behind I am from the top guys like you, JBD, DWS and a few others., I don't have the experience to win at that level with wheel weights, or any other kind of weights for that matter. I suspect however, that you could pull it off.
In fact, I'll make you a friendly wager. I'll give you $100 if you build a SS car with Puma weights and win with it. I'm sure Joe will supply you with the weights free of cost. It would be an excellent experiment, what do you say?
Hahahaaaahahaaaaaaa!............yea..........BUT, there are worse things you could be doing.
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