Cut Awana wheels like razors???

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

So as I think about just how lenient our Awana Grand Prix rule set is I realize I could literally cut down the Awana wheels to just the outer face leaving a wheel that is literally like a razor. Would that be something I should try or should I just go full wheels and just cant them in typical fat wheel fashion?
I can’t believe how simple these rules are. Just use the components in the box but no other stipulations...
should I try it?

 

[xjarcher]

I've done it, you can improve speed that way. It requires some mods to the car if you are doing a RR as you have just made the distance your car moves toward the rail more and your back wheel may touch. Also the rail may contact the hub portion of the wheel. Be careful. Different areas have "regional rules" that are different, or in more detail. IIRC the (really insipid) rules in the kit say you can't change width or diameter. Do you have the ones that call the ejector pins "sticky outy things"?

 

[Vitamin K]

Cutting down wheel treads is definitely something I'd get an "ok" from the race organizers on. You don't wanna do all that work and have a persnickety inspector tell you it's not legal.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Good thing is I am one of the organizers. It’s just ournchurch Derby. But I planned on round tabling with the others of course. I will have my kids cars with regular wheels and was just thinking it’d cut mine. I am racing in the open class for non-Awana club kids and adults thatbjust want to race. But I haven’t thought about how it changes things regarding distance so I might just leave that for next time. I never thought it thru. Suppose I would have to study up on how the eliminators and unlimited’s are built. Yeah might get in over my head on that one. The others remember all too well how my kids cars dominated last year and now I’ll be joining the open class so I have to show up strong.

 

[xjarcher]

If your cars did really well the few guys who want to be fast will make improvements and likely get close to you this year. You're gonna want some new mojo for next season. A well defined set of rules will help everyone, even the Bellichecks of the world who want to stomp on them. Is there a regional race in your area? We are trying to do a state race this year for the first time. Should be fun.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

If your cars did really well the few guys who want to be fast will make improvements and likely get close to you this year. You're gonna want some new mojo for next season. A well defined set of rules will help everyone, even the Bellichecks of the world who want to stomp on them. Is there a regional race in your area? We are trying to do a state race this year for the first time. Should be fun.

With this just being our church and only our 3rd year doing this it’s just us. But I need more! Lol I plan on reaching out to other churches with Awana clubs to drum up interest. Ideally I want to save up for a personal Best Track to run local league. I will ship in for NPWDRL maybe next season too but would like to race locally if I can. My son only did one year of Scouts so that’s out.

 

[xjarcher]

So where are you? IF you are halfway close to us you can join in!

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Michigan. About 25 minutes north of Downtown Detroit.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

So if I determined that wheel mods are fine whats stopping me from also cutting the hub down too? I will have to look up the skinnies to see how they are shaped as I think I could replicate that.

 

[xjarcher]

Michigan. About 25 minutes north of Downtown Detroit.

There will be a state race in Ypislanti April 14. You're welcome to join in. There will be a regional race in that area before that as well but I don't have that off hand.

 

[Vitamin K]

So if I determined that wheel mods are fine whats stopping me from also cutting the hub down too? I will have to look up the skinnies to see how they are shaped as I think I could replicate that.

Dunno if you'd wanna cut the hub down, to be honest. What you might consider doing would be insetting the hub so that the razor wheels ride closer to the body, but keep the hub there, since it's a smaller surface area to contact the body.

Coning the hub might not be a bad idea, on the other hand, if you've got the tooling to do it it...

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Really what I need to do is get a good look at an actual pro wheels like the razr. Didn’t even think about the totally different hub set up. Hmmm. Poses an interesting challenge I think.
So I noticed last year the kids cars didn’t have any wiggle so that tells me the rears might be ok with hub not hitting the rail. The trick will be the dominant wheel. Might have to build a quick test rail and start some R&D.
I think the hardest part will be the dominant front wheel.
Rear wheel probably not canted with razrs and bearing eh? Since I would still be going with stock axels and full hubs from he Awana wheel might still can’t so it migrate soon away from he body still.

 

[Vitamin K]

Really what I need to do is get a good look at an actual pro wheels like the razr. Didn’t even think about the totally different hub set up. Hmmm. Poses an interesting challenge I think.
So I noticed last year the kids cars didn’t have any wiggle so that tells me the rears might be ok with hub not hitting the rail. The trick will be the dominant wheel. Might have to build a quick test rail and start some R&D.
I think the hardest part will be the dominant front wheel.
Rear wheel probably not canted with razrs and bearing eh? Since I would still be going with stock axels and full hubs from he Awana wheel might still can’t so it migrate soon away from he body still.

Have a look at something like this for cutting fat wheels into homemade razors.

http://derbydudes.com/The-Edge-HoleShots-1-HS.htm

(Would have linked to John's version, but didn't see his for sale any more)

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Oh my gosh VK! Those Hole Shots would be exactly what i would shoot for with mine. Now I know what/where to cut. I just got a drill press and with the right blade jig could probably cut a comparable wheel. Going to have to get me some extra Awana wheels for this venture.
I totally forgot about the Jewkes site! Their pricing on weights is nice! Going to have to sign up. Thanks again for your help. You have me going right where I wanted to man!!! Greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

There will be a state race in Ypislanti April 14. You're welcome to join in. There will be a regional race in that area before that as well but I don't have that off hand.

really??? thats about an hour from me. I am certainly interested. so whose the governing body? is there any info on the internet about it?
If I was assuming I would say probably scouts with open classes also?

 

[xjarcher]

really??? thats about an hour from me. I am certainly interested. so whose the governing body? is there any info on the internet about it?
If I was assuming I would say probably scouts with open classes also?

It will be Sparks, T&T and an Open (older than 6th grade) class that has some relaxed rules regarding wheel mods. I will have the finalized rules in two weeks. Awana wheels and axles required. From what I've seen so far you will be able to do razor wheels. There is no real "governing body" as it is myself and two other chaps who want to have a state race that follows the 3 regional races in Michigan. The rules in the Awana car kits are more like building guidelines so we are using the basic set that the west michigan region uses. Go on FB and ask to join the West Michigan Awana Grand Prix. That will have the most up to date intel.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Awana really??? That's great to hear. I will check out the FB page. This sounds like a great trip for the kids and I. I wondered about the rules and it makes sense what we have aren't rules but the build guide only. I will be talking to the guys about that. We already have kits out and folks may have started building already so we might have to leave as is for now but we'll address that this week. we let the Cubbies race too here but thats obviously a full parent build. Its a Cubby whose momn is a good builder and slathers the axles in WD40 who won it all the first year then came in 3rd overall behind my 2 kiddos. One in TNT and one in Sparks. Daughter in TNT took the all around AGP Cup.
This sounds great!

 

[xjarcher]

Should be fun. Lots of fast people here on the best side but there are two guys over there who race with the pros so we'll be looking at 2nd or third! BTW you'll be racing on a 32' Freedom so your tune for a Best will work fantastic. The Freedom has more slope and less racing on the floor so a fast car will be faster on a Freedom.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Never raced on a freedom. Only started racing 2 years ago when our church got started. This will be year 3. Sonsince inwas a kid racing in Scouts I have only raced twice. Lol
But I came here and soaked it all in and now I’m addicted.
Really want to be able to come there in April. That’s the plan. And I joined the FB page too.
Thx for the info!