DFW side

[tmeyer]

I have noticed that many of the builds I have seen have the DFW on the right side of the car and the raised front wheel on the left, with the DFW running along the right side rail.

Does it matter which side the DFW is on? Is there any advantage or disadvantage to running the right rail vs the left?

 

[Rocket car]

maybe....I'm left handed so I do the drivers side. Most people are right handed so the rail will be greased more on the passengers side, thus increasing speed. Possibly

 

[Kinser Racing]

It doesn't matter. The only advantage is whether you're left or right handed, for tuning purposes.

 

[5KidsRacing]

My DFW is always on the left so left side is way faster.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Greased with what? You're joking right? The track gets cleaned equally on both sides. No grease added.

maybe....I'm left handed so I do the drivers side. Most people are right handed so the rail will be greased more on the passengers side, thus increasing speed.

 

[Rocket car]

I hope so. I was wondering if I would be at a disadvantage being left handed. Unfortunately there is no way to test this. It makes sense that the right side would be faster though. More graphite on that spot of the track.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Goat Boy wins the Unlimited class running the left rail. So I don't think there is any difference.

 

[Rocket car]

Greased with what? You're joking right? The track gets cleaned equally on both sides. No grease added.

maybe....I'm left handed so I do the drivers side. Most people are right handed so the rail will be greased more on the passengers side, thus increasing speed.

Yes the track gets cleaned before the race, but as the cars run down time after time, the rail will get smoother and smoother. I think you would agree? The more times down rubbing in the same spot, the more graphite is on the rail in that spot. Thus making it possibly quicker....

 

[ZZ Racing]

Left or right it doesn't matter in my opinion. Lube on the rail is crazy as I would say 98% are running oil and if you have enough oil in your bores to get on the rail you done something really wrong in the prep. Lol

Greased with what? You're joking right? The track gets cleaned equally on both sides. No grease added.

maybe....I'm left handed so I do the drivers side. Most people are right handed so the rail will be greased more on the passengers side, thus increasing speed.

Yes the track gets cleaned before the race, but as the cars run down time after time, the rail will get smoother and smoother. I think you would agree? The more times down rubbing in the same spot, the more graphite is on the rail in that spot.

 

[tmeyer]

Thanks for the advice. I have only built two cars so far and have been lifting the right hand front wheel even though I am right handed.

 

[Spirit Racing]

I've been a "Goofy Footer" in everything I done in my life. [ surfing, snowboarding , you name it ] And I do whatever 5KIDS does /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif Why not Pinewood Derby racing , I think it just feels right for me. Besides I think steering from the left side, works well with the tilt of the earths axis and due to the sun setting in the West !!!! THINK ABOUT IT

And it goes well with my "secret prep work"

...SPIRIT.......

 

[Rocket car]

I got to stop giving my /images/boards/smilies/idea.gif 's away. lol

 

[topspin.d]

Left DFW runs slightly faster. This is because the Earth spins clockwise and there's a subtle advantage in holding the car on the rail with a left DFW.... It's true... ask any astrologist!

/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif

 

[bracketracer]

Left DFW runs slightly faster. This is because the Earth spins clockwise and there's a subtle advantage in holding the car on the rail with a left DFW.... It's true... ask any astrologist!

/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Wouldn't it matter which way the track is oriented?

 

[Rocket car]

I thought of a way to test this. At the end of the april race take a pledge wipe and wipe 1ft of right rail and then 1ft of the left rail. You'll see the difference in color.

P.s. if there are much more righties then lefties.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Why not just not worry about it and run'em the way it's easier for you to build them. IMHO there is no benefit either way. If this was true there would be a huge benefit to running the black and blue lanes as they're a lot older than the red and white lanes. But, as they're set up right now they're almost identical in times. JMO

 

[5KidsRacing]

I don't even polish or put anything on the DFW edge any more.... I guess if that is a speed secret than I am missing out. I can't tell any difference without doing it...

 

[Kinser Racing]

+1

I don't even polish or put anything on the DFW edge any more.... I guess if that is a speed secret than I am missing out. I can't tell any difference without doing it...

 

[5KidsRacing]

I agree with Kinser and others that said it doesn't matter if you have a left or right DFW.

Maybe lubing the DFW edge should be discussed... Who lubes their DFW edge? Does it make a difference? I used to rub in graphite on the edge or for oil cars rub on a little dry lube... Sometimes I would wax it like the bore... These days I do nothing.

Has anybody found speed by lubing the edge? or were we or are we just putting crap all over the track?

 

[Rocket car]

Hey Kinser, I also think Lucy lubes the ground in front of the football. That why you end up on your back. J/k