drill the slots please!

[W&K Creations]

OMG...was helping out scouts with finalizing their cars this past weekend and for some boys the other day and I was cringing every time I saw a boy take a damn hammer out and start pounding on the axel wheel set to get it into the slot!!!!!

It was all I could do to grab the hammer away from them and then drill axel holes right in the slots (I was one of the lucky ones that got one of Goatboys drill fixture since I don't have the block just yet or a drill press), and now presto with just a bit of effort, axel wheel installs by hand and the gaps can be set properly....and the kids can still install themselves, just not with a hammer, for those who would say that the kids should be the ones putting the car together LOL...

Last year families were doing this hammering thing the day before the race and even the day of....and of course...crack...there goes a wheel since they missed the nail head trying to rush thru....and heaven forbid they hit too much and poof...pinched wheel...now they are grabbing and yanking on that wheel to pull out .... all kinds of problems doing that....

so for me this year, I sat and drilled holes in the slots (straight or canted with Ian's block) for my den and any other family who came by and asked me to....hopefully I see less swinging hammers come Saturday and Sunday! Sad to see the face of someone's kid where the parent/child is rushing to finish, swings, misses, cracks a wheel and now what.....

Anyone else have any cringing horror stories with what they have seen people do to these cars trying to get em built???

 

[IAE Racing]

Yes, and while I try to recall one, I'll say thanks for helping all the boys out.

 

[sondo007]

First off, W&K thanks so much for giving your time and knowledge. The story that first comes to mind is the tiger cub hitting the car with a hammer this pass weekend and splitting the car in half. That was a work of art. The look on his dad's face was priceless. Wood glue and duck tape to the rescue. Car came in 4 at the end of the day.

 

[Kinser Racing]

OPA uses a hammer to put his axles in. No, I'm not kidding either. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Guest]

First off, W&K thanks so much for giving your time and knowledge. The story that first comes to mind is the tiger cub hitting the car with a hammer this pass weekend and splitting the car in half. That was a work of art. The look on his dad's face was priceless. Wood glue and duck tape to the rescue. Car came in 4 at the end of the day.

What? Sounds like the kid was merely adjusting his alignment a bit.

 

[sondo007]

First off, W&K thanks so much for giving your time and knowledge. The story that first comes to mind is the tiger cub hitting the car with a hammer this pass weekend and splitting the car in half. That was a work of art. The look on his dad's face was priceless. Wood glue and duck tape to the rescue. Car came in 4 at the end of the day.

What? Sounds like the kid was merely adjusting his alignment a bit.

Ya in 1 hit , he adjusted the alignment, air dynamics, weight placement, and left a mark on his father's mental state. I wish I could of had a picture of this guys face when it happen, it's like all the blood in his face just left him.

Like one of those old MasterCard commercial:
4 dollar Pinewood derby kit
20 dollars worth of Tungsten
10 dollar sanding kit
80 hours of work
1 Pinewood Derby car destroyed with a single hammer stroke, PRICELESS.

 

[DEW36]

First off, W&K thanks so much for giving your time and knowledge. The story that first comes to mind is the tiger cub hitting the car with a hammer this pass weekend and splitting the car in half. That was a work of art. The look on his dad's face was priceless. Wood glue and duck tape to the rescue. Car came in 4 at the end of the day.

What? Sounds like the kid was merely adjusting his alignment a bit.

Ya in 1 hit , he adjusted the alignment, air dynamics, weight placement, and left a mark on his father's mental state. I wish I could of had a picture of this guys face when it happen, it's like all the blood in his face just left him.

Like one of those old MasterCard commercial:
4 dollar Pinewood derby kit
20 dollars worth of Tungsten
10 dollar sanding kit
80 hours of work
1 Pinewood Derby car destroyed with a single hammer stroke, PRICELESS.

That would make a great commercial!!!

 

[Charles Studer]

Priceless.......sounds like my first race gorgeous satin red high gloss paint job on a super sexy smooth flowing curved race body all hand build by older brother not allowing my to do anything but watch and be quiet......so excited to see it come out the gate and stop within a foot of the flat....so sad when hammers are used.....even if you dont break a tire could break a heart