Take a look at this! a 30' Freedom, custom set up so the whole things on an incline. The fastest time I saw from the data file was 1.8 seconds. I'd almost like to make a couple passes!
Awana Grand Prix Freedom track!
- Thread starter xjarcher
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Now that’s an interesting set up for sure. I am curious to see a fast cars time on a 42 footer then on that. 30’ is so short!
I've never seen an Awana race with anything different. Stems from the fact that the original plans were for a 30' track and all of the tracks that Awana has ever offered were 30'. I'd be willing to go longer but it would mean more kid cars don't finish!
Our church 3 years ago got back into Awana GP and at first borrowed a plastic track that was pretty beat up. To the children’s ministries credit they stepped up and bought a 42’ Best Track, timer and software. The whole set up. So we race on the same stuff we do at the leagues. It’s nice but yes... there are cars that need to be helped across the finish line.
I am helping this year with a vid of tips & tricks as we try to help to get everyone faster and pit nights I’ll be helping with wheel & axle prep and running oil.
Hoping and praying it goes well and folks get faster and more interested.
I am helping this year with a vid of tips & tricks as we try to help to get everyone faster and pit nights I’ll be helping with wheel & axle prep and running oil.
Hoping and praying it goes well and folks get faster and more interested.
I did 3 short vids around the notion of "Oh no, the race is tomorrow!" for our club (and for fun). One family used the info I gave and actually placed 5th at regionals, beating several very good cars, including the aforementioned guy who built a nice car and used graphite. FYI axle prep was car wax and pledge. Wheels only had ejector pins removed. It was a lot of fun watching it race. Just read the rules for SE MI, says no oil? If I moved over there I'd have a problem as I won't use graphite.
Lol yeah I was bummed to learn they banned it. Our church allows it so I am having an extra work shop before regionals to clean wheels and axles and switch oil cars over to graphite and test and tune in the track.
I’m bringing my Black Ice, Red Rocket, Axle polish, and Sizzle oil I got from John here to our 2 pit nights to help folks prep for and use oil for our race. I don’t use his products anymore so I have plenty to spare. Bringing jig for oil cars and pledge for those who will stay graphite.
I also did a 40 minute thrown together video they posted and emailed/texted to all our church members just bullet pointing the major speed tricks so I am taking steps to at least help other folks speed up.
Would you mind peeking at it some time for some experienced critique? Every time I look at it I see something else I could have added. I did it in a rush last minute. I hope to do a much better job for next year with proper planning.
I’m bringing my Black Ice, Red Rocket, Axle polish, and Sizzle oil I got from John here to our 2 pit nights to help folks prep for and use oil for our race. I don’t use his products anymore so I have plenty to spare. Bringing jig for oil cars and pledge for those who will stay graphite.
I also did a 40 minute thrown together video they posted and emailed/texted to all our church members just bullet pointing the major speed tricks so I am taking steps to at least help other folks speed up.
Would you mind peeking at it some time for some experienced critique? Every time I look at it I see something else I could have added. I did it in a rush last minute. I hope to do a much better job for next year with proper planning.
Sure can. send me a link. I've never used graphite but the prep principles are the same. I fail to grasp the ignorance behind banning oil. A kid can do it and it makes zero mess versus a BIG mess and a kid can't do it properly. In the long run it's cheaper too. Makes no sense. I'd like to have some one explain why graphite is a better choice. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez probably approves of graphite as part of her New Green Deal!
Jimmy,
I would be interested in seeing your video if you don't mind sharing. I can also offer any ideas that may pop into my simple mind.
TBR
Thanks for the interest and help guys! I messaged each of you links.
I really do want to make a better video for next year. I’ll probably do a series of shorter vids with each being about one area of the build to make them easier instead of it all in one. As I think about things missed I know if I put it all into one that video would be huge.
I really do want to make a better video for next year. I’ll probably do a series of shorter vids with each being about one area of the build to make them easier instead of it all in one. As I think about things missed I know if I put it all into one that video would be huge.
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I am currently working with the SE Michigan Regionals team to expand the "no oil" rule. Jimmy, what AWANA Club are you with? I'd be happy to help the SE Mich team understand that there are several AWANA clubs that they are disqualifying through the current rules (possibly 1950's based?).
I'd also like to get your link to speed tips.
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Hey Domino!
We are with Crosspointe Christian Church in Grosse Pointe Woods. I'll pm you the link so you can check it out. Thanks for the interest and also for your work in the fight to educate on oil!!! I planned on trying to get more involved on the regional level too for the same thing. God bless you your efforts!
Our race is March 23, we are going to Regionals in Auburn Hills at Oakland Christian School April 13th.
Jimmy
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Got the link. Great video. Thanks.
Question about "no bent nail"? I knew some BSA groups (ie. Ann Arbor) don't allow bent axles, but hadn't heard that as an AWANA rule. Terry Cooper reminded me that there is no such thing as a "straight" axle, and that every axle is bent to some degree (albeit some are very small). I didn't read a "no bent nail" rule in the SE Mich Regional rules, and don't think that we have that rule in the upcoming State Race rules (on April 27).
No that rule folks at our church added on their own. To be honest our church not having rules other than the kit allowed our cars to be so much faster than everyone else’s the last 2 years they created a ruleset to shut us down. I advised them if they plan on doing regionals with the same cars our kids will get embarrassed. It was real bad. So I sent them a few neighboring regions rules and they also called the guy running the regionals here close by and they relaxed the rules some. But hey insist on no bent axles. I plan on education them further after this season. The cars we send to regionals next month I will be having a test and tune session on our track and makingthen all rail riders.
I get they don’t want there to be such dominance and give everyone a chance which is why I did the video for them all on speed tricks. I’ll let them try to keep everyone slow this year then we’ll straighten it all out before next year gets here and at least be ready for regionals.
And thanks for your kind words on the video. I really need to do better next time and next year’s will be much better.
I get they don’t want there to be such dominance and give everyone a chance which is why I did the video for them all on speed tricks. I’ll let them try to keep everyone slow this year then we’ll straighten it all out before next year gets here and at least be ready for regionals.
And thanks for your kind words on the video. I really need to do better next time and next year’s will be much better.
Bending axles isn't necessary if you're good with your drill press. 
The state rules do not have any commentary on bent axles as most have some anyway. Nor will they. If I showed up with my car using all drilled axle holes and a dry non-graphite lube (no oil, I'd go to the slower backup plan) what would they do?
The state rules do not have any commentary on bent axles as most have some anyway. Nor will they. If I showed up with my car using all drilled axle holes and a dry non-graphite lube (no oil, I'd go to the slower backup plan) what would they do?
Yeah when I finally save my pennies for andrill jig it’ll be the one with the 5th bushing for drilling to get 4 over 4 steering without bent axles. There’s a Scout Dad here that with careful attention to the worst non-straight axles in BSA kits was able to get almost 4” over 4’ just by tuning a wobbly axle so it can be done that way too. I hate being precise with my drillnpress. I have trouble just doing canted rear holes without having toe in them. Of course it doesn’t help I’m using a harbor freight special with a table that’s not square to the drill plane. But it did work out.
Thankfully they took back the nondrilling use slots only rule and we can still drill.
What dry lube do you recommend over graphite?
Thankfully they took back the nondrilling use slots only rule and we can still drill.
What dry lube do you recommend over graphite?
I have a drill jig that does the rears. I suppose I could get another made . no buying and selling here so we'd have to talk about that at the state race.
As to my secret sauce, I have an Uncle that used to do things that "didn't exist" for the Gov't. (He built the Pathfinder solar plane) so he's told me about some things. I will say this though. I watched a marginally built car that had unmodified parts and used car wax and Pledge destroy a very well built car that used graphite. I have the data to prove it. If I were in a "no oil area" I'd think long and hard about even racing.
As to my secret sauce, I have an Uncle that used to do things that "didn't exist" for the Gov't. (He built the Pathfinder solar plane) so he's told me about some things. I will say this though. I watched a marginally built car that had unmodified parts and used car wax and Pledge destroy a very well built car that used graphite. I have the data to prove it. If I were in a "no oil area" I'd think long and hard about even racing.
Gotta admit... when I first saw the original rule set they wanted to use to curb mine and my kids dominance ( let’s keep everyone slow!) I almost didn’t bother racing. But they relaxed a bit so we are. But I see what you mean about not even wanting to race.
I would certainly be interested in chatting about a jig. I know we talked about it a bit before. I’ll shoot you a message.
I would certainly be interested in chatting about a jig. I know we talked about it a bit before. I’ll shoot you a message.
OK, a quick conversation with SE Michigan Regionals, and they were unaware that the "no oil" rule (17) might be too restrictive, and was intended to minimize track contamination. (I reminded them that graphite also makes a mess of a track and surrounding carpets.) They said they will talk about replacing "no oil" with "no shedding on the track". They also said that they don't plan to check for presence of graphite or oil, so you are encouraged to bring your oil riders (just no track shedding).
Also, they were unaware that the "wheel must only contact painted wood" rule (11) might be a problem or too restrictive. I didn't get as far with this discussion item, but I mentioned how rubbed paint gets sticky and slows cars down. I suggested that they allow other substances (tape, graphite on bare wood, etc.) between wheel hubs and body sides (as long as they were not loose).
So, now that there appears to be room for some rule re-writing, ,please have your Club Commander drop the Regional team a note that says that your Club will be sending cars that may violate Regional Rules 11 and 17 (as currently written), and that disqualification in April should not happen based on knowing this situation in advance. (No threat, just laying out the situation.)
Also, they were unaware that the "wheel must only contact painted wood" rule (11) might be a problem or too restrictive. I didn't get as far with this discussion item, but I mentioned how rubbed paint gets sticky and slows cars down. I suggested that they allow other substances (tape, graphite on bare wood, etc.) between wheel hubs and body sides (as long as they were not loose).
So, now that there appears to be room for some rule re-writing, ,please have your Club Commander drop the Regional team a note that says that your Club will be sending cars that may violate Regional Rules 11 and 17 (as currently written), and that disqualification in April should not happen based on knowing this situation in advance. (No threat, just laying out the situation.)
------------------------------------------------------Bending axles isn't necessary if you're good with your drill press.
True (no bend needed) for rears. What about DFW?
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Also, if you do well at Regionals, think about what can be done to arrange a carpool with the other winners to come over to Kent City for the State Race the Saturday after Easter (April 27). Regional 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners (speed, design) get an admission discount, plus special recognition prior to the race. We know not every winner can attend, but having a carpool might increase chances of attendance. We'd like to see at least 8 entries from SE Michigan Regionals,
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