Frustrated but not broken

[Ballistic Racing]

Well, I'll have to admit, as much as I prepared myself for the inevitable, it was a little disheartening to watch my Box stocker wiggle to last place. The frustrating part was watching my sons scout car place 6th to my 8th. Don't get me wrong, it was a kick watching for the first time & oh boy did my son love the fact that he was faster than daddy! It's a great feeling watching your young ones enjoy a moment of triumph.
But now to figure out why, fix it & try again. Nothing special about his car, nothing hollowed out on the bottom except the weight pockets, not as aerodynamic, no fenders BUT, he did have a Lego driver! And his best guy as he told me. My car, very thin, fenders, hollowed out & evenly weighted. Prepped both sets of wheels the same. Just wondering if maybe something (during shipping) was bumped out of alignment.
I'll have to check the car out on the tuning board & see where we're at. Maybe I over thought the car & that sometimes, simple is better. hmmmm.
I feel a little better about the BASX class. Not last but I know there are a few things I could do differently for the next race. Looking forward to watching the replays in slow motion, taking notes & doing what I do best...fixing things! Yes, it's a slow process working your way up but what fun would it be for me starting on top, I like to tinker & in a few days, I'll have something to tinker with again!
Thanks everyone for all the info available here on the site & a special thanks to Joel for putting on a great show today. Awesome job to all the racers, looks like a very competitive league & I'm up for the challenge. Like I said, I'm frustrated but not broken & hopefully a little faster next month!

(Not so Ballistic today) Bob

 

[~JBD RACING~]

Like we tell all new racers .. This is a different world .. We get a lot of new racers that WIN a adult race at scout pack LEVEL, and then send into the league and think they'll win.. Then they get shook up. It takes time, patience and determination and a lot of want to just to get in the top 5. Keep your head up. Race your monthly times. Try to get faster each month.. My best suggestion is to buy a drilled box from a vendor or racers or a body and take all your parts and put over on that car.. See if you get faster. Then you know how your alignment was..
Good luck
JBD
Benji

 

[zigzag]

Well, I'll have to admit, as much as I prepared myself for the inevitable, it was a little disheartening to watch my Box stocker wiggle to last place. The frustrating part was watching my sons scout car place 6th to my 8th. Don't get me wrong, it was a kick watching for the first time & oh boy did my son love the fact that he was faster than daddy! It's a great feeling watching your young ones enjoy a moment of triumph.
But now to figure out why, fix it & try again. Nothing special about his car, nothing hollowed out on the bottom except the weight pockets, not as aerodynamic, no fenders BUT, he did have a Lego driver! And his best guy as he told me. My car, very thin, fenders, hollowed out & evenly weighted. Prepped both sets of wheels the same. Just wondering if maybe something (during shipping) was bumped out of alignment.
I'll have to check the car out on the tuning board & see where we're at. Maybe I over thought the car & that sometimes, simple is better. hmmmm.
I feel a little better about the BASX class. Not last but I know there are a few things I could do differently for the next race. Looking forward to watching the replays in slow motion, taking notes & doing what I do best...fixing things! Yes, it's a slow process working your way up but what fun would it be for me starting on top, I like to tinker & in a few days, I'll have something to tinker with again!
Thanks everyone for all the info available here on the site & a special thanks to Joel for putting on a great show today. Awesome job to all the racers, looks like a very competitive league & I'm up for the challenge. Like I said, I'm frustrated but not broken & hopefully a little faster next month!

(Not so Ballistic today) Bob

'Frustration' is definitely a part of the hobby - but there are great highs when you find some speed, etc.

I finally had a good day yesterday and now to try bulsa fenders which I know will be more fustration.

Look forward to seeing you at the next race.

 

[TRE]

you want frustration..wait til you find some speed..think you are doing good then lose it and cant figure out why..it will happen few times along the way..just stay with it..its fun ride to the top

 

[jatofau1]

Hi Ballistic,

It had to be the Lego driver. He was your son's best lego man. I will get my track dialed in so we can do a better job tuning the cars. Let's get together soon to build the next set of cars. Congrats to little Bobby's Lego Drive and car.

 

[Maglev]

Nice to hear your son did well! You done the most difficult thing taken the plunge and participated. It only gets better from now on. We've all been there, I can relate to my first race three years ago. We used to separate the amateurs from the pros until the amateurs got so good that they started posting pros timings (some had improved others just bought the pros cars). Now everybody races together.

Hang in there and with steady progress you'll soon be a Pro! Feel free to ask questions and keep building new cars to beat your previous best month after month!

Enjoy the building process and the steady climb! No fun in buying a Pro car and jumping ahead temporarily, what are you going to do when the prep wears out?! The real fun, pride and satisfaction is in figuring out your own prep/process to get fast. I bet there are multiple preps/ways of building a fast car - one of them has your name written on it, good luck finding it!!

 

[B_Regal Racing]

I feel a little better about the BASX class. Not last but I know there are a few things I could do differently for the next race. Looking forward to watching the replays in slow motion, taking notes & doing what I do best...fixing things!

I'll add this. I do not subscribe to the "hard work" thing and you'll be first (or in the top 5). It simply may not happen and that's a reality. You would have no idea how much money I have flushed trying to speed up. What you have to do is enjoy the meticulous nature of building and racing. And it seems from your post that you do. That to me is the key to being as fast as you can be, and the understanding that you may never be in the top 5. But reaching your full potential, whatever that is, will take work and dedication. There is no way around that. If you like the hobby, set realistic expectations and work to achieve those goals; just don't get discouraged.

 

[TRE]

Nice to hear your son did well! You done the most difficult thing taken the plunge and participated. It only gets better from now on. We've all been there, I can relate to my first race three years ago. We used to separate the amateurs from the pros until the amateurs got so good that they started posting pros timings (some had improved others just bought the pros cars). Now everybody races together. Hang in there and with steady progress you'll soon be a Pro! Feel free to ask questions and keep building new cars to beat your previous best month after month! Enjoy the building process and the steady climb! No fun in buying a Pro car and jumping ahead temporarily, what are you going to do when the prep wears out?! The real fun, pride and satisfaction is in figuring out your own prep/process to get fast. I bet there are multiple preps/ways of building a fast car - one of them has your name written on it, good luck finding it!!

+1000 Thats good solid avice right there

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

you want frustration..wait til you find some speed..think you are doing good then lose it and cant figure out why..it will happen few times along the way..just stay with it..its fun ride to the top

True dat! Happened to me yesterday. I'm fairly new myself and have been running mid pack. Thought I was gaining ground and learning a few things. Had high hopes for a new BASX car yesterday and it fell flat on its face. So it's back to the drawing board.
Hang in there, it's a great hobby win or lose.