Getting suckered back in

[Dldoug]

Hello all,
I have taken about a year break with Covid and all and I have the bug again after helping my kids build their cars and get ready for our pack race. We had our derby this past Saturday. My boys took first and second overall, and now time to prep for districts. That is where I am at. Now the bug thing. I want to build my first BASX car and send it in. I know I will not win or maybe even be competitive but I want to give it a try. How important are the wheels? Can I prep and true ones out of the box and be competitive or would you recommend I go with machined ones from a vendor? Lastly kind of the same question about axles, can I polish ones in the box or should I buy some and prep those?
I own a silver bullet extreme, pin gages, wheel gage with dial indicator, and must prep solutions that derby dad sells.
Any helpful pointers are welcomed as I enter this rabbit hole.

R
DL

 

[Mojo Racing]

Hey DL,

Yeah, it sounds like you have all the tools to get you going for your first BASX car. A good, true set of 2.4g wheels is very important, as is the proper oil for racing proxy.

Good luck!

 

[Hangtime]

... Can I prep and true ones out of the box and be competitive... ? Lastly kind of the same question about axles...
DL

I’ve wondered about that, too. Maybe we we’ll learn the answer this season. There’s satisfaction to be found in being competitive using stuff that you made yourself.

 

[Hangtime]

If you have a lathe and tooling you can cut your own wheels. Not to hard but costly and lots of practice.

Yeah, I’ve ruined a LOT of wheels while learning what not to do...

 

[Dldoug]

I do not have a lathe yet, maybe someday. My wife thinks I am crazy now as it is. Lol. Also trying to get her to allow me to purchase a best track.

I did build a BASX car last year but it is still up on my shelf. Did not have enough nerve to send it in. I did put Vendor wheels and axles on with off the shelf oil. I think my best course of action would be tear that one down and reprep it maybe or maybe use those parts and build another one. Thoughts?

 

[Dldoug]

Yeah, I’ve ruined a LOT of wheels while learning what not to do...

Yes lots of trial and error

 

[Hangtime]

I did build a BASX car last year but it is still up on my shelf. Did not have enough nerve to send it in.

Right there with you - I also built a BASX car last season. It was never right, alignment issues. This years scout cars are faster than last season’s failed BASX car. I scraped that car to reclaim the W for the scout cars. Following the scout race next weekend, I plan to refocus on building another BASX...

 

[T-Bone Racing]

I do not have a lathe yet, maybe someday. My wife thinks I am crazy now as it is. Lol. Also trying to get her to allow me to purchase a best track.

I did build a BASX car last year but it is still up on my shelf. Did not have enough nerve to send it in. I did put Vendor wheels and axles on with off the shelf oil. I think my best course of action would be tear that one down and reprep it maybe or maybe use those parts and build another one. Thoughts?

Well, you’ll never know where your at unless you send it. Re-prepping is a good idea!

 

[Loud2ns]

I do not have a lathe yet, maybe someday. My wife thinks I am crazy now as it is. Lol. Also trying to get her to allow me to purchase a best track.

I did build a BASX car last year but it is still up on my shelf. Did not have enough nerve to send it in. I did put Vendor wheels and axles on with off the shelf oil. I think my best course of action would be tear that one down and reprep it maybe or maybe use those parts and build another one. Thoughts?

Send it!!

 

[T-Bone Racing]

Send it!!

Agreed! I’d re-prep what you have and send in.

 

[Jupiter 2.9]

We sent 3 second cars in for a year.
Send It +1

 

[Brian Stanley]

Yea, send it. Right now is the best time to start league racing. All three of the main leagues now have a BASX AM (amateur) class. Is a great place to jump in as a new racer, there will be other racers just like you!

 

[Dldoug]

Sounds like a plan. I will reprep and send to the BASX race coming up Feb 9th I think. Then start accumulating parts to build my next one.

thanks for your replies.

 

[Mojo Racing]

Check your dates, DL.

The races scheduled in February are the 5th at NPWDRL and the 20th at APR.

 

[Dldoug]

Ok, I am repreping my car. If I shipped out tomorrow would it make it to the race in time. What has been your shipping times? UPS, USPS?

 

[T-Bone Racing]

Ok, I am repreping my car. If I shipped out tomorrow would it make it to the race in time. What has been your shipping times? UPS, USPS?

What race are you shipping to?

 

[Dldoug]

Sorry, I was thinking NPDRL, but might be coming up too quick. If that is not a possibility maybe APR.

 

[T-Bone Racing]

Sorry, I was thinking NPDRL, but might be coming up too quick. If that is not a possibility maybe APR.

Shipping is never guaranteed, but if you shipped tomorrow, you should be ok. I usually ship Monday myself.

 

[Dldoug]

Do you USPS or UPS ship?

 

[T-Bone Racing]

I personally use USPS, but I’ve heard bad things about both, Lol.