Graphite

[TexasTaxi]

We got our cars done, for this year's scout race. Applying everything that I've learned here, they're the two fastest cars we've built so far. 3.08 on a 42' BestTrack. We ran them about 6 passes each last night.

My question is about the graphite.

Typically, where are your fastest passes? First run? 5th run? 10th run?

Our pack has a 4 lane track, so we'll have 4 passes for the Den.
If he makes it to the finals, 4 more runs.

Should I re-graphite the car and run it on the brand new lube, for the first races, or re-graphite it, and make a few passes on it before race day?

 

[Jupiter 2.9]

If you are happy with the current speed & tune just tap in graphite 3 or 4 times prior to the next race.
6 to 8 good passes is all I've ever been able to get out of ours, but just adding lube brings it back for another 6 or 8.
That's just my basic take on it.
If you must, I would suggest, taking a picture of all the axle head positions "sharpie dot" for reference & check your gaps & steer.
Break the car down & re prep it, put it back together with your notes & whatever tuning board. Make one pass to make sure you don't wiggle.
You always run a risk when you break them down it may take 6 passes to find the speed again & your back to where you started, but a fresh prep is nice to have on lap 7 & 8.

How's that for not giving an answer

Good Luck, Jup

 

[bracketracer]

For us, the first run after re-lubing the car is a throwaway so we give it two runs after lubing before it goes in the box for the race. We had run a six lane track previously at Districts with a prelim and a final round and it was never a problem making twelve runs that way. Last year the district used a four lane track and had everyone run twice in each lane for both the prelims and finals. As it got closer to sixteen laps, the speed did drop off a bit, as it did for everyone. Had I known ahead of time that they were going to run it like that, I would have forgone the laps at home. They toss out one run in each heat at Districts and that would have left us more lube for the later runs. So, know what the race setup is and plan accordingly?

 

[TexasTaxi]

Jupiter, even though that didn't answer, it did. Thanks a bunch!