Hello and a few questions

[TimSmithRacing]

Hi everyone,

Awesome forum with tons of great advice and more importantly inspiration. Thank you to who ever puts out the constant effort to keep the forums up and running, I host a few forums and I know the selfless effort it can take at times.

I am a first time scout den leader and am also for the first time (other then my crude attempts 30+ years ago) am building a pinewood derby car with my 8 year old son.

I should explain how I found this forum. I have been a professional RC (remote control) driver for too many years to count I have raced all over the world and am in magazine ads every month and you could say I'm just a "bit" competitive, so when I found out we were getting to race pinewood derby cars I had no control and it was game on! First on my list was knowledge, I knew like all things competitive if you look hard enough you will find the pocket of extremely passionate people that are really the backbone of the sport, next is the parts that really win races and don't just have exciting names with no real results. I seem to have found both here so on to my first of what may be several questions:

I am going the route of using a water slide graphic and would like to know what is the suggested product to use to seal the wood so I can get a super smooth paint finish that obviously wont make my block weight a ton?

I live in Southern California and have seen the term “leagues” mentioned. Are there any places to race out here besides scouts? If not what are the options for racing?

Thanks for your time, Tim

 

[Kinser Racing]

Welcome to the forum Tim!

First off, I couldn't tell you about water slides. I quit using paint earlier this year and I don't think I'll ever go back. I use a colored sharpie and spread it even with a cloth wetted with rubbing alcohol. It's like stain.

Secondly, you can send in your cars to race proxy. Your cars are treated with great care and the races are streamed live. The first race of the year is in about a month. Here's a link for you to get the info you need ,http://www.npwdrl.com/results/results.htm and here's the link to get all the greatest speed supplies you need to get you and your scout started on the right foot, http://www.derbydad4hire.com/.

Continue to ask questions, you'll get what you need to win your boys scout derby. /images/boards/smilies/wave.gif

 

[TimSmithRacing]

Thanks for the info. I am quite handy at graphics and logos and after seeing a couple of cars in the picture thread thought the idea of a water slide might look cool so I am going to give it a shot. Worst case the car ends up all black. J

I am building two cars. My son’s and my own (they host a parents open class “for bragging rights” so how could I resist.)

My son really wants a “NASCAR” so I picked up this block

I know its maybe not the fastest for a number of reasons but its what he wants and that is all I care about. I figure I will just do all I can on the wheels and axels to help him out. I ordered the Dynasty 93G super axle and a set of Dynasty Rage wheels so I think I am off to a good start.

For myself I have ordered a DD4H Dynasty Xtreme Build-A-Kit and the list is like this:

Body Style: Legend Style (Thin Wedge)

Wheel base: Extended Axle Placement
Number of wheels touching: 3 touching
Canting: 3 Wheel Rail Runner Cant Setup

Axle Slots/Holes: Drilled Holes
Weighting Options: Tungsten weighted
Wheel Options: Dynasty Rage Xtreme
Axles: Dynasty 93G Super Axle

Not sure f I will need to change a few things to fit into a league class but I felt like it was a solid base to build and tune from.

 

[Kinser Racing]

That's a cool car but if it were me, and it was, I'd talk my boy into something different for a greater chance of winning. Dads can be persuasive like that. lol

Here's what we did his first year:

Here's what we did his second year, less work on the paint and more time on speed, it was faster:

 

[DNA RACING]

Welcome home !
That is a great foundation, great to whup up on the locals too

.
for the league rules check out this link.

http://www.npwdrl.com/rules/rules.htm

 

[DNA RACING]

do you know what your rules for the Pack are?
are extended wheel bases allowed?
are drilled holes ok ?
can you lift a wheel ?
just knowing that can help alot.

 

[TimSmithRacing]

The rules I was give to hand out to my parents seem to be very "open for interpretation" and are as follows:

Car Dimension Rules
· The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.

· The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.

· The car must have 1 ¾” clearance between the wheels.

· The car must have 3/8” clearance underneath the body so it does not rub on the track.

Derby Car Weight Rules
· The car shall not exceed 5.0 ounces.

· The official race scale that is used at car check-in shall be considered final.

Car Modifications Not Allowed
· The official pine wood block must be used. The block may be shaped in any way that is desired.

· Official BSA wheels must be used. The wheels may not be cut, drilled, beveled or rounded. You may remove the seams and imperfections from the wheels.

· The axles may be altered, polished and lubricated.

Other Pinewood Derby Race Rules
· Once a car passes inspection and is entered into the race, only race committee members can touch it.

· If the car loses a wheel, or is otherwise damaged, the racer shall have 5 minutes to make repairs.

· Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it will be allowed to compete.

· The Inspection Committee has the responsibility to disqualify those cars that do not meet these rules.

Parents open class is anything with the only rule being 5 oz limit. Not knocking my pack but I don't see "competitive" people like other packs might have. They are only a few months old and this is their first pinewood derby so I just don't expect the competitive level to be high, at least this year....

 

[DNA RACING]

i would have given away 2 of my kids to have those rules.
thanks.

 

[TimSmithRacing]

Hahaa yes they seem a little thin on details.

Can you tell me using these rules what wheels can I use legally? Axles seem to be open so I think the 93G should be the best choice but again what do I know.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Hahaa yes they seem a little thin on details.

Can you tell me using these rules what wheels can I use legally? Axles seem to be open so I think the 93G should be the best choice but again what do I know.

To be safe I'd use these:

http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/The-Dynasty-Rage-set-of-4-wheels-W-R.htm

but maybe only three of them.

 

[DNA RACING]

for axles the 93's or the BSA 92's .
the BSA version has a bigger head on it to look more like a BSA axle.
http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/BSA-Xtreme-Speed-Axles-A-XBSA.htm

for wheels, i would go with a the Standard Rage
http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/The-Dynasty-Rage-set-of-4-wheels-W-R.htm

or the Rage Xtreme
http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/The-Dynasty-Rage-Xtreme-set-of-4-wheels-W-RX.htm

 

[Kinser Racing]

i would have given away 2 of my kids to have those rules.
thanks.

Our rules were the rules in the official kit. lol

 

[Kinser Racing]

Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry. It would stink to do all that work and be disqaulified. /images/boards/smilies/wave.gif

 

[Chief]

[font="times new roman, times, serif"]Hello Tim. I was reading your race rules, and I did not see the one I love the most(sarcasm) and thats the use of dry lube only?? Did I miss that or did they really leave that open to choice?[/font]

 

[TimSmithRacing]

Oh no you are correct the "lube" rule came in a second email simply stating "No Oil Lubricates allowed"

 

[down4derby]

What type of track are you on and is there a length restriction in the parents class?

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

Tim, you can win with the Nascar body but the main drawback is the lack of ability to drill the axle holes right. Winning pack level races is not very difficult unless you are racing one of the few here so if your kid has his heart set then you will do fine. You can still set up a rail runner and slightly angle the rear axles in so they have a cant. Your order is a great start. If you have any build questions feel free to call me and I can walk you through each step.

As far as racing outside of scouts, with your competitiveness you have definitely come to the right place. This is the highest level of competition available and it will push you to the very edge!

When it comes to water slides I would get ahold of DG13 on here. He is very good with them and I am sure can help you.

 

[SoGone]

I would love rules like that.. wolf in the hen house.. I would be canting the rear axles!! and cocken' up that DFW.. Drill your own block or have Derby dad set you up with a pre-drilled SSG. With loose rules like that they're asking you bring it!
Our pack and district has a 4 page set of rules. Consider yourself lucky

 

[TimSmithRacing]

The track is wood and I honestly don't know the length or condition (its used to some extent)
Thank you for the help and I will take you up on a phone call once I get all my pieces here.

I am not 100% sure on the cant setting/adjustments being my first experance with it but I know I will slowly start to soak it in.
sogone I actually bought a dynasty build a car so I am on the right path it seems.

 

[Chief]

[font="times new roman, times, serif"]OH WOW...4 pages of rules??? I thought ours was strict. How in the world do you all comply with that? And who polices it? That must take a lot of time during check ins... wow man that just sounds hard. On the other hand that might be better and more challenging. We are considering having a Sunday driver derby, where the cars have to finish the race but the slowest one actually wins. Cant wait to see the rules for that one, I suggested that they keep the same rules that come in the box[/font].