Hello PDO Folks

[Peregrine Racing]

We had a great year racing BSA (Pack and District) and RA (Local and State) cars. I've really enjoyed the site so far with all the pictures, tips, and humor. My boys and I still have a lot to learn though. When you guys were getting started, what helped you the most? Speed tips books, track testing theories/ trial and error, or asking more knowledgeable people questions? I know this site is great and I've already picked up on a lot of things I haven't seen in other places. I plan on watching more videos and searching topics before next season. Just curious what sources you used to get past whats floating our there on the internet.

 

[wags2633]

For my son and I, the learning curve stayed steep. We started with the book "Building the Fastest Pinewood Derby Car" his 1st year, read a lot on the internet and improved on the same basic design with greater success on year 2, but made several mistakes based on inaccurate info on the internet. However, just as we were prepping for districts in year 2, we found this forum. It was too much info to apply that 2nd year before districts, but for the next year, we read as much of the postings as we could, searching and finding answers. During that year, my son & I kept a journal with useful tips, pictures, and info found on this forum. We also learned techniques from DD4H's & other videos on this forum. We built 4 cars in the last year, practiced wheel and axle prep techniques, made jigs, routed/ruined many bodies, and made a tuning board. We applied what we learned and this (3rd) year was the most successful. I may be biased, but I trust the info more on this site because of the proven expertise behind it.

 

[Crash Enburn]

I had pretty much the same experience as wags.

This is Peregrine Racing's picture:

 

[LightninBoy]

For my son and I, the learning curve stayed steep. We started with the book "Building the Fastest Pinewood Derby Car" his 1st year, read a lot on the internet and improved on the same basic design with greater success on year 2, but made several mistakes based on inaccurate info on the internet. However, just as we were prepping for districts in year 2, we found this forum. It was too much info to apply that 2nd year before districts, but for the next year, we read as much of the postings as we could, searching and finding answers. During that year, my son & I kept a journal with useful tips, pictures, and info found on this forum. We also learned techniques from DD4H's & other videos on this forum. We built 4 cars in the last year, practiced wheel and axle prep techniques, made jigs, routed/ruined many bodies, and made a tuning board. We applied what we learned and this (3rd) year was the most successful. I may be biased, but I trust the info more on this site because of the proven expertise behind it.

I'm guessing this is a pretty common experience. I know it tracks closely to my own. It was pretty painful, but I think its also the best way learn. The folks who find this site first and jump right in with all the great advice here I think lose out a bit on the self discovery and evolution that occurs with making mistakes.

 

[Cramjet]

This is the site where you will get the most and most accurate information. It has the best B.S. filter... other racers who will point out of your information is incorrect. It is where I learned my initial information before I started racing.

 

[Jimmy & his 2 Kids]

Ditto to what the guys already said... in spades. But good point by LightningBoy too. Read through 5KidsRacings story on his site which is also linked at the top. It's a good one of failure, discovery, failure, more discovery, hard work and eventually dominance. His site is awesome with a lot of tutorial videos.
So is Bulldogs: https://www.mqcreations.com/pine-wood-derby
Bulldogs passion and down to earth way of doing things and humor is really refreshing
DerbyDad4Hire (linked up top too) THE MAN, nothing else need be said
National Pine Wood Derby Racing League's site: http://npwdrl.com/
Npwdrl has another forum the guru's all frequent, schedules, videos of previous races and in the message board look to the right and their is a link to sponsors with more great sites. GravityX's page is linked there too.
A lot of the great racers here have vids with good and correct (see REAL) info on what it takes to do it right including LightningBoy. For this I for one am truly grateful.

Hope that helps some.
Regards,
Jimmy

 

[Crash Enburn]

There is also the NPWDRL forum

 

[Peregrine Racing]

Thanks all for the advice and tech assistance. It's almost like all the other information out there is 5-10 years behind what I'm reading on here. Well, back to searching for more speed.