How do you guys remove casting masks from axles?
- Thread starter 92hatchattack
- Start date
Hi all, I just wanted to report back and let you know that my sons car dominated all day today. Won every race. Broke the track record, then broke it again, and again. I think the closest car all day was still 1.5 car lengths behind us. So I just wanted to say thank you all for your help. And all of this is still while the car bangs back and forth from side to side on the track. If I build a rail runner next year it wont even be fair. LOL.
All in all though, taking first in the pack was a little anti climatic. Sure, my son likes it of course, but for me with the races not even being close it was like, ehhh. I'm starting to feel bad for the rest of the kids in my age group since we've placed first 3 years in a row now. Now the moral decision of do we step back next year and let someone else have a turn to win, or build a rail runner and run them all into the ground... LOL
Thank you all!
All in all though, taking first in the pack was a little anti climatic. Sure, my son likes it of course, but for me with the races not even being close it was like, ehhh. I'm starting to feel bad for the rest of the kids in my age group since we've placed first 3 years in a row now. Now the moral decision of do we step back next year and let someone else have a turn to win, or build a rail runner and run them all into the ground... LOL
Thank you all!
- Nov 24, 2011
- 3,903
- 30
- 48
- 13
Kinser Racing said:
Thank you! His mothers theory is that any of the other parents could do the work and research to build a car that is as fast or fasters than ours, so why should we throw in the towel because the other boys/parents dont put in the extra effort.
But after ya win so many times people get sour. I had one dad nick name out car the "A-Rod" HAHA, we are buddies though and he was just messing around.
Moraly, what would you guys do? We will make our own decision in the end, but its interesting to hear everyone point of view.
Congrats! Take it to them. Here's what we did: (we've still got two years of racing at this post) We helped them out those that ask for help and volunteering to host, help with a workshop. Good luck next year!
Race against yourself, look at the times for this year and set a goal for the next year. Most of the time I know our races aren't going to be too close, I set a new goal every year. We keep getting faster and so does everyone else. One of my sons got beat last year. It sucked, but my son learned from it. He didn't try to rush through his car this year.
If someone asks, I help them make a faster car. Do I give out all my secrets? No. They will have a fast car. A lot of those who ask don't care if they win, they just don't want to finish in the bottom half.
If someone asks, I help them make a faster car. Do I give out all my secrets? No. They will have a fast car. A lot of those who ask don't care if they win, they just don't want to finish in the bottom half.
Share your info. Help them build. Then have yourself a race!92hatchattack said:
After dominating the Pack, we reached out to all the other boys going to the District races, and shared *all* the knowledge we had. I included some info in the emails, but only two boys really took me up on the offer. Both of those boys won their divisions in District, with my son winning his division too.
The following year's Pack PWD was a bunch more competitive, but again not many boys (' parents) took me up on my offers for assistance. But, the ones who did made it a very tight race overall. We only nabbed second that year, and felt GREAT about it.
92hatchattack said:
Started pondering that myself. Our family has dominated the Pack race for the last 2 years. And were always in the top 5 years before that. Now - its not even close. And I still have one more who is just a Tiger starting out. So I'm looking at several more years of domination.
If anybody asks, I share just about everything. But few ask. And of those who do some then argue with me. Rail running, for example, just explodes people's head.
In our area, the guy who runs the council race also has a workshop and a track. Its open almost every week night and its just a 30 minute drive. For a small fee you can go use the workshop or test your car on the track. They even have people around to help you with the car. I've gone a couple times to use the track and overheard them helping others. They are freely giving all of the key speed tips - and they even have cans of Jig-a-loo around.
My point is this: in my pack there is simply no excuse for not building a fast car. The resources are all there. I don't have special access to anything. But still - I don't want to discourage others - I want someone to step up in the Pack and challenge us.
The District and Council race is a whole other story. Much more competitive there.
I dont even know what Jig-a-loo is.. LOL.
Haha, maybe I could share some basic tips like axle polishing and COM. I'm not going to say anything about rail running though as I've never dont it before and Im not even sure I would be able to share correct information. But rail running is going to be our secret weapon next year. Not a single person in our pack is doing it. I am hoping I can do it right without having a test track.
Boy what I wouldnt do to have a place like that near me! I'd love to be able to see how subtle changes increase speed. For us, all we get is race day. There is never any time to do any actual tunning, So I'f we build a rail runner when we show up its either going to be right, or its going to suck. Us not knowing what weve got is a coin toss... it could be a huge advantage for the rest of the pack if we get it wrong, or the last nail in the coffin if it turns out right.
Haha, maybe I could share some basic tips like axle polishing and COM. I'm not going to say anything about rail running though as I've never dont it before and Im not even sure I would be able to share correct information. But rail running is going to be our secret weapon next year. Not a single person in our pack is doing it. I am hoping I can do it right without having a test track.
Boy what I wouldnt do to have a place like that near me! I'd love to be able to see how subtle changes increase speed. For us, all we get is race day. There is never any time to do any actual tunning, So I'f we build a rail runner when we show up its either going to be right, or its going to suck. Us not knowing what weve got is a coin toss... it could be a huge advantage for the rest of the pack if we get it wrong, or the last nail in the coffin if it turns out right.
- Nov 24, 2011
- 3,903
- 30
- 48
- 13
Hatch,
Don't let yourself get caught up in this cause I went through the exact same thing, and you'll feel worse if you let up off the gas a little. In the end, I settled on the fact that we're going to always do our best and bring our 'A' game. And I can't help if the parents don't want to take the time to learn or spend time with their child to build the best they can. I also realized that it was sending the wrong message to Jr. in that I was saying it was ok to pull up and let someone else win cause you feel bad for them. Sure, there are moments in life when that makes sense, but getting a 10 yr old to figure that one out might be a bit too early for him.
I think Mofast & Lightening boy posts really nails it though cause like they said, I've always been more than willing to talk with folks about how to build a fast car. But there's only a handful of folks that ask.
Also, we too started looking to race against ourselves with the target of building a faster car each year.
Don't let yourself get caught up in this cause I went through the exact same thing, and you'll feel worse if you let up off the gas a little. In the end, I settled on the fact that we're going to always do our best and bring our 'A' game. And I can't help if the parents don't want to take the time to learn or spend time with their child to build the best they can. I also realized that it was sending the wrong message to Jr. in that I was saying it was ok to pull up and let someone else win cause you feel bad for them. Sure, there are moments in life when that makes sense, but getting a 10 yr old to figure that one out might be a bit too early for him.
I think Mofast & Lightening boy posts really nails it though cause like they said, I've always been more than willing to talk with folks about how to build a fast car. But there's only a handful of folks that ask.
Also, we too started looking to race against ourselves with the target of building a faster car each year.
I want to get my boy more involved in the building next year. Thsi year he really only helped cut, sand a bit, and paint....but it was aa rush job so I ended up doing a lot of the work. the winning car was built in 3 days pretty much.
But through just learning here I see next year I could get a dremel workstation and set up a jig for him that would allow him to easily cut out weight pockets, and after you file down the casting marks axle polishing should be really easy for him to do as well.
But weve done what we can running straight axles. Im scared, but I know the only thing to do going forward is to setup a rail runner. Im just nervous that, with no test track, we're gonna mess it up and not know till its too late! haha
But through just learning here I see next year I could get a dremel workstation and set up a jig for him that would allow him to easily cut out weight pockets, and after you file down the casting marks axle polishing should be really easy for him to do as well.
But weve done what we can running straight axles. Im scared, but I know the only thing to do going forward is to setup a rail runner. Im just nervous that, with no test track, we're gonna mess it up and not know till its too late! haha
G
Guest
Guest
92hatchattack said:
HOLD BACK!!
What in God's name are you talking about?
Kinser is about ready to vomit into his hat right now!
I just compete against myself, and I and about to vomit in MY hat!
Have you completely lost your mind?
Please don't ever speak of this again and we will try to put it behind us.
Hopefully you have not jinxed yourself for a 4 car length loss next year.
BTW, Congrats on the win!
On second thought...
Since you brought a champion thoroughbred to a dog race and told the judges she is a greyhound, perhaps you could rein her in a bit next time.
LOL laserman, better reach for the pepto bismol.
Hatch, know what you mean in that I would always hold my breath until it got that first run in and then let out a sigh of relief. We'd been building them for 5 yrs so we pretty much stuck to what seemed to work over the years. Where I think you can really go wrong and pay the price is if you get real aggressive with the COM or dial in some ridiculous steer.
Hatch, know what you mean in that I would always hold my breath until it got that first run in and then let out a sigh of relief. We'd been building them for 5 yrs so we pretty much stuck to what seemed to work over the years. Where I think you can really go wrong and pay the price is if you get real aggressive with the COM or dial in some ridiculous steer.
After much thought I think I have decided what to do. We are happy with our first place overall finish. It was a goal that we wanted to hit at least once in our time with cub scouts. But it appears we really stacked the deck using John's wheels.
So, I think next years goal is to be as good as we can posibly but only using things that our done by our own hands. More or less this means next year we wont use John's wheels. We will go through the process of trying to pick out good bsa wheels, do the bore polish ourselves and all that stuff. Try our hands at setting up a rail runner and grooving BSA axles and all that fun stuff. And then see if we can win like this.
So, I think next years goal is to be as good as we can posibly but only using things that our done by our own hands. More or less this means next year we wont use John's wheels. We will go through the process of trying to pick out good bsa wheels, do the bore polish ourselves and all that stuff. Try our hands at setting up a rail runner and grooving BSA axles and all that fun stuff. And then see if we can win like this.
Similar threads
