How much to " choke the chicken" ???

[Rocket car]

WARNING this is not a X rated question.

Here is the issue, I am currently working on 2 cars. One a friends and one mine. These are the set ups.

Both cars have same wheelbase ,axles and shape. Friends car has 1 gram wheels mine has 1.7 s . Coms are the same 5/8. His car has 4 ounces in rear ,mine has 3.75. His also has the " quick start design " . This means a notch is cut out in the front of car and hoop has been installed. Which is 1 1/4 inches high from the track.
I used this successfully last year. Got me moving first last year. Everything has been prep the same.
Friends car should be faster , right !

My son has 4 trophies , inc. first last year. Dont want to be accused of cheating!!!His son has none, would like him to win first place. With me a close second, in order to go to district... With his car at a 4 inch drift over 4ft to be safe on best track. How much more steer should I put into my car to slow it down a little? Hence " choking me the chicken".

 

[W racing]

I would make both cars equal in all ways and let it be a race. Otherwise what if two cars beat your car?

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

I agree, you let off the gas and then someone else sneaks up and beats both of you. I have never seen the cheater bar help except for on a slow hand turned start gate.

 

[5KidsRacing]

Like they both said you should build them both to win. With all the variables in tracks, staging, starting gates, etc... you just never know. I have tried the same thing with my two older boys only to have the slower car win in the finals. Just build them both to be fast and send them down the hill.

 

[quadad]

You will have no idea which car is faster until they run on the track, but the 1g wheels could make a big difference (assuming they are legal). You never mentioned wheelbase for the 5/8" COM, but that sounds like a LOT of drift to me even for standard WB if you KNOW that the cars will be running on a decent aluminum track. I never used more than ~2 3/4" drift with that kind of COM on standard WB cars running on a wooden track. Presumably you can adjust for District, Council races later as you gauge those tracks and have experience running these cars. Try to tune on a track in advance if you can, it can make a HUGE difference.

And if they are using tired Scout arms to flip the gate, suggest that they invest in a decent electric start !!

 

[Rocket car]

Yes we do Have a manual gate. Last year i had the cheater bar and watched me rocket ahead by a car length by the bottom of the hill, even in front of rail riders. Also had 1 gram wheels and good axles though. Other cars had shaved, but not lightened wheels.

 

[va243hntr]

I done a fellow scouts car and he won pac and overall, beating my son. My boy's car broke the third race but that is not an excuse just fact. Three cars that I set up got two first a third and an overall win the boys were happy no matter who won and I told my son that his buddys car may be faster than his and he was cool with it! I dont think the boys put as much thought into it as we as parents do

 

[Papa V Racing]

VA24HNTR ---

That is cool about the boys being able to compete and respect each others loss/victories.. Sorry to read your son's car had issues... I agree as some parents are very competitive and some are grudge matches in the beginning then it turns to what ever and I will beat you.. Congrats to you and the boys .... Keep up the good work .... /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif

I have seen parents go nuts when their child lost in our one run season... It is good to see that you are out there like others on this forum, helping out and Mentoring not only the kids PWD cars but Good Sportsmanship. My son went to the semi final in his run with the car he built & set up by himself. This being prior to me finding the right forums and some bad info out there I read. He came in 4th and he was cool with it . His mom and I thought he would be down and out when we talked to him after the race just to ensure it was his first car, first race and he could do it again next year.. He told both of us he just wanted to build his own car and see it race.. Now he would have jumped around if he did win I am sure... But he and 2 other boys went over and gave high fives to the 3 boys who won... That to me is my Sons Victory...

Now all the cars we built did not get trashed as I have them sitting on top of our computer table in the living room... They represent Bonding with all 3 of my children a time we shared laughs, arguments over who gets the tolls first and who gets to paint first... the look on their faces when that car ran down the track the first time... Times that I will cherish forever.....

The victory in the race is of course to be #1 and that is the goal .. But how you get there is the Prize!!! /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Rocket car]

I do think the boys will has a great time no matter who wins it will be interesting to see the difference between the cars though . Both have 3.75" of steer over 4' ,so I will see the difference the light wheels and cheater bar make . All prep the same, wheel base etc. Finally built a fast car. We will see next weekend??? Won first last year at 3.14 on 42ft best track. We will crush that track record this year with both cars!!!

Hopefully car will not swim down the track this year....

Ps it has been a lot of fun teaching my son all of the engineering that goes into making the car go fast. I actually gave him a test. He will know more that 75 percent of the dads anyway. So I'll just say, ask him if you want to learn..

 

[Rocket car]

Post race news, it was a successful race. Find out what happened in "general pinewood derby discussion"

P.s the veer 4 inches over 4 ft worked perfect . Cars were straight as an arrow. Thx