Inspection best practices

[Guest]

The test for qualification should be:

If it is fast enough to run out of stop section then it must be a cheater.

It will guiltily roll itself into the crushing chamber where the winner of last years derby will be awarded the honor of turning the crank.

The sides of the chamber will be clear so that all can watch the faces of the builders' as they witness the folly of their deeds.

 

[xanthrum]

This is just funny the aim of the rules is to keep the costs down, rather than have a fair set of rules... and not allow any non bsa parts... since there are so many variations of official bsa parts different type of axles different versions of wheels, the actual block of wood has huge variations... there are some that can weigh as much as 5oz uncut and some as little as 2.7oz uncut.... not to mention the irregularity of the groove itself - very few are square. You should develop some rules that keep things fair, and rules that even if someone was to purchase a pre-made car it would not win, against a car that is allowed to use "modern" applications of technology... rail riding, canted wheels, enforecable rules regarding the wheels and axles... it will truly create a much better fair race and provide a much improved expierence for the scout and parent in building a car together that is utilizing the most current up to date technology. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Guest]

"Guilty 3 wheeled cars will be shredded, mulched and turned into pulp. All rule abiders will receive a roll of post consumer recycled toilet paper made from the guilty heathens cars to further ostracize any and all cheaters "

 

[Guest]

Hey wkbrtx,

A couple of us are having fun here and kidding around but it is not directed at you.

This happens on any of a number of topics that pop up here.

My serious thoughts are:

It is kind of like watching a high school basketball game and the ref keeps calling fouls.
Disrupting the flow and spirit of the game.

After a while you want to yell at the ref. "Oh just let them play".

Additionally, by keeping all 4 wheels on the track you take away a lot of tactics and strategy.

It is like playing checkers instead of chess.

Restrictions are great and all but just let them play.

Good luck.

 

[Guest]

wkbrtx, yeah we're just having fun and not at your expense. I respect that you're involved and care about a fair race. Having established rules up front is much better than the church I raced at where the printed rules allowed us to taper the end of our royal ranger dowels, in the middle of the sectional race the commander in charge stated it was illegal and would not be allowed the next year. When I showed him the rules he said that our church group somehow received the wrong set of rules and we were to go by what their church used as rules. Funny he didn't bring it up during check-in, only after it was apparent our cars were faster. Thankfully he let it slide or I'd have been up in arms. So regardless what your rules are at least you're being diligent and consistent.

 

[ngyoung]

Our rules just state that no graphite allowed in the venue. All must be applied outside or at home. That keeps from having a big mess in the check in area. It also helps when you get a really messy car. They're basically told to go back out and spin off all their excessive graphite.

 

[LightninBoy]

Graphite only rules are ignorant. Its time for these ancient rules to go the way of segregation laws. If any lubrication should be outlawed - its graphite. In fact, I'm lobbying our council to do exactly that or at least strongly discourage its use like we did a few years ago with lead weight.

 

[Crash Enburn]

Perhaps so, but you have to consider expense.

Hob-e-lube: $3.99 (less w/ a coupon)
Krytox: $18.13 for 1/4 oz. (minus a possible Best Offer discount)

For me, lead is the same thing.
Lead: $0.00 (talk nice to your tire guy)
Tungsten: $20.70 for 24 cubes (~3.9 oz.)

"Okay, Timmy. You can make yourself a cool car using this $4 kit. But if you want to keep the track keeper and the state of California happy, you'll have to invest another $40 into it."

 

[IAE Racing]

Do you realize how many things are bad for you only when you are California?

I was thinking the same thing about money also, Crash. Can't allow for $20 wheels, or a single mom to buy a $15 precut block, but it's ok to make them spend extra on weight.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I'm sorry, but not only is 4 wheel touching rule dumb, but enforcing it does NOTHING. The people that know how to build fast cars, or care enough to go to sites like this to LEARN how, will still be the top cars.

So if someone comes here and learns about a 3 wheel rail runner....making him have 4 touching isn't going to give a prayer of catching him to the people who don't even start building their cars until 2 nights before the race.

Now...if the 3 wheel touching rule is dumb, then trying to check for and enforce canting makes Forrest Gump look like a pure genius.

Seriously....if you use the slots and just stick the axles in there, then no matter how hard you try, you absolutely 100% cannot get them in perfectly straight....and that's ASSuming the block isn't warped and having all 4 straight in would actually make them all be in alignment in the first place.

Why the hell would you do this? It will be VERY subjective if you do something as dumb as "shining a light and trying to see if any gets through to tell if the wheels are flat".

But one thing can make you happy: I was wondering what the dumbest thing I'd read or hear today was going to be, and here at just 2am, you already provided it for me. Mystery solved.

No offense, but that just doesn't make the slightest bit of sense.

Why stifle creativity? Why hold back people who get into the race?

Tell me this: I bet in your district there are a few boys who can run a lot faster than anyone else. Probably partially because they're just fast, and partially because they play sports and generally work on getting faster and faster.

So if they were going to have foot races....are you going to make everyone wear clogging shoes to be sure someone doesn't have a nicer pair of shoes than the others? If you did, you DO realize that the fastest kids will still win, right?

It's the same for Pinewood Derby. It'd be the same if you held a video game contest where the boys all played Call of Duty. The kids that played the game the most would win.
It'd be the same if you held a computer building contest...the kids with the Dads who worked in IT would have an advantage. And so on.

Relax your rules and let everyone have fun.