Is there a lawyer in the house???

[Mojo Racing]

Hey Everybody !

Okay, so I am new to this forum... and I have read thru a LOT of the posts...

WOW ! ! ! I wish I would have known about this place 18 months ago...

I have all kinds of "tools", and now, when I tell my wife that I need TOOLS, I think I need to have a lawyer on retainer. LOL

I never was able to get my son interested in scouts (they didn't have a Nintendo badge at the time), but when I got to this job, I found out we run pinewood derby races for charity once a year. How cool is that????

Anyhow, last year, I REALLY suffered. This year, I did a lot better, but the rules committee allowed unlimited to run with SS, and I got smoked.

I ended up making two cars, one for best design (which I have won in two years straight), and one for speed. My best design car this year is in the pic to the left (all had carved... Cool idea to use model bodies for cars, by the way).

I can't wait to get back into building. I am going to have to get into the league racing to see how things go, and if I can eventually finish "not last", I may be able to do something good at work.

Just wanted to say I really enjoy reading all of your posts, responses, and banter. This forum looks like fun.

 

[texastornado]

Mojo,we are glad you found the site and hope you'll be joining us for an upcoming race. The car looks super cool, just jealous I don't have your skills. Bunch of good guys here on the site that can help you with most any problem you might have. All you need to do is ask.

Lee

 

[Chief]

Welcome to the GREATEST PLACE In PWD Land/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif

 

[Kinser Racing]

Welcome!

 

[Quicktimederby]

Welcome!! That car you made is AWESOME!!!!!! I would love to see some more pictures.

 

[The Iceman]

Welcome aboard!!!!!

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

Great looking car. Wish I had that ability.
Welcome! Start racing here and you'll smoke the boys at work!

 

[Mojo Racing]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the welcome.

Quicktime, you asked to see more pics... After finally figuring out how to add them... here they are... from the inspiration to the finish (Some stages).

This is the car where I got my inspiration (Nissan CT 2020 Concept Car).

This is my rendering for the car...

I ripped a block in half, then glued it to the sides of the original block and started with the knives...

The Finished Product. I put a headlight bar and tail lights into this thing... I thought it turned out pretty sharp.

And the Rewards ! ! ! Best Design

Now... just to get this thing running fast..... LOL

Thanks again for the welcome guys. I look forward to getting to know all of you... and one day, racing with you.

 

[Chief]

WOW man that is some fantastic workmanship! Truly outstanding!!!

 

[Hogans Racing]

Very cool car!!

 

[Quicktimederby]

That thing is AWESOME!!!!

 

[Eliminator Racing]

Great Craftsmanship! /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif

 

[tmeyer]

Unbelievable build! Looks like the body is made from molded plastic but it is wood. Wow!

 

[GravityX]

Superior craftsmanship Mojo. Great concept to finish work. Oh yeah... Welcome aboard the fastest pinewood derby forum on the internet (planet too).

 

[OPARENNEN]

I spent many hours creating an AC Cobra, similar to the way you built your car. Speed was a problem because of the body bulk. After the many meticulous hours I spent making it resemble the original as close as possible, I didn't want to ruin it, just to make it go fast. It still won't compete in NPWDRL events, but it will compete and sometimes win in local BSA events. What I did, is I spent many hours hollowing the car out, going from the bottom into the inside, being very careful to make the body as thin as possible, but not letting the tools cut thru the body top. I was able to cut the weight in half, without changing the upper outside look in the least. First I ran it just after hollowing out the inside. But I picked up a lot of speed by covering the bottom hole (which went from front to back) with a piece of EconoKote. But a very thin piece of 1/128th piece of wood (from hobby or model air plane shops) on the bottom would have had the same effect. Then you can take it to BSA events, and as a show piece, after the event is over, arrange to have a one on one race with the event winner.

Along those same lines, I created two cars called School Bus 1 and 2. Exactly the same shape as the original BSA block, except with a triangle piece cut off the nose. Both are completely hollow inside, one with BSA 2.0 wheels, and the other with bearing razor wheels. Great fun at local adult events, especially in the outlaw class, to see a big block 5 ounce school bus run away with everything. Often against cars weighing 8 or 10 ounces.

 

[Mojo Racing]

Thanks guys ! ! !

That means a lot.

That is a great idea Oparennen... I might have to think about that for my next best design car... I will be putting another one together for next year's charity race, and it would be awesome if good looking is also fast. I did some hollowing, but not a whole lot. I didn't want this car too flimsy.

 

[oxford]

man,,, awesome build and finish!! would you share the brand of the metal flake paint or whatever that is? and general paint technique to get that gloss.

oh and welcome
i am kinda new here too
these guys are so awesome

and freaking FAST!!!

 

[Mojo Racing]

Thanks Oxford,

Okay... for the finish...

4 coats of primer/sealer on finely sanded car body (800/1500 grit wet sanding between each coat)

The metal flake is Gunmetal Gray Krylon. I have three coats of that on there. (2000 grit wet sanding between each coat of paint)

One coat of the metal flake red (testors - I hated that stuff... ran like crazy)

4 coats of clear gloss Testors (1500 grit wet sanding between each coat)

After my final coat of gloss, I wet sanded with 2500 grit, dried the car, then waxed it with Meguiers car wax.

Lots of paint... if you are going this way, it added about 0.4 oz of weight. I didnt plan that much with this car, and had to do some last minute wood removal when the paint was done... another lesson learned.... LOL

 

[oxford]

thanks mojo!! you are the master of design and finish..... bowing