Monthly League Racing

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15+ Pro Race Wins!
National Champion
Apr 15, 2013
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Guys,

I am currently building my first car to send in for proxy racing. May not make it this week as I am short of a few supplies! My boys used up the axles and weights for their council race tomorrow!
pout

Maybe I can stuff one full of putty, which is all I have left! Steal their axles tomorrow night while they sleep! lol Guess I need to start buying in bulk if I want to send cars to the majority of the races!

I have a few questions regarding building one or more cars every month or so and managing a fleet of cars and parts. Are you only allowed to run the same exact car one time? The rules I was reviewing for the different classes don't mention this.

Are guys getting it right on a certain fast car and just re-running it every month? Tweaking the same car and trying it again?

Are you guys recycling parts off the cars you ran the previous month? Seems like it would be good to keep all cars as they were raced so you can go back to them to reference...learning curve...what worked, what didn't? Just take good notes and keep the times? After you get your style and builds dialed in maybe don't need to do that anymore?

I understand these things are prob different for each guy, but just wanted to hear some input on getting started up. This is probably discussed somewhere on the site, but don't have the time to search for hours if I wanna get a car ready!

Thx all!
 
You can run the "exact" car as many times as you would like. Run your fastest car (but you don't know which one that is until you send it in and compete), tweak as needed.

Recycle as much as you can when retiring an old car. Parts can get expensive if you don't. Reuse axles, weights and wheels, if you can.

Take plenty of notes, if you don't know where you've been you won't know where you're going. Always keep notes regardless if you think you "know it all".

Above all, HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THIS HOBBY!
 
One of my first mistakes was not taking enough notes and start note taking from the beginning. I used to remember everything, now I can't remember Sh$$. There are probably cars on the track several seasons old. wheels can get tired, depending on track conditions.
 
I was wondering about some of the same things with reusing parts. I assume wheels go bad first and bodies may get twisted or out of line with changes in moisture as well as wearing out the axle holes. I assume axles have the longest life span if stored properly.
 
Wheels are typically the first to go, as you have suggested. Axles shouldn't be an issue as they are made of, for the most part, stainless steel. The bodies just typically get old with the builder and want a change. I guess you could say the body (design) gets stale and it's out with the old and in with the new.
 
Thx guys, makes sense, I was thinking this could get expensive quickly if started from scratch every time...lol Also, I built my first league car over the last two days on and off. Sounds like I should've taken a bit more time on it if I plan t re-run it...not like the one-time scout cars we've been building. Guess I will be rebuilding if I changes in the body are needed after the first runs anyway. /images/boards/smilies/wink.gif

Also, who is the novice class for? I feel like I have a good handle on design and techniques, so I was thinking about entering in the SS Am race first.
 
GravityX said:
Wheels are typically the first to go, as you have suggested. Axles shouldn't be an issue as they are made of, for the most part, stainless steel. The bodies just typically get old with the builder and want a change. I guess you could say the body (design) gets stale and it's out with the old and in with the new.
Click to expand...

For my scout I really want to keep his body intact to have as a keepsake. His next build I am going to try to just tape the cubes in so I don't have to break the car. Maybe use a light amount of CA to hold them in the pocket long enough for drilling axle holes. Not sure how many people wait to drill until after they're done with cutting pockets.
 
aksnowfun said:
Also, who is the novice class for? I feel like I have a good handle on design and techniques, so I was thinking about entering in the SS Am race first.
Click to expand...

Anyone that is just starting off in league racing. But do more like what most of the the guys here did, start in a lower class so you don't get discouraged right off the bat. Or if you are feeling really froggie, jump right into the Pro ranks. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

You should do good in either Novice or Amateur class.
 
Thanks for the information and encouragement!

Will try to make this next race. I'm going to try to trade out some parts from my kids car.

He just finished the council race today...first in Wolves and overall champion. It was a new 42' FastTrack with a long curve section, never raced on those before. Must be really "fast", was surprised by the times of his car on graphite running around 2.95XX, the next car was at 2.98XX.
 
aksnowfun said:
Thanks for the information and encouragement!

Will try to make this next race. I'm going to try to trade out some parts from my kids car.

He just finished the council race today...first in Wolves and overall champion. It was a new 42' FastTrack with a long curve section, never raced on those before. Must be really "fast", was surprised by the times of his car on graphite running around 2.95XX, the next car was at 2.98XX.
Click to expand...
Congratulations!!!
clap
 
Congrats on your win.

As mentioned earlier, I think it is a great benefit to take notes. I am currently building my son's first scout car and have been talking notes from the beginning.
 
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