Need Advice First Car

[Papa V Racing]

I want to get involved in racing most likely by proxy... As we have not found a local track to work with yet. We live in Kansas City MO area about (35) miles outside of the city. I have been reading and researching sites like crazy. I have been reading the forums & I found 5K Racing,, DD4H, SpaceWalker and a few others sites.

PWD Experience:
I have built 3 PWD Cars with my twins and I during during my oldest son time with the local Troop. They allowed siblings and parents to run a heat. As I built 3 of the 4 as a family thing not researching enough prior to the start of the process. We did OK building no really good prep ran high 3's low 4's first time out.

My back Ground: Has been in Radio Control (Heavy) as I worked in a Hobby Shop for years while in the Military. So my hands on with Radio Control Boats, Cars, Heli's, Planes. We have built a lot of rockets as well and working with my hands and following advice will not be a problem.. Not to mention I am a fast learner...

With this being said I have not built anything of quality as you folks but I want to get started and I like to be hands on cutting, sanding, painting, etc..
Now after seeing you all doing times in the 2's we are getting hungry to try it.

What would be a good entry level car to start with.

There are so many cars I want to build later after learning the basics first.

I would like to Thank You all in advance for any and all advice shared.... I got to say you all seem to be a fun group judging from the forum post as you share fun and teasing with one another...

Vic

 

[MOFAST]

Hi Vic, My name is Dave (MOFAST) and I live in the KC area. I actually have a KC address but it is Liberty Schools. I actually have triplets, 2 girls and a boy and another boy who is 20 months older. I am no pro and have never done the proxy races. I am interested, it just isn't in the budget right now.

When you figure out what you want to do let me know, I have a test track you could probably use.

 

[Papa V Racing]

Hello Dave nice to meet you ..

We actually live in Odessa MO, East of KC... Thanks for the offer and look forward to meeting up one day.. I understand the $$ situation... Triplets ... Ha I thought I had it rough with twins & a 2 year old.. Up every half hour for feeds cant imagine with 3.... Way less sleep then I got for sure.

Well no worries there on not being a Pro- You may have already had this talk with those who are or have have been here and working on it. Information being passed here is Great as I am finding in the forums... I just posted here as I did not see a New or Rookie Thread.. (Yet) where I really belong.

Thanks
Vic

 

[5KidsRacing]

All this talk about twins and triplets is making me tired! I am so glad my kids are finally out of diapers and most of the "up in the middle of the night" stuff is coming to an end. These days I sometimes have problems getting a couple of them up in the morning/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

Start with a Street Stock car Vdutel and ask alot of questions, there are alot of people here that want to help.

 

[Chief]

Well Welcome to the Neighborhood and to the forum!!! And I can relate with the kids, I only have 3 but our little boy is 2 and a half, the girl will be 4 this month and the oldest is an 11 year old boy! But I really think that DD4H has us all beat...I think he has 10 kids???

I am originally from KCMO and I have some very good friends to the north in Liberty. A few years ago my family moved to Topeka. I am right there with you guys as a "Rookie" I have built a few cars and sent them in proxy. What I can tell you for sure is and I know because we are from the "Show Me State" is I would Highly recommend DD4H's DVD. He shows Xactly how to build a shipping box for your cars, among other things (Good things!!!) the DVD is really great for just getting started.
I must agree with 5K, start out with a Street Stock, it is not the easiest class to win in but as we have the most practice with them it is a great place to start.

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

Master street stock first for sure. Great to have you here.

 

[Papa V Racing]

Guys I appreciate the advice .. I am not going to focus on wins... I want to get proper car set up, proper tuning, good runs then work on lowering my times through the years to come.

Thank you
Vic...

Chief, 5KidsRacing, MOFAST & DD4H .... No worries I will be asking those questions... I will also dig into more forums here....

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

Best bit of advice, ENJOY THE CLIMB!

 

[Papa V Racing]

I am having fun with it so far ... Thanks

 

[quadad]

Twins, triplets, ... why not start with quads ! That's what we did !!!!

Oh, cars, ... when/where I started it was called "Pure Stock", whatever is closest to what you are used to.

 

[quadad]

Twins, triplets, ... why not start with quads ! That's what we did !!!!

Oh, cars, ... when/where I started it was called "Pure Stock", whatever is closest to what you are used to. And best of luck at it !!

 

[OPARENNEN]

I may have you all beat in many ways. We have 10 children, all grown and married, and now 32 grand children, plus two foster children.
And I am only 35 years old (plus a few decades).

So why am I in this Pinewood Derby game at my age? My wife asks me that monthly! I have no answer, but it is fun.

 

[quadad]

Opa, if you are having the most fun, YOU WIN !!

 

[MOFAST]

I could have handled quads, but 10 kids would have killed me! That is one crowded house, and my kids fight about everything! You got into Pinewood Derby so you didn't have to listen to the arguing. It's hard to hear the kids over drills, dremels, lathes, and so forth. It gave you an excuse to wear hearing protection!

/images/boards/smilies/sneaky.gif

Just kidding! I love my kids! When they're sleeping!

 

[Papa V Racing]

Wow OPA -- Here is to you and your spouse /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif.. I know how my family was with just 5 of us running around.. LOL now... We were crazy and wild children when dad was not around... 10 kids shhhheww. That was one heck of a routine you guys had to have. Well on the bright side you had enough to fill a team for any sport..

I think the best part is all the spoiling of the G-Kids. My mom loves it with her G-kids she can't get enough .. LOL now that she moved away!!

I have thoughts of the movie where two singles married and total of 12 kids in the house with all the laughter, crying, fighting and in the end the Bonding as they grew into family.

Your a true Hero to us with few!!!!

Now OPA we are on the "Ask the Pro Board" so here it comes - How did you manage sanity???


Defiantly you are a Pro here!!!

 

[Papa V Racing]

quad - I give you and your spouse /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif.... I tell you guys start off big around here must be in the water you drank.. lol .. Out of both my wife and my side of the families we are so far the only ones with twins... Trips & quads .. Oh my I would have been dead of NO SLEEP!! I worked 9-10 hour days in by 1 pm closed shop when last truck pulled out .. Got home after a 20 mile drive to take first shift 4 hours of feeds so my wife could sleep some .. Now Mom helped her thru the day but nights were mine.. I am not sure about your kiddos feeding times but ours decided to go from half hour apart to both getting up and feeding at the same time.... So I can't imagine what you went thru..

I think you have a good start to catch OPA don't stop now .. hehehe.. Congrats they are blessings and when they have that time of creating the look and speak the triplet language you will get a kick out of it. Our twins did the twin talk and everything you see in the movies .. Just not as dramatic... it is cool to watch. The cool thing about the twins now they are so independent in the class room,, The first 2 years they allow them to be together in the same class ours have been 3 years because they are independent and do not rely on each other for support. So wait until the school years it is going to be one heck of a fun ride... Better then the feeling when your car is running down that track...

 

[quadad]

Yes they are a wonderful blessing (all I ever expect), but Derby Dad is the leader of the pack in this area, he is working on a baker's dozen I think, but isn't quite there yet. Our kids are teenagers now, so all that non-sleep, diaper changing, etc., is just a blur. They continue to consume all resources however, time, money, space, attention, ... you name it - but that's what it's all about it.

It is good to take some moments in the basement or garage however and make something you can enjoy. That's what this is all about !

 

[OPARENNEN]

I have to admit, ours is a merged family. When I was 40, and my wife 37, we merged two families. 7 from me (plus a foster boy), and 3 from her. We immediatly had 5 kids in High School and later, in College at the same time. At the age of 50+, I had to work in Nigeria for a year, and brought my young body guard back with me. So of the 12, only one person did not complete college. Our house has 6 bedrooms. But a couple of kids kept sleeping in the rec room. Because we had an even mixture of boys and girls, many of the same age, it really worked out great. Plus all of the older kids really liked the younger ones, and kept them in line. Like DD4H, we are mormons, so we also sent 8 of the Kids on missions. You know, those boys that knock on doors with name tags. If any of them knock on your doors, at least let them leave a message, and give them a good meal. We have a family reunion every other year, and the roughhousing and fighting between all the grand kids is worse than it ever was at our house, when they were younger.

 

[Papa V Racing]

I wave the flag of truce ... lol We had to stop at 3 I would like one more but we would have to seek out adoption. OPA- I admire you for your travel and brought back you body guard. I bet he was one happy camper!! I have been around in different countries with the military and can say I am sure glad my kids do not go thru things other children have to do to survive each day.

A bakers dozen for DD4H .. WOW .. If ya gonna do it.... do it BIG!!! He is going to have one heck of a Derby Pit Crew One Day!! Family Race day he will have to run 3 six lane tracks!!! Shewwwwwwww...

Oh I bet the family get together's are a hoot...

 

[Papa V Racing]

Well I have some questions to ask ... Now we are going to head into the Derby Car .. So baby boomers hang on .. lol

So here I go..

Building a car for street stock -

Type of wood- I do have several pinecar blocks I can cut?

Suggestions on thickness- I plan on using 1/4" weights - If cut to 1/4" and add planking to top and bottom of car to cover weight area.. I have seen cars done where car is milled out so the top is left solid then cover or fill bottom of car. Is there one better over the other?

Length : Should I plan to use 7" maximum allowed.

Width : Not to exceed 2-3/4" Stay with this or a bit under to keep wheels closer to rail to prevent side to side wobble?

Weight Placement- certain cars show weight placement in front of axles and a cut out in the rear of car behind axles. What I gather if correct is based on (COM) and balancing of car as to how much in front of axle and if needed you use the back slot?

Wheel Base- Extended more stable? with the above width adjustment... Rail Ride?

Axles/Wheels- I will order from DD4H ..

Well this gets me started until I can order DVD . Hoping end of mnoth .. X-ing fingers for a good bonus this month...

Thank You
V