New guy introduction

[JamieM]

I'm the new guy here with a Lion and Webelos cub scouts which both handily won their pack races. We are now onto the district event which is using the detailed Greater NYC rules for the stock class and I have to build new cars. The inserted picture is a 3 wheel rail runner that won our event. New rules state all four wheels must be touching and no bending of axles. IS there something I am missing or is it simply that the car can't be a rail runner. The stock slots must be but can be filled and drilled with a wheelbase >4". Doing some homework since joining last night, I'm questioning my previous design. The car ran well and the body weighted 8g with all the weight just in front of the rear axle.

Sorry for the long post and many thoughts/questions

 

[flockshot]

I have only been here a few days myself. It seems that our scouts win the pack race and wolla, we end up here with a bad case of the pinewood fever.
I am soaking things in as best I can, and actually sort of wondering how we did so good without this information. At any rate I think we are in the right place to learn how to step up our game and be able to teach our scouts how to make very good cars. The people seem genuinely happy to help, so I look forward to a fun experience on this site.
Welcome.

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

I'm the new guy here with a Lion and Webelos cub scouts which both handily won their pack races. We are now onto the district event which is using the detailed Greater NYC rules for the stock class and I have to build new cars. The inserted picture is a 3 wheel rail runner that won our event. New rules state all four wheels must be touching and no bending of axles. IS there something I am missing or is it simply that the car can't be a rail runner. The stock slots must be but can be filled and drilled with a wheelbase >4". Doing some homework since joining last night, I'm questioning my previous design. The car ran well and the body weighted 8g with all the weight just in front of the rear axle.

Sorry for the long post and many thoughts/questions

Welcome to the rabbit hole ...if you choose to go down the path, there is a ton to be learned here!

From what you wrote, you have already been reading. I would suggest read, read, and read some more. THEN go back and read even more! There is a ton of great information that has been asked and answered. By doing a BUNCH of reading, you will then be able to ask more specific questions that will help you more.

There is a bunch of information on 4 wheels touching. Yes, your car will still be able to rail run, but the NDFW will have only a gram or two of weight on it. Just enough to pass inspection. Of course you loose the advantage in MOI because all 4 wheels need to get turning ....but everyone else has this same handicap.

Have fun and good luck.

 

[JamieM]

Welcome to the rabbit hole ...if you choose to go down the path, there is a ton to be learned here!

From what you wrote, you have already been reading. I would suggest read, read, and read some more. THEN go back and read even more! There is a ton of great information that has been asked and answered. By doing a BUNCH of reading, you will then be able to ask more specific questions that will help you more.

There is a bunch of information on 4 wheels touching. Yes, your car will still be able to rail run, but the NDFW will have only a gram or two of weight on it. Just enough to pass inspection. Of course you loose the advantage in MOI because all 4 wheels need to get turning ....but everyone else has this same handicap.

Have fun and good luck.

Solid advise, @Thinkin'Bout Racin. thanks

 

[Thinkin'Bout Racin]

I have only been here a few days myself. It seems that our scouts win the pack race and wolla, we end up here with a bad case of the pinewood fever.
I am soaking things in as best I can, and actually sort of wondering how we did so good without this information. At any rate I think we are in the right place to learn how to step up our game and be able to teach our scouts how to make very good cars. The people seem genuinely happy to help, so I look forward to a fun experience on this site.
Welcome.

Flockshot,

Follow the advice above about reading and researching. As you have already discovered, there is a lot of great information here. Yes, most of us have been where you are at ...before I found this site I thought I was doing things right. However after spending a few months here reading most everything back 3-4 years, the quality (and speed) of our cars improved markedly!

Welcome to the rabbit hole!!!!

 

[JamieM]

I have only been here a few days myself. It seems that our scouts win the pack race and wolla, we end up here with a bad case of the pinewood fever.
I am soaking things in as best I can, and actually sort of wondering how we did so good without this information. At any rate I think we are in the right place to learn how to step up our game and be able to teach our scouts how to make very good cars. The people seem genuinely happy to help, so I look forward to a fun experience on this site.
Welcome.

I agree @flockshot and down that rabbit hole, we've gone. None of that is a surprise to me because I spent a couple decades racing full size cars around the dirt ovals of the North East. This exercise brings back good memories and looking for every advantage. This is just under a microscope. Good luck to your scouts!

 

[Chief]

Welcome! And I would add that you get a 3 ring binder with some paper and take notes and where you found it. That has been a great asset for me. Sorry you have to rebuild but I’d bet you will be faster now that you are here!

 

[JamieM]

Great suggestion @Chief! I guess i could summarize as “i didn’t know what i didn’t know” especially when at the time of our pack race we averaged 3.13 and i was like, wow what else can i do. Well this forum is the catalyst

 

[Notch8]

Welcome
The videos in subscriber section are great and there is a video for tuning a 4 wheel touching car. For me the subscriber section was $25 well spent love being able to watch the step by step videos over and over.

 

[JamieM]

Welcome
The videos in subscriber section are great and there is a video for tuning a 4 wheel touching car. For me the subscriber section was $25 well spent love being able to watch the step by step videos over and over.

Right on, already subscribed just waiting for access!

 

[Andrew Winz]

Welcome aboard.

Is it just me or does that car not look exactly family friendly......

 

[JamieM]

Welcome aboard.

Is it just me or does that car not look exactly family friendly......

Ha, easy buddy!