Our Council has decided, I think smartly, to update our derby rules, previously each district had mildly different rule sets, and since we've been running Council races for at least 5 years, it's time to a unified rule set.
In speaking with my district PWD rep this week, it looks like they've decided to make the rules more strict instead of less strict like I've been suggesting. I'm not surprised, but I'm a little disappointed.
These aren't the final rules, but I'm told they are likely to be....
Graphite Only (I think we've convinced them to start mandating graphite application at the race in front of a judge to mitigate cheating, just as is done at Mid-America's graphite race, I hope they stick with that plan.)
Four Wheels Touching Flat on the track. (My Biggest Gripe! I hate racing with 4 wheels touching!)
Only light sanding of BSA Wheels Permitted, no other modifications. A Go/No-Go gauge will be used at inspection to verify.
Stock BSA axles only, no grooving or bending of axles. (Not sure if Revell Axles are OK)
Axles must be inserted in the axle slots.
Here are some things I was doing last year that I won't be able to do this year....
Oil
3 degree Canted Rear Axles
Bent Front Axles for steer
BASX Wheels (Maybe, not yet sure if they will pass gauge inspection)
My older son, a first year Webelo, and my middle son, a Wolf will each need to build cars with my help.
I was thinking of looking for a block with straight rear slot, and an angled front slot. This could provide some steer to the car, but I'm worried that without canting the front wheel the seams of the track will upset the car, and the car may climb the center rail and crash.... Any suggestions, or warnings on this?
I'm going to have the boys cut the rear off the block, and glue it to front to fix wheelbase and get the rears as far back as possible. We did this last year as well....
We could attempt to drill 1 degree canted axles in the rear slots, so that's something I'm planning to test. The way the rule is written today, the wheels need to be flat, but not the axles.
In speaking with my district PWD rep this week, it looks like they've decided to make the rules more strict instead of less strict like I've been suggesting. I'm not surprised, but I'm a little disappointed.
These aren't the final rules, but I'm told they are likely to be....
Graphite Only (I think we've convinced them to start mandating graphite application at the race in front of a judge to mitigate cheating, just as is done at Mid-America's graphite race, I hope they stick with that plan.)
Four Wheels Touching Flat on the track. (My Biggest Gripe! I hate racing with 4 wheels touching!)
Only light sanding of BSA Wheels Permitted, no other modifications. A Go/No-Go gauge will be used at inspection to verify.
Stock BSA axles only, no grooving or bending of axles. (Not sure if Revell Axles are OK)
Axles must be inserted in the axle slots.
Here are some things I was doing last year that I won't be able to do this year....
Oil
3 degree Canted Rear Axles
Bent Front Axles for steer
BASX Wheels (Maybe, not yet sure if they will pass gauge inspection)
My older son, a first year Webelo, and my middle son, a Wolf will each need to build cars with my help.
I was thinking of looking for a block with straight rear slot, and an angled front slot. This could provide some steer to the car, but I'm worried that without canting the front wheel the seams of the track will upset the car, and the car may climb the center rail and crash.... Any suggestions, or warnings on this?
I'm going to have the boys cut the rear off the block, and glue it to front to fix wheelbase and get the rears as far back as possible. We did this last year as well....
We could attempt to drill 1 degree canted axles in the rear slots, so that's something I'm planning to test. The way the rule is written today, the wheels need to be flat, but not the axles.
