Newbie Here

[Rat Pack Racing]

Hi all, I am new to this sport and I have a question about our first racing experience. My son and grandson and I raced yesterday for the first time. I had done some homework online here and our car turned out fairly well. The grandson won his age group and came in second in the overall standings. He lost the overall trophy under unusual circumstances. The car ran 2.318-.318-.319 in the age group races, winning all of them. The first heat of overall was a 2.321, the second heat was 2.354!!!, and the third was back to 3.322. With no background in this, I'm at a loss as to why the second heat was so slow. I am hoping some of you experienced guys can shed some light on this for me before we go to divisionals.

 

[TRE]

loose axle did the car come out of tune..could be few things

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

The car ran a 3.322 right after the 3.354 and it was never touched. All looked good when we picked the car up after the race.

 

[resullivan]

We had this issue at our district race. Our issue was that it was a manual start gate (no spring). This caused the times to be all over the place and it came down to the lucky people that were in at least 3 fast heats.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

starting gate issue, staging issue, there could be a lot of factors. For those that dont believe staging issue can slow you down, as Spirit and I tested Friday I gained 0.006 just from different staging. Granted its not 0.033 second difference, but could also be just that lane. I've seen lanes on Best Tracks that are slower than others. But there could be a mess of variables.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Was it 2.3xx or 3.3xx? It could be a combination of several things, staging, graphite wore out, dirty wheels, a loose axle or some others. Were you rail running? Were you using the axle slots or did you drill. Were you using graphite? Were your axles grooved? Sorry for the barrage of questions but they'll help us try to determine what it could be. I hope this can help. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

Thanks guys, I just don't want a repeat at districts if there's something I can do.

 

[GravityX]

The first thing that came to mind was a staging issue.

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

Sorry, all the times were 3.3XX. It is a four wheel car running graphite, slotted axle holes, stock axles polished, stock wheels burnished with graphite but no polishing in axle hole. My big concern is that the time came right back in line with earlier times and nothing was touched on the car. It was picked up and taken back to edit for the next heat, no adjustments or repairs.

 

[Rocket car]

Learn how to build a rail runner, you will speed up a lot.

 

[Rocket car]

Learn how to build a rail runner, you will speed up a lot.

 

[down4derby]

It,s probably a combo of things. Where you stuck next to Wiggle Willy? He could kill your times too!

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

I have to check the rules to see if this is allowed, among other things I would like to do. This is our first pinewood car and I knew nothing about them until last Monday. I would really hate to get my grandson disqualified. I sure hope he wants to keep doing this cuz I'm really enjoying it.

 

[txchemist]

Even with a reasonably good start and timer, you can get weird heats. The software GrandPrix will even flag when you ought to consider rerunning a heat if all the cars move out of the typical range, so if you have a record of all times by heat, you can figure out if it was your car or the start of the timer going weird and messing with other cars also. I have gone to dynamic scheduling as much as possible so even using average times and tossing out the slowest, the winners should have raced each other enough that all agree on finish places. This is hard to do in big field with just random running. Many times someone has a car never beat, but getting a 2nd or 3rd place.

 

[Kinser Racing]

The most likely culprits are staging and the start gate. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

I tend to agree it was some sort of a start or stage problem. I will pay more attention at the districts. I would also like some advice from you guys if you don't mind. The districts aren't until April 5 and I would like to try to speed the car up for them. I think the body is pretty good, the COG is .750" in front of the axle, the weight was right at 5oz. and it ran straight with no wobbles. I think a tire and axle upgrade would help along with the proper prep and lube. Thoughts

 

[Rocket car]

I tend to agree it was some sort of a start or stage problem. Ivs doneill pay more attention at the districts. I would also like some advice from you guys if you don't mind. The districts aren't until April 5 and I would like to try to speed the car up for them. I think the body is pretty good, the COG is .750" in front of the axle, the weight was right at 5oz. and it ran straight with no wobbles. I think a tire and axle upgrade would help along with the proper prep and lube. Thoughts

Yes, all would help. Alot of the district cars will already have these things done to them. Whether your rules say yes or no to these upgrades.

 

[Rat Pack Racing]

The choices for wheels and axels seem never ending, any suggestions? Also, the wheels seem awfully loose on the axles with the stock parts, should these clearances be tighter?

 

[GravityX]

Not knowing your rule set, but I would go with some Cheetah's if allowed. Of course you could always step up to the Dynasty Nitro MA version if you could get by with them. Also, step up to the Dynasty 92 axle to help tighten up those clearances in the wheel bore to axle area.

Stock axles are too small and if you have polished them any, it decreases the diameter even more. Time to upgrade.

 

[IAE Racing]

I agree with upgrade choices Gravity suggested. yes stock axles are loose, especially if over polished. Lets see what your rules state about wheels and axles.