Awana Grand Prix Old racer but new here.

[xjarcher]

Greetings! I've a veteran (15yrs+) Awana GP racer and I'm trying to get past a speed barrier! The track is a 32' Freedom and my best is a 2.543 (track record). I'm in SW Michigan have been fortunate to have a lot of first place hardware but can't get a car into the 2.4's
I use the RR technique, Krytox, canted rears and DFW xtended WB also. I am usually 5/8" COM
I haven't grooved axles yet but taper the heads and polish very highly and follow with techwax and jig before oil.
I do my best on wheels using a highly modded DW tool and always wait to work on them until it's <20* in the garage so they are well frozen. Plexus on the bores when done.
Some questions have arisen.
1) One guy who builds cars that go 2.3xx has a huge site with lots of data claims that Awana bores are optically clear, I've read the opposite here.
2) I just made a set of grooved axles, how much speed gain are they worth?
3) With multiple coats of wax is an exotic polish job super valuable on the bores?
4) We can lighten the wheels, has anyone had success doing it or just buy them?
5) Body to hub gap, seems Awana wheels like a little bigger one, should I narrow it?
Footnote: I have a friend who owns a machine shop so I can do most anything. Just need some direction. Thanks all!

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

If allowed, lathe lightened wheels are the easiest speed gain. This could be enough to get you in the 2.4's.

 

[dpatrick911]

I reevaluated what I thought I knew about building cars after reading this post http://www.pinewoodderbyonline.com/post/keys-to-win-from-the-pinewood-derby-king-5782181?pid=1272943640 I revamped my build process to include as many of these tips as I could (for me it was essentially everything). We won boys and girls Grand Champion this year following these tips. We ran consistent 2.47's all day with a fastest time of 2.4557 on a 35 foot Best Track. I spent about an hour leveling/shimming the tracks after the electronics were installed to get them on the money level. I polished the wheel bores using DerbyDad4Hire wheel bore polishing kit. Don't know whether it really makes a different or not. But at the end of the day we have the hardware that says it didn't hurt. I really concentrated on body weight before adding tungsten. We had 2 cars this year. One was 18 grams and the other was around 11 grams. I could concentrate so much weight in the back of the cars they were almost awkward to hold. I can measure COM when I get home.

 

[xjarcher]

Thanks Dpatrick.
I'm on board with pretty much all all of that. I've had larger wheel to body gaps but that's fixable easily. I've looked at the DD4H axles and I'm considering some but undecided on 92's vs. 94's. I'm thinking 92's since I use wax and Jig.

 

[DerbyDad4Hire]

94's with Awana wheels.

 

[xjarcher]

Okay, 94's it will be then. Perhaps in a week or so I'll pick some up. Now off to another spot in the forum to learn about SS axles.

 

[STEEL WHEELS]

Careful xjarcher must use axles provided with the kit.

 

[xjarcher]

Not a problem steelie, I had to replace a Jeep engine and didn't buy anything for racing. I made some progress but I'm still not where I want to be.

 

[STEEL WHEELS]

The guys from Berlin expect you to bring something a little faster next year. Ha ha.

 

[xjarcher]

Yep, well that "rookie" sure made a mess out of the standings. My four times were the slowest all year. Fear not! I'm already working on my build for next season. Having Thing 1 in the shop for a while will certainly help. I get to take measurements and take notes. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif