Our first Districts

[Newtoderby]

Well folks,

Our tiger guy had his first district experience today. After working on the car for the past month on and off, building our own wooden track three lane, testing, and trying to get the center of mass farther back. We took her to districts with high hopes of at least placing. Well it was not to be but we still had a great showing. There were 6 cars that were at the top all day. The three guys from our pack took second, fifth and six. My guy placed 5th. He was heartbroken and didn't take it too well initially he really wanted to win. He won 5 of the 6 heats he was in and was only 5 one hundreds out of second place, he missed fourth by 6 one thousandths. Finally got him to realize it was our first year we knew very little and we still did real good overall, some icecream at friendlys and some quality family time got him to smiling and being pretty happy. The winner overall was head and shoulders above the other 6 cars. First was over a tenth of a second faster then second place. I think he for sure was a rail runner and a wedge design, Here is the thing that struck me as odd, the wheel treads where completely coated in graphite as in all shinny from it, I saw them put the graphite on it. We were running on an aluminum track so maybe that is why the graphite less friction???? I found that if the wheels were clean we tested faster on our wood ttrack then when graphite was on them from adding to the wheel? Thoughts?

Things we learned:

1. center of gravity is huge, we still couldn't get ours under 1 1/4 inch we could have drilled out the whole car bottom and maybe shifted it back more but at the end we didn't want to risk messing the car up totally. Then again our second place finisher was about the same center of gravity? so not sure the difference

2. Aerodynamics must play a slight roll, The cars beating us where all basically wedge you can see ours was not and it had the added lego head and lasers.

3. Is it possible to over test a car and maybe wear the wheels, perhaps so some of this in testing as we went along seemed to show that ...food for thought.

4. I am pretty sure we will be buying a silver bullet, its about the only thing I can think to do other then car design to improve it.

5. We drilled straight holes with the revel block and moved the axels to an extended wheel base, I was surprised this didn't gain us more and we still did the 4 inches over 4 feet with the front axel. Our second place finisher ran straight with three wheels and we had three wheels, we did make the up wheel stationary and our second place guy ran his loose? maybe this matters if it bounces at all ie bad spot in track.

Overall we had fun, I am glad I built a track for home the kids my tiger and his 4 year old brother were all over it when they got home tonight. My tiger was happy to be running his as much as he wanted and anyway he wanted.

We will for sure be doing it again next year and hopefully put him in the winner circle. I cant thank the forum enough for all the help just reading old texts was greatly helpful and a special thanks to all who commented on our couple topics.

Thanks

 

[IAE Racing]

Congrats on a top finish the first time out! It always easier to work your way up than to stay on top.

 

[Obsessedderbydad]

No do not coat your wheels in graphite. Clean them with alcohol and keep them clean. Aerodynamics do matter. You'll figure out the less than 1" COG in time when you figure out your design and weight pockets. 3 wheel drilled cant'd rail runner is the best. Congrats though. 5th place as a first timer is great.

 

[Newtoderby]

ODD we did clean ours , it was the district winner that had them coated and was super fast, maybe just a superior build and he would have been faster if not coated.

 

[Kinser Racing]

Congrats! Stick around here and build a car to send in to race. You'll learn a lot in a little time. Aero is big and so is weight placement. Take a look at the cars that are built here and you'll notice some big differences. /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Newtoderby]

Thanks Kinser, I already can see the big difference looking around. I wanted to make sure this was his derby and not mine. he picked the design and we talked about speed but he liked the design and loved the lego head and lasers, however I am betting next year he will be changing It up big time /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif Time will tell but yes I plan on building something similar to what I have seen here for the parents race next year. Who know I may check out this racing you guys do and give it a shot.

Thank for all the congrats I am going to have him read them I think it will mean a lot to hear it from you guys.

 

[MOFAST]

Tell that Tiger great job! Way better than we did our first year, we didn't even make top 3 in den let alone districts. Keep it up!

 

[Papa V Racing]

FirstTimeDerby & Son- Congrats on the 5th place that is not a bad start!! Just think next year your going to rocket that car ahead....

..... You built your first PWD car

.... You raced and made it to Districts

.....You had fun and quality time building this car

... Awesome fun looking car ...Be Proud guys you really did well... Too

Cool!!!!

 

[GravityX]

Great job and congratulations on the great finish. Awesome looking scout car. Now on to the next level, send in for league racing.

 

[cygnus]

Congrats to you and your son! Great looking car too!!/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Guest]

This car is sweet!

Was this featured in PWD times?

I cannot remember where I have seen it before.

Congrats!

 

[resullivan]

I forget the site, but it sounds like those wheels that they sell coated in graphite. They also sell axles the same way. I tried the axles and they were super slow.

 

[OPARENNEN]

NEWTODERBY: Look at the shape of Cygnus' cars above. That is the shape you want for aerodynamics. But start with the DD4H X-Factor block. Shave the top off to at least 1/16th inch and put all the weight to the rear with tungsten. That will take care of 2 things you mentioned, and bring the COG to less than 3/4".
Best have John also drill the axle holes. 2 choices: (1) have John drill holes so that it is pre-tuned as far as drift (steer) is concerned. (2) If you have the ability to tune steer yourself, then use the "bent nail" approach.

The rest is wheel and axle prep. Search this forum on both, there is plenty of exact instructions.

The above with G-fenders, and you will walk away in any BSA event.

Start ahead of time, and submit your car in our novice class in several of the NPWDRL events, and you will have it made in the shade for next year's BSA event.

 

[B_Regal Racing]

If you have the ability to tune steer yourself, then use the "bent nail" approach.

Not to disagree, but I will politely on this suggestion. I have tried the bent nail and spent countless hours trying to get the car aligned to where I was happy. There is so many combinations, it ultimately became frustrating to me. I have learned to drill canted holes, and while the "block" is preferred, I can do it with an axle drill jig. I know for me to up my game, I need to start using the jig as a car stand, but until then, drilling a canted hole, even with the jig, has been far better than the bent axle method.

Just my experience, although it is fairly limited.

To the OP: Love the car, especially the "nail" guns...

 

[OPARENNEN]

If you have the ability to tune steer yourself, then use the "bent nail" approach.

Not to disagree, but I will politely on this suggestion. I have tried the bent nail and spent countless hours trying to get the car aligned to where I was happy. There is so many combinations, it ultimately became frustrating to me. I have learned to drill canted holes, and while the "block" is preferred, I can do it with an axle drill jig. I know for me to up my game, I need to start using the jig as a car stand, but until then, drilling a canted hole, even with the jig, has been far better than the bent axle method.

Just my experience, although it is fairly limited.

To the OP: Love the car, especially the "nail" guns...

When I say "bent Nail" I mean on the DFW wheel only. Except for races requiring "4 flat", the bent nail on the DFW is the only way! I would wager that over 90% of the NPWDRL builders follow this approach. Not to be rude, but I am hoping your comment was because you thought I was referring to bent axles on the rear wheels. If so, then you are correct.

 

[B_Regal Racing]

No one here is rude.

But, I should have assumed you were talking about the DFW axle. My mistake...