Powderpuff Car Build- Race is 4-9-16 : open to advice

[Crash Enburn]

Are you running your wheels canted, or flat? If flat, call it a day and run with 'em mounted as normal.

Regarding the weight plate added to the back: since you've put so much effort into the pretty pink paint job for your daughter, I'd recommend that you paint the (visible) weight plate to match. /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif

 

[TWarwick07]

Are you running your wheels canted, or flat? If flat, call it a day and run with 'em mounted as normal.

Regarding the weight plate added to the back: since you've put so much effort into the pretty pink paint job for your daughter, I'd recommend that you paint the (visible) weight plate to match. /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif

i am running the wheels canted and i tried flipping them reversed and they just didnt look like they were riding right... alot of wiggle. i flipped them around and they are rolling well out to the nail head.

Crash you read my mind. she saw that on the car when she got home from school and the first words out of her mouth were " dad , what is that on the back of my car ? " ,

I was thinking i will give it a quick spray with the pink and tell her it is a license plate /images/boards/smilies/smile.gif

 

[jrbryant68]

So this would be a more optimal weight setup

Yes that is better, however if you can take the two in the pocket and flip them so they are parallel to the axle slot that will bring even more momentum.

 

[TWarwick07]

Yes that is better, however if you can take the two in the pocket and flip them so they are parallel to the axle slot that will bring even more momentum.

That was my original plan, the pocket was already there from an old strip weight, the plates are a hair to wide to fit across the pocket sideways, i was a little uncomfortable trying to remove wood so close to the edge of the car.

I ran thie car down the tuning chart a few times and got the 3 inch steer over 4 feet i was looking for pretty consistantly. ran it over my mini cinter rail and the rear wheels were away from the rail the whole 4 feet. front right side stayed off the track. so i guess it is just top off the graphite and call it a wrap on this one for now.

I have a terrible fear of the axles getting knocked out of wack during the race, would a couple drops of wood glue be a good idea to keep my anxiety lower

 

[LostAussie]

Where is your COM with the weight moved. I would suspect you could actually move one or both of the other weights to under bumper and still not be too aggressive.

 

[TWarwick07]

Where is your COM with the weight moved. I would suspect you could actually move one or both of the other weights to under bumper and still not be too aggressive.

when I moved the weight into a bumper it balanced at exactly 1 inch

 

[LostAussie]

I think most people would run a little closer to back if given a choice.

May be worth seeing what it would be moving either one or both other weights. For good tracks cars I believe you will rarely be hurt going to 3/4 inch in front of rear wheel.

Do you know what style of track you have?

 

[TWarwick07]

I think most people would run a little closer to back if given a choice.

May be worth seeing what it would be moving either one or both other weights. For good tracks cars I believe you will rarely be hurt going to 3/4 inch in front of rear wheel.

Do you know what style of track you have?

have totally no idea, years ago with my older girls it was a 4 lane wood track but that was long ago and a different area also.

 

[jrbryant68]

have totally no idea, years ago with my older girls it was a 4 lane wood track but that was long ago and a different area also.

I think you will be fine... my Last car was just at 3/4 inch COM in front of rear axle. But I would say you will do well depending on how competitive the other teams are. You and your daughter have fun with this. I know my boys and I have grown closer because of it. I do think the ideal of a drop of glue is a good rule of thumb. You can always get it to turn lose id=f you need to. You might make sure you clean the wheels on race day just to keep any garbage off of it, I know I for one will be looking to hear your success story after the race. Good luck and good racing!

 

[TWarwick07]

I think you will be fine... my Last car was just at 3/4 inch COM in front of rear axle. But I would say you will do well depending on how competitive the other teams are. You and your daughter have fun with this. I know my boys and I have grown closer because of it. I do think the ideal of a drop of glue is a good rule of thumb. You can always get it to turn lose id=f you need to. You might make sure you clean the wheels on race day just to keep any garbage off of it, I know I for one will be looking to hear your success story after the race. Good luck and good racing!

Thanks buddy, The local girl scout council is making a big deal about the race , they are having a local radio station come host it and a local car dealer donated trophies , so hopefully i will come home with some sweet hardware.

 

[TWarwick07]

Regarding the weight plate added to the back: since you've put so much effort into the pretty pink paint job for your daughter, I'd recommend that you paint the (visible) weight plate to match. /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif

Done !!

 

[TWarwick07]

Here is where I am at :



Going to pick up some tungsten putty in case i dont hit 5.0 on the weigh in

 

[jrbryant68]

Go in intentionally heavy if you can and move very little at a time. If they are using the same type scale you have you fessibly could weigh 5.04 and not tip the scale... and that makes a difference

 

[TWarwick07]

Go in intentionally heavy if you can and move very little at a time. If they are using the same type scale you have you fessibly could weigh 5.04 and not tip the scale... and that makes a difference

Reweighed the car and tonight it was 5.0 . I have a couple small incremental weights I could add on if need be. Hit the axles with some gorilla wood glue and hope she will be fast on Saturday

 

[jrbryant68]

Brother, i will be thinking about you and your gal. You put the work in, Now it is time to see the payoff. I am looking forward to hearing great things!

 

[TWarwick07]

Thanks to everyone that took time to give advice for me over the last couple weeks.

 

[TWarwick07]

Got a quick question maybe someone could give me an answer to

i was double checking the car with the pinewood derby tool and the length and clearance under the car are perfect then i noticed someting about the width on my rear wheels. i am using the canted axles and the nail heads are between the limit no problem but when the wheels are all the way out to the nail head they are slightly outside the limit. there is a little room between the wheel and the car and when the wheels are in a little they pass the width test. i have the axles glued lightly , what should i do if an issue arises at weigh in. i am hoping they have one of those boxes and they drop it in and it passes inspection

 

[Crash Enburn]

To quote the USPS: "If it fits, it ships."

I doubt you need to worry at all. It will more likely be a car showcase than a serious "her wheels only weigh 2.38 grams" affair. Or in your case, 1 gram. /images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif

 

[B_Regal Racing]

I would not worry.

Good luck in the race.

 

[jrbryant68]

How was the race????