The Pinewood Derby World Championship in NYC allows canting of the axles, but does not allow bending of the axles. How does one make a Rail Runner without being able to bend the DFW Axle? The only thing that I remember seeing is that you have to cut the body behind the front axle and glue it back together on an angle. Are there other options?
Rail Running without bend the Front Axle
- Thread starter ScoutRacer
- Start date
You can drill all of your axle holes on the angle that you need. For example you can drill your rear axles down on a 3 degree angle. For your FDW you can drill up at 3 degrees and also toward the front of the car at your desired steer angle.
Yes @ScoutRacer the drill jigs are the way to go however I would NEVER recommend cutting your car body.
Very simple... https://www.derbydad4hire.com/Plug-N-Play-Kits-and-Blocks_c15.htm
You need a properly drilled block. You could very slightly bend the axle to fine tune.
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The only differences between the two classes now is the wheel base and having to use the slots the best that I can tell. These guys need to get a clue.
This is ridiculous. So they want us to use as much stock material as possible but don't allow us to bent an axle. They do however allow us to do canted wheels, guess what the only way to do this, if you cannot bent axles? That is if you have a drill press, expert drilling skills or a canted drill jig, which you cannot buy from any BSA dealer. The same BSA dealer who sells..wait for it...axle benders. I am surprised they allow fenders, since those will be most likely be sold by non BSA dealers too. It makes no sense at all, it makes less then no sense to ban bending axles in the Pro-Stock class, scouts have been bending axles since the dawn of time. So instead of giving a scout an easy way to a bend axle, now you are almost forced to go 3th party to get a canted wheels and rail riding. Again makes no sense.
Also the rules itself do not state that bending is not allowed, you have to read the FAQ to find that out. In addition it states in the rules which modifications are allowed TO the axles, which includes canting, this would make me and others believe that they mean I can bend it, since that is an action to the axle just like the other items I am allowed to do TO the axle. They are not stating what I am allowed to do WITH the axle, which would be inserting it under an angle.
And to get back to those fenders, the FAQ also state: 'Are fenders allowed? Yes. Provided they do not extend beyond the 2 and ¾ inch overall car width restriction and maintain under car clearance of 3/8 of an inch.', does this mean the fenders cannot extend below the car body? Those fenders will end up looking weird. I should print out these FAQ and if they give me a hard time about those bend axles I will ask them polity to have all the cars with fenders fixed so their fenders have a 3/8 ground clearance. Sorry for the rant but I already accepted the fact I have to run BSA axles but no bend axles in pro-stock is just ridiculous, why not just ban the raised wheel, and coning of the hubs and grooving the axles and just keep it to one division. I am contemplating to just build a stock car with my son. With all these restrictions the cars in Pro-stock are not going to be that much faster than stock.
Also the rules itself do not state that bending is not allowed, you have to read the FAQ to find that out. In addition it states in the rules which modifications are allowed TO the axles, which includes canting, this would make me and others believe that they mean I can bend it, since that is an action to the axle just like the other items I am allowed to do TO the axle. They are not stating what I am allowed to do WITH the axle, which would be inserting it under an angle.
And to get back to those fenders, the FAQ also state: 'Are fenders allowed? Yes. Provided they do not extend beyond the 2 and ¾ inch overall car width restriction and maintain under car clearance of 3/8 of an inch.', does this mean the fenders cannot extend below the car body? Those fenders will end up looking weird. I should print out these FAQ and if they give me a hard time about those bend axles I will ask them polity to have all the cars with fenders fixed so their fenders have a 3/8 ground clearance. Sorry for the rant but I already accepted the fact I have to run BSA axles but no bend axles in pro-stock is just ridiculous, why not just ban the raised wheel, and coning of the hubs and grooving the axles and just keep it to one division. I am contemplating to just build a stock car with my son. With all these restrictions the cars in Pro-stock are not going to be that much faster than stock.
Indeed, I will already be breaking the rules just by using an axle out of the box.
You can drill the axle under an angle, however once drilled adjusting it will be impossible so whatever you drill you locked into. I hate that this will come down to who has the most luck instead of who has the best knowledge. And I stand by the fact that the rules do not forbid bent axles. The say you can cant axles which means you can bent them. Bending is one way of achieving a cant in something.
Better late than never.....cant the rear drills, use stock axles, tune the mitagation with the micro bends naturally occurring in those axles,,,,drill the fronts flat, use the two most not straight in front, with the most not naturally occurring straight as the dfw axle with the "bend" pointing down and the nondf pointing up.... hope this helps someone...sorry for posting technique but couldnt take unskinnable method 875
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