Reverse Mount Wheels

[Wolfram Racing]

Hopefully this is the right place to ask. My scout and I are working on a new build that will meet his pack and district rules for next year. (Yeah, it's really early...but we were so pumped after this years Mid-Ams that we couldn't help it).
One thing that isn't written in his rules are any restrictions on reverse mount wheels. Is there a significant advantage to it and, if so, what is involved/different from a normal build? I see wheel spacers for the rears are necessary or at least for sale. What are they and how do you use them? If I purchase a set of wheels specifically cut for this, what options to select? The DFW and NDFW stay the same?
I've tried just taking a past car and putting the rears on reversed and that experiment failed miserably. If there is an advantage, I'd like to exploit it and could use some help to do it right. Thanks for any advice.

 

[CivilWarTalk]

I'm not so sure there is so much of an advantage per say, I believe most cars that run reverse mount wheels do so because the wheel has been so lightened that the tread bends when a weighted car with a canted rear wheels is set on the track. The reverse wheels takes the weight off the tread and puts it on the sidewall instead.

So, unless you are running aggressively lightened wheels, running a reverse wheel probably has little to no advantage.

....if my understanding is correct....

 

[gdurban]

I'm not so sure there is so much of an advantage per say, I believe most cars that run reverse mount wheels do so because the wheel has been so lightened that the tread bends when a weighted car with a canted rear wheels is set on the track. The reverse wheels takes the weight off the tread and puts it on the sidewall instead.

So, unless you are running aggressively lightened wheels, running a reverse wheel probably has little to no advantage.

....if my understanding is correct....

That's my understanding as well. Our pack rules do not allow removal of any material from wheels, so never tried this.

 

[Wolfram Racing]

Thanks for the reply guys. Isn't running lightened wheels an advantage in an of itself? So if I can run lathed wheels and can get them light enough that the tread surface will flex, then reverse mount would be better? Is that right?

 

[gdurban]

Thanks for the reply guys. Isn't running lightened wheels an advantage in an of itself? So if I can run lathed wheels and can get them light enough that the tread surface will flex, then reverse mount would be better? Is that right?

Yes, that is my understanding. But make sure you check your pack rules carefully. I have not heard of Cub Scout rules that will allow reducing wheel weight to that extent. Except for the Open or Outlaw races for Dad's.

 

[Wolfram Racing]

Mid-America's this year didn't say anything about wheel weight for Scout classes...BUT they did say no reverse mount. That's what got me curious about it in the first place. So how to do it right? Our rules only state that the lettering in the inside be present and the lettering and nubs on the outside are present. In addition, they specifically state no ving, h-ing, rounding or tapering the tread surface...but then say you are allowed to sand and smooth the surface?!? A little confusing, but essentially they want to see a surface flat and parallel to the wheel bore. The other funny thing is they do not have a restriction on tread width either...so flat but only a mm wide? That would probably push the limit a bit too much and cause quite a bit of discussion or controversy. I'd like to stick with a 7.5mm wide tread to prevent that argument at tech inspection.