rules interpretation

JamieM

Pinewood Ninja
Mar 20, 2019
40
9
8
New Jersey
We are participating in our first district race and could use some help with a few rule interpretation.

1. "Coning the hubs and truing the inside thread edge is allowed, as long as overall wheel width is not reduced below 0.36". Removal of outer hub step down is only allowed in Pro Stock Class."
Q1 - would you cone both hubs and challenge the wording when running stock?

2. "Axles may not be bent. Axles may be canted for alignment purposes. All 4 wheels must be in contact with the track at all times. Wheel thread does not have to be flat on the track."
Q2 - I've read the posts on 4 wheel rail running but that relies on bending the DFW axle. Is rail running possible given these rules?
 
Yes you can still do rail running with canting the axles.....of course you need a drill jig such as the clear one from Skywalker that has a steer canting angle drill bushing built in. Or you can buy a car block that is pre drilled with the steer built in. DD4H sells these as does derby evolution.

Coning the hubs appears to be allowed in stock class....just not removing double outer step.
 
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Do you have tknuse the slots? Or can you drill? If so you could drill your DFW axle hole canted down and forward for steer but that is very tricky. Some guys add tuning slots in the heads of axles and use the inherent non-straightness of the axles to tune in as much drift as they can. Some guys have actually 4” this way. I was only able to get an inch.
As for coning it almost seems as if you can cone the outer but nowntotally remove the step???
Curious to hear gurus on this one.
 
Do you have tknuse the slots? Or can you drill? If so you could drill your DFW axle hole canted down and forward for steer but that is very tricky. Some guys add tuning slots in the heads of axles and use the inherent non-straightness of the axles to tune in as much drift as they can. Some guys have actually 4” this way. I was only able to get an inch.
As for coning it almost seems as if you can cone the outer but nowntotally remove the step???
Curious to hear gurus on this one.
We can fill the slots with epoxy or similar and drill for better fitment.
 
Do you have to use the stock axles? DD4H 93tX axles have a step edge built in them that makes removing the double step less important...or you can shave down the axle head diameter to fit inside the second step. Gotta love rules that are self contradictory. I'll bet what they meant to say was that you can cone the inner hub, but have to leave the outer hub alone...otherwise, why even bother with the second statement.
 
That was the reason to design the TX axle, so Packs with silly rules ( school pack near me) would think they had removed all possible speed and then wham- a few cars just continue to beat everyone every year. Going on 38 years of coaching winners in that pack with wild rule changes almost every year. Just getting close to making a low cost stealth 4 on the floor- no canting-no axle bend. all 4 wheels flat that pops into a rail runner after about 10 in of travel with the back wheels riding on edge and the DFW on edge when rolling and a drift of 4" in 48" All with straight axles. The only year we did not win pinewood was the year they DROPPED pinewood because my boys went 1,2 for two years and so we had rocket derby instead. It was so bad-- only one rocket made it to the end of the course and won a big trophy, bigger than the pinewood trophies they usually had.
You guessed it, my younger boy won as the other had moved on to Boy Scouts. Next year it went back to pinewood, but massive rules like 4 on the floor and no canting put in 35 years ago and still there today.
 
Do you have to use the stock axles? DD4H 93tX axles have a step edge built in them that makes removing the double step less important...or you can shave down the axle head diameter to fit inside the second step. Gotta love rules that are self contradictory. I'll bet what they meant to say was that you can cone the inner hub, but have to leave the outer hub alone...otherwise, why even bother with the second statement.
rules state no aftermarket axles! I suppose the 93tx would be considered aftermarket and not original in the BSA kit?
 
Like wolfram said- grind the head of the nail down to a 0.120 mil dia. and it works great. Most the box stock guys now doing that.