success and failure

Feb 11, 2013
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Just a question I was wondering...for those that have been building or do build a lot of cars....we all see the cars that obviously "made the cut" at our races by whatever criteria different people have.....but how many cars have people made that never even made it to a race...for whatever reason, slow, unstable etc...where you just throw your hands up in the air (felt like you did everything the same as the last car which did work) and say forget it....pull everything off, smash it on the ground (not literally perhaps as parts are expensive) and start all over again....

I know in my short time ive trashed at least 3 or 4 (yeah I tend to get too frustrated and do stuff to the car out of spite LOL (blame it on the inanimate car object for the problems I am having) and then regret it later but its too late haha...and I don't even have a track to base it on haha so its because of other silly things)

I know a lot of people are knee deep in their sons PWD like I am so figure id post something different than asking how to get faster! Sorry maybe this should be down at the bottom of the forum posts....

WK
 
Wes,
The first car I ever built for myself was the green car I entered at the Nationals last year. The blue car, the second car I ever entered in a race, was build number fourteen. It seems I learn a lot of things NOT to do again, but very little of the right thing to do! lol!
 
I've built some failures that have made it to the track, but didn't know until they ran down the track. I haven't got to the point of destroying them, they are typically reincarnated, re-weighted and renamed to run another day and usually do better the second time around. Kind of like what Kinser has done, but not with a success story like he has. BTW, I like the red version better, but like you said looks doesn't make a winning car.
 
My car graveyard is huge. When I was in major R&D mode two seasons ago I built and tested 10+ cars that never saw the track. During the old graphite days I was building a new car every race until I hit the Sub 3.0 mark. If I would have spent more time trying to find out what was wrong with the car I would have become a better builder earlier. Attending a race live gave me a whole new perspective of what great builders are here at the NPWDRL. Lots can be learned by viewing cars up close.
 
I have had a lot of "one and done" cars. Send them in for one race then canibalize it for parts. But a lot of that may be because I enjoy building them. A few cars I have kept around and tweaked them and most of the time they have improved.
In the end, they end up in a bin, once so loved then tossed aside and forgotten...much like a Christmas tree or a prom dress.

I have heard rumors of failed pinewood derby cars found on the side of I-43........lol.
 
zeebzob said:
I have had a lot of "one and done" cars. Send them in for one race then canibalize it for parts. But a lot of that may be because I enjoy building them. A few cars I have kept around and tweaked them and most of the time they have improved.
In the end, they end up in a bin, once so loved then tossed aside and forgotten...much like a Christmas tree or a prom dress.

I have heard rumors of failed pinewood derby cars found on the side of I-43........lol.
+1...By the way does your prom dress still fit???hahaha
 
Chief said:
zeebzob said:
I have had a lot of "one and done" cars. Send them in for one race then canibalize it for parts. But a lot of that may be because I enjoy building them. A few cars I have kept around and tweaked them and most of the time they have improved. In the end, they end up in a bin, once so loved then tossed aside and forgotten...much like a Christmas tree or a prom dress. I have heard rumors of failed pinewood derby cars found on the side of I-43........lol.
+1...By the way does your prom dress still fit???hahaha

Too funny Chief!!!
 
I am sure it still fits just fine
blah
smile
....SPIRIT.....
 
So speaking of success and failure. I had a Clint Eastwood moment last night. I was helping a friend out who does PWD for different troops in our area. This particular troop that he was hosting their PWD had a few dad's I knew from my son's old baseball team. So they just so happen to have an Adult Open division for the end of the night. 1 of the dads knew I raced PWD cars and challenged me to race in the open division. QUE "Clint Eastwood Music" and Make my day going through my head. I tried to tell him this wasn't a going to be fair. He insisted. So funny I just so happen to have one of my old cars on hand that I used for testing the track. We'll 2.97, 2.98, 2.98,2.97, 2.99, 3.0. Later, a few mouths hit the floor and track record securely dominated. Ya. that started a sleuth of how did you do that. I smiled and told them I'm considered very very slow in the pro circuit. So if a few guys start showing up at DD4H you'll know why.