Supporting the NPWDRL

[5KidsRacing]

JBD - I'm guessing that's a stack of miniature scales in the back in the 2nd pix. What brand are they/how much/where'd you get them, etc. I'm in the market.

You can also support DD4H and buy your scales from him. Again, we as racers need to support John when ever we can. This will ensure that the NPWDRL will stay around for many years for us all to enjoy. If everyone went out to Harbor freight for everything we may all be sitting home with a bunch of tools with nowhere to race.

Lets all make it a point to support John whenever we can. Here is a link to his scales. If your going to buy several scales, never hurts to see if he will give you a better deal.

http://www.shop.derbydad4hire.com/Digital-Pocket-Scale-T-009.htm

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think it is unreasonable to expect people to pay more than double for something to support the NPWDRL. I plan on sending in cars in the future and think it is a great thing John does for everybody, but I am not going to start paying $10 for John to ship me a box of fruit loops.

Once you are around this hobby for a while you will understand why it is important to have John at the helm of this NPWDR ship. I used to think the same as you do about these things resullivan… trust me I do understand your comment and it is ok to voice your opinion here. For those of us that live day to day thinking about the next race we need John doing what he does… Running a league is tough and it takes the right person. I have seen other leagues come and go with little success and I have seen leagues passed off and then fail. It takes a special person to take on the burden of a league day to day, maintain a track, manage the space, deal with the racers, the complaints, the shipping, the live racers, broken cars, live feed, updating equipment, managing the website, answering questions, buying trophies, distributing prizes, making schedules, brainstorming new series ideas, etc.. Some of you don’t know it yet, but we are very lucky we have the NPWDRL and DD4H. I have seen leagues go from good to bad and it’s not pretty. I very much need somewhere to race that is fair, well managed, has a community of equally passionate people and has a leader that is dedicated to PWD… that place is the NPWDRL.

What Goat is saying is that if you have the resources and you are passionate about PWD and you want the NPWDRL to be around for a long time then buy from John. The products you are going to get from DD4H will be the best PWD products available to date and you will be supporting the NPWDRL.

I want to reiterate and it is hard for me to say this without sounding like a DD4H groupie, but what we have here is really, really, really good. I can say from experience that the grass isn’t greener anywhere else and usually a cheap price is an indicator of the quality and support of the product.

 

[Guest]

5K,

One of the best posts I have read in a very, very, long time. You explained it perfectly and why I push for people to support John when possible. Thanks for the post Scott.

Ian

 

[resullivan]

I really appreciate your comment. I really hate putting my 2 cents in seeing that I have never sent a car in, nor ordered anything from John, but I really intend to in the future. My comment was more to point out that to an outsider several members do come off as being "groupies" as you mentioned. I really like this forum because, so far it seems to be very open and drama free. Personally, it helps the creditability of John's products much more when someone that doesn't come off as a "groupie" says how good they are. I just don't think I can trust the review of someone that expects me to pay $30 for a scale I can get at harbor freight for $9.99.

I really really hope John nor Goat Boy take this the wrong way. I really do mean to offer feedback to help, not critisize.

 

[Resophonic Racing]

resullivan,

It is totally fine to express your opinion on this forum. As you spend more time around league racing you will see what a great resource and outlet the NPWDRL is for pinewood derby enthusiast. League racing has evolved a lot the past 5 years and it will only get better. Looking forward to seeing you on the track and the forum!

 

[5KidsRacing]

A couple years ago I was always frustrated by all the guys recommending only DD4H products whenever a question was asked. I thought everybody was a bunch of followers and it turned me off. I referred to it as everybody had “rockstar” syndrome. As I got a little better and I started making my own wheels and axles I found out that the parts that ran the fastest for me were the parts I copied from John. The parts I run today are either DD4H parts or parts based off of his products. My bore & axle preps are John’s or my variations of them, but they started from his products. The proven guys here never recommend anything much other than DD4H products and the truth is that is because they are the fastest products available. For new guys it sometimes comes across like we are all just DD4H salespeople or followers, but in reality we are being honest and telling you the truth about the products that make us fast. If I thought another product was better than a DD4H product I would speak it freely.

Resullivan, I understand that your original comment was about scales and I went way past that… that’s just what I do sometimesJ I am quite sure buying a scale or not from John wouldn’t ruin his day. It is merely a product he is passing through for a convenience to his customers. A one stop shop so to speak… he has to make a profit so the price looks higher than what you can get yourself. People buy spare parts from my company every day and they pay 30-40% more for those parts, but they know they get the right parts and they are supported. I think the point is that you could match up any one of DD4H’s products with another vendor’s products and compare prices. You may, at times, find a lower price, but the question is the credibility of the reviews of those products and how do they perform? Is there any proof of the achievements? Was the proof on a common battle field? The racers at the NPWDRL know what products are the best, but I know all so well that it sometimes it comes off as “groupie’ish” to the newer guys.

 

[TedBull]

I have spent way more money already then I ever thought possible to spend on Pinewood derby cars. When I first started looking into PWD I started on a different forum, and everyone pointed me towards other products.

I spent a bunch of money on DerbyWorx tools, other vendors polishing kits, bodies, etc, from other vendors. The quality of some of the tools and materials was not very good. The pre drilled bodies I ordered were terrible. Most of my DerbyWorx tools had flaws. The above mentioned items were from three different PWD vendors.

Then I found this forum and DD4H products. What a world of difference. I have placed a couple orders with John now. I have found that all the products I have ordered are top notch. His customer service is also top notch, I needed a rush order and he replied saying "all my products are hand made to order". He must have stayed up late working on the order because it made it to me very quickly. I feel very confident that when I place and order with DD4H I am going to get the best product. I have another shopping cart full just waiting for when I have funds to place the order.

I also feel that this forum is above and beyond anything else you will find. I don't feel like I will get flamed for posting anything. I have a lot of hobbies and visit a lot of various forums and I can say this forum if great.

So with all that said. As far as spending money on products: If I myself can find something locally that is the exact same product online and the price is cheaper to buy locally, I will buy local every time. Usually things are cheaper online though. I do not buy my tungsten from DD4H because I can get it cheaper somewhere else. Do I support DD4H products and NPWDRL...... Hell yes. But money saved is money I can spend on more DD4H products. And I have a lot of DD4H products in mind to buy.

Wow, this reply is longer than I expected. I have not sent cars in to NPWDRL yet so I cannot realy call myself a supporter there, (although I did tag up my Mid America entries with NPWDRL and DD4H). But this forum is great. Johns products are great. I will not be sending any cars into Nationals next month. But I plan to send in 4 cars for the start of the fall season in August.

So I say support DD4H if you can, If not buy what you can afford and spend the savings on your entry fee for the next NPWDRL race.

 

[Aaoracing]

Very nicely put 5Kids.

Once you are around this hobby for a while you will understand why it is important to have John at the helm of this NPWDR ship. I used to think the same as you do about these things resullivan… trust me I do understand your comment and it is ok to voice your opinion here. For those of us that live day to day thinking about the next race we need John doing what he does… Running a league is tough and it takes the right person. I have seen other leagues come and go with little success and I have seen leagues passed off and then fail. It takes a special person to take on the burden of a league day to day, maintain a track, manage the space, deal with the racers, the complaints, the shipping, the live racers, broken cars, live feed, updating equipment, managing the website, answering questions, buying trophies, distributing prizes, making schedules, brainstorming new series ideas, etc.. Some of you don’t know it yet, but we are very lucky we have the NPWDRL and DD4H. I have seen leagues go from good to bad and it’s not pretty. I very much need somewhere to race that is fair, well managed, has a community of equally passionate people and has a leader that is dedicated to PWD… that place is the NPWDRL.

What Goat is saying is that if you have the resources and you are passionate about PWD and you want the NPWDRL to be around for a long time then buy from John. The products you are going to get from DD4H will be the best PWD products available to date and you will be supporting the NPWDRL.

I want to reiterate and it is hard for me to say this without sounding like a DD4H groupie, but what we have here is really, really, really good. I can say from experience that the grass isn’t greener anywhere else and usually a cheap price is an indicator of the quality and support of the product.

 

[Aaoracing]

I have this same problem twice a month...usually a few days before pay-day.

I have another shopping cart full just waiting for when I have funds to place the order.

 

[v8dc]

Next time you need help with your pinewood car

just run on down to harbor freight and ask them.

I'm sure they will give you GREAT advice.

After all he built one 20 years ago!!! and it was fast, he

won his den race .

good luck racing .

 

[JAC]

A few months ago I helped a kid with his BSA car. I called John and told him what kind of wheels I needed and that I needed them fast.I knew he was extremely busy,but we were in a jam. While we were talking,John was cutting my wheels.I had no idea! Before we hung up he said' they are ready,I'll ship them today". You don't see customer service like that everyday! That's why I always pass out the DD4H website address at all my workshops,and recommend him to anyone who will listen

 

[ZZ Racing]

I will agree this is a great place to race and the products from John have always been first class and if you did have any issues he will take care of you.

 

[Guest]

Here is another Testimony to DD4H products: I know the products can be expensive, I'm not going to say they aren't. More like the shipping than the actual product, but whatever. I got hooked over a year ago and I was reluctant to put the money I have into this hobby, but I'm the kind of person who is slightly obsessive once I'm into something, I just have to find a way to hit a mark. Well enough about me, here is the DD4H story. This year there was a kid in our pack who has MLS and this is his last year in Weblos. He only has his mom, no dad, no uncles, no older brothers. This family of two, has never won a race in 3 yrs not even 2nd or 3rd, dead last ever year. So, I wasn't confident enough I could build this kid a winner, I purchased $135 car from John custom built for our rules. I had delivered it to the kid and mother couple days before the race, the boy wasn't even going to bother this year. Let's just say it wasn't even close and that boy smiled from ear to ear and his mom cried. Nobody in the pack said a word about cheating or any other slander. And if they did, I didn't hear about it. Either way, John did right be me and that boy. I'm proud to say I race in the NPWDRL. The things I've learned over the past year. I know I can build a car for someone just as fast now. I didn't want to post this because of someone in our pack seeing it and calling me out. The kids moved on to BSA and I figure no harm/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif So can you go other place sure, a lot of people have and as 5kids said nobody beats DD4H products.

 

[IAE Racing]

Ladies and gentlecars, "that's what it's all about"

 

[zeebzob]

Some things may be a little more expensive to get through John, like the scale. But if you think about it, the extra few bucks here and there probably wont kill you, but that extra couple bucks affords John to be able to give our hobby his full time attention. If he had to go out and get some other job to make ends meet, I assure you, we would all suffer as he would not be able to put in the time required to make the NPWDRL as great as it is.
Another thing, Johns customer service is second to none, and that in itself is worth it. How many out there have talked to John about one thing or another, and the next thing you know, he has sent something to you for free? He has for me. I inquired about some test wheels and axles once and John just sent me some. That goes a long way in my book. For that reason alone I will by my stuff from John.

 

[Quicktimederby]

I disagree with you guys, his stuff stinks and is super slow! Don't buy his stuff! That will leave more for me and me car lengths ahead! LOL

 

[DEW36]

Well said!

Ladies and gentlecars, "that's what it's all about"

 

[E.T.Racing]

You won't get off that easy QT I already know John's stuff is the fastest out there so you will only be 1car length ahead of me!!

I disagree with you guys, his stuff stinks and is super slow! Don't buy his stuff! That will leave more for me and me car lengths ahead! LOL

 

[DerikX Racing]

I don’t know John like you guys do, but I have exchanged a few emails with him these past couple of days. He doesn’t know me for nothing but took the time to help me get what I needed. John’s quick and courteous responses have earned him a customer for life. Believe me, I don’t like to part with money any more than anyone else, but I will pay for quality and customer service which I feel is lost with store like Harbor Freight and Wal-Mart.

You get what you pay for and with DD4H that is a man that you will see on race day that will have to look into your eyes and be proud of what he sold you. Good luck getting that anywhere else.