Track Change - Setup Changes

[DerbyJP]

Our pack has replaced our old BestTrack with a new 48' Freedom Track. Are there any car setup changes I should make based on the track change? I think I saw a post while searching that perhaps less steer would be needed - I'm guessing maybe I could be a little more aggressive with COM as well, due to more gradual slope? Anything else?

Thanks in advance, once again, for your help!

JP

 

[Mojo Racing]

Hey Derby... The Freedom tracks have a less aggressive transition, but I have noticed in the cub packs around here that their joints/seams are not as good as the ones from Best Track.

While the transition might not upset your son's car, the seams might. You might not go too aggressive on this setup.

If you ran well last year, you will probably do as well this year with the same setup.

 

[Vitamin K]

I can't really speak authoritatively on this, because I don't have experience setting up a BestTrack, but when we first set up our pack's Freedom Track, the seams did send some cars flying. After we took the time to learn how to adjust the sections and get the seams lined up, they ran smooth as butter. I wonder if it's less of an issue with the track and more an issue of user error.

I would advise DerbyJP to be involved in his Pack's track setup and to offer to help inspect and adjust the seams on the track. Another good thing to do is to build a throwaway test car and run it down the track and listen for

 

[Mojo Racing]

As a racer, you don't have a choice on how well the track is assembled. Many times, they don't want help... they already got it handled.

and you make it sound like they get to test on the track before they race... many times, not the case.

 

[DerbyJP]

Hey Derby... The Freedom tracks have a less aggressive transition, but I have noticed in the cub packs around here that their joints/seams are not as good as the ones from Best Track.

While the transition might not upset your son's car, the seams might. You might not go too aggressive on this setup.

If you ran well last year, you will probably do as well this year with the same setup.

Well the funny (not really) thing is last year my son's car hit a seam on the old Best Track and came out of his lane, barely making it past the finish line in his last heat. Was by far the fastest car. I was hoping the change would eliminate my worry about it happening again, but perhaps not.

 

[Vitamin K]

As a racer, you don't have a choice on how well the track is assembled. Many times, they don't want help... they already got it handled.

and you make it sound like they get to test on the track before they race... many times, not the case.

I am sure it varies from Pack to Pack. In our Pack, if you want to assist with the Pinewood Derby, by all means, step right up and join the committee. That's how I got stuck running the dang thing.

I suspect that it might be harder to get involved at the District/Council level. Though, it never hurts to ask.

And, I wasn't implying anything about testing racing cars on the track. Rather, I was saying that providing non-racing test cars is a good tool to use when getting the track set up and checking the joins.

 

[Rocket car]

You will be able to run less steer on a freedom track typically ,because of the more gradual hill.

 

[derbydentist]

Any difference in setup or weight placement for a freedom track vs a best track? The feeedom track is only 32' so it is over real quick and no time for catching up on the straight away.

 

[speed bump]

Everything is the same. I own a freedom track and the joints are not as good as a best track. I help scouts build cars and we set them up on a freedom track and then run on a best track. They won district and council this year. You build a car the same for a 32 ft track and a 42 ft. Track. Do you have one gram wheels? If so run them.

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

I own both the Best Track and the Freedom track. The Freedom track is very smooth and it is very easy to get the seams to line up. I do all my testing on my Freedom track. I do agree that you will need a little more steer on a Best Track when compared to the Freedom. You can run the same weight balance.

If you use a Best Track to set up your car and then run on a Freedom, you will do well.

 

[LostAussie]

Any difference in setup or weight placement for a freedom track vs a best track? The feeedom track is only 32' so it is over real quick and no time for catching up on the straight away.

You can get freedom tracks at 32, 40 or 48 feet so depends on your track how much time you have to catch up.

 

[derbydentist]

Everything is the same. I own a freedom track and the joints are not as good as a best track. I help scouts build cars and we set them up on a freedom track and then run on a best track. They won district and council this year. You build a car the same for a 32 ft track and a 42 ft. Track. Do you have one gram wheels? If so run them.

The rules are strict in wheels and nails which is fine as long as everyone else is legal too so I can't do light wheels. We are tuning and prepping on a best track and the race is on a freedom like hurricrane said so hope that means we are good- hurricrane would you get the wobbles out with your steer on the best track and then just barely lessen the steer from there or just leave as is when it's running the fastest on the best track

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

I would set the car up to run the fastest times on a best track and then leave it. This will give you a margin of error when running on the Freedom track. Better to give up a .001 or two being slightly over steered than to lose .010 to a wiggle.

 

[3171scott]

Everything is the same. I own a freedom track and the joints are not as good as a best track. I help scouts build cars and we set them up on a freedom track and then run on a best track. They won district and council this year. You build a car the same for a 32 ft track and a 42 ft. Track. Do you have one gram wheels? If so run them.

I slightly disagree with Speed here. I feel that Fenders are not as important on a short track, and especially on a Freedom seeing that the flat is less that 1/2 the run distance. If you are good at fenders it does not hurt, but if you are just OK i would say fenders are not needed on a short track. Just my thoughts

 

[Troy Taylor]

We have a freedom track for our Trail Life troop, the seems were not difficult to line up. We did however have to put a small shim under one side of the track at one transition to eliminate a small bump the test car showed. I think the floor at the church was not flat. My 3 races were 2.5046, 2.5023, and 2.4992. Not sure why it got faster, but my best time was in the lane that needed a prop up.
I plan on setting it up again to see if there is an issue, or if it just needs to be flat underneath, even with metal joint plates.

 

[derbydentist]

We have a freedom track for our Trail Life troop, the seems were not difficult to line up. We did however have to put a small shim under one side of the track at one transition to eliminate a small bump the test car showed. I think the floor at the church was not flat. My 3 races were 2.5046, 2.5023, and 2.4992. Not sure why it got faster, but my best time was in the lane that needed a prop up.
I plan on setting it up again to see if there is an issue, or if it just needs to be flat underneath, even with metal joint plates.

what was the length on your freedom track?

 

[derbydentist]

I would set the car up to run the fastest times on a best track and then leave it. This will give you a margin of error when running on the Freedom track. Better to give up a .001 or two being slightly over steered than to lose .010 to a wiggle.

That's what I wanted to hear! I didn't want to fiddle around with taking some steer out. Thanks! I just found another flyer about the district race and it said there would be a test track there. Ive heard mixed feelings about tuning the day of the race - not sure what the test track is or how it compares but seems like if It was a freedom track that may give me an idea of what to expect if I ran it down the test track BUT on the other hand it is not the race track so it doesn't really matter if I get it going better on the test track - would you agree?

 

[Troy Taylor]

what was the length on your freedom track?

32 feet. I put a laser start gate on it, that is triggered by the start pins falling as well.

 

[Rocket car]

Just for everyones information I tuned a BSA car on a 42ft best track and raced on a derby magic track (the yellow plastic one) it was fine on the best track, but wiggled on the plastic track. A little more steer is needed to keep it straight. Hope this helps!