Two Grams Light

[steinhurst]

My car is 2 grams light. Is it worth adding tungsten putty? How much time will it cut?

Thanks!

 

[Gtdhw]

We add every gram possible.

 

[Kinser Racing]

It's worth it. Couldn't tell you the difference, to many variables.

 

[jrbryant68]

I don't know how tight they are on weighing, but in some cases I have seen them weigh cars with some of the cheaper scales that only carry out to the 10ths (5.0- 5.1) I typically go in weighing heavy and have them tell me to remove some weight. Most races I have been apart of the first time you put the car on the scale at 5.0 or less they take it. So If I can come in weighing. 5.04 and weigh in at 5.0 That can make a difference. Especially if someone else is of the same mindset and does.

 

[RBE17]

We were approximately 3 grams light at our pack event. I left it alone and we won the event. I also left it alone for districts, but wish I would've added the extra weight. We did not place, but the extra weight would've been the difference in the car winning some of his heat races. Going forward I will adopt the strategy of being purposely heavy and removing weight to be legal.

 

[GravityX]

Yes!

My car is 2 grams light. Is it worth adding tungsten putty?
Thanks!

 

[steinhurst]

Thanks guys. I'm not sure what happened but something did between the pack race and the district. I added the two grams in, but had the worst performance / finish since i started building cars in the late 80s. 8th place and felt lucky to get that. This car beat last year's which was the fastest I ever built. In fact it set a track record on the same track this year's race ran on.

I took the car apart to polish axles and repack graphite. I' m thinking i buggered up a wheel or got an axle in crooked.

There's always next year.

I have a homemade wood track in my attic. I' m looking to buy either an aluminum or pvc track for time testing. Any opinions?

 

[HurriCrane Racing]

Forget the PVC track and go with an aluminum track!

 

[Gtdhw]

Going forward I will adopt the strategy of being purposely heavy and removing weight to be legal.

We like to show up 1-2g light. He puts the car on the scale, then adds little pieces of tungsten putty, one at a time, until the scale tips 5.1oz, then he pulls the smallest piece off, one at a time until it teeters, then reads 5.0oz. Grab the car, roll the little pieces into a ball, then flatten it on the underside of the car. Rescale it at 5.0oz. Done. No mess, & with the absolute most weight that the rules allow.