What I learned and think I learned from a season of NPWDRL racing

[zigzag]

What I learned:

*Everything you do in the build process matters - and I mean everything.
*How to make a K-house groove
*How to install wind jammers (or whatever you care to call them) at a 3 degree cant
*You should probably buy a section of Best Track if you want to build a car that is centered over the track and even that is not a guarantee
* A tuning board that provides consistent results is a must but you still need to baseline your optimal steer
*There is an impressive list of tools and supplies one 'needs' to race (mill, sander, band saw, pin gages, reamers, pin vises, vises, SB, drill blocks, air compressor, axle bender, dremel with workstation, magnification glass, etc (and apparently now pantyhose). On a related point, this hobby does make it easy to compile a Christmas list
*Bulldog may be in need of a 12 step program /images/boards/smilies/wink.gif
* If it weren't for Rocket Car and his supply of Jig there would be a bunch of folks driving to Canada
* I have a long way to go to get faster

What I think I learned
* Having a track would be a huge benefit - otherwise you are doing your experimenting via proxy racing and that has a long feedback cycle
*Your wheels and wheel prep might just be the 2 or 3rd most important part of the build.
*Accountants may not make the best pinewood derby racers
*No matter how soon you get your cars prepared and over to the UPS store they will always have a reason you need to pay for expedited delivery to 'ensure' it gets there in time

 

[Mojo Racing]

HAHAHAHAHahahahaha ! ! ! !

+1 +1 +1 +1

All very good lessons Zig Zag !

 

[BulldogRacing]

God, grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change Courage to change the
things I can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the
pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this
sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make
all things right if I
surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy
in this life, and supremely
happy with Him forever in
the next.
Amen

 

[BlewBYu]

What I learned:

*Everything you do in the build process matters - and I mean everything.
*How to make a K-house groove
*How to install wind jammers (or whatever you care to call them) at a 3 degree cant
*You should probably buy a section of Best Track if you want to build a car that is centered over the track and even that is not a guarantee
* A tuning board that provides consistent results is a must but you still need to baseline your optimal steer
*There is an impressive list of tools and supplies one 'needs' to race (mill, sander, band saw, pin gages, reamers, pin vises, vises, SB, drill blocks, air compressor, axle bender, dremel with workstation, magnification glass, etc (and apparently now pantyhose). On a related point, this hobby does make it easy to compile a Christmas list
*Bulldog may be in need of a 12 step program /images/boards/smilies/wink.gif
* If it weren't for Rocket Car and his supply of Jig there would be a bunch of folks driving to Canada
* I have a long way to go to get faster

What I think I learned
* Having a track would be a huge benefit - otherwise you are doing your experimenting via proxy racing and that has a long feedback cycle
*Your wheels and wheel prep might just be the 2 or 3rd most important part of the build.
*Accountants may not make the best pinewood derby racers
*No matter how soon you get your cars prepared and over to the UPS store they will always have a reason you need to pay for expedited delivery to 'ensure' it gets there in time

If you think Bulldog's "pine-itis" can be cured in 12 steps, you are either majorly underestimating the grip pinewood racing has on him, or you are over-estimating the efficacy of such 12 step programs!!!!