What test track?

[plhiatt]

I can buy a single lane test track with a timer from derby magic that is under 400 new. But being a
plastic track will my fastest car on the plastic be my fastest car on the Aluminum track we do our pinewood derby racing on? The Best Track aluminum track with the Champ Timer is a bit more.
I just want to see how the tuning I do affects speed as well as I want to take the fastest car to our derby.
Thanks.

 

[ZZ Racing]

IMO they don't compare. Best track is the only choice.

 

[Quicktimederby]

Best Track!! You want to tune on the type of track your racing on. To try and keep things a even as possible.

 

[zeebzob]

When I was looking to get a track, I was weighing many options as well. Should I build, should I buy, Besttrack, Piantedosi, wood, aluminum, plastic, etc...In the end I went with a Besttrack and I have no doubts it was the best decision.

 

[Chief]

What usually happens to me is I find something I want to buy, lets say a bandsaw, and I will shop around for one and the best one is the most Xpensive...money is tight so I would spend less money on a cheaper one.(Used on craigslist)..Then I get it and the set up is complicated as it is and the results are lacking...as I ruined some pre-drilled blocks from DD4H

So now I have a bandsaw that I will not use and I need a better bandsaw or something different and now I have spent twice the money...If I would have just saved up a little longer and not been so frugal, I would have been farther ahead and spent less money too!!!(hard lessons learned are very Xpensive)

Best Track is the way to go...

 

[SoGone]

Get the best track. But don't go with the champ timer ..it is over priced.. go with micro wizard and save money! That package will get you close to the same budget.

 

[OPARENNEN]

I used the Derby Magic track for a year, and it was just barely OK. problem is the plastic is so flexable, both side ways and up and down, that once you are competitive, you can't get consistent times. I finally changed to an alumionum test track, and the times are now very consistent. My new test track is consistently .995 the times of DD4H's track. My advice, don't waste you time unless you can attach the plastic to a wooden base that is absolutely stable. Cost for the wood would be close to 400 if done right. so Besttrack is the way to go. Im the long run it will also be the least expensive. BTW, I still have the plastic track and will give it away for free, but w/o timer or start gate.

 

[viowes]

I have a bunch of the same plastic tracks as stated above....Im just starting out as well and didnt want to spend a bunch of money so all im doing is using the tracks to comparing the cars I made to ensure each build or tune is faster than the previous (I have enough track to make 2 lanes, 30 ft). I also had John at DD4H make a stock car for me to use as a template and standard to compare the cars I make to, to make sure at least simple wise my cars are keeping up with one that I know is going to be fast and made by a professional.

This is enough for me for now but I agree with above that at some point, if I continue to seriously pursue this hobby and sport, that getting at least a single lane Best track with a timer is the best way to go....unfortunately the trick will be how to fit it in my house LOL as I think the shortest model is still longer than the 30 ft I have space for /images/boards/smilies/redface.gif

W

 

[MWDracing]

Get the Best Track....

 

[jzarvey]

I don't have a track, yet. Still working on the wife about that one. I do know what timer I am going to use. I built this timer for our pack and it works great. If you are familiar with building electronic project, this can save you a bunch. Here is the link to the website. It will interface via USB to your computer and the included software looks good for tracking progress and changes to car. Best thing is the only cost is parts. I built a 3 lane timer for our pack and reused the old Fast Lane judge as the display. Total cost for that was about $70 in parts. When I build one for my test track it will not have a display, just the computer. One other thing is that it will work with Grand Prix Race manager.

Jim

 

[quadad]

When I was looking to get a track, I was weighing many options as well. Should I build, should I buy, Besttrack, Piantedosi, wood, aluminum, plastic, etc...In the end I went with a Besttrack and I have no doubts it was the best decision.

And we are VERY glad you did !!

 

[MOFAST]

I have a 32 foot wooden track. For this year's PWD each son built 3 cars and they picked the fastest of the 3 for our Pack race. The pack bought a new 42 foot BEST track,that we received 5 days before our Derby. My youngest son's car was much more dominant on the wooden track, when we did our test/tune night. Never lost a race. Buy the same kind of track you are going to race on. In my opinion, cars react differently to different tracks and require different tuning. If we had the aluminum track earlier, I think we would have fared better. I have no way near the race experience as any of the Pros, but that is my 2 cents.

Just be glad you can afford a track! Good luck!