| Author | Message | ||
     Toona |
Just an update and a THANK YOU! to all who provided tips for building the cars for my kids. We had our race at our church this past Sat. My kids came in 1st and 2nd, with the closest competing car (3rd place) only getting within 3/4 of a car length. The only losses my kids had were to each other (double elimination). For the adults (kids at heart) there was an "open class" were anything goes except for Estes style rocket motors (yes, a parent did install one on their car 2 years ago...) My car weighed in at 7 1/2 oz, it went undefeated as well. I'll post some car pictures tomorrow. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
  CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KIDS!!!!!!!!! They must be pumped! Both my sons did the derby thing 3 years. Placed 1st/2nd/1st. It is great for building up there confidence, and is a good time for the parents to watch there kids compete. The feeling Watching your kids win.....PRICELESS!  | ||
| Bcordb3 |
What color did you paint the cars? I hear yellow is the fastest, no wait, that is with the Buells. I get so confused on what is racing these days! | ||
| Xl1200r |
I remember when I was a cub scout and doing the pinewood derby. There was an open class as well for the adults and some guy fitted 2 electric motors on the axles. The thing was fast as hell until it flew off the track and hit some poor kid square in the chest and knocked him flat out. | ||
| Toona |
The thing was fast as hell until it flew off the track and hit some poor kid square in the chest and knocked him flat out  | ||
| Toona |
Duh, forgot the pictures....  Ethan's 1st Place car  Lizzie's 2nd Place car  My car on the bottom | ||
| Xb9er |
toona and I spent about an hour at the shop talking about the cars a day before the race. At the end of our conversation all I could say was, "Dan, your sick." | ||
| Toona |
"Dan, your sick." Hey!, don't go tellin' everyone.... ....3 wheels down-1 up, weight mostly to the back-balance point around 1" in front of the rear axle, coned hubs on the wheels and axle heads, lathed nails where it runs inside the wheels, polished axles with 600 grit paper and 2 different metal polishes to shine like a mirror, light weight synthetic oil for axle lube, lathed the "tires" so they are round, shaved the inside of the "tires" for weight savings.... I'm not sick I'm.......anal retentive....yeah, that's it.........  scary part is, I've thought of something else to do to the tires for next year already...  My kids go to regionals this Saturday. I'll post back and let you know how they did. | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Dan, Why is it the parent has more fun than the kids with these sort things? Makes me wish I some grand children. | ||
| Iamike |
Toona- I'm proud of you, it looks like the kids made their own cars. It always anoyed me when it was obviously built by an adult. | ||
| Toona |
Iamike, the kids do the "body" and paint. I just make it GO  | ||
| Slaughter |
The Pinewood Derby - 'taint just fer kids (pic from work)  | ||
| Toona |
Slaughter, those cars are outstanding! And I thought I was sick....looks like I have a looong way to go. | ||
| Slaughter |
Toona - those cars are NOT kids cars. Just a bunch of us lunatic adults/parents getting caught up in it too. I think it's cool when the kids build their own cars and they look a little ratty... much better than when parents build them and stick their kids names on them. Kinda like doing their homework for them. (by the way, the one on the far wall has a pretty good carved pig body) | ||
| Toona |
Just got back from "regionals". Out of 27 cars, my son took 3rd and my daughter took 5th. Somewhere in one of the races a rear axle got bent, so she did well to get 5th. |
