Post by 327vette on Mar 29, 2008 19:38:21 GMT -6
Well, thanks to all who gave the great suggestions on setting up the car for the plastic track. Unfortunately, the results were not good. We raised the LF and aligned the car to ride the right side wall. It looked really good on the closet mirror test track in the basement! For whatever reason, the car would not stay on the right side wall once it left the incline and hit the flat part of the track. May have had the CM too far back to run that set-up. Once the car went to the left wall, it jumped the rail. It made it down the first run ok, but was only about 18th fastest out of 51 cars. I think I can see both left-side wheels off of the track at one point in the run on the video. It jumped the track on the second run, and we had to re-run the race. On the re-run, it made it all the way down, and won the heat by a full car-length. Then, on the third run, it jumped off the left side again, and we got DQ'd. The DQ wasn't a printed rule, but before the races started, the organizers announced that they would DQ any car that jumped off the track twice. I'm not complaining, I understand the reason for the rule.
My son was pretty upset. It gave me the opportunity to explain to him that in order to win at that level, you have to push the limits of the car, and sometimes you go over the line. He agreed that we didn't go to finish, we went to win. In our efforts to bring home the trophy, we cost ourselves a chance for a good finish. That's how we learn where the boundaries are for next time. Then he felt better, and spent the rest of the time cheering on his friend who finished second to him in Pack.
Anyway, thank you all again. I would not feel right after all of your help, not letting you know of the outcome. I'm sorry I don't have a better story to tell!
On a technical note, our friends "sister car" who was second to us at pack, didn't do anything to his car between Pack and District except re-lube. What I found interesting was that his average time on the 42' plastic, and on the 42' aluminum track at Pack was virtually identical. I think he was within .01 overall average. His car's CM was about 1.25" ahead of rear axle, ran the Worx axles with no final polishing, and ran the light Worx wheels (not Ultralight) with no extra massaging, and no alignment work. It was a very "safe" setup, and they finished 14th overall at District. I just found it interesting that the times on the center guided track, and the outside guided tracks were so close.
Trying to think of a design for next year!
My son was pretty upset. It gave me the opportunity to explain to him that in order to win at that level, you have to push the limits of the car, and sometimes you go over the line. He agreed that we didn't go to finish, we went to win. In our efforts to bring home the trophy, we cost ourselves a chance for a good finish. That's how we learn where the boundaries are for next time. Then he felt better, and spent the rest of the time cheering on his friend who finished second to him in Pack.
Anyway, thank you all again. I would not feel right after all of your help, not letting you know of the outcome. I'm sorry I don't have a better story to tell!
On a technical note, our friends "sister car" who was second to us at pack, didn't do anything to his car between Pack and District except re-lube. What I found interesting was that his average time on the 42' plastic, and on the 42' aluminum track at Pack was virtually identical. I think he was within .01 overall average. His car's CM was about 1.25" ahead of rear axle, ran the Worx axles with no final polishing, and ran the light Worx wheels (not Ultralight) with no extra massaging, and no alignment work. It was a very "safe" setup, and they finished 14th overall at District. I just found it interesting that the times on the center guided track, and the outside guided tracks were so close.
Trying to think of a design for next year!