73 replies to this topic

[Bill from NH]

Ray, it's a Flexi Wing class that Pablo is building for.

[NJ Racer]

Oh, I see.

[Hworth08]

The wing body is an interesting idea, however a Caddy HD GTP is the traditional body I have used on that chassis on a King. A hotter motor like a Super 16C will complete that setup IMO.

Ray, that is my thought too but "the rules is the rules."

I hate to admit it now, but at the same track I mentioned earlier, we had a similiar Wing-bodied class when I returned to commercial track racing.

We thought we were pretty fast, at least the lap times were going down, then one afternoon John (J.C.) Martin came by. He doesn't race Wing cars but his NASCAR-bodied Flexies, with the same Parma Super 16D were faster than our Winged Flexies.

Next week another racer from Nashville that runs in the expert Wing races showed up and was a full second faster than us, using the same equipment we were, except he knew how to set the body and chassis.

Unfortunately, that ran off a large part of the local racers and lead to the track closing later, no locals to pay the rent.

[Pablo]

Ray, the rules I'm setting the car up for are:
-Wing bodies
-sealed 501 Parma
-1/8" axles
-9t 48P pinions ONLY
-any stamped steel chassis

Pretty simple rules, I like it. I will post pics after I wing the Bill body.

[Pablo]

Flexi Kar:





PdL, I'll bet you wish you were me right now.

Bill of NH paints a stellar body - thank God I didn't screw it up.

Track test this coming Saturday...

[slotcarone]

Paul-

You shouldn't need very much air control if the spec is a sealed 16D. I would try cutting down the sides and using a .005" thick rear spoiler with not much curve in it.

The big thing is to experiment with body position and amount of air control so you get the most straightaway speed and still enough downforce to make the car handle well in the turns.

[Ron Hershman]

Do you "have" to run the 5/8" fronts??? If not... put on 1/2" fronts and don't worry about tipping or bending the front axle if using 5/8" fronts.

[Bill from NH]

Pablo,

Looking good so far!

In the first photo, it appears your motor seal has started to lift. You didn't mess with that motor did you?

[Pablo]

Ron, those are 1/2" fronts.

No, Bill, I only cleaned the comm, centered and glued the mags, pre-radiused Gold Dusts, water break-in. I like the funky stock springs.

[Hworth08]

A bit of caution, the stock Parma springs often loose tension if they get hot, usually after about two minutes depending on how hot they get.

[Pablo]

Thanks Mike K. for the input, yes I am using the 5 thou on both side dams and spoiler, and I made lots of 'sections" in the spoiler to make it lay down - I can always beef it up if needed.

Don, I'll keep that in mind, although these motors are running cool. 9t pinion is mandated by the rules, so they last a long time. Some of my sealed 501s have several races on them, still have brush life and keep getting faster

[Phil Irvin]

I have lost two sealed Deathstars in the last three months. One by brush springs and the other threw a wire... I ran both till they SMOKED. The brush on one got so hot that it warped the truck bed over the motor... Looked like a steam locomotive it smoked so bad.

Bad thing is they both were very good runners. .

Oh well... another one bites the dust - hey, hey.

Phil

[Jeff R]

Pablo,

Jeff here. Don't worry, I won't use any of your secrets you just got on your posts. Just checking in and saw your name and checked it out. Car looks great!!! Hope it runs good for you.

Did you see the track record I set in this class? Jimmy ran a 4.88 and started smiling at me, thinking he had it. Then I put mine on the track, ran one lap in qualifing, turned a 4.72, and pulled it off the track!!!!!

You should have seen the look on his face , ran slap over his puppy dog.

See you Saturday.

[Jeff R]

Don't feel bad, Phil. After I set the track record in qualifying, during the race my motor started slowing down.

You know what they say: they run their best then blow.

[Hworth08]

Is it legal in this class to reset the timing by bending the brush hoods?

[NJ Racer]

Deathstars last forever. If they are cooking, something else is wrong.

[Phil Irvin]

The first one lasted through two sets of brushes and 6-1/2 months of weekly races. I got my dollar two ninety-eight outa it.. The other that threw a wire lasted one month only.

Phil

[Pablo]

Pablo, Jeff here. Don't worry, I won't use any of your secrets you just got on your posts.

Welcome, Jeff. No secrets here. Just plain hard work.

Congrats on the new Deathstar Wing track record !

Now take a look at this 14.5 pound, 27" long "slot car" and tell me, who is your daddy NOW! (Sorry for thread drift; Jeff is an accomplished bass fisherman when he's not working or helping the kids with slot cars)

[Pablo]

Is it legal in this class to reset the timing by bending the brush hoods?

Don, I'm glad you asked that question. DND Raceway in Theodore, AL, is a new raceway with a lot of beginners. The current emphasis is on fun. Hood mods are way too advanced for us. (Get it, Don - "advanced" )

The tweaks I do to my sealed 501s (as I described in this thread) are legal and that's about the limit. There is a claim rule; podium finishers can claim (buy) the winning motor for $3. I think it's a great rule. Keeps $13 motors from turning into $45 motors.

I spend a couple hours prepping my motors, and nobody is gonna out-motor me. It's fair. The less experienced racers can come to me and I will show them what I do. Jeff R. does the same. I LOVE the mandated 9t 48P pinion gear rule - sure saves a lot of $.

Also, DND is having a two-man team enduro in November using GTP bods, stamped steel chassis, and hand-out Falcon 7 motors.

[Pablo]

Deathstars last forever. If they are cooking, something else is wrong.

Exactamundo. If you aren't cleaning and checking after every race, it's called lazy.
Bushings worn?
Comm worn?
Dirt?
No brush life?
Springs bound?
Bent shaft?
Mags collapsed?

[Hworth08]

Hey Pablo,

Are you making PUN of me?

Actually, I think bending the brush hoods should not be legal though it is (or can be) an external modification.

However, re-timing some, repeat, some, of the Deathstar motors really adds some pep.

[Bill from NH]

For anyone who wants to "legally blueprint" a sealed Deathstar, there's plenty of info to be found on OWH.

Most raceways and the traveling flexi series in the area switched to the SpeedFX 16D three years ago. However, the Deathstar still comes in the basic cars from Parma, Champion, and JK.

[Hworth08]

I didn't want to comment too much on another track's programs but I found the SpeedFX 16D to be a lot better motor than the Deathstar. All of our cars cut lap times a couple tenths when we switched to the FX motor because the FX motor is 6 grams lighter than the Deathstar and provides an easier-driving, better-handling car.

My experience has been that the Speed FX motor is much more reliable also.

[Pablo]

Are you talking about increasing speed, or the survival of a raceway?

[Pablo]

Flexi 1 wing car test results:

The car handled and ran super, I was VERY surprized In practice, it turned faster laps than my existing car for that class, so I ran it in the race. Qualified third out of a field of eleven. Handling was simply amazing in all lanes. I finished second, about 10 FEET behind first place. I took some hard hits but the fronts and the Bill body survived well.

Thanks everybody for the help, and thanks especially to Bill who supplied the shell and chassis. I couldn't have been happier with this project

PdL, eat your heart out, I know you are jealous