511 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

My assessment of the A Main cars.

A Main

Al Bond- 6.451
With it's air dam body, it's runs like a car on rails.
It's the 2nd "slot train" in the race, but this one is more like
a Japanese bullet train.
Terrific handling, but it needs more motor or at least a smaller
crown gear.

Kathryn Bartlett- 6.358
A favorite car of mine. Despite the narrow track and a non-aero body,
it handles great. This particular car seems to really improve once the tires get warm.

Jairus Watson- 6.304
A fast car but probably the trickiest to drive of the "A" Main cars.
Fat rear tires but with very little weight in the front probably are the
main reasons. Also, the undampened, long travel in the Detroit Slider
element of the chassis, has it doing a "St. Vitus Dance" in the esses.

Mike Zimmerman- 6.254
This idler gear car is probably my favorite. What it lacks in an aero body,
it makes up with it's cool design that allows for fairly short and wide, sticky tires.
Really handles like a modern slot car.

Rob Hanson- 6.240
Smooth car with very predictable handling. Terrific in the esses.
Just a bit shy of brakes and real tail happy.
A smaller pinion or a larger crown for more brakes and at least another .100"
of rear tire width would of made this excellent car, superb.

Barney Poynor- 5.940
My favorite body shape. Everything is real well proportioned, IMHO.
A great all around car.
Good speed, adequate brakes and predictable handling should give this car a
good chance to podium in the "A".(and overall)
Like Rob's car, it could use a bit more rear tire width.

Steve Kempson- 5.784
Man, does this thing have some tall rear tires.(almost 1.100")
But once warmed up for a few laps, this car really flies.
My guess as the winner of the "A" (and overall winner)

John Dilworth- 5.436
Wow, what a car. An absolute missile of a motor combined with the
swoopy body, makes this easily the fastest car.
A unique feature is the fairly flexible brass hinge assembly for the pans
that runs next to the Detroit slider assembly on both sides.
It creates friction that gives said slider assembly, an hydraulic feel.
This car would probably, and still might, run away with the race,
but it has the super-bad combination of a soft brass pinion
and a Cox crown gear that was the first inductee to the
"Wobbly Gear, Hall of Fame".
The lash is tight at "12 o'clock", but loose as a goose at
"6 o'clock" and the pinion with a minimal amount of practice
and qualifying laps, is already showing a fair amount of wear.
Unfortunately, along with not sending any clean underwear for the
drivers when they hit the throttle, Sir John didn't send any spare parts either.

[Howmet TX]

Whoops- sorry about the gears, Mike. I was going for a bit of 'period' credibility. Big mistake, eh? I can send a replacement Parma Pink. Don't have any more original stuff left in my box.
Thanks for the expert assesments- this is a real professionally run event! Superb work by all the organisers.

[One_Track_Mind]

My assessment of the B Main cars.

Brian McPherson- 7.184
Nice predictable handling. Goes through the esses pretty well.
A bit of wheel hop. It's hard to say if the inside of the rear tires
hitting the top of the body is hurting this car.

Thanks Mike,

Would you be willing to guess then as the race goes on around the world the tires will be smaller and then rendering the hitting of the body a good thing?

What puzzles me is your saying the inside of the tires,hitting the body, I would have guessed the possible outside of the tires rubbing the body with no body wheel cut outs?

Drive it like you own it! and Most of all HAVE FUN doing it!

[chief32s]

Very nice run down of the cars Mike.

So pleased that I have built a 'Bullet Train' and chuffed to bits it has good handling. I hope what it lacks in top end on the big tracks it'll make up for in handling on the shorter tracks. I was worried about the motor before I sent it out and will hopefully be putting another one together, in case it smokes. I ordered some parts from Mid America, but they haven't arrived yet....

Roll on race day.

Al

[HarV Wallbanger III]

We all wanted to see the info on all the cars Mike thanks so much for your work! Can't wait for the race! I had to pick tires out of the 3 sets and because the races will be on smaller tracks I thought a little less grip would be better.... maybe not....?

Oh well it will be fun to light this thing off with a Bang! (as long as it's not me! )

Have fun racers!

[havlicek]

Thanks for the run down Mike. Hey...how many points do I get for using a Q Tip blister with no downforce? Is there a "sense of humor" award?

-john

[The Bugman]

great analysis of the cars Mike,,,,and i knew it was a bit "waggy in the rear,but i wanted to use THE ORIGINAL DYNAMIC tires and wheels & it handles good too,the extra set of new tire/wheel combo would be much grippier (but no BONUS POINTS),so what the heck,im also in it for some fun racing,and let the "chips fall" where they may.but i'm pretty confident that my motor will be running at the end of 9-10 races.so maybe a late races advantage
good luck to all,LET THE GAMES PROCEED !

[Jairus]

Thanks Mike,

Would you be willing to guess then as the race goes on around the world the tires will be smaller and then rendering the hitting of the body a good thing?

What puzzles me is your saying the inside of the tires,hitting the body, I would have guessed the possible outside of the tires rubbing the body with no body wheel cut outs?

Drive it like you own it! and Most of all HAVE FUN doing it!

That would Gene's fault for the design and mine for not noticing it before shipping. I believe it must be the inset panel on the back which demark the "rear fenders". Thought about trimming a small hole there as the car is dark colored it would hardly be noticed. Probably only happens when the body shifts. Now.... maybe Mike can find someone with the time to attack it with a small dremel tip?
Sorry Brian.

I have said that we can make minor fixes down the road if it means a better handling car. Especially a car that is lagging behind the pack.
For instance, Bob's car, since it is in dead last place. He has the option of replacing the motor. I wonder if Rick would give up his modified "train motor" for the proxy?
Other than that... I have no idea how to help the X-2.
Everyone else will just have to grin and bear it including me.

[MSwiss]

Jairus,
You analyzed Brian's woes exactly.
It hits where the body jogs down to panel.
With your blessing, I'll be happy to ventilate the body a tad
before the race.

[Mopar Rob]

Everyone else will just have to grin and bear it including me.

Sorry, I missed that comment when I first posted

[Mopar Rob]

For instance, Bob's car, since it is in dead last place. He has the option of replacing the motor. I wonder if Rick would give up his modified "train motor" for the proxy?
Other than that... I have no idea how to help the X-2.
Everyone else will just have to grin and bear it including me.

Have Swiss remove some of the drop arm weights to see if that helps? I'm sure it can't help that train motor pushing around 200 grams. I really don't know anything about those motors, but can some neodymium magnets be placed on it to pick up it's performance?

[Jairus]

Rob, correct! The key is "longevity" I feel. However, a few cars were never properly "shaken out" and a first test might reveal lose guide flags, body rubbing and bad sets of gears that DO need to be fixed. I would love to be able to add some lead to my cars tongue. If the track director feels it would make it easier to drive then he has free reign to do so.
If a cars gear ratio is so far out of wack I deem it is okay to fix it!
But with your car Rob... it's already in the A-main and does not need a thing unless something goes wrong.

The cars in the C-main, I believe, should be given some attention in order to make the race closer and more fun for all. Not to mention easier to drive for the poor guys volunteering to pilot them around the track.

Have Swiss remove some of the drop arm weights to see if that helps? I'm sure it can't help that train motor pushing around 200 grams. I really don't know anything about those motors, but can some neodymium magnets be placed on it to pick up it's performance?

I think Bob should be busy at the bench NOW building up a FRANK'N motor to replace the stock one in the car now that I offered him the chance. Already said that Pittmans can benifit from Neo's... and are the only motors allowed to use them!

[Mopar Rob]

I would love to be able to add some lead to my cars tongue. If the track director feels it would make it easier to drive then he has free reign to do so.
If a cars gear ratio is so far out of wack I deem it is okay to fix it!
But with your car Rob... it's already in the A-main and does not need a thing unless something goes wrong.

I assume you're joking about putting on lead to make your car easier to drive since you're also in the "A" main and not that much slower than mine, correct? Anyones car that is further tuned will make it easier to drive including mine.

FYI: I only had less than 10 laps on my car and that included buring up two motors in the process. I never made enough laps even try to make a change before sending in my car. Basically sent it in blind.

[Jairus]

But of course young padiwan!

[chief32s]

Hey...how many points do I get for using a Q Tip blister with no downforce? Is there a "sense of humor" award?

-john

I think John should be allowed to tune his car by sticking vertical aero devices on either side, with a 'dam' at the rear thereby converting it into an out and out
wingie-thingie. It'd be unbeatable.






Al.

[Gator Bob]

Thanks for all the consideration to me and "Marvin the Lagger" in the Done-ASTRO X-zero
I'm ok with the car just the way it is. This feels like a win to me just being in the event.
I am proud to say there is nothing newer then 1965 on that "slot train"(except the repoop body). Fast is good but "old n slo" is ok too.
Please do not remove any weights or change the "tune-up"

My thought is "run what was sent or send the car back" if it breaks or smokes "Your OUT" Car gets shipped "back to the shop" repaired and shipped on to the next location at owners expense.
IMHO - field tune-ups are not in the spirit. then again i'm the new guy and this is my first proxy. I had little time to build so I did what I thought would last the whole event.

Thanks for accepting me into the club

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Well you start tuning up cars where do you stop. So if you do just replace the rear tires to a set in my spares tubes and mine will not be so hard to drive as they have more grip.

[havlicek]

Of course, I wuz kiddin' about modifying my car. I had plenty of time to build the thing and knew going in that my body was going to hurt more than it helped. Still, I liked the idea of using a blister pack...it seemed appropriate and I really don't care if I win or anything. I just want to do OK (although I would like to see some of the guys with my motors do well! )

-john

[One_Track_Mind]

Jairus,
You analyzed Brian's woes exactly.
It hits where the body jogs down to panel.
With your blessing, I'll be happy to ventilate the body a tad
before the race.

Hi Mike,
You have my blessing to give my car entry a quick trim job.

Of, course, it sounds like this will need to be an official ruling from Jairus, as he's the main man (person) behind making such calls to be fair for Everyone who's built a car and entered into the Dynamic Proxy.

Does, anyone recall from past events, If a little body trimming was acceptable?

[MSwiss]

I already got the approval from Commissioner Jairus to make any mods I deem necessary to
make the cars finish the race and be somewhat drivable for the volunteers.

[One_Track_Mind]

That would Gene's fault for the design and mine for not noticing it before shipping. Sorry Brian.

Hi Jairus,
I see what you saying, the deck lid or drop down panel should be a little bit narrower. This would allow the rear tires to fit 'inside' the higher arches.

that's ok, Gene still done a wonderful job in re-creating this very cool Thingie body!


Thanks, Mike!
Dremel away!

[The Bugman]

IMO,the tuning AT ANY TRACK should just be to fix or slightly correct a problem,,,,not to make the damn thing quiker or handle better,or less or more weight(s)just cause the builder forgot and Mike Swiss noticed it,,oh well."race em the way you got em"

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Golly Gee I have some old Front Line wing kits and we could do a wingie thingie on mine as well...

I think John should be allowed to tune his car by sticking vertical aero devices on either side, with a 'dam' at the rear thereby converting it into an out and out
wingie-thingie. It'd be unbeatable.






Al.

[chief32s]

Hey John, I think your car is ace (particularly like the chassis), I was just playing Devil's advocate with this whole tuning issue, and your car most lends itself to becoming a wingie-thingie. I tend to agree that other than what are essential repairs, or very basic adjustments, a car should be run as entered.

Having said that, In the last proxy me old Duck was the recipient of so much tuning attention she almost came back a different colour. hehe.

Lets hear those engines.

Al.

PS, thanks again to everyone who had some input into making the Duck the car she is today. lol.

[havlicek]

Gotcha Al. If the car survives the series in on e piece...I'll save it and get me one of those Chotis for next year!

-john