3134 replies to this topic

[Cap Henry]

Left, New Z Rail Can-Am by Mike Muir, Right, new CHR 8 rail X25 with independent pans. The X25 currently holds all the Route 93 Can-Am Records.

 

 

[MSwiss]

Is that 2MM or 3/32" square holding up the pans in the back of the X25R ?

[Tim Neja]

dbl post for some reason  Greg--delete!!

[Tim Neja]

Well I'll post this build here--another for the "Checkpoint Cup"! But I can NEVER build as clean as these guys!!! Not sure how to get there--but I'll just keep "hammering" mine together and try to clean up as I go.  This one with an R Geo  nose piece--all .062 rail but not twisting --soldered solid.  I built one similar and it worked pretty good so this one is with different dimensions.  .900 guide lead and 4" wheelbase.

It still needs a steel doubler for the guide lead-- but it's ready for the tumbler after that!! Should come in around 90 to 95 grams which is my target.  

 

The next picture shows "after the tumbler"!!  What a great way to help clean up my messy work!!

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[Cap Henry]

Is that 2MM or 3/32" square holding up the pans in the back of the X25R ?

2mm

[Rick]

looks like an R-Geo nose?...

[Cap Henry]

Rick, was thinking the same thing

[Cap Henry]

Another new x25, this time with Samson style rails. 4 rails of .063 Brass, 2 of .063 steel.

[MSwiss]

It just occurred to me that using square keeps them from pivoting/sagging since they are independent.

 

Whoever came up with that idea, kudos to them.

[Cap Henry]

Correct Mike. The pans have minimal up and down movement, but move forward and back.

[Gator Bob]

With the square tubing .... think the pans bind under bite or flex?

[Cap Henry]

No, they still have enough clearance, and with the way the front is done it acts like a hinge.

[MSwiss]

With the square tubing .... think the pans bind under bite or flex?

If they do, that must be good, he won the last race by 5 laps, setting a track records for both qualifying and laps, with the Q time, a World Record. records.

 

Added: We posted at the same time. I guess they don't. LOL

[Gator Bob]

No, they still have enough clearance, and with the way the front is done it acts like a hinge.

Thanks

[Mopar Rob]

I thought there weren't World records in retro, only track records? At least that was what was preached back in 2008, 2009, 2010.....

[gascarnut]

Another new x25, this time with Samson style rails. 4 rails of .063 Brass, 2 of .063 steel.

 

 

... he won the last race by 5 laps, setting a track records for both qualifying and laps, with the Q time, a World Record. records.

 

Congrats to Cap Henry for improving a Retro-flexi with good old "purist" design features.

 

Next time, try some screw-on ball bearing front wheels, less work, less soldering. Who knows, maybe that "World Tom Thumb King track" record can be beaten.

 

Merry Christmas all.

[Rick]

Must be in season, I just built this week, an F1 with double bronze main rails( ala Dennis Samson) and steel tuning fork to try out.........

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

For sure the Samson fronts are da BOMB !!

 

Merry Christmas to you also Dennis.

[MSwiss]

I thought there weren't World records in retro, only track records? At least that was what was preached back in 2008, 2009, 2010.....

A few guys certainly started keeping track of highest lap totals and and qualifying times on Gerdings and referring to them

as "World Records".

 

I certainly didn't.

 

The first I saw of a "fastest" reference in Retro with American King tracks was when I saw something on FB in October promoting a race on the U.S.'s  fastest American King, even though at the time, the lap totals and qualifying times for Retro F1 and Can-Am cars, were lower and slower, than Tom Thumb Hobbies.

 

It said / says:

 

"Both classes will be ran on the Fastest Original American Blue King track in the United States."

 

 

I don't know.

 

Maybe at the time, it was the U.S.'s fastest American King for G20 Womps with VW bug bodies and Candies silicones,

but certainly not with the type of cars the race is for.

 

Or maybe the author of the statement thought Columbus seceded from the Union.

[Cap Henry]

I'm pretty sure IRRA TM said years ago that there were no works records, only track records. IRRA LLC looks to have and keep track of world records for the different tracks.

I don't race for records, I race for shiny little box plaques that say I won

Dennis, I've never found bearing fronts to be any faster, though yours seem very nice.

[gascarnut]

Dennis, I've never found bearing fronts to be any faster, though yours seem very nice.

 

Interesting! I know Chris Radisich also does not use them, he likes to have slightly sloppy front wheels, especially on bumpy surfaces.

 

What we have found on the Gerding tracks is that the cars are quicker through the banking with BB fronts. It seems that the rolling resistance does not increase as much under the extra centrifugal loads on the frame with BB wheels as opposed to the raw aluminum running on the axle.

 

I started using them after I had a set of converted wing car tires wear out during a race. The magnesium hubs wore so much on the axle that the wheels started to toe out on the straightaway, and the wonder rubber was squealing like the wheels had no oil. You can imagine how much speed was lost.

 

But, hey, different strokes for different folks, it's all good.

 

At least Noose can win concours with my wheels

[Cap Henry]

I can easily see where a worn set of fronts could cause issues. If my wheels career to wobble I change them, but usually the rubber is wore out by then.

I don't think old magnesium rear turned into fronts are a good idea. Everyone I've ever heard talk about them says the same thing you did. I'd assume the magnesium works way better turning with the axle (rear tire set screwed to axle) vs. turning on the axle.

I did testing on my pretty banked king and found no speed difference between ball bearing and regular jk fronts with aluminum hubs. Just less maintence with the bearings.

I found cutting the front wings off can am cars helps keep bank speed up as they don't rub on the track when it bottoms out.

[Noose]

I would not say BB fronts add speed but they do add longevity vs. the regular plastic fronts that tend to wear out very fast even with oiling.  I have not tested the JK ones with the brass sleeves in them to see if they last longer.

 

The down side to some BB fronts is when you want remove them.  Unless you are painstakingly careful you can kiss at least one of the bearings good bye as the solder will flow into it.

[MSwiss]

 

 

The first I saw of a "fastest" reference in Retro with American King tracks was when I saw something on FB in October promoting a race on the U.S.'s  fastest American King, even though at the time, the lap totals and qualifying times for Retro F1 and Can-Am cars, were lower and slower, than Tom Thumb Hobbies.

 

 

 

 

 IRRA LLC looks to have and keep track of world records for the different tracks.

 

Apparently they don't do a very good job.

[The Groove]

I would not say BB fronts add speed but they do add longevity vs. the regular plastic fronts that tend to wear out very fast even with oiling.  I have not tested the JK ones with the brass sleeves in them to see if they last longer.

 

The down side to some BB fronts is when you want remove them.  Unless you are painstakingly careful you can kiss at least one of the bearings good bye as the solder will flow into it.

I use the retaining compound on the front retainers to hold the wheels on much cleaner to get on and off and no acid near the bearing.