Search found 325 matches

by Nitro Dan
Sun Jun 28, 2015 8:15 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Our 2015 Line-Up
Replies: 2
Views: 6605

Our 2015 Line-Up

Wow, I'm really glad to have this past season finally over. I did nine PWD workshops this past season starting in January and ending in April. I did our scout's shop's champ camp, ran two Pack level races one District race and one Girl Scout District race. Finally relaxed enough to get some pictures...
by Nitro Dan
Sun Jun 28, 2015 2:12 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Building a 100 Foot Track
Replies: 9
Views: 18883

Re: Building a 100 Foot Track

You don't really need to cannibalize two tracks. You just borrow the flat track sections. You can keep the start gate and finish line from the primary track, probably need longer cables. Add an extra flat section after the start gate section before the curve then add the rest to the flat. You could...
by Nitro Dan
Fri Jun 19, 2015 8:07 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Building a 100 Foot Track
Replies: 9
Views: 18883

Re: Building a 100 Foot Track

Take your 6 lane track apart so you have two 3 lane tracks. Use 3 of the flat sections. You now have a 3 lane track that is about 70 feet long. A 3 lane Best track costs $745.00 and you have another start section, flat sections, and another stop section. You won't use the curve. You can make the st...
by Nitro Dan
Wed Jun 17, 2015 9:41 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Building a 100 Foot Track
Replies: 9
Views: 18883

Building a 100 Foot Track

Our District Race Committee decided that they wanted a new attraction for the 2016 season. For the last three years we have run a Youth Outlaw race, an Einstein Race (turtle race) and a Pinewood Demolition Derby, all in conjunction with the official District race (ran on a six lane, 42 foot Best Tra...
by Nitro Dan
Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:30 pm
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: Determining Finalists for Pack Derby?
Replies: 11
Views: 17333

Re: Determining Finalists for Pack Derby?

One of the Packs I work with actually takes a unique approach to this. They advance based on Points and Times. They take the top three winners based on points from each den rank and advance them to the finals. Then they go back and compare the times within all the den rank races and advance the tota...
by Nitro Dan
Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:52 pm
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: Ideas for implementing Turtle (or gas mileage) race
Replies: 7
Views: 15160

Re: Ideas for implementing Turtle (or gas mileage) race

The Girl Scout group my daughters are in have an "Economy Car" award for the slowest vehicle in their official races, but the Cub Scout group my son was with does it as separate race at their districtr races. In this event, racers build a separate car to compete with. The race is open to e...
by Nitro Dan
Mon Aug 18, 2014 5:31 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Summer Project - Pinewood Demolition Derby (PWDD)
Replies: 2
Views: 6725

Re: Summer Project - Pinewood Demolition Derby (PWDD)

Format was triple elimination. We use Stan's method of "No Chart N-Elimination" , but with index cards as a place holder system. It works nice, as only one person really needs to know the triple elimination methodology. We just use a 1-2-3-Release operation, although I have heard that the ...
by Nitro Dan
Sun Aug 17, 2014 7:55 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Summer Project - Pinewood Demolition Derby (PWDD)
Replies: 2
Views: 6725

Summer Project - Pinewood Demolition Derby (PWDD)

I like to do one Pinewood Derby project each year during the off seaon. This year I was planning on making a new three lane PVC Pinewood Derby Track, but was distracted when our Pack's charter organization came to us and asked if we could run an event at their annual "Back to School Fun Day&quo...
by Nitro Dan
Tue Jul 08, 2014 8:37 am
Forum: Construction Workshops
Topic: New to workshops
Replies: 13
Views: 20674

Re: New to workshops

Come to think of it Nitro Dan & Darin, it was a girl & mother team who asked me for a blank template for a car design at my first workshop. As I recall she wanted her car to look like a Banana. Doesn't surprise me. I find that the Girl Scouts take more satisfaction from other girls pointing...
by Nitro Dan
Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:09 am
Forum: Construction Workshops
Topic: New to workshops
Replies: 13
Views: 20674

Re: New to workshops

Like Darin, we also provide templates, nearly 200 of them (side & top views), for the kids to look through and pick from. When a cub scout has a particular design in mind, they usually have drawn it up in advance before coming to the workshop so they can show me or my staff what they want to acc...
by Nitro Dan
Thu Jul 03, 2014 2:34 pm
Forum: Construction Workshops
Topic: New to workshops
Replies: 13
Views: 20674

Re: New to workshops

Workshop times usually depends on the number of people that we expect to draw in. My workshops usually run 6 hours (10am to 4pm), and people can come in at anytime during the six hour time frame. I give the parents the opportunity to work for as much as they want for as long as they want. Some will ...
by Nitro Dan
Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:02 pm
Forum: Construction Workshops
Topic: New to workshops
Replies: 13
Views: 20674

Re: New to workshops

Our workshops handle about 30 to 50 people at a time. We usually have the following: 1 Band Saw 1 Drill Press 2 Scroll Saws 1 Bench Sander 1 Spindle Sander 1 Small 1" Vertical Belt Sander 2 Dremel/Vise WorkMate Benches Axle Polishing Stations Weighting Material (Zinc, Lead, Steel) Spray Primer ...
by Nitro Dan
Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:10 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Built My Own Track
Replies: 14
Views: 28114

Re: Built My Own Track

What kind of plywood did you use here? I realize this thread is old, but might be able to answer the question from looking at the picture. If he followed the plans he posted, the wood would be a 1/2" thick plywood. We can see at least three levels of the ply in the picture. If this was standar...
by Nitro Dan
Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:07 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: District Best Design-No Awards
Replies: 8
Views: 11022

Re: District Best Design-No Awards

Our district has speed awards only. Nothing is done for best design or best in show. Might bring that up as a question in a survey option. Always looking for ways to bring more people to the district race.

-Nitro Dan

New Birth of Freedom Council
Indian Rock District
by Nitro Dan
Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:30 am
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: Nitro Dan's 2014 Line-Up
Replies: 13
Views: 16536

Re: Nitro Dan's 2014 Line-Up

Yes, rules state that you can move the axles and weight can be added to the bottom of the car minimizing clearance, but you would have to be careful not to let it drag against the starting guide rail because the car would be considered not to be in a race worthy condition if it gets stuck on that ra...