Search found 1812 matches

by Darin McGrew
Sun Mar 22, 2020 3:50 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Small Body Crack Repair
Replies: 6
Views: 14938

Re: Small Body Crack Repair

Darin, I'm trying to figure out what rule it would violate. Is it "No sharp objects"? With our current rules, the screwdriver car design violates the rule about using the original kit, plus adhesives, lubricants, weights, and decorations. The screwdriver blade and the screw are part of th...
by Darin McGrew
Sun Mar 22, 2020 1:54 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Small Body Crack Repair
Replies: 6
Views: 14938

Re: Small Body Crack Repair

My screwdriver car is held together with CA glue. I turned the handle from a piece of the original block, and attached a Phillips screwdriver blade cut from a real screwdriver. The front wheels are attached to a wedge cut from the original block, with a Phillips screw inserted into a hole drilled in...
by Darin McGrew
Sat Mar 14, 2020 2:25 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Night-before build day
Replies: 10
Views: 16423

Re: Night-before build day

The night before the race, there isn't much you can do other than fine tuning, and maybe emergency repairs for cars that don't reach the finish line on the test track. Bandsaws and bench sanders are not needed. Neither are paint or paint booths. Drills or drill presses or Dremel tools might be neede...
by Darin McGrew
Wed Feb 05, 2020 10:12 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: How to oil axels
Replies: 12
Views: 17625

Re: How to oil axels

At our workshops, I think I've had the kids apply a drop of Krytox on each axle, roll the axle to distribute the Krytox, then wipe off as much as they can with a dry cloth.
by Darin McGrew
Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:35 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Personal experiences with "slots required" rule
Replies: 27
Views: 29843

Re: Personal experiences with "slots required" rule

Using the drill press as a press? Surely not spinning axles while inserting. Our workshops have provided drill presses. We cut the head off an axle, then chuck it in the drill press. Then we turn the drill press on and lower the spinning axle into the slot. This makes it much easier for the kids to...
by Darin McGrew
Sun Jan 19, 2020 6:35 pm
Forum: General Topics
Topic: Lovers of Design category
Replies: 4
Views: 10305

Re: Lovers of Design category

Working lights aren't that hard to do. There are even kits for adding working lights to a derby car, or I've seen kids add bits cannibalized from electronic toys to a derby car (which isn't much different from adding any other bits cannibalized from toys to a derby car). Lights that come on when the...
by Darin McGrew
Sun Dec 15, 2019 1:48 am
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: level the playing field
Replies: 3
Views: 9214

Re: level the playing field

I've seen adults try to use workshops as a way to cut down the "tall poppies", by requiring that all work be done at the official workshops and even by prohibiting parental involvement during workshops. But except for that aberration, I think workshops are a good thing, and that it's bette...
by Darin McGrew
Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:29 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: 2020 Train Car for my 3 year old.
Replies: 3
Views: 8243

Re: 2020 Train Car for my 3 year old.

How does the headlight light up during the race?
by Darin McGrew
Fri Nov 29, 2019 10:31 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Big Dreams for a Big Rig - but smaller
Replies: 53
Views: 55508

Re: Big Dreams for a Big Rig - but smaller

That seems like more work? I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to wood working so I’ll take your word for it. What do you suggest 1/4” sheets? I usually find it easier to build hollow boxes than to carve them. Actually, I've found it easier to build other shapes rather than to carve them. And I gener...
by Darin McGrew
Thu Nov 28, 2019 10:57 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Big Dreams for a Big Rig - but smaller
Replies: 53
Views: 55508

Re: Big Dreams for a Big Rig - but smaller

I purchased a 3x3x12 piece of balsa wood which I will whittle down to be the cab. Hollowing it almost completely out so it is more a shell than anything. When I've built cars like that, I've avoided all that carving by building a balsa or basswood box. Where the corners are rounded, I first reinfor...
by Darin McGrew
Tue Nov 19, 2019 12:25 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Pit Road - Car Parking
Replies: 10
Views: 16624

Re: Pit Road - Car Parking

We have 100 wood blocks measuring 3/4"x1 1/2"x6". I’m guessing this just high end centers the cars? What piece of lumber did you choose for this? I am thinking a 2x6 with 3/4” rips would work? I assumed that it was nominal 1x2 lumber like what I used. Ripping 3/4" slabs of 2x6 l...
by Darin McGrew
Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:21 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Pit Road - Car Parking
Replies: 10
Views: 16624

Re: Pit Road - Car Parking

I've seen people also use 1"x2"s or cardboard box tops. When I have displayed my own derby cars for viewing, I've just used pieces of 1x2 lumber. But if the cars are going to be moved and replaced several times (i.e., for an actual race), then I'd secure the pieces of 1x2 lumber somehow. ...
by Darin McGrew
Mon Jun 10, 2019 2:05 pm
Forum: Trading Post
Topic: Soap Box Derby Car
Replies: 5
Views: 13210

Re: Soap Box Derby Car

Vitamin K wrote: Mon Jun 10, 2019 11:44 amSince I doubt you want to ship that bad boy, maybe you should mention your general area?
His profile says Newton NJ.
by Darin McGrew
Mon May 13, 2019 1:43 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Stop section
Replies: 6
Views: 18453

Re: Stop section

Any suggestions on how to improve this stop section so that it is less of a demolition derby at the end of each heat? Yeah, our old track had a stop section like that. We solved the problem by building a new track with a completely different type of stop section. Go and do likewise. Okay, you don't...
by Darin McGrew
Sun Apr 14, 2019 7:11 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: -|||===[ Check Your Rules ]===|||-
Replies: 7
Views: 26112

Re: -|||===[ Check Your Rules ]===|||-

Yep. We aren't BSA, but when there has been a regional derby, we have provided the rules to the regional derby to those who were interested, but we haven't changed our own rules. Fortunately, there haven't been any big issues with the regional derby rules (such as a "four on the floor" rul...