Pick one to race

ruhdwulf · Nov 12, 2004

This is one of those perfectly ridiculous questions with which we can while away hour upon hour.

I'm going to a club racing event this Sunday. I'm very new to the group and to slotcar racing. There is a race for what they call EuroPlastic F1. It will be on a 50+ foot Scalextric track, but magnets are not allowed.

I have two choices for a car to use:

A Ninco Stewart Ford or an SCX Jaguar.

I've not had an opportunity to drive either one. (More's the pity.) So, I'm going to pull the magnet from one, add some weight to the frame and go in cold. I'll have about an hour before the race to warm up. Everything except the magnet and weight will be stock.

Are there any suggestions or preferences between these two cars? Might I just as soon close my eyes and pick one... or is one likely to perform and handle better?

Thanks for any insights.

Mike

Intergrali · Nov 12, 2004

I think the ninco would be the best option here, the scx cars seem too light at the front end and I think would understeer all over the shop

Mr.M · Nov 12, 2004

Has the track got brakes wired in or not, Mike?

If it has I don't think the Ninco will be a bad choice. Even if it hasn't, the Ninco is probably still the better car, just remember to let off the power in plenty of time for the bends.

Mr.M

RichardMotto · Nov 12, 2004

The Ninco is the way to go with or without brakes! SCX Cars with steering tend to go straight on for no apparent reason whereas the Ninco cars seem to better cope with this.

Scatman · Nov 12, 2004

Ninco, hands down. Just add a little weight up front by the drivers feet.

QUOTE (Mr Material UK @ 12 Nov 2004, 23:59)Has the track got brakes wired in or not, Mike?

If it has I don't think the Ninco will be a bad choice. Even if it hasn't, the Ninco is probably still the better car, just remember to let off the power in plenty of time for the bends.

Mr.M
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ruhdwulf · Nov 13, 2004

QUOTE (Mr Material UK @ 12 Nov 2004, 17:59)Has the track got brakes wired in or not, Mike?

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Oops. should have mentioned that. Yes, it's wired for brakes.

Thanks Mr. M. Looks like everyone says, "Ninco."

Mike

ruhdwulf · Nov 13, 2004

QUOTE (Scatman @ 12 Nov 2004, 18:17)Ninco, hands down. Just add a little weight up front by the drivers feet.

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Thanks. I'll do that. I'll report back on how I manage.

Mike

sacesta · Nov 13, 2004

Ninco, definitely.
Steve

ruhdwulf · Nov 15, 2004

QUOTE (ruhdwulf @ 12 Nov 2004, 20:24)QUOTE (Scatman @ 12 Nov 2004, 18:17)Ninco, hands down. Just add a little weight up front by the drivers feet.

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Thanks. I'll do that. I'll report back on how I manage.

Mike
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Well, I "managed" last place by about 10 laps!

Not the car's fault though. I had to use a borrowed controller and it was an uncontrollable controller. The trigger was very, very sticky. Had to put a finger in front and in back and manage both directions of travel. Absolutely no feedback.

The Stewart Ford, from what little I could tell, seemed as nicely balanced as any of the other cars. It was easy to get the back end out coming out of a curve, but it straightened out nice and had plenty of speed.

Not really much of a race or a test... given the controller situation. Must get my own controller very, very soon.

Mike

DAVENIC · Nov 16, 2004

You should've taken the SCX, that way when you come last you can blame the ****e car you had.

astro · Nov 16, 2004

at least ruhd had the controller to blame! Hope that will be entered in the excuses competition!!!!

ruhdwulf · Nov 16, 2004

QUOTE (astro @ 16 Nov 2004, 06:30)at least ruhd had the controller to blame! Hope that will be entered in the excuses competition!!!!
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I'm guessing that would make the Top Ten if judged by the frequency with which the excuse is used.

I just eliminated that excuse. (Damn, what was I thinking?) I ordered a Professor Motor controller of my own... so no more borrowed controllers and taking whatever is in the dustbin.

No... really. It was a sad-ass controller. Had nothing to do with me.

Mike

a Bill · Nov 17, 2004

I don't see where it matters which one you race, all those open wheel race cars are the same

I'd race the yellow one, or maybe the blue one...

Using borrowed controllers is harder than some may think. I know that I set up my controllers specifically for my tastes and that others may find it too twitchy.

ruhdwulf · Nov 17, 2004

QUOTE (a Bill @ 17 Nov 2004, 11:04)I don't see where it matters which one you race, all those open wheel race cars are the same

I'd race the yellow one, or maybe the blue one...

I knew I should have gone with the green one.

QUOTE Using borrowed controllers is harder than some may think. I know that I set up my controllers specifically for my tastes and that others may find it too twitchy.
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This was waaaay beyond set up differences. The trigger just flat didn't work. Give it throttle and it would stick until physically pushed back. I'm really looking forward to getting my new controller set up for my preferences. Just from watching the other racers, the controller is nearly as big a factor as the car.

Mike

DAVENIC · Nov 18, 2004

If you can't blame the controller or the car you could always blame the:

- power supply :"It was running at 14V and I'd set it up for 12V"

- track:"I thought he said Classic but it was Sport track"

- lighting:"The glare was too much for me"

- someone else:"This isn't my car, my mate set this one up"

- the manufacturer:"Obviously I got a bad batch of cars, these motors are really underpowered"

- the venue:"I felt too cramped and couldn't relax"

- God: "God hates me and doesn't want me to win and be happy"

a Bill · Nov 18, 2004

Those are good excuses DAVNIC, don't use them all up at once

Actually, the 2v power difference is extremely important on some cars. In the HO days all the tracks I ran on used 18v so that's what we used on our club track. Well, it's a variable voltage power supply and sometimes the little knob twists all by itself over time. I suspect it's gravity combined with the rotational force of the earth

One day I have a particulary fast car on the track and it's running pretty much as it's supposed to, just this side of blistering

Then a friend starts running one of his cars, which has been proven slower than the one I'm running. Suddenly he's pulling away from me

Without my knowledge, they had turned up the voltage to 20v and that extra 2v turned his car into a rocket ship. It was incredible.

Of course, immediately after we saw that we started slapping all kinds of cars on the track to see if any of them would 'wake up', many did. Some ran the same times but many of them came alive. It was a learning experience. Some joker cranked it up to 26v one day while I was running hard laps with one of my faster cars. I think I set a distance record that day for the farthest off the track

Pick one to race

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