Pinewood Derby at the $2012 Challenge?

Rules I will study them , Important question will GRM have the 2 kegs of beer outside by valve cover contestants ?

No

OK no Beer , Have we thought of lighting ? I have a tri pod Plug in . And cords.

Tom- The building rules seem to be getting ironed out but one important question remains: Are the races for speed or distance?

Another more important question is where will the beer be?

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS General Information Items Series 40-50 Series 70 Type
Cylinders and Arrangement
Bore and Stroke 3 7/16"X 4 5/16” Piston Displacement 320.2 Compression Ratio

3 7/8 x 8= 27" lenth on the valve cover only with piston width. Who has a valve cover to measure?

How about we use the outside perimeter of the straight 8 valve cover. For example if it is 30 inches long and 7 inches wide the perimeter would be 74 inches. That means a 25 inch long 12 inch wide DOHC cover would still be legal because it has the same perimeter at 74.

All of the valve covers I have laying around are newer DOHC 4 Cylinder ones.

In reply to Argo1:

Not sure yet, but I'll find out soon.

I have and old b202 Saab cover to use. If you take the seals and grease out of the bearings and use a light weight spray lube... Wait I said too much.

clownkiller wrote: GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS General Information Items Series 40-50 Series 70 Type Cylinders and Arrangement Bore and Stroke 3 7/16"X 4 5/16” Piston Displacement 320.2 Compression Ratio 3 7/8 x 8= 27" lenth on the valve cover only with piston width. Who has a valve cover to measure?

I actually have access to an old straight 8, gimme a day or so, and I'll try to get some measurements for you guys.

This is getting interesting...

but remember, the rules are not final yet. I'm still waiting on approval from the higher-ups.

Tom Suddard wrote: This is getting interesting... but remember, the rules are not final yet. I'm still waiting on approval from the higher-ups.

Less than 60 days to the event. Light a fire under 'em!

Hey I bought a set of roller blades at a yard sale for 5.00 I will only use 4 of the 8 wheels any want others for 2.50 plus shipping in a flat rate envlope ?

Can we attach things to the top of the valve cover, or perhaps shape the valve cover into another object? We have some good ideas but we want to stay within the rules.

BradLTL wrote: Not sure I understand this... can you provide an example?

Wind a clock spring off a 3rd axle that only makes contact in the last 1/2 (fastest) part of the track.

SilverFleet wrote: We have some good ideas but we want to stay within the rules.

+1 Good, bad, or different, we really need THE RULES.

but remember, the rules are not final yet. I'm still waiting on approval from the higher-ups.

Dude, it's cool; you can just say "Mom & Dad"

Just make it only production valve covers and you must be able to remove wheels and still be usable. Gravity ramp first one crosses ling wins 10.3 lb weight limit. Keep it simple. Pull numbers out of hat for line up.

I Really like the "keep it simple" idea. - Production only covers. - Gravity ramp (first one crosses line wins). But I would change the weight limit to 8 pounds. And change usable afterwards, to "only holes for mounting wheels". (So the covers would not get severly cut up and unidentifyable)

Both of these are about 5-6 pounds With the weights added. The Ford cover needed holes drilled to mount the axel shafts, so it is not usable after removing the wheels.

(Keep it simple. NASA spent millions developing a pen that could write in space ....... The Russians used a Pencil.)

Okay, we have approval and final rules.

$2012 Challenge Valve Cover Racing Rules

Valve Cover Regulations:

Entire valve cover racer must fit in a standard 5-gallon paint bucket without sticking out from the top.
Valve cover racer track width may not be more than 4 inches wider than base valve cover width at the widest point.
Only valve covers from production vehicles or motorcycles may be used. Valve covers may not be excessively modified. This will be judged by a GRM staff member. This is a gravity race, cars may possess no easily retrievable potential energy at the start of the run (with the exception of their height from the ground at the start, which will be provided by the launch ramp).
Excess energy generated during official runs at the $2012 Challenge may be stored onboard the cars to be used during later runs. For example, you could store energy during a race against a slow car, then use it to beat a fast car in a later heat.
Wheels cannot exceed 6 inches in diameter.
Finished total weight cannot exceed 8 pounds.
Cars must have at least 3 wheels.
Cars cannot have more than 10 wheels. This includes wheels that don’t touch the ground.
Cars must contain no more than $50 of materials. This will be verified by a cursory examination of your car by a GRM staff member before the race, as well as a short explanation by the contestant.

Track lanes will be 4(ish) feet wide. Make sure your racer tracks straight.
Ramp will be placed at one end in the center of the boundaries.
Car launch must be made with the front wheels on the ramp launch line and must not be pushed in any way.
If the valve cover goes out of bounds it will be judged at the point that it crosses the established boundary.
The winner is the first racer to cross the finish line. The track distance will be established by a GRM staff member on the day of the event.

The GRM staff retain the right to change any and all rules without notice or compensation, and assume no liability or responsibility for any part of this unofficial event.

The event will be run at approximately 9pm Friday and will go until 10:30 on Friday. It's location will be the banquet room.

I am guessing the dirt parking lot between Harley Davidson and The front of the motel ? How far will the beer be ?

It will be in the banquet room, actually. Beer will be very close.

I'm locking this thread, please use the new valve cover racing thread– it's stickied at the top of the GRM board.