Author Topic: Sophies soapbox derby (Read 12161 times)

Nate · « **on:** April 16, 2018, 10:10:03 PM »

lets see if this will work a 3rd time for tater!

EL TATE · « **Reply #1 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:09:24 AM »

Sorry for the half teasers. Sophie was indoctrinated early into the sport as you can see with her here in her brother's car at 1-1/12 yrs old.

EL TATE · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:12:33 AM »

Whelp. Looks like it won't let me post the car she chose, let me see if we can do the teardown pics.

EL TATE · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:13:16 AM »

She would not let me do anything, which is great because I am not about doing the work for the kids and then trying to stick their name on it.

EL TATE · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:14:35 AM »

I'm going to play with my camera's resolution, I think they are just too big of a file for the site?

EL TATE · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:24:09 AM »

one more try. Sorry these are out of order

EL TATE · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:26:17 AM »

The pic that won't post is the whole chassis stripped down to the bare wood. Tonight is the build up and hopefully we'll get some good shots that will post. She chose the Shark Car over a pink my little pony car... she's in it to win it.

Nate · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:36:47 AM »

looks to be working so far

Nate · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:37:38 AM »

nice job young lady

EL TATE · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2018, 10:48:58 AM »

Thanks. She was super focused the whole time and that's saying a lot for a 7 year old with 4 of her friends running around the place.

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2018, 02:04:21 PM »

Supercool

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stlaser · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2018, 04:36:47 PM »

Tate, having them catch the racing bug at such a young age is a slippery and potentially expensive slope!

EL TATE · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2018, 05:22:13 PM »

Quote from: stlaser on April 17, 2018, 04:36:47 PM

Tate, having them catch the racing bug at such a young age is a slippery and potentially expensive slope!

That thought has not escaped me. Once in the LB7 I did a coal rolling burnout, now every time it's just me and her in any car it's, "can we go fast daddy?"

JR · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2018, 12:43:50 AM »

Looks like she has a eye for the stuff so far. Do the ears help at all?

Flyin6 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2018, 09:31:07 AM »

Really nice Tater!

EL TATE · « **Reply #15 on:** April 18, 2018, 10:41:14 AM »

Quote from: JR on April 18, 2018, 12:43:50 AM

Looks like she has a eye for the stuff so far. Do the ears help at all?

The ears are for speed JR

Quote from: Flyin6 on April 18, 2018, 09:31:07 AM

Really nice Tater!

Thanks Don. I really hope she sticks with it. We had so much fun with Sam the years he was competing and the super stock cars get to be completely customized by the driver.

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 18, 2018, 02:35:52 PM »

Good to see her taking ownership! Watch what you start!

Turned my 13 yr. old loose on her own in a go-cart last l summer and couldn’t catch her until we came up on slow traffic and I’ll be damned if she didn’t shoot the gap on two going into the turn and leave me trapped behind them - she never even lifted! That’s the first time she’s driven anything so I’m pretty much screwed if she ever gets into a race car!

Have fun and tell her my last dirt car was pink and blue - pink goes fast! LOL -

Farmer Jon · « **Reply #17 on:** April 19, 2018, 07:31:06 AM »

I always thought that would be a blast to do but we never had any around where I grew up.

EL TATE · « **Reply #18 on:** April 19, 2018, 10:45:08 AM »

We're lucky enough to have a pretty sizable community involvement. The local real estate mogul is REALLY into it, like he does it all year as a hobby and has bought an old farm that he's building a dedicated track on for this year. we're very fortunate as this really brings the whole community together. God bless rural America I'm tellin you. food vendors, a car show, and the mayor usually makes an appearance at the opening ceremony. there's historically been an invocation as well, but I haven't been involved for the past 5 years, so I'm not sure if that's still happening. (fingers crossed).

EL TATE · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:17:12 PM »

Re-assembly is tedious and a little more "boring" for a 7 year old, but she hung in there just fine. Had a friend from her class doing it with her helped a lot.

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:31:59 PM »

Good to appreciate that sometimes fun requires a bunch of work! Love the smile-

EL TATE · « **Reply #21 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:37:44 PM »

wyorunner · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:38:22 PM »

So Tate, how does this work? An organization owns all the soapbox cars and then you sign her up, she picks one, then you go through the car? I’ve Never seen a race and know absolutely nothing about it. But it sure is great to see her interested in it, I’m always glad to see kids interested in outside activities vs tv, tablet or phone, which seems to be more common.

Our son likes movies more so than outside activities, and it’s a struggle for me sometimes. Lately we’ve just left the tv off through out the day and he either works with me around the house or finds other messes to make.

EL TATE · « **Reply #23 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:45:45 PM »

In our case, which I'm sure is unique, the main sponsor has collected donated cars over the years and has several shipping containers with custom racks to hold the cars and donates them to the cause to get the kids involved. A $25 registration fee and you're off and running. You could buy your own car kit and build yourself, but for the earlier stock classes, and for a first outing, it just makes sense to take advantage of what's being offered. She'll have done twice as much work as a kid with a new car, because she had to strip it down first from complete. we'll turn it back in when she's done, with her signature added to the inside of the body of the kids that have raced before her, and the cycle will continue.

Sophie definitely has her I-pad moments when she's inside, but she'd rather be outside doing something, so we're very lucky there. If the sun and the tide is out, so is she.

wyorunner · « **Reply #24 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:47:40 PM »

That’s pretty cool. And I love it, if the sun and the TIDE is out, so is she.... not often you hear people say that about there kids, most just focus on the sun!!!

EL TATE · « **Reply #25 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:50:20 PM »

She's a beach combing fanatic! She has a "smartphone watch" that allows her to call me, mom and brother, and GPS tracks her, so Momma bear is comfortable with her going out on her own, so she takes the dog and is gone for hours sometimes. never have to worry because she calls every 15 min to tell us what she's found of course.

stlaser · « **Reply #26 on:** April 20, 2018, 05:59:08 PM »

How cool

EL TATE · « **Reply #27 on:** May 11, 2018, 06:34:38 PM »

Final stages have come here gents. She's done it all, and in the pic with the long bar going across the body, she's adjusting the alignment of the rear axle. funny thing is, when we set it up, it was dead center and didn't need to be touched. just worked out so well for her and I'm a pretty proud papa. we'll start practice racing here in the next week or so and I'll get to post some action pics.

EL TATE · « **Reply #28 on:** May 11, 2018, 06:36:42 PM »

More:

JR · « **Reply #29 on:** May 11, 2018, 07:21:25 PM »

Last pic is the best!

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #30 on:** May 11, 2018, 07:41:56 PM »

Sporting the real man sweatshirt - Can’t go wrong with Dairy Queen either!

KensAuto · « **Reply #31 on:** May 11, 2018, 07:44:30 PM »

Nice pics, and nice hoodie!

Nate · « **Reply #32 on:** May 11, 2018, 09:47:48 PM »

Awesome

stlaser · « **Reply #33 on:** May 11, 2018, 10:03:53 PM »

TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #34 on:** May 12, 2018, 07:09:59 AM »

Great memories!

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EL TATE · « **Reply #35 on:** June 27, 2018, 05:54:25 PM »

I'm way behind on my pictorial duties. She was interviewed with a couple of her friends by the local news on channel 4

EL TATE · « **Reply #36 on:** June 27, 2018, 05:56:20 PM »

She did pretty darn well, stayed focused, but hit the brakes early one time and sat up to check the competition another and wound up taking 16 out of 70. but she's got the bug now, and will be doing some rally races this summer and is looking to come back with a lot more experience next year.

stlaser · « **Reply #37 on:** June 27, 2018, 05:56:47 PM »

Nice......

Bob Smith · « **Reply #38 on:** June 27, 2018, 06:16:59 PM »

Good job Sophie....and Dad....Nice you are able to spend the necessary time it takes for this activity, She apricates it I am sure.

EL TATE · « **Reply #39 on:** June 27, 2018, 06:56:06 PM »

Thanks! She was crushing them too, just a little more experience. the car was very fast.

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #40 on:** June 27, 2018, 07:02:35 PM »

Awesome update there Tater!

JR · « **Reply #41 on:** June 27, 2018, 07:26:35 PM »

Nice job Sophie and dad!!

Nate · « **Reply #42 on:** June 27, 2018, 07:48:02 PM »

That's awesome right there

KensAuto · « **Reply #43 on:** June 27, 2018, 07:50:58 PM »

Very cool!!

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 29, 2018, 12:56:56 AM »

So Tate, been watching but would like some help,

What does the foot pedal actually do as for brakes? I see the cable attachment but to do what?

I also noted that the blue device seems to be the steering? But the big spring has me more confused also.

What does the axle rotate on? Bearings?

Do the cables ever pop off of the bearing?

What are the tires made of?

Do they weigh the cars so they are all the same? Can you put lead weight in your pockets?

With pine wood you have a max weight and the more weight was an advantage.
You can also leave off a tire to create less drag or resistance.

I can’t stop thinking of the blurr on the Little Rascals lol

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TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #45 on:** June 29, 2018, 03:17:28 AM »

Tate, that's awesome. She's lit up for sure!

EL TATE · « **Reply #46 on:** June 29, 2018, 10:14:09 AM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on June 29, 2018, 12:56:56 AM

So Tate, been watching but would like some help,

What does the foot pedal actually do as for brakes? I see the cable attachment but to do what?
Foot pedal pulls the cable which collapses the spring, forcing the brake piston down. There's recycled tire tread on the bottom and watching them stop is a hoot as it's a smoke show every time

I also noted that the blue device seems to be the steering? But the big spring has me more confused also.
Main steering and brake system are on the same column

What does the axle rotate on? Bearings?
There is a center king pin and multiple washers. the cables route through the center shaft and pulleys and essentially pull the axle left to right

Do the cables ever pop off of the bearing?
funny you mention it. the last year my son drove, his shoe frayed the cable behind the cable stay and he lost his brakes and slammed into the hay bales at about 20mph that's the only time I've ever seen something like that though

What are the tires made of?
Fiberglass with a solid rubber outer ridge

Do they weigh the cars so they are all the same? Can you put lead weight in your pockets?
Max weight of car and driver is 200lbs in stock class. weight differential cannot exceed 15+lbs rear over front but like pinewood derby, there are tactics. Load the rear as much as possible and have them lean way forward during weigh in so the differential can be slightly higher without breaking rules

With pine wood you have a max weight and the more weight was an advantage.
You can also leave off a tire to create less drag or resistance.

I can’t stop thinking of the blurr on the Little Rascals lol

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EL TATE · « **Reply #47 on:** June 29, 2018, 10:22:23 AM »

My marketing department saw some of the pics and wants to get involved. look for a Yukon sponsored car next year with 4.10's and a Grizzly locker! HAHAHAHA!

cudakidd53 · « **Reply #48 on:** June 29, 2018, 10:40:42 AM »

Quote from: EL TATE on June 29, 2018, 10:22:23 AM

My marketing department saw some of the pics and wants to get involved. look for a Yukon sponsored car next year with 4.10's and a Grizzly locker! HAHAHAHA!

That locker will EAT the little bit of rubber on the little wheels!

Flyin6 · « **Reply #49 on:** July 01, 2018, 04:08:46 PM »

Really nice Tater!

Congrats Miss Sophie!