The following information has been provided to help soapbox derby racers
gain a better understanding on some of the ways your cars can become more
competitive. Drivers can make all the necessary changes to improve control
and speed of their car and it will only improve you chances for winning by
about 5%. The driver controls 95% of what it takes to win a race. The
driver needs to no where to drive the car on the track, make as little
corrective steering moves as possible and keep a low aerodynamic position
in the car. One extremely small mistake by the driver can replace all the
advantages made by setting the car up correctly.
The following racing
tips have been provided by Justin Vroom (1997 Stock Winner), Katie
Chambers (2000 Stock Winner), and Krystal Baker (1998 Stock and 2000
Superstock Winner). These are only some of the many things done to make
cars more competitive. Most all secrets to racing derby cars can be
obtained through involvement with soapbox rally racing held during the
spring and fall of every year.
- Wheels should be taken off car and cleaned after each use. Wheels can
be cleaned while on spindles as long as spindles are cleaned and
lubricated afterwards. Rotate wheels and spray brake fluid or lighter
fluid in bearing as they rotate. This will clean all dirt and oil residue
from the wheel bearings. Allow the bearing to dry for a minute and then
rotate the wheels again and add a lightweight machine or honing oil such
as WD-40 to the bearings to prevent rusting. Prior to racing the wheels
should be cleaned and oiled again because the oil will turn sticky after
long time storage. If you don’t clean wheels before racing, your first run
down the track will warm the oil and make it fluid again which then places
the faster wheels on the competitors car during the second round, so make
sure you clean your wheels before final inspection and impounding of cars.
- Alignment is critical. Make sure it is perfect and within 1/64 of an
inch. Tighten all nuts and bolts holding alignment so it wont come loose
during race day do to vibration and mishandling of the car.
- Spindles should be polished and lubricated on your car. Although the
wheels rotate on bearings, the heavy vibration of the car on the asphalt
road will cause the bearing collar to slip on the spindle. If the spindle
is clean, polished and lubricated with light oil the collar can slip on
the spindle. For every amount of slippage on the spindle the wheel is
gaining distance on the track. Slippage on a 900 foot track may only be an
inch or less but that can mean several inches to several feet of travel
distance on the track that hopefully your competitor is not gaining.
Spindles can be polished with rubbing compounds (by hand only) or by using
3000 grit or finer emery cloth.
- Steering needs to be adjusted to allow comfort for the driver and to
prevent unnecessary wheel movement. The steering cables need to be tight
enough to prevent the axle from bending but to provide good tension on
both sides of the steering column. Any slack cable can cause the wheels to
wobble slightly causing a decrease in speed. Steering straight will also
become more difficult for the driver if the cables are too loose.
- The front lock nuts on the kingpin need to be tightened enough so the
steering will not wobble but will allow ease in steering ability. Nuts too
loose or too tight will make steering jerky and difficult causing decrease
in speed.
- A tight rear kingpin is a necessity, however do not over tighten.
Akron allows no more then 180 inch pounds of torch on this bolt. This bolt
will be checked at rally races for over tightening. Danger is the bolt
could shear off causing loss of rear axle. (NOT A GOOD THING)
- New rule in 2001 is to allow the installation of bushings for the
kingpins of all divisions. Strongly recommend installing these bushings.
The kingpin bolt wears on the wood floorboard as cars are assembled and
disassembled and through general use. The bushings also prevent the
washers from getting pressed in to the wood floorboard causing the
steering to come loose and axles to move over time. The bushing will firm
up the front and rear axles and prevent wearing of the wooden floorboard.
- The turnbuckles on the steering cables need to be secured from
movement during race. The turnbuckle has a stop nut that needs to be good
and tight once steering is adjusted. Highly recommend installing a second
stop nut on opposite side of turnbuckle. The buckle can move even with the
wire wrapped around it. This can cause steering wheel to move left or
right in order to make the car go straight and can make it difficult on
driver to steer straight.
- Wind drag can win or loose a race. Highly recommend installing foam
in the front and back of stock cars and all around the cockpit of
superstock cars, unless the child is large enough to fill the gaps around
the cockpit. Foam is always needed on the front of the cockpit.
- The bottom of the car is loaded with exposed hex bolts. These create
a wind drag from air moving under the car. It may be only a slight help,
if any, but the hex head of the bolts can be turned so a point of the head
is facing the front of the car to increase aerodynamics.
- Make sure the shell of the car is not hanging below the bottom of the
floorboard or is not too high on the floorboard. Both of these will cause
wind drag and become less aerodynamics slowing the car.
- The weight nuts should be tight, but allow nut to be removed easily
for weight changes. This is for safety of the driver and it will actually
add strength to the floorboard. Loose weights can move and effect breaking
and steering actions along with come loose during an accident. If you use
a tool to tighten wing nut, you better have the tool to loosen them during
the race.
- For long term storage, store the car by supporting it in the center
to allow the ends to flex downward. This will cause less bending in the
spindles when car is loaded with driver.
- Driver needs safety glasses to prevent dirt from blowing in eyes.
Many races are lost each year because the driver became distracted. The
eyes are in line with the cowling and all dirt is funneled directly into
the eyes.
- Electrical tape should be used to help secure the drivers helmet
adjustment straps inside the helmet. Many races are lost each year from
the driver’s helmet not being adjusted properly and from the adjustment
strap coming loose during the race. A loose helmet will either flip up
causing wind drag or drop down effecting visibility and control of car.
- Tape an extra wheel pin and wheel washer on the inside the cars body
for safety. Many fall out and get lost during the loading and unloading
operations.
- Recommend a simple tool box with at least the following inventory to
maintain your car before and after the race:
Cleaning fluid and lubricating oil
Emery paper for spindles
Wrenches 7/16, 1/2, 3/8
Allen Wrenches
Regular and Philips screwdrivers
Electric screw driver, spare batteries and charger
Wax and rags
Rags for waxing and for cleaning
Metal file
Wire cutters
Spare car parts (i.e. wheel washers, wheel pins, shell screws and keepers,
Electrical, Scotch, Clear package style tape and duct tape
Tape measure
Utility knife
Pencil or marker
Glue for foam
