Yep - the ONLY legal wheel-to-wheel racing competition at MOTD is BACK!

This is the official thread for Dragon Draggin, with updates, rule interpretations, and a new-last-year "modified" class that allows pretty much anything 10 ounces or under that doesn't smoke, explode, burn or otherwise create a major safety hazard... as long as it sports a Mini theme, you're IN.

We are limiting the event to 60 entrants, there will be prizes 3 deep (1st, 2nd, 3rd) for the Beauty Contest as well as the Speed contest, and only ONE prize for the fastest in the "Modified" class (7 total trophies). I have the raw materials and the trophies will be crafted before the winter ends. Expect no dried flowers but other than that, there's no limit to the trophy creativity...

If there's interest, we will bump the registration to 75 cars, but y'all have to promise to behave yourselves! Car kits will be shipped in two batches, one batch around Feb 20th and another about 3 weeks later.

And... This year there WILL be Bubba's Homebaked Nut Rolls!

http://store.bubbashomebaked.com/

Questions???

 

The rules for the MODIFIED class are below. While creative rule interpretation in THIS class is appreciated (actually encouraged), as in all rules for this Event, the ruling of the Organizers will be final. Colin's ruling, however, may be influenced by a nice set of racing seats, and mine by a larger rear sway bar for an R53. No guarantees on that, however... We will be placing the safety of the crowd, competitors and their vehicles as paramount.

There will only be ONE winner in this class as it's a "demonstration" class. ALL cars, however, are eligible for the "Beauty Contest".

I will answer interpretation-type questions privately via email or PM, not sharing your ideas or questions with other competitors unless a public clarification is absolutely necessary, or for safety reasons. I am also not competing in the races and won't steal your ideas.

RULES (MODIFIED CLASS)
1. NO INCENDIARY DEVICES! No firecrackers, no combustible or flammable devices of any kind.
2. No devices that would endanger the safety or well-being of the crowd, fellow competitors, competing cars, the track, attract local law enforcement, violate HomeLand Security procedures, or offend Joan Rivers.
3. No devices that would in any way impede the progress of fellow competitors. And nothing that would create a mess. (PLEASE! It's hard enough to clean up as it is!)
4. Weight is a maximum 10 ounces to avoid damage to the track or stopping devices.
5. No nuclear reactors or fissionable material, no operational Flux Capacitors, no antigravity spray, no ignitors, no flame, fire, heat above 120 degrees, or anything that can harm the launching or safety personnel. No hazardous materials, no hallucinogenics, no drunk driving, no driving while medicated, no water cannons. Don't even think of it. And eat all your vegetables. Yes, that means you.
6. All parts of the vehicle must cross the finish line. No parts of the OWNER or SPECTATORS may cross the finish line.
7. Any number of wheels can touch the track. (at least one, please, and we will enforce that, as there is also a "no fly zone" for the purposes of this event!). Axles and wheels are "free" (no limits) but must keep the car in control and not harm the track, competitors, or personnel. No circular razor blades.
8. Length 7" max, width 2 3/4" max, height 3" max (a little over is OK, but if you don't clear the finish line gate don't friggin' come crying to me), no less than 3/8" bottom clearance (see note at bottom of page on bottom clearance!!!). Max weight 10 ounces.
9. The "gravity alone" rule is lifted, for purposes of this event. Creative Propulsion is encouraged, but must be intrinsic to the car (no external devices, fans, rocket motors, etc, and all parts of the car must cross the finish line)
10. The racer must have a "Mini Cooper - related" look and feel. This will perhaps be more loosely interpreted than the "standard" (now called "SPORT") class, see above for influencing factors and rules against hallucinogenics.
11. For Modified Class, the cars can be placed on the track by their owner/creators.

For "regular" class, it's suggested (for purposes of keeping the event moving along) that our Extremely Careful abnd Courteous Track Stewards place the cars carefully and well-alignedly on the track.

ALL PLEASE NOTE: The stopping device on this track, for all classes, is a rubber pad that drags on the bottom of the car. Any weights or protrusions on the bottom of the car may cause the car to flip at the end of the track and become damaged.

It's in your best interest to keep the bottom of the car smooth and free of anything sticky or sticky-outey.

 

Leon, I have the race track all packed up ready to transport down to the Dragon! Our Cub Scout Pack had another very successful Derby. Wow, we have 50 drivers and counting, can't wait for DD.

 

Bubba

 

Wow, packed up already?!? Some one is anxious for MOTD...

 

SO... Jason (an AWESOME Mini friend and local autocross legend) helps me with a supercharger oil change and a BUNCH of "maintenance" on the car (the real one, not the wooden one), including a new pulley to replace the old, worn out one (nudge nudge) and with the Dragon Draggin' 3-lane pinewood derby raceway on the roof I COULDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PULLEY! Rats!

And yes, we ARE anxious for MOTD!

In response to Snooter:

"ROLLS!"

In Dragon Draggin' news: The car kits delivered yesterday, need the bandsaw blade to deliver and this weekend I'll be carving car "blanks" so I can send next week! We have 50+ registered so far, gonna be a great morning of RACING....

 

THE FIRST 53 CAR KITS SHIP OUT TOMORROW! They're as identical as I can make 'em, and due to popular request the front axle notch is a lil' bit bigger so the wood doesn't split. All kits this year start out as "S" models (with spoiler), please cut/ fold/ spindle/ mutilate as much as you'd like!

woot!

(will someone come over and help clean up all this sawdust? sheesh!)

 

Lets see pics of these racers

 

In a pile on my kitchen table, then down to the bandsaw, then into little bags with their instructions, and into yellow envelopes, then OUT THE DOOR!



Now on to making TROPHIES, buying Bubba's Homebaked Nut Rolls - oh and the other prizes...

Hey, heard that Ken and barbie bought a Mini this year... no foolin'! And this may or may not be a prize this year...

 

5th!!!!!!!!!? WOW time flies!!! I remember the first one you put on!!

 

Yeah, so do I! Now we have digital timing and scoring, but the same yay-hoos runnin' the thing...

 

Yay!

 

Leon and Snooter, we now have the track, trailer and most of the car kits shipped, great job. Can I get the 54 drivers, so I can load them into the laptop. I can then run a trial Derby and make sure we have no computer clinches. Thanks. 54 drivers so far, oh baby, another Awesome DD!

 

Col,in, I'll send you the file that Snooter sent me, so we can get 'em loaded up

NOTE: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you're planning on running in the "Modified" class (one trophy, no prize, but all the honor and glory that goes along with being the fastest "cheater" in the room!), please let me know ahead of time so Colin and I can get scoring and timing squared away.

THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT.

Personal comment: After being up to my ankles in sawdust and envelopes and plastic baggies, I always end up wondering if it's worth it. 60 car kits is an awful lot of bandsawing and cleaning and packing and mailing and weekend time. AND I have to call on the always-delightful Mrs DixonL2 to mail 'em all out! BUT... come Race Day when we see all the Art and Engineering that goes into these little babies, it's really awesome, and to see 'em run - Great Big Hairy Fun.

Don't let me down, SHOW ME YOUR STUFF!

 

Drivers being entered in the Draggin' Dragon laptop! Only 6 more spots open, when is the cut-off?

I would like to thank our local Cub Scout Pack 3180 for letting us use their old track again.

 

57 car kits SENT, 3 grid positions remain OPEN. If you have not received your kit in the next couple-three days, please let me know! NOBODY has registered for the Modified class. This is the class with no Prize, but the coolest (and much-coveted) trophy. Trophy pictures coming... the trophies are almost completed!

A reminder: We absolutely encourage creativity, and we see LOTS of it! BUT... if'n you're caught a-cheatin', your car gits its little doggies moved on over to the Modified class, where there's a TEN ounce limit, no prizes, ONE trophy, and almost anything goes (see rules above)!

LESS THAN TWO MONTHS! Don't delay, get carving... you don't want your real mini to smell like wet spray paint because you painted your DD car last-minute...

 

Hey Leon, Tom will probably run modified but he wants to take a look at a few things first before committing. He has been slammed at work lately so not a lot of time for pinewood MINIing yet. Hopefully soon we will be able to let you know.

 

No worries, let me know whenever you can!

 

Leon, do you remember that first Draggin Dragon, many cars being finished in the pit area. We had cars needing as little as putting graphite on the wheels to full cars being shaped and painted. I remember interviewing drivers before the event. Many of them sweating getting the final touches done, someone needing a "big hammer". Good times!

 

Do you still have that video?!? Wow, good times.

I remember one guy spray painting out on the porch, the Gynormous Mini seemingly made of balsa, and double-elimination tournament with only a lil' blinky light to indicate the winner...

we've got some cool prizes this year, a purchased-in-Japan scale Mini model, a couple Countryman scale die casts, and one-or-two other cool things...

...and BUBBA ROLLS! Not to mention a continental breakfast for the racers! (those tiny little hungry drivers inside the teensy pinewood cars...)

 

Email just sent to all registered participants, please let me know if you have any questions!

 

All 57 drivers have been entered into the laptop. Timing and scoring gates, switches and the official scale have been tested and are ready to go.

During check-in/inspection we will need each driver's Dragging' Dragon Mini's name.

Leon, please remember that I leave for Road Atlanta Thursday, April 26th and will head to the Dragon from there on Monday. We will need to confirm all supplies before then. That's only 32 days from now!

 

THIRTY-TWO DAYS!

Colin, can we possibly vibrate with anticipation for that long?
Is that enough time for us to practice our Darrel Waltrip Pit Lane Interview Voices? WE SHALL SEE.

And... this year, I am making a pine wood Mini. For me. I'n deciding whether I want it to go Fast...

or Faster.

BRING IT!

 

Oh, you want to go fast, you want to see really fast, well, I have been thinking of a truely unlimited Mini that no one will be able to touch! Now, if I only didn't give you the track, I could do some testing and tweaking........hey, no testing on that track Dixon!

 

The track is wrapped and won't see daylight until Fontana. :-(

But my OTHER track... (yes, I DO have another!)...

And Colin? The rules DO say "no incendiary devices..."