Lets buy some scales

#1

Fred and I got to talking about scales this morning.

I’ve come to mistrust the scales that I have access to, therefore I’ve no good way to corner balance my car, much less confirm my race weight.

The scales at Roebling work, but they’re old so I want a 2nd opinion.

The scales at CMP can’t be trusted.

The NASA scales haven’t worked in a while.

Possible solutions.

  1. A bunch of us get together and buy a set of scales. Assume $500 to $1k depending on whether we get used or new. We bring them to events and if you, those that contributed to the scale fund, want to take them home after an event, go ahead.

  2. A couple us get together and buy a set of scales. We bring them to events If you want to borrow Scott and Fred’s scales you pay.

  3. There’s some interesting ideas where folks have used multiple bathroom scales to get the job done. Cheap and reliable. Kinda trailer-parkish tho.

  4. We could come up with a fair way to buy SE-SpecE30 scales that would be collectively owned by SE SpecE30. Something like I buy the scales and every SE SpecE30 current and future owes me $50. Some years from now that ought to break even and by then I won’t care.

We’d probably have to come up with some kind of ramp solution too.

You guys interested in coughing up some $$ for scales? Any of these ideas appeal to you? Have a better idea?

#2

For what it’s worth, at Road A the NASA guys had scales with all 4 pads, ramps, the whole shebang, and the readings seemed (to me) to be reasonable, so not sure the situation is as dire.

Also, the CMP scales in February were actually consistent. Meaning, weigh, do something (burn gas, add gas, add ballast, etc.) then weigh again, and the resulting weight seemed to reflect the action taken.

#3

For race weekends, I’m not sure what the point would be. You follow the scale readings that are at the track. If the scale is light, you put some weight in. If heavy, run less fuel.

I’ve never been to a race weekend where the scales are not correct, and they use someone else’s readings, or stop weighing cars.

In terms of SE30 or each region owning a set of scales…I’d love to think I will be with SE30 forever, but I know I’m not. Why would I pitch in?

#4

It is the [color=#ff0000]competitors responsibly[/color] to insure his car makes weight on the scales provided at the track. If you have the least bit of doubt, weigh your car at the track. Most places (RA, RR) weigh my car 20-30# heavier than my Longacre scales.

#5

I have had the experience of going over a set of track scales 3 times within 5 minutes and getting wildly (60lbs) different numbers. Having said that… lately the track scales at CMP and RA have appeared to be right on the numbers.
But what Scott and I were also thinking about is being able to look at your corner weights, weigh the car with a known quantity of gas, move your cool shirt around, etc. - in other words all the stuff that’s kind of inconvenient to do at the track.

#6

[quote=“Foglght” post=71614]For race weekends, I’m not sure what the point would be. You follow the scale readings that are at the track. If the scale is light, you put some weight in. If heavy, run less fuel.

I’ve never been to a race weekend where the scales are not correct, and they use someone else’s readings, or stop weighing cars.

In terms of SE30 or each region owning a set of scales…I’d love to think I will be with SE30 forever, but I know I’m not. Why would I pitch in?[/quote]
You wouldn’t pitch in, you’re not in the SE. I’ve no idea what issues the other regions might be having in getting accurate scales, so the problems that I described don’t necessarily apply to other regions.

#7

[quote=“ctbimmer” post=71612]For what it’s worth, at Road A the NASA guys had scales with all 4 pads, ramps, the whole shebang, and the readings seemed (to me) to be reasonable, so not sure the situation is as dire.

Also, the CMP scales in February were actually consistent. Meaning, weigh, do something (burn gas, add gas, add ballast, etc.) then weigh again, and the resulting weight seemed to reflect the action taken.[/quote]

My recollection is that NASA was using only 2 of 4 scales all last year, and that the CMP scales have always been light and erratic. Maybe NASA got their scales fixed at the end of last year and CMP more recently, I dunno. What I do recall is being frustrated.

#8

[quote=“Ranger” post=71620][quote=“Foglght” post=71614]For race weekends, I’m not sure what the point would be. You follow the scale readings that are at the track. If the scale is light, you put some weight in. If heavy, run less fuel.

I’ve never been to a race weekend where the scales are not correct, and they use someone else’s readings, or stop weighing cars.

In terms of SE30 or each region owning a set of scales…I’d love to think I will be with SE30 forever, but I know I’m not. Why would I pitch in?[/quote]
You wouldn’t pitch in, you’re not in the SE. I’ve no idea what issues the other regions might be having in getting accurate scales, so the problems that I described don’t necessarily apply to other regions.[/quote]

I don’t even know where to start with those comments…like I just now realized with your comment how regions work and where I live.

/sarcasm