Post by SKR on Nov 13, 2010 7:06:54 GMT -7
Building a HO Drag Strip with a quality timing system that shows Reaction Times, Elapsed Times, Actual MPH and also has Dial In capabilities for Bracket racing might not be as expensive as you think. Track Mate offers a budget timing system that is perfect for club racing.
If you are new to the Slot Hobby and do not have track of any sort then I suggest shopping Flea Markets, Craigslist, Ebay, Yard Sales or find a local slot car club and ask some of the members there if they have any track to sell, you'll probably come across a few that have home set tracks, power supplies and controllers to give away if it's going to build a track the club can also race on.
I suggest you use two of the home sets power terminal tracks to seperate each lanes power, use one power supply for each lane (talking about the ones that come with the home sets to start), any home set controller will work fine. Once you get up and running, invite the gang over to have a Bracket race so that it introduces them to Drag Racing. I say Bracket racing because it doesn't matter how fast or slow you car is. As long as you can run close to your dial in and get a good reaction time off of the line.... then you will do fine (more on Bracket racing below). No need to start the gang off by whipping up on them with some heads up racing. Once you estabish a core group of guys then discuss what heads up classes you want to run, come up with rules or go by another sanctions class rules. If you start running heads up races and modifying cars then you will need to upgrade your track power to better suit your needs.
Heads Up Drag Racers are driven by and addicted to shaving their E/T's by even the smallest margin so if you have a timed strip and Drag Racing enthusiast in your area, you will have racers.
A inexpensive, depedable, PROVEN timing system can be had for around $120 from Track Mate.
Trackmate's site:
www.trackmateracing.com/default.asp
Specs are:
No need for an expensive computer
Requires 386, 486, Pentium (no hard drive required) or Laptop
1/1000 second resolution
Supports on screen Pro Tree and Full Tree
Supports Dial-in times for bracket racing
Infrared sensors for accurate timing
Diagnostic sensor test
Displays reaction time, elapsed time and win margin
Displays all races ran with sorting capabilities. Sort on ETs etc.
Can customize to your needs
Includes cable and four sensors (ten sensors on pro version)
Running a race
Select type of tree
Enter the name of each racer and their dialin if required.
Place cars on track to cover prestage sensors
Start race (hit 1 key from main menu)
After a small delay the tree will count down
Sensors on Drag Budget version
----1- -------------------------- --------------------------------2---------------
----1- -------------------------- --------------------------------2---------------
1 = Start
2 = Finish line sensor
System Requirements:
IBM compatible ranging from an old 386 to a Pentium .
Monochrome or color screen, will work on all types.
One floppy drive.
One parallel port (printer port).
Dos 3.1 or higher. (Must run from DOS)
For Windows 95, 98 go to start - shutdown and restart in MS-DOS mode.
What is Bracket Racing?
Bracket racing is a form of drag racing whereby vehicles of different performance levels can compete on a potentially even basis. The anticipated elapsed times are compared for each vehicle, with the slower car receiving a head start equal to the difference of the two. With this system, virtually any two vehicles can be paired in a competitive drag race.
How it works
If car A chooses a dial of 16.00 seconds and car B chooses a dial of 14.50, car A will get a 1.5-second head start. The win will goes to the driver who crosses the finish line first. In TrakMate software simply enter the dial-in for both drivers and the tree will come down staggered giving one lane the appropriate head start. Bracket racing only works with the Full Tree.
Disqualifications
If a driver runs quicker than his or her dial, he or she is said to break out and is disqualified. If both drivers run quicker than their dials, the win goes to the driver who breaks out by the least. A foul start, or red-light, takes precedent over a breakout, so a driver who red-lights is automatically disqualified even if his or her opponent breaks out. If both red-light the driver who red-lighted first loses.TrakMate Drag software takes care of all this and will display appropriate winner.
Choosing a Dialin
For example: car "A" has recorded times of 17.78, 17.74, and 17.76, and the driver feels that a "dial-in" of 17.74 is appropriate. Meanwhile, driver "B", has recorded times of 15.27, 15.22, and 15.26 on the same track, and has opted for a dial-in of 15.22. Accordingly, car "A" will get a 2.5 second (17.75-15.25=2.5) head start over car "B" when the Tree counts down to each car's starting green light.
Strategy
Picking a Dialin that is too slow and you are more likely to break out. Pick a Dial-in that is too quick and you will receive less of a head start or your opponent will receive more of a head start. Having a car that runs consistent ETs will help.
www.trackmateracing.com/
If you are new to the Slot Hobby and do not have track of any sort then I suggest shopping Flea Markets, Craigslist, Ebay, Yard Sales or find a local slot car club and ask some of the members there if they have any track to sell, you'll probably come across a few that have home set tracks, power supplies and controllers to give away if it's going to build a track the club can also race on.
I suggest you use two of the home sets power terminal tracks to seperate each lanes power, use one power supply for each lane (talking about the ones that come with the home sets to start), any home set controller will work fine. Once you get up and running, invite the gang over to have a Bracket race so that it introduces them to Drag Racing. I say Bracket racing because it doesn't matter how fast or slow you car is. As long as you can run close to your dial in and get a good reaction time off of the line.... then you will do fine (more on Bracket racing below). No need to start the gang off by whipping up on them with some heads up racing. Once you estabish a core group of guys then discuss what heads up classes you want to run, come up with rules or go by another sanctions class rules. If you start running heads up races and modifying cars then you will need to upgrade your track power to better suit your needs.
Heads Up Drag Racers are driven by and addicted to shaving their E/T's by even the smallest margin so if you have a timed strip and Drag Racing enthusiast in your area, you will have racers.
A inexpensive, depedable, PROVEN timing system can be had for around $120 from Track Mate.
Trackmate's site:
www.trackmateracing.com/default.asp
Specs are:
No need for an expensive computer
Requires 386, 486, Pentium (no hard drive required) or Laptop
1/1000 second resolution
Supports on screen Pro Tree and Full Tree
Supports Dial-in times for bracket racing
Infrared sensors for accurate timing
Diagnostic sensor test
Displays reaction time, elapsed time and win margin
Displays all races ran with sorting capabilities. Sort on ETs etc.
Can customize to your needs
Includes cable and four sensors (ten sensors on pro version)
Running a race
Select type of tree
Enter the name of each racer and their dialin if required.
Place cars on track to cover prestage sensors
Start race (hit 1 key from main menu)
After a small delay the tree will count down
Sensors on Drag Budget version
----1- -------------------------- --------------------------------2---------------
----1- -------------------------- --------------------------------2---------------
1 = Start
2 = Finish line sensor
System Requirements:
IBM compatible ranging from an old 386 to a Pentium .
Monochrome or color screen, will work on all types.
One floppy drive.
One parallel port (printer port).
Dos 3.1 or higher. (Must run from DOS)
For Windows 95, 98 go to start - shutdown and restart in MS-DOS mode.
What is Bracket Racing?
Bracket racing is a form of drag racing whereby vehicles of different performance levels can compete on a potentially even basis. The anticipated elapsed times are compared for each vehicle, with the slower car receiving a head start equal to the difference of the two. With this system, virtually any two vehicles can be paired in a competitive drag race.
How it works
If car A chooses a dial of 16.00 seconds and car B chooses a dial of 14.50, car A will get a 1.5-second head start. The win will goes to the driver who crosses the finish line first. In TrakMate software simply enter the dial-in for both drivers and the tree will come down staggered giving one lane the appropriate head start. Bracket racing only works with the Full Tree.
Disqualifications
If a driver runs quicker than his or her dial, he or she is said to break out and is disqualified. If both drivers run quicker than their dials, the win goes to the driver who breaks out by the least. A foul start, or red-light, takes precedent over a breakout, so a driver who red-lights is automatically disqualified even if his or her opponent breaks out. If both red-light the driver who red-lighted first loses.TrakMate Drag software takes care of all this and will display appropriate winner.
Choosing a Dialin
For example: car "A" has recorded times of 17.78, 17.74, and 17.76, and the driver feels that a "dial-in" of 17.74 is appropriate. Meanwhile, driver "B", has recorded times of 15.27, 15.22, and 15.26 on the same track, and has opted for a dial-in of 15.22. Accordingly, car "A" will get a 2.5 second (17.75-15.25=2.5) head start over car "B" when the Tree counts down to each car's starting green light.
Strategy
Picking a Dialin that is too slow and you are more likely to break out. Pick a Dial-in that is too quick and you will receive less of a head start or your opponent will receive more of a head start. Having a car that runs consistent ETs will help.
www.trackmateracing.com/
