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Post by SKR on Sept 2, 2008 8:21:15 GMT -7
If you have a track and a computer you can be drag racing on a timed track for $119. Looks like a great deal. Anybody have this system and want to share a little about how well it works?
Trackmate's site:
www.trackmateracing.com/default.asp
Features:
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.
You can probably pick up an old IBM compatible system for free. Many companies and maybe where you work have old 386 or even 486 collecting dust, so go and ask if they would be willing to give you one.
I'm not sure if this is the exact system but I imagine it is similar with the christmas tree displayed on the computer screen.
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Post by 440gtx on Sept 2, 2008 13:54:26 GMT -7
I've been using this setup for over a year now. For $120 you can't beat it. I have run it with no problems on an old 400mhz pentium 2. I also run it on am Ibm thinkpad that my buddy gave me. The only draw back that I can find is that the speed isn't exact. The program uses the length of the car (which you have to enter) and how long the finish line sensor is covered to calculate the speed.
There is only one staging sensor per lane, so as long as the car is behind it there is no red light.
You can even log runs and sort them later by driver, et, speed, reaction time.
I looked at the 2000, but for another $330 I just could not justify spending the extra money. If I had a club or a large group that I raced with regularly I might reconsider the 2000. For now the basic fills all of my needs.
Sam that is a screen shot of my system. That is the run where my daughter and I tied. Her rt + et = my rt+ et.
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Post by 440gtx on Sept 2, 2008 13:59:25 GMT -7
One more thing, you do not have to restart your computer in dos mode. I run win 98 on both of my computers. I just click the icon and the program starts everytime.
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Post by SKR on Sept 2, 2008 14:21:39 GMT -7
Thanks for the info 440gtx. I swiped your photo from your thread. I thought this was the same set up but was unsure. Good to know you don't need to start up the system and run the program with dos. I got the specs off of their site and I think I remember Phil saying that his first trackmate system was running in dos. I could be wrong.
We felt the same way about spending more for all the intermediate sensors and win lights that come with DP 3000. We did want the external tree for our track but couldn't justify spending the extra money for the extra bells and whistles. So with the external tree and speed trap sensors that came with DP2000, we're happy with it.
Someday we plan on doing a portable track and I think this $120 system would be perfect for it.
Just think guys if you have the track, computer and a power source you could be drag racing your buddies for about what it cost to fill up a full size pick up truck with fuel.
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Post by allstarhr on Sept 2, 2008 15:31:42 GMT -7
Your right Sam. I have a couple of these systems. However, one I have has 6 sensors. One for each lane of the starting line and one start MPH and one finish MPH/end ET sensor. With just a little math it was easy to set up for accurate MPH. His newer $119.00 systems went to 4 total sensors. The comment about one sensor at the starting line makes it the same as full size drag racing. When any track using lights and photocells sets up the starting line before a race they check the roll out. A very small movement of the light source can change roll out by inches. Also the driver with the larger diameter front tire gets a longer head start with any system in use. That's why many rules designate the max diameter of the front tire. Otherwise we would have bracket cars pulling up to the starting line with 50" tall front tires. So with the cheaper Trackmate system works similar and we have one really sharp racer in Orlando who has it down. He doesn't realize the rest of us are on to him for putting a 1/2" diplane on the front of his HO car. He now has a much bigger rolling start before he red-lights! We won't mention Demon's name  but we will fix him soon! See, we use a DP2000 system and I just haven't taken the time to wire in the pre-stage sensor. Coming soon...Demon red-lights! ;D The cheaper system could easily be made to work fairly by just making all racer's run pretty much the same length car. No dragsters vs Cobras and it would be equally fair. Otherwise all would be running the longest car possible. On my 1/8th mile track that's 8'-9" timed. I could run a "limo" car that's 9'-0" long; deep stage till the front bumper was 1/8" from the finish line and I think I'd have a winner every time! Hey! Wait a minute! It's not in the rules that it's illegal! I should win the Sept. races!! ;D |
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Post by 440gtx on Sept 2, 2008 16:05:27 GMT -7
I don't see how the length of the car makes a difference. The cars line up behind the sensor. If you take off too early and block the sensor you red light.
This setup allows you to adjust for your reaction time by car placement. Move your car closer to speed it up, move back to slow it down. If your car leaves too quick just move it back a little bit ( 1/16 - 1/8 inch). It's like shallow staging in a 1:1 car.
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Post by johnbalich on Sept 2, 2008 16:36:39 GMT -7
Phil I have podered this before without understanding.....maybe i am getting it at last. The taller tire is closer to the finish line right??? Take that theoretical 50 inch tall tire.
If the same part of the tire trips the start and finish timers.....the E>T is unchanged.......but unless the eyes are at O inches above ground level the tall tire finishes infinitessimally sooner, Right?? ( I am asumming they stage equally)
Back to the rolling start of a shallow stage.......your et will be lower, but your leave time later right? oh wait i get it!! if he times his rolling start perfectly, he hits the 'start' light at 00.00 reaction time but hes already rolling!
Now can someone explain why you would deep stage? To minutely shorten the run to the win light?
This was all so much simpler with a flagman!!
Oh here is another trak mate question. Can one buy the lesser system and then upgrade later by adding lights? Buy in stages plan??
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Post by SKR on Sept 2, 2008 16:41:41 GMT -7
440, I think Phil is talking about his new system where your car has to break the beam to show that the car is staged. If a longer car was raced then the sensor would be covered for a longer period while taking off allowing that guy to get a jump on the other lane. The finish line line sensor is tripped when the car breaks the beam. Doesn't really matter in Bracket racing but I could see it working in heads up racing.
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Post by johnbalich on Sept 2, 2008 16:43:43 GMT -7
ive got a headache lol
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Post by 440gtx on Sept 2, 2008 17:10:02 GMT -7
SKR, is Allstarhr Phil? I don't have all of the names down yet. Maybe he is talking about his system, but I do know that a longer car doesn't have a roll out advantage on my track.
John, the basic can not be upgraded. The 2000 and the 3000 have a remote IO module to control the tree and win lights. The IO box also monitors all of the sensors. He can get away with going straight into the parallell port with the basic because he only needs 4 inputs for the sensors.
440
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Post by allstarhr on Sept 2, 2008 17:44:01 GMT -7
SKR is Sam or Psycho Sam. Allstarhr is me, Phil.
Both the cheap system we were using and the 2000 required me to block the beam to stage. Is the new cheap system different?
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Post by allstarhr on Sept 2, 2008 17:50:12 GMT -7
On 1:1 racing the starting line beam is 3" off the ground. If you take a 20" dia. tire the distance from when the beam is first broken when you roll a tire into it to the back edge of the tire at that height (3") is approx. 16". Do the same thing with a 40" dia. tire and the rollout distance would be about double at 32". What happens if you shallow stage is your car gets a running start of an extra 16" and will lower your et. You get a bigger running start. If however you deep stage your car is closer to the finish line and you shortened the track. The Pro drivers also do it screw with the other guy. Did you hear Fast Jack B's comments yesterday about Hight after he lost to Hight in the final?
Oh... The finish line beam is 6" off the ground which is the standard but weird since the starting line is only 3" and is why the rules state that the front overhang on a car is limited to 36" from the centerline of the front tire. You see the starting line beam stages the car on the tire while the finish line beam is broken by the front bumper which could easily be 2 feet closer. It's why the altereds now have the "cow catcher" front ends. They have the same distance to play with that the 89 Firebirds and Camaro's have that way.
John, your right. It was more fun with a flagman.
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Post by 440gtx on Sept 2, 2008 18:09:09 GMT -7
Allstarhr, how old is your basic system? I got mine last year. It requires the sensor to see light as the tree comes down. (car behind the eye) If you line the car up over the sensor the pre stage lights come on. As soon as the tree starts you get a red light. when the race is over you get a rt of -1.999. If you jump the start and cover the eye you will get a red light. Also on a full tree, .500 is still a perfect light.
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Post by allstarhr on Sept 2, 2008 18:27:46 GMT -7
I think mine is 3 years old. Daniel at Trackmate did make changes to the systems over the years.
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Post by johnbalich on Sept 2, 2008 18:59:18 GMT -7
thanks Phil...once i realized the beams couldnt be "0" inches above the ground it cleared up for me... so i get a gold star on both, right?? deep stage = shorter run shallow stage = running start
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but we will fix him soon! See, we use a DP2000 system and I just haven't taken the time to wire in the pre-stage sensor. Coming soon...Demon red-lights! ;D 