[Nico]

Hi,

As my club might add a routed H0 road racing track I wanted to ask you for your experiences on timing system. It will be a 3 lane track and the most common races would be IROC races. So cars stay on their lane, drivers have to drive all 3 lanes.

What are your experiences?

Thanks a lot in advance, 
Nico

[woodcote]

I think Trackmate is difficult to beat with HO set-ups.

At WHO we use it with our AFX track and a four lane custom-made dead strip. We use the Trackmate software without driver names or rotation and put the results into an Excel-based spreadsheet.

At home, I use Trackmate on my two lane AFX road course and my four lane MaxTrax oval. One both I use reed switches as sensors, which work with almost all cars - T-Jets, X-Tractions, G+,Tomy Turbos, SG+, Tyco, Wizzard, Viper, BSRT and Life Like M. Modern cars with dual neo traction magnets (Mega-G, Mega-G+, Life Like T, Micro Scalextric, AW 4-Gear and JAGs) do need the magnets set up so they trigger the switch.

I use the Trackmate software with drivers and rotation - and it works well. There's also the option of using Race Coordinator.

[Nico]

Thanks for the very helpfull information!!!!

Nobody uses any of the new systems with their mobile phones?

Nico

[woodcote]

I use the LapTracker-Auto Timer app on iPhone and iPad for single car testing, rally stages etc. It can be used with multiple cars (up to 4 lanes), although setting up the phone to ensure no false lap counting will take time. Ideally, you want a rigid frame to place the phone over the track, so it doesn’t move and there are no moving shadows to trigger a lap. Something like Lego would be a good prototyping material.

I’d also recommend having mains power nearby so you can plug in a charger - or use an auxiliary power pack. Also use the phone in airplane mode…

An app is certainly a cheap alternative. The raw data must be recorded in a spreadsheet or to a piece of paper. You can do a screen grab of the results for reference. Here’s a single car screen…

   

[Nico]

Thanks again for your experiences shared!!!!!!

Nico

[Gordon Steadman]

I have Laptracker too. However, as mentioned shadows can be a problem with false readings.

As a quick and dirty temporary solution for home running it's great though. I wouldn't use it for any serious competition.