[CMOTD]

A timing system for a slot track is one of the simplest jobs you can ever ask a computer to do. An RMS (Race Management System) uses a tiny fraction of a computer's capabilities so any cheap second hand/refurbished one running XP or later will do just fine. You do not need the latest all singing and dancing one!

To register laps you need some photo resistors and IR LEDs - both cheap as chips. So long as you can handle a soldering iron (or know a man who can) then you don't actually need the latest hardware from TrackMate or Viasue.

Add a race management program like Race Coordinator and you are good to go. RC will work on any Windows computer running XP or later.

None of the above are the latest hardware and they will work just fine, even connected to the much maligned parallel port. Of course, if you are one of the 'must have new technology now' brigade and change your mobile phone every year, even though your existing one is perfectly satisfactory, then you can no doubt spend large amounts of cash on a brand new plug and play system. That is your prerogative but it is really not necessary for a simple rally loop like the one that Stuart has. The SCX Rally Chrono wasn't a bad bit of kit and there is no reason he can't continue to use it with a few tweeks. As he says, he already possesses everything he needs to set things up. If he wants to add some more bells and whistles he can always go down the Arduino route a bit later.

Like other posters I would also recommend he takes a look at Race Coordinator as an alternative. It is free to download so why not give it a go? It is almost certainly the best RMS out there. Do make a donation to the very worthwhile charity if you keep using it though.