18th-Oct-19, 02:08 PM
Your track is looking good Johnno 
We use Trackmate hardware and software at Worthing HO Racing and have done so for about eight years. I also use the hardware and software at home on my HO test track and on my 4-lane routed HO bullring oval. Here is Trackmate in action at WHO and on the oval...
At the club, we use v.8.40 of the Trackmate software with a deadstrip. We use Trackmate as a stand-alone timer and use a separate Excel-based spreadsheet to run the evening - we input data manually into the spreadsheet. At home, I use a later version (v.8.71) with reed switches as sensors - these work fine with all the HO cars I run. For the oval racing, we set up Trackmate to run a rotation race, but also record the scores manually. I should really update to the latest v.9.41 from earlier this year...
Probably the biggest compliment I can give to Trackmate is that I really don't notice it. It simply does the job with absolutely no dramas and no arguments. No missed laps, a clear de-bounce (if a sub-minimum lap time is trigged) and a clear indication if a car has counted a lap at the end of a timed race.
I'm not aware of other people having major issues with Trackmate. The track interface hardware is as solid and reliable as there is. Daniel updates the software regularly to iron out any bugs and to add or improve features. It's no surprise that stand-alone race management programmes are often designed to work with the Trackmate interface or recommend it. Quite a few HO, 1/32 and 1/24 clubs in the UK now use Race Coordinator, often with the Trackmate interface. The majority of serious Slot Car Drag Racing series use the Trackmate drag racing package.
Having said that, it is important to understand how the hardware and software works. You can have a good look round the software now before you get your track - download from here. There are some limitations with the hardware, but that is often down to the lap sensing. For example, if you are using a light bridge and sensors, there is always the risk of a de-slotted car triggering all four lanes if it crosses the start/finish line on its roof! That's why setting a minimum lap time is important (and adjust it if you are running slower or quicker classes of car).
If you will have more that four racers, then you can have someone sitting on 'Race Control' running Trackmate and others marshalling cars at corners. If you have four (or less), then you'll need a stop button (you might have this in the package) so the drivers can pause the racing to re-slot cars.
I'd always recommend spending time with the software and - starting with the basics of running a simple race - just see how it works. Then gradually add more features in. Daniel has a basic outline of features, plus video and troubleshooting guide on the Trackmate website.
What were the issues these other clubs and individual were having? And are there any you are particularly worried about?
We use Trackmate hardware and software at Worthing HO Racing and have done so for about eight years. I also use the hardware and software at home on my HO test track and on my 4-lane routed HO bullring oval. Here is Trackmate in action at WHO and on the oval...
At the club, we use v.8.40 of the Trackmate software with a deadstrip. We use Trackmate as a stand-alone timer and use a separate Excel-based spreadsheet to run the evening - we input data manually into the spreadsheet. At home, I use a later version (v.8.71) with reed switches as sensors - these work fine with all the HO cars I run. For the oval racing, we set up Trackmate to run a rotation race, but also record the scores manually. I should really update to the latest v.9.41 from earlier this year...
Probably the biggest compliment I can give to Trackmate is that I really don't notice it. It simply does the job with absolutely no dramas and no arguments. No missed laps, a clear de-bounce (if a sub-minimum lap time is trigged) and a clear indication if a car has counted a lap at the end of a timed race.
I'm not aware of other people having major issues with Trackmate. The track interface hardware is as solid and reliable as there is. Daniel updates the software regularly to iron out any bugs and to add or improve features. It's no surprise that stand-alone race management programmes are often designed to work with the Trackmate interface or recommend it. Quite a few HO, 1/32 and 1/24 clubs in the UK now use Race Coordinator, often with the Trackmate interface. The majority of serious Slot Car Drag Racing series use the Trackmate drag racing package.
Having said that, it is important to understand how the hardware and software works. You can have a good look round the software now before you get your track - download from here. There are some limitations with the hardware, but that is often down to the lap sensing. For example, if you are using a light bridge and sensors, there is always the risk of a de-slotted car triggering all four lanes if it crosses the start/finish line on its roof! That's why setting a minimum lap time is important (and adjust it if you are running slower or quicker classes of car).
If you will have more that four racers, then you can have someone sitting on 'Race Control' running Trackmate and others marshalling cars at corners. If you have four (or less), then you'll need a stop button (you might have this in the package) so the drivers can pause the racing to re-slot cars.
I'd always recommend spending time with the software and - starting with the basics of running a simple race - just see how it works. Then gradually add more features in. Daniel has a basic outline of features, plus video and troubleshooting guide on the Trackmate website.
What were the issues these other clubs and individual were having? And are there any you are particularly worried about?
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