Derby Talk

I checked the new gate with my simulated Best Track start line section and it will work with that brand of track with only a couple of minor changes. 1. Longer start pins, due to the height of the BT extrusion. 2. Different mounting holes. I figure just two bolts inserted into the inner hardware cha...

Making progress on this project. Though, I've run into some parts issues which have slowed me down on getting the electronics done. I've got most of that resolved. Two out of the three ways to trigger the gate are working. Triggering from a local push button and a remote corded push button are worki...

I have read quite a bit through your forum and it seems that I am having a hard time finding a timing system that I know will work perfectly with the AWANA Grand Prix track. Should I forgo getting the official AWANA track and go with an outside company that sells a timer that goes a long with it? T...

Looks great! Nice work. Thanks! One other detail that I forgot to mention. I thought that cutting the steel rod and flat bar would be a pain, but I went and got one of those metal cutting diamond blades for a circular saw and put it in my chop saw. It was a 10" chop saw, but I could only find a 7" ...

I haven't really been satisfied with my jury-rigged solenoid start gate setup for my Micro Wizard Freedom track. I use that track use for about 15 Awana races a season. I just hadn't made the time to build something better. I've seen some gravity gates that some of the league guys have come up with....

bracketracer wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 23, 2019 9:30 am

I think the blue lights are to better replicate the current NHRA tree?

Interesting. Hadn't see that version of a tree.

Lots has gone on over the offseason and the start of this season so far. Here's the highlights: + Maximum Velocity sold to Derby Evolution + Stuart Freguson (Micro Wizard) looking to retire and sell his track and timer business + New Pinewood Derby Podcast + eTekGadget's new drag racing setup and ne...

Yes, that is correct. Not sure if they will keep the two separate business names or combine them at some point.

We do wish the best to Randy Davis and his wife as they head off into retirement. We also wish the best to Joel and Ronda Redfearn as they take over Maximum Velocity.

eTekGadget, looks to have made some improvements and new options to their SmartLine timers. They have also improved their website. It looks much more user friendly than their old one. New Enclosure: Looks like they now use the same enclosure to house all of the timer electronics as The Champ timer u...

Well, eTekGadget, the makers of the SmartLine timers (and Champ Timers sold by Best Track) is joining the drag racing bandwagon. They have come out with their own light tree and solenoid release offering. They sell the electronics as a kit, with you having to build the tree structure to mount the li...

A suggestion for your podcasts is to throw out some industry news. Things like Best Track's new servo start gate, Stuart Ferguson looking to retire and selling Micro Wizard and Derby Magic's new drag racing system are some recent events. Maybe even new versions of some popular race software being re...

Derby Magic recently announced that they have a new drag racing system. It includes a light tree, start gate (with a solenoid on each lane) and their race management software. It looks interesting. https://derbymagic.com/drag-racer/ The solenoids can act independently, so each racer has control over...

What I have going now as a prototype that I need to test is a box that goes between the gate and the computer. When the box senses that finish line data has been sent to the computer, it triggers my code, using the longest finish time to go back to the proper moment and show the replay. It works wh...

Could you use a USB webcam with this instead of the PiCamera? With 4 USB ports on the RPi, maybe supporting multiple camera angles would not be too hard to integrate. Have you thought about an external trigger sensor? Not everyone will want to tap into their timer's electronics, especially if it is ...

While my other jig has been handy, I did also make up this simpler jig, which is easier to work with. It has been used at many workshops and has proved to be useful. I certainly don't want anyone leaving a workshop with a finger in a baggie with ice. :eek: So, I do require that one of my jigs be use...