Search found 16 matches

by nerangers
Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:21 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!
Replies: 15
Views: 28510

Re: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!

I really like seeing the timing of the cars, but after reading a few threads here, I am now a little concerned about it. We purchased the fast track gate and the laser starting line. It sounds like for this to work best, we should change how our gate opens. We do not have a spring activated one, and...
by nerangers
Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:08 pm
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: Conducting a Trials Night - The Race Before The Race?
Replies: 10
Views: 14162

Re: Conducting a Trials Night - The Race Before The Race?

From Saturday to Saturday We do three events around out Pine wood derby. We do a check-in day the weekend before the race. We setup the track, but it does not have a timer on it. The Parents/Kids get a change to tweak their cars and race against a few people. Because we run three different divisions...
by nerangers
Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:26 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!
Replies: 15
Views: 28510

Re: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!

The software likes both "points" and "time". The question mark is your hardware! If your starting gate is not opened by "spring action", then stay away from competition by time. Operator variance can distort times. If you wish to compete by time, then it is important t...
by nerangers
Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:48 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!
Replies: 15
Views: 28510

Re: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!

nerangers, are you planning to race by time? or by points? or by ??? If by time, the PPN schedule is excellent. If by points, the PPN schedule to select finalists is excellent... select 7 finalists and run them using PN final. Other intention??? I am going to check and see what the software can han...
by nerangers
Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:46 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Which race scheduling method do you use?
Replies: 28
Views: 104752

Re: Which race scheduling method do you use?

We have always done double elimination....but am willing to change our approach from what I have read. Someone made the comment that there is not enough racing for those that get knocked out early. We setup an extra track so those kids can race each other. It is funny...some of the kids would rather...
by nerangers
Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:37 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: How to stop!
Replies: 15
Views: 14319

Re: How to stop!

Our pack has used Duck tape. We built 2ft long wooden end section of track with elevated lane dividers. The start at 1/4 thick and wind up a little over 1/2 thick. We then place Duck tape sticky side up over the center section and tape it down. Works really well, cars always stop around 14 inches f...
by nerangers
Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:57 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Slowing cars down at the end of the track...need advice
Replies: 19
Views: 34081

Slowing cars down at the end of the track...need advice

We built our track last year and it works great for us. The one thing I notice though is that the cars come off the track pretty fast and sometimes crash into each other in the pit area that is setup on the end of the track. The end of each lane raises up on the end to try and slow the car down. I t...
by nerangers
Sun Mar 26, 2006 2:50 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!
Replies: 15
Views: 28510

Re: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!

Well it is that time again...We did our check-in yesterday and have 68 Cars. Three Divisions: RR - 22 cars M - 17 OD - 29 This year we want to race using all four tracks. We made the investment in the Microwizard Gate. We purchased the GrandPrix Race Manager Software. Life has been so busy I have no...
by nerangers
Sat Oct 08, 2005 4:34 pm
Forum: Commercial
Topic: Most Bang for the Buck?
Replies: 6
Views: 10028

Most Bang for the Buck?

Hi All, We have wanted to get an electronic timer for some time, but our group could never really afford it. This year we built a new four lane track. We had someone donate $300 to purchase a new gate for it. I am looking for input of what would be good with that kind of budget. From what I have bee...
by nerangers
Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:15 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Building your own track
Replies: 13
Views: 20774

Re: Building your own track

We did the four lane track. I like how your stopping gate is. Our is a box with foam in it cut out like speed bumps. Even with this some hit the end (which was padded with two inches of foam. I wonder if it is better to have something just at the end of the track for it to hit and let it roll back o...
by nerangers
Sun Apr 10, 2005 6:03 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Building your own track
Replies: 13
Views: 20774

Re: Building your own track

We just built this one. http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/derby/track/ The directions were good to follow. All the measurements are there. I was surprised though at the final cost for us. $275 I am sure it could be built cheaper. I think the carpenter in our church went for the very best! :) (I think he s...
by nerangers
Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:14 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!
Replies: 15
Views: 28510

Re: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!

Between the Excel Charts and Elimination tables, we kept things moving well. We actually handled twenty more cars this time and still got done in the same amount of time! (53 cars in all, double elimination, in three hours). This is only slightly longer than needed for our district races where grou...
by nerangers
Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:40 pm
Forum: Construction Workshops
Topic: Doing alignment at the workshop
Replies: 17
Views: 29604

Re: Doing alignment at the workshop

Our goal is to make sure the kids cars will make it down the track and win some races hopefully. We offer a day at one of the Commanders woodshops. We have a parent come out with the child and work on the cars. We have the official scale there so they can weigh the cars too to get it close before pa...
by nerangers
Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:27 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!
Replies: 15
Views: 28510

Re: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!

We had an awesome day of racing yesterday!!! I ended up doing my charts in Excel to keep it easy to score. It took a little time to figure out, but once I got down the basic formula, it worked out well. In each heat, you just needed to mark which cars won and lost, and it would fill in the remaining...
by nerangers
Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:17 pm
Forum: Scheduling Methods
Topic: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!
Replies: 15
Views: 28510

Re: Going from three line to four lane - Help!!!

Need to know about capabilities ... Can you reliably record times for each car in each heat? Can you reliably identify finish place in heats? Can you reliably identify heat winner? Do you think that having 4 lanes available requires that you use 4 lanes? Depending on the answers, we can suggest 1. ...