Search found 32 matches

by knavekid
Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:11 pm
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: PC Question for those in the know
Replies: 6
Views: 9697

Re: PC Question for those in the know

Also check out www.slickdeals.net - occasional deals show up there I second watching slickdeals.net - I have that site as my home page! Dell is having a clearance sale right now on Latitude notebook computers, which is their business line. See them here: Latitude Clearance Sale These are a step up ...
by knavekid
Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:46 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Photos
Topic: 60's Car
Replies: 8
Views: 9184

Re: 60's Car

I saw this topic and had to dig out an old scan of a snapshot of my 60's Pinewood Derby cars. The black car in the foreground was my car from my first PWD. The blue car was my car for the following year. The red car was my younger brother's car from the same PWD. The black car and one of the other c...
by knavekid
Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:49 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Track Times
Replies: 41
Views: 28686

Re: Track Times

I use the microswitch with a K3 timer and I ordered a laser gate but yet to install it. So far I have been satisfied with the microswitch. I was wondering if there is a way to use the laser gate in conjunction with the microswitch. Where the laser gate would signal the finish line. I would love to ...
by knavekid
Wed Jan 30, 2008 7:27 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Track Times
Replies: 41
Views: 28686

Re: Track Times

Both magnetic (hall-effect) and mechanical (micro-switch) sense the motion of the gate as it is released from its locked position. The hall-effect should be more consistent from event to event as it triggers at a specific location. The micro-switch has a spring arm that relaxes as the gate moves fro...
by knavekid
Wed Jan 30, 2008 3:00 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Build Test Track from Whiteboard (i.e., melamine)?
Replies: 16
Views: 32136

Re: Build Test Track from Whiteboard (i.e., melamine)?

While reading this topic, I had the idea that for a multi-lane test track with a timer, the lane guide for each lane could be different to simulate various track types. A smooth vinyl guide could simulate new or aluminum tracks, a wood guide for wood tracks, and perhaps a less than ideal wood guide ...
by knavekid
Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:52 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Track questions and more ! Expert replies needed
Replies: 17
Views: 13532

Re: Track questions and more ! Expert replies needed

We have a new 40' Paintedosi anodized aluminum Freedom track with Microwizard timer and a microswitch on the start gate.

Our rules require using the provided axle slots, no wheel mods, and they allow only removing irregularities and polishing the axles.

The fastest time was 3.179 seconds.
by knavekid
Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:17 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: 2008 Local pack results !
Replies: 13
Views: 10308

Re: 2008 Local pack results !

We had much success at the PWD this past Saturday. My son (green car) took the Webelos 1st place trophy and went on to become the pack champ. My wife (orange car) and daughter ("phone" car) had cars in the open class (same rules), and took 1st and 2nd. Based on the elapsed times, my wife's...
by knavekid
Fri Jan 25, 2008 11:06 am
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: Speed and Design Trophies Judged Seperate or Together
Replies: 10
Views: 12356

Re: Speed and Design Trophies Judged Seperate or Together

I probably should reword my post to say 1,2,3 for each rank, 1,2,3 for pack, and 1,2,3 for open. We only have one den of each rank in our pack.
by knavekid
Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:33 am
Forum: Planning, Preps & Running the Race
Topic: Speed and Design Trophies Judged Seperate or Together
Replies: 10
Views: 12356

Re: Speed and Design Trophies Judged Seperate or Together

Our pack only awards trophies for the racing - 1,2,3 for each den, 1,2,3 for pack, and 1,2,3 for open. The pack winners will go home with two trophies (den and pack). We also award certificates for enough categories that every scout gets one. At the end of the day, every scout gets to come up and be...
by knavekid
Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:38 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Is using the track/timer to adjust cars before races legal?
Replies: 27
Views: 17854

Re: Is using the track/timer to adjust cars before races leg

I am the co-coordinator for our PWD and we just bought and assembled a new anodized Freedom track with a MicroWizard timer. We assembled the track last Saturday at my office as it had an available open area. We took the opportunity to test the track and integrate the new timer with the race manageme...
by knavekid
Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:52 pm
Forum: Software
Topic: Software without Timers
Replies: 4
Views: 7523

Re: Software without Timers

We have used RaceView for years with the stand-alone timer and manual entry. The software keeps track of the racers, lanes, and scoring and you simply enter the results of each race. We recently upgraded our track and timer and will be using the same software for automatic scoring and elapsed time d...
by knavekid
Thu Jan 17, 2008 10:12 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: What's the Hot setup?
Replies: 15
Views: 11166

Re: What's the Hot setup?

To be able to run on any track, you would be limited in what you can do to your car and still meet all of the rules (if that is possible). For a car with four wheels tracking, axles in the original slots, and no wheel mods, these are basic to building a fast car (in my opinion): 1. Axle closest to t...
by knavekid
Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:45 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Photo Finish options
Replies: 25
Views: 32764

Re: Photo Finish options

What I did notice from that implementation is that the camera was situated above the track and looking down. This is as opposed to the common photo-finish application where the camera is looking across the finish line from the side. From the side, it is more readily evident which car is the winner a...
by knavekid
Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:06 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Photo Finish options
Replies: 25
Views: 32764

Re: Photo Finish options

I was searching for USB line scan cameras regarding this subject and found this: Pinewood Derby Timing System Using a Line-Scan Camera This is a PowerPoint presentation file so you will need PowerPoint to view it. This was an Electrical Engineering senior design project described as follows: "T...
by knavekid
Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:37 pm
Forum: General Coordinator Topics
Topic: Question on Pack coordinating.
Replies: 8
Views: 9402

Re: Question on Pack coordinating.

After my son's car took the pack derby his first year (he started as a Wolf), I was appointed co-coordinator the following year. As a coordinator, I took less involvement in his car when he was a Bear. He picked the shape, sanded, painted, and decorated the car. I prepared the axles, installed the w...