Derby Talk

If you have more than say 8-10 scouts per rank - I prefer each 'rank' being a group versus using sub-groups. But maybe that is just habit. But I like the ability later on in scheduling/reporting/awards/etc - to work on the whole pack (Round1) or one rank at a time. I guess it brings the question to ...

GPRM? If so, it will allow Manual Results with no timer or hardware setup needed. I do this alot at (um work) when I need to test a scenario or just 'practice' using the software. The last few versions even have a TestData button to randomly throw in some times, so you don't have to type as much. I ...

NEVERMIND THIS POST. For some reason I glanced back to the award screen and see that on the right side - the option to list by name/number already exists. And in my case, we already assign car# based on a group series, so I am all good. I can type 245 and it jumps to that racer, regardless of how ma...

Yes, our finals is a 'new' race made up of the 4 or 8 or whatever top racers you want to include. It is a standard PerfectN schedule and raced for times. Note, that I didn't see a direct way for GPRM to directly do such a finals with top 1 by rank, plus next top 4 by whole pack. So I did the standar...

I don't mean to pick on anyone's race, or specific to this photo (which is just a quick snap in time). But in the interest of a constructive 'critique'...I agree on table stability/level issues, I way agree on the stop section plan-B area. But I also point out the sterility of the track. We too 'tap...

Are you using times or place/points? I can only offer what we tried this year, we use times. Pick top 1 car from each rank, plus the next top four times regardless of rank. So each rank is guaranteed one spot, but in the case where you have a very close second (or third) place finisher in the ranks....

We mention neither of these conditions. The feeling is an 'indented' nose will indeed stage lower - but that it will also trip the sensor later, so pin to sensor distance is the 'same'. Also we feel that more weight 'up' /'higher' on the track is an advantage for our track (homemade wood, natural cu...

Pretty sure ours is a 35' track. Our winning times were in the 5.8's, 5.9's and 6.0's. Which means we still have a long way to go. Sigh. Andrew That seems off, but comparing speeds is a fragile science. I would think high 5's would appear as the car was barely making it across the line. If your tra...

Try something like: "The center of the car front must have a straight section at least 3/8" wide for proper starting. No part of the car may protrude past the starting pin. " Yes, very consise. Consider also adding "...for proper starting and accurate timer sensing." This m...

True FS, that if money is no object, get another section - it could be used for perhaps special events or maybe your pack will like the longer distance, but it does not have to be used each time. But leave plenty of room in the budget for a good storage box, a good timer, maybe a start button for th...

Everyone will have an opinion, but I would go for 40. The aluminum tracks can hold some speed, and I think the longer flat of a 40' helps reward (differentiate) those who polished abit more on the axle, better alignment, etc.

48' just adds weight and cost, and more chance of a DNF.

If she sent them in Excel or similar...they can even be Imported. We do this all the time, generating lists from ScoutTrack or other sheets, lay in numbers as you described to differentiate groupings and all is good. GPRM has an example Import File, but now even allows for mapping if you sheet does ...

GPRM v11? <grin>

I think that I was waiting for something like the arduino with its comprehensive software support to come along. It has the PIC, the communications hardware, USB drivers, a C-like compiler for the PIC program, Integrated Development Environment (IDE), that allows guys like me to do meaningful stuff...

It takes some extra software or record keeping, but one way to keep time gossip down...is to not share any absolute times.

The racer runs one time, and you record that time, but do not share it with the racer. Then on subsequent runs, you share only the difference +/- to that first run.