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| In the next few weeks we are going to describe how to set up and use a TrakMate lap counter/timer. We possess no more skill than you, and in fact maybe less because we are Macintosh users, and are quite unfamiliar with DOS, or anything PC. What we do know, and have stated on several occasions is that these types of units are integral to maximizing your slot car experience, so we decided to see what it's like to prepare and use the system that is used by The Fray in Ferndale. We think it is currently the best around. . | ||||||||||||||||
| The designer of TrakMate is Daniel Groulx. The software was originally design for the typical "total laps" system used by many manufacturers, where all participants do a set number of minutes on each lap. For example, 3 minute periods, on each lane of a four lane track, for a total of 12 minutes of track time. Highest number of laps is the winner. At the request, and assistance, of Rick Phillis, host of the Fray, he also added an additional option which determines the winner of the heat by who crosses the line first, after a predetermined set of laps per heat. Points are awarded in descending order for place of finish. In either case, the system shuts off the power when the heat is complete, totals the points, and gives a short pause to prepare for the next heat. Action may be paused and restarted at any time. There are also settings for computing lap times. The kit is very complete, and comes with everything but the computer and actuator track. The computer can be just about any machine that runs DOS, or even Windows 95, so a 286 will be fine. Monitor should be color, and a printer is a nice option. Included is the controller, wire harness that goes to the actuator track, relay for power management, reed switches, and software on a floppy. There are several methods for tripping the switch with an actuator track, but we chose reeds, and will show you how to make the track sections necessary to mount them in a later article. | ||||||||||||||||
| Components: (Below,Left) Controller (PCI slot/parallel port), (Below Center)Acuator Harness, (Below, Right) Relay, (Top) Reed Switches. | ||||||||||||||||
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| The computer (top/right) we used was an old 386, running PC DOS (MS DOS is fine). We picked it up for nothing, thanks to some generous help from Malcolm Michael. We have yet to locate the printer, but a dot matrix, tractor feed, with parallel connector will do the trick. After installing the card in the computer, and hooking everything up, we cranked her up, and set about figuring how to load a program into DOS. No easy feat for a guy with my particular acumen. After a little trial and error, we found the commands for loading the application onto the C drive, the internal hard drive for the machine. Immediately after we installed, we started up the program. We were greeted with a setup screen (bottom/right) that offered all the options in a clean, easy to understand, and easy to use format. Everything works by hitting one key. Then it either jogs through the available commands, such as the port options, or Race Format, or lets you type in the information, such as lane names, colors, or the names of the drivers. Setup took about 15 minutes total. After that we tested the system with a simulated "race'. By touching the wires that would eventually be connected to the track through the reed switches, we affected a 10 lap race in "Championship" format. Everything worked like a charm. Next we will install the reed switches into the track sections, and then into the course. After that we will have a trial race to see how she performs under clinical trials. Having worked with simple lap counters for more than a dozen years, though, we have to say that we are ready for the computer age to take over this mundane task. With ease of setup, more features than the rest, a complete kit, and a price that is very affordable (under $150), this is the best system we have seen. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Part Two: Building the Trip Track. | ||||||||||||||||
