gpraceman

Piantedosi Oars, http://pinewoodderbytrack.com, came out with a new aluminum track last year. For the curve, the aluminum "sags" like their plywood track does. This makes storage easier and makes for a better transition to the flat section for the cars. I think shipping weight would be less than with the BestTrack.

Here are a couple of great sites for Pinewood Derby Racing. Derby Talk, http://derbytalk.com - is a forum for Pinewood Derby, Space Derby, Raingutter Regatta, Cub Mobile and other similar races. There are all sorts of discussions of interest to race coordinators and racers alike. GrandPrix Race Central, http://grandprix-race-central.com/ - Newly overhauled to make it an even better resource for Pinewood Derby race coordinators. Key features of the new site: + Content Pages - Ideas, information and resources on how to plan and coordinate your race. There are topics covering Tracks, Electronics, Software, Scales, Scheduling Methods, and more. + Downloads - Various documents, graphics and other files that can help with your race. You can even contribute to this great resource. + Photo Gallery - Over 100 car photos from my family, our Awana club and site visitors. These can help those kids who are not sure just what design they want to build. You can even submit your own car photos! + Polls/Surveys - Let us know how you do your race and what equipment you use and see how others responded. + Product Reviews - See and submit reviews on various race related products and services. Help others to know what to buy or not to buy. + Site Search - All of the content on the site is searchable. You can even go to the Photo Gallery and search for specific cars. + Links - Links to various race websites. You can even submit your favorites. + Submit News or Stories - Let us know about any special event coming up or submit your favorite race memories. + and more ... Stop by and check out both sites.

I am also partial to my Derby Talk site, http://derbytalk.com. Derby Talk is a forum for Pinewood Derby, Space Derby, Raingutter Regatta and other similar races where a child and an adult work together to create a race vehicle and a lot of fun and memories.

I have overhauled my GrandPrix Race Central website, http://grandprix-race-central.com, to make it an even better resource for Pinewood Derby race coordinators. Key features of the new site: + Content Pages - Ideas, information and resources on how to plan and coordinate your race. There are topics covering Tracks, Electronics, Software, Scales, Scheduling Methods, and more. + Downloads - Various documents, graphics and other files that can help with your race. You can even contribute to this great resource. + Photo Gallery - Over 100 car photos from my family, our Awana club and site visitors. These can help those kids who are not sure just what design they want to build. You can even submit your own car photos! + Polls/Surveys - Let us know how you do your race and what equipment you use and see how others responded. + Product Reviews - See and submit reviews on various race related products and services. Help others to know what to buy or not to buy. + Site Search - All of the content on the site is searchable. You can even go to the Photo Gallery and search for specific cars. + Links - Links to various race websites. You can even submit your favorites. + Submit News or Stories - Let us know about any special event coming up or submit your favorite race memories. + and more ... Stop by and check it out.(This message has been edited by gpraceman)

Twocubdad, Your number of heats calculations are way off. The number of heats that a Perfect-N Type Charts will give you are: # of Heats = (# of Racers) X (# Runs per Lane) If you have 100 racers and want to race them once per lane, you get 100 heats. It makes no difference how many lanes you have. Every racer will race the same number of times. None of this nonsense of two and out while other racers race many more times.

You can find several commercial, freeware and shareware software packages listed at http://grandprix-race-central.com/gpmanager.htm. I'm partial to GrandPrix Race Manager, but that's because I wrote it.

I know that their RaceMaster software will not work with some operating systems. GrandPrix Race Manager and DerbyMaster will communicate with the MicroWizard timer and allow you to race each car in each lane, depending on which race method you choose to use. GrandPrix Race Manager, http://grandprix-software-central.com/ DerbyMaster, http://enterprisingideas.com/derbymaster/ There is a comparison of the two at: http://grandprix-software-central.com/gprm/comparison.htm Happy Racing and God Bless, Randy

The URL for the race management software comparison web page didn't come out right in my previous message. Here is the correct URL. http://grandprix-software-central.com/gprm/comparison.htm This page compares GrandPrix Race Manager, a new entry on the commercial market (was previously shareware), with DerbyMaster and RaceView.

I'm glad that you haven't had problems with human judging and parents or racers contesting results. We have not been as fortunate. We have a 4 lane track and had initially tried the "eyeball" finish line detection system and we had problems with some parents contesting the results. After that race we had built a simple finish line sensor system for under $100 and we have not had any arguments over results since. Since people are not worring over the results, they are having more fun with the race. It was a small price to pay. If there are parents videotaping the race because they are worried about fairness in the results, then having a timing system may eliminate that worry and remove the distraction of them hovering over the finish line with a video camera. Achieving a fair race may be elusive, since there unfortunately are those that will skirt the rules and try to win at all costs, but reasonable attempts should be made if the overzealous are keeping everyone else from enjoying the race. If your system is working for you, that is great, but each pack should decide for themselves whether to use tools such as times and software based on their previous experience. Though, with a 4, 6 or 8 lane track, I don't see how you could do otherwise. Happy Racing and God Bless, Randy

Track - Piantedosi makes a good quality track, but it is unfinished, so make sure to budget time and money to finish it. I like the looks of the BestTrack track, but I haven't heard any firsthand reviews of it yet. In my mind the plastic SuperTrack surface should be fast and durable, but the sprinkler pipe support frame looks chintzy and wobbly. Timer - If you are thinking of the Mirco Wizard Cheap Kit, go for the $40 kit since it has the computer interface that you can then use with GrandPrix Race Manager, DerbyMaster or RaceView software. Software - You may want to check out GrandPrix Race Manager, at http://grandprix-software-central.com. There is a comparison to DerbyMaster and RaceView at http://grandprix-software-central.com/gprm/comparison.htm. Race Method - Perfect-N Type Charts created by Stan Pope and Cory Young. These charts ensure that each racer will race in each lane the same number of times and it will try to maximize the number of opponents for each racer. To earn more about these charts you can go to Stan's site at http://members.aol.com/standcmr/pwportal.html. Hope this helps. Randy(This message has been edited by gpraceman)