Race Gate - a race timer, starter and finish line and speedometer

The Cook’s Projects Race Timer, Start/Finish Line and Speedometer is an advanced electronic timer intended to reveal the winning car and it’s speed in 1:64 scale diecast model car racing. (These are Hot Wheels and Matchbox sized model cars.) The Race Timer has 2 modes: it provides the times and real speeds of each car in a 2 lane race; or measures every car’s real speed travelling on the track in Speedometer mode. The Race Timer begins a race with a Formula One style light and audio race start sequence. Lights out, and it’s Go, Go Go!

Simply Place and Race!

The Race Timer is designed for 1:64 scale diecast model cars such as Hot Wheels or Matchbox models.  The Race Timer is a self-contained unit, is available in a number of colours and can be placed over any straight piece of track. No Track modification is needed. To use, simply place on top of any track which is less than 42mm wide (Hot Wheels track is compatible). It comes with a USB cable that powers the unit by connecting to a USB (A) power supply or computer (USB cable is provided but power supply is not included).

There are 3 versions of the Race Timer available in various colours and with options to display imperial (mph) or metric (km/h) speeds on the LCD. There is a complete self-contained unit and a datalink version which is functionally the same as the original Race Timer but adds the ability to output additional and more detailed data*. The Advanced version provides a 7x further enhancement that allows precision measurements within 0.1% of actual speed at 10km/h.

Unlike other timers, there is no need to modify any track, route long cables between points or calculate track lengths etc. Simply place the Race Timer on the top of the track at the finish line or measuring point, provide power via the USB cable, and play.

The Race Timer and Speedometer has two operating modes selected at power up. As a Race Timer, it will provide a Start Sequence with sound and lights and then reveal the winning car in a 2-car race by instantly showing a light over the winning lane. The race time, winning margin and the speed of each car is displayed on the onboard LCD display. Alternatively, select the Speedometer mode to continuously and immediately display the speed of any car that passes through the unit.  The mode of operation is selected at initial power up. With datalink models, more detailed data is also sent to a connected computer in both operating modes*.

The race time, time difference and speed information is displayed on the LCD screen. New to version 2 is the ability to pause these displays to provide more time to record the data or delay the start of the next race. If the next race is already set up, no need to wait for the setup countdown, select the skip function to instantly begin a new race start sequence. There are models available that display speeds on the LCD in Km/h or MPH.

We are now producing Version 2.1 of the Race Timer and Speedometer. There have been improvements in the hardware to optimise the accuracy of car detection. The processor has been updated to now measure time in nanoseconds (1 x 10^-9 seconds, or one billionth of a second). The Race Timer Start/Finish Line now monitors the sensors so quickly that the unit can detect cars within 0.00025s (0.00004s with the ADVANCED model). So what? Well this makes all the difference with precise speed measurements. The STANDARD model can record speeds within 1% tolerance of real speeds up to 12.5Km/h whereas the ADVANCED model can more precisely detect the real speed of a car within 1% up to 88Km/h! Speeds below these 1% limits are measured with increasing accuracy. For example, the ADVANCED Race Timer can determine the actual speed of a car to within 0.07Km/h at speeds of 25Km/h (0.25% accuracy). So if accuracy and precision is required, our new ADVANCED version delivers. Advanced algorithms have been developed to improve accuracy and even account for the few milliseconds it takes for the LCD to display a measurement, or send the information to an attached computer. An analogy would be looking away to do something else and then glancing back to see that the car has already passed. But the Race Timer and Speedometer watches out for this and should it ever be ‘distracted’ by displaying the data when a car slips by, a ‘#’ warning will be displayed next to the reading to indicate the unreliability of that measurement. To reduce the chance of this occurring and improve accuracy, the display of the Elapsed Time is suspended when a car is in the Race Timer. The internal timer keeps rolling and the lack of an LCD update normally goes unnoticed. The LCD display is updated again once the car passes. The Race Timer is still functioning during this time but devoting full attention to detecting the car.

Version 2 also adds a pause and skip feature. During the LCD data display post race, the display can be paused by swiping a hand across the front sensor and un-paused in the same way. Swiping the rear sensor will skip the data screens or start delay and immediately begin the race start sequence.

But why do I need to bother with the additional accuracy?
Every nanosecond counts for close races and for tuning a car or track by measuring the effect of your modifications. Many of the races we run have a winning margin of only 1/1000th of a second. The faster the sensors are sampled, the more accurate all the measurements will be. For example, at 25Km/h, the car will run through the Race Timer in 0.012s, that is 12 milliseconds. The quicker the sensors can be checked, the more accurate the measured speed will be. That is why the STANDARD version will have a region of uncertainty of ±0.5Km/h when the ADVANCED version will have a better tolerance of ±0.07Km/h when measuring the 25km/h car - that is over 7 times more accuracy. At any speeds below 25Km/h the accuracy will be better for both models.

*Datalink output requires a USB connection to a computer running compatible software (software not provided but instructions on how to download and use our recommended freely downloadable suggestion are).

Race Timer Mode 

The Race Timer mode starts with a grand prix style audible start sound and flashing light sequence.  The race begins when the lights go out, just like a real Formula 1 car race. The Race Timer indicates the elapsed time from lights out.  The winning car lane LED is turned on immediately the first car passes the finish line sensors giving an instant and easily visible indication of the winning lane.  The race continues until the second car passes both sensors, or 10 seconds elapse from the first car completing the course.  The winning race time and time difference between the winning and losing car is displayed on the onboard LCD in thousandths of a second.  After a short delay, each car’s actual speed through the Race Timer is shown (Km/h or MPH depending on version).  The Race Timer then counts down for another race with a flashing light sequence before starting the race start sound and lights sequence again.

If the second car does not pass the sensors within 10 seconds of the first car finishing, a crash is assumed and the winning lane’s times and speeds are displayed before resetting for another race.

Data screens can be paused or bypassed to immediately begin the next race by swiping front or rear sensors. Full detail including more precise time, speeds and speed conversions into Km/h, mph and metres per second as well as scale speeds of the car are output to a connected computer at the end of the race (datalink models only).

Speedometer Mode

In Speedometer mode, the Race Timer will continuously monitor every car travelling past the sensors.  The lane’s LED will light whilst the car is travelling through the Race Timer over the measured distance. The flash provides an indication of just how little time it took the car to travel through the tunnel. Once the front and rear sensors have been passed, the measured speed (Km/h or mph depending on version) is instantly displayed on the LCD. That lane’s speed remains displayed until the next car passes that lane’s sensors. With Datalink models, more detailed information is sent to a connected computer each time a car’s speed is measured.

Once chosen at power up, the Race Timer will remain in the selected mode until power is removed from the unit.  To change the mode, first remove the power from the USB connector.  When power is reapplied, the mode can be reselected.

Send more detailed data to a connected computer

OPTIONS

All models are available to purchase as either Imperial (mph) or Metric (Km/h) LCD speed display. All datalink models output speeds in additional various formats such as Km/h, mph, metres per second (m/s) and car scale equivalent speed in mph and Km/h.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

STANDARD DATALINK: Race data can be transmitted to a computer via the USB cable to reveal more detailed information for both lanes, including actual times at an increased resolution of 1/10 000th of a second, speeds in metres per second (m/s), Kilometres per Hour (Km/h) and Miles per Hour (mph). There is also information on what the scale speed of the car is. i.e how fast the car would really be doing if it was full size. This data output could be used as a record of all races or speedometer data runs in a multicar multi-race style event or for comparing different car or track characteristics. This data allows for varied analysis and record keeping. The speed is reported to an accuracy of 3 decimal places whilst times are also provided to the microsecond (One millionth of a second) in Speedometer mode.

Using the Speedometer function, the LANE and the speed is output to a computer as well as the time taken in microseconds to travel the measured distance. Speed is provided to 4 decimal places. The data transmission causes a small delay immediately after a car has passed the rear sensor so that the data can be sent to the LCD and via the datalink. This may affect the accuracy of the readings if a car is in the unit within approximately 9 milliseconds (0.009s) of the first car. If the Race Timer detects that this may have occurred, a ‘#’ is displayed next to the time to show there may be inaccuracy in these times and speeds. If speed accuracy is required, we recommend separating cars by at least 1/5th of a second. A record of all car speeds is provided to the computer for later analysis.

ADVANCED: This model offers the same datalink output but with more then 7x greater accuracy than the Standard Datalink model (comparison based on v2 and v2.1 data). Times and speeds are displayed to the same decimal places. However, the accuracy of these times, and speeds, are greatly improved. Due to this models hardware refinements, speeds are measured in billionths of a second (nanoseconds) providing accuracies that are 7x better than the Standard model. This means the precision of all measured speeds is vastly improved and gives a maximum error of typically ±0.28% at race car speeds of 25Km/h and ±0.1% at 10Km/h. If you are going for the world speed record, then this version can, theoretically, detect actual car speeds above 1000Km/h! (Please see our World Speed Record League Table for entries) However, the main use of the precision offered by the ADVANCED version is tuning cars and tracks. Here, the smallest change in speed needs to be accurately measured to show the effect that the modification has had on the car or track. Due to the portability of the Race Timer, it can be placed anywhere along any straight piece of track that is flat, or sloped. So specific parts of a track can be measured providing a speed trap when the cars complete a certain section. The effects of changes to individual parts of the track, or the acceleration profile of car or track can now be seen thanks to the Cook’s Projects Race Timer and Speedometer - Advanced.

We also offer a free download in Excel spreadsheet format that can be used to analyse car or track efficiencies.

NOTE: There are now 3 versions of the Race Timer and Speedometer. They look the same but the datalink facility or increased performance cannot be added to Race Timer models purchased in the STANDARD format.

Specifications

All Version 2.1 Models

Power Supply:

Maximum Recommended Car Size:

Dimensions:

Weight:

LCD Display:

Standard Version
(Standalone)

Output: Onboard LCD

Internal Accuracy :                       

Race Timer:            Normally within 0.3 ms
Speedometer:       Normally within 0.3 ms

Actual speed within 1% :<12.5km/h
Accuracy within ± 0.1 Km/h at 10 Km/h
± 0.5 Km/h at 25 Km/h

Output Accuracy
LCD Display

Time displayed to 0.01 s
Speed displayed to 0.1 Km/h or 0.1 mph (depending on version)

(Maximum error 7.2 ms if car passes during periods of LCD output. Speed will be flagged with # if this is detected)

Standard
Datalink Version

Output: Onboard LCD and datalink

Can also be used without connecting to a computer as per Standard version.

Internal Accuracy:           

Race Timer:            Normally within 0.3 ms
Speedometer:       Normally within 0.3 ms
Internal timer resolution to 24/100,000th of a second.

Measured speeds within 1% of real speed below car speeds of 12.5Km/h.
Accuracy within ± 0.1 Km/h at 10 Km/h
± 0.5 Km/h at 25 Km/h

Output Accuracy
Serial Datalink via USB cable (supplied)
Race Timer

±0.24ms (24/100,000th of a second) for Race Time AND Winning Difference
Speeds in metres per second, Km/h and mph:
0.001 metres / second
0.001 Km/h
0.001 mph

Scale speeds provided in Km/h and mph to 2 decimal places

LCD Display

Time displayed to 0.01 s
Speed displayed to 0.1 Km/h or 0.1 mph
(version dependent)

  (Maximum error 5.1 ms if car passes during periods of LCD output. Speed will be flagged with # if this is detected)

Speedometer

0.0001 Km/h
measured distance time in microseconds (µs= 0.0000001 second to accuracy ±244µs)

 (Maximum error 8.2 ms if car passes during periods of LCD/serial link output. Speed will be flagged with # if this is detected)

Ability to Save and Record results

Data for further analysis and record keeping is output via the USB cable to an attached computer running serial port software.

Advanced Version
(includes datalink)

Output: Onboard LCD and datalink

Can also be used without connecting to a computer as per Standard version.

Internal Accuracy:           

Race Timer:            Normally within 0.03 ms
Speedometer:       Normally within 0.03 ms
Internal timer resolution to 3/100,000th of a second

Measured speeds within 1% of real speed below car speeds of 88Km/h.
Accuracy within ±0.01 Km/h at 10Km/h
±0.07 Km/h at 25Km/h

Output Accuracy
Advanced Datalink via USB cable (supplied)
Race Timer

±0.03ms (3/100,000th of a second) for Race Time AND Winning Difference
Speeds in metres per second, Km/h and mph:
0.001 metres / second
0.001 Km/h
0.001 mph

Scale speeds provided in Km/h and mph to 2 decimal places

LCD Display

Time displayed to 0.01 s
Speed displayed to 0.1 Km/h or 0.1 mph
(version dependent)

  (Maximum error 2.6 ms if car passes during periods of LCD output. Speed will be flagged with # if this is detected)

Speedometer

0.0001 Km/h
measured distance time in microseconds (µs= 0.0000001 second to accuracy ±33µs)

  (Maximum error 4.1 ms if car passes during periods of LCD/serial link output. Speed will be flagged with # if this is detected)

Ability to Save and Record results

Data for further analysis and record keeping is output via the USB cable to an attached computer running serial port software.