Drag Racing Lights/Computer Programmers Wanted!!

[terribleturner]

OK, went to go see a man about the christmas lights for the Bovingdon drag day and have been quoted £500 + VAT + Expenses. So it seems to be working out rather expensive. i have got another idea up my sleave which would/will work if someone can have a go at a (simple) computer program for me. If there's anyone out there who may be able to help can you let me know asap. Otherwise if anyone knows of anyone who can get the lights/timing equipment then that would be good too.

The only other option is to open it to other clubs and that means we are going to HAVE TO have 100+ cars paying £10.

[mawby]

You'll need to be a bit more specific about what you want programming.

[terribleturner]

Thought i'd get to that when someone offered their services .

 

Ok, im think of a screen (like below) that has two timers on it activated from one button and stopped with 2 seperate ones. You'd type in the relevant info and hit enter when the cars start. As you've guessed by now you press Z or M depending when the car crossed the line to stop the individual timer. When complete you transfer the info by clicking on the bottom. This will then move to another page with some sort of spread sheet that contained all the info from the previous races.

 

Don't really know how hard this would be to put together, but if anyone wants to have a go then please do so. If anyone thinks it's too hard or would take too long then please also say and i'll go down another route.

Cheers

 

 

 

 

[terribleturner]

No one????

[mawby]

It's easy enough to do, I just don't have a language to hand to do it with. All my coding it done using a bespoke in house language that doesn't create files understood by Windows on its own, so not much use to you.

[mawby]

Actually as you mentioned a spread sheet you could probably write this vba, not that I've ever used it though.

[terribleturner]

Thanks for looking Mawby. But it is do able, so that's a start.

[SteveR]

I could program that for you I think, I used to be the daddy at programming but haven't done any for about 4 years. It wouldn't be too hard to put some sensors in there too, other than running wires 400m up a track - you could skip that bit and just have a 'they have left the start line' sensor, than manually time when they cross the fininsh line - how would you see that though, I find it next to impossible to judge that accurately from the start line. :/

[CJ]

I wonder if any of the magazines would be interested in sponsoring the day by paying for the equipment hire?

[how_supra]

I wonder if any of the magazines would be interested in sponsoring the day by paying for the equipment hire?

 

That's a good idea and probably one worth exploring as well.

[SteveR]

I might develop a xmas tree program for my own entertainment anyway. I'd make a good job of it with the adjustable times between stages, and that sort of stuff, too (might need pointers as I've only been to 1 drag strip day!).

[terribleturner]

Ooohhh Sensors. I can probably get all the wiring i need from work if that's any help?? My inital idea was having one person at the start with a radio giving the start. The other person at the finish line with the timer listening to the radio too. Thus when the starter signals go for the cars, the person timing starts of the clocks too. Was gonna get a traffic lights system set up too but seemed too hard to intergrate the timing accuratly.

[SteveR]

I reckon we could make a good go of it, and get all the bits we need, between us (and my uncle who's a programming genius and uses remote sensors for his apps all the time - oh, and he can do electronics too so might be able to sort out running some suitible lights, too!). How soon do you need this stuff doing though? That's the only potential problem. I guess even if we doin't get it done in time it'd be good to have for future meets.

Ooooh, lots of ideas running through my head now - could use it for timing over variable distances, calculating speeds (from standing starts or flat out at the end of a straight for example - it's all 'distance over time' after all!), maybe intrgrate some light beam cutting sensors into it/future upgrade...

[terribleturner]

Steve your a genius 1 Month, 2 Months?? is that enough time? See what you can do and give me a shout if you need anything. How exciting.

[MONKEYmark]

i seen some drag racing christmas tree lights on the summit site. just been on and cant seem to find. would it be really accurate or will there always be that dought in back of your mind.

 

might be easier to do knockouts or some sort of points table. still think say 4 or more supras lined up would be fun

[SteveR]

ooh yes, lining up more than 2 tracks/cars.. I'lll keep that in mind - cunning

It would need to be accurate or it's not worth doing IMHO. My uncle is very good at this sort of thng and would suss out a way of making an (as...) affordable (...as possible) solution that was still very accurate, I'm sure. Might utilise a wireless LAN or similar... hmmm.

I'll get onto it this weekend James

[terribleturner]

Gonna give the magazines a shout about coming down to photograph it, but hadn't thought about sponsership. May see if any traders wanna contribute in exchange for showing off their products etc....

 

I was thinking about accuracy but then we'll have a bench mark with how all the cars did. Actual drag tracks must be slightly out compared to each other so we'll only be slightly more out.

 

The only other traffic lights i could see where things from bloody IKEA.

[terribleturner]

Oh yeah, don't forget it's 18 lanes wide, so i can't see why we can't have a 5+ car shoot out. Lots of space for lots of fun

[SteveR]

You know, the best thing is I'm going to have to test this kit out using my ford orion, 1.6l non-injection (feel the power!)

Asumin ghe's around I'll see if I can have a word with my uncle tonight and report back our thoughts. I tink this should be do-able within a month or two without too much trouble.

BTW James - what sort of sensors and stuff might you be able to provide, if needed?

[SteveR]

18 lanes, righto.... I'll see what I can do.

[terribleturner]

Well if you give me the requirements i'll see what i can get hold of.

[SteveR]

ok, sweet - I wondered if you worked for a pressure/magnetic sensor company or something?

[bromy]

Has anyone thought of approaching other clubs and/or magazines, with the idea of each club chipping in to buy the equipment then it is borrowed by each club as and when required, i realise its a lot of money but just a idea

 

nick

[terribleturner]

No Steve i work in Tele, but have some very handy engineers and contacts who can get almost anything. How much money do you think it'll cost Steve??

 

I'm thinking just for Supra's at the moment, but if there arn't sufficent numbers then i'll have to ask other clubs just to boost up the money. I'm going to look into contacting the magazines after we settle on a date (which will hopefully be soon).

[SteveR]

Off the top of my head I tink the cost will be the main items of hardware, really, so it depends;

- how good the traffic lights are going to be & how many sets

- what sort of display equipment you want for the sepectators to be able to watch (if any) NB: this could always be a bolt-on module/later development

- what the solution consists of, e.g. WiFi stuff will be a few quid, but not silly money.

- whether there is mains electricity nearby to run it all off, or I guess we'll need a generator? I'm not sure what other power supply we could consider...? I'll ask my unc, he'll think of loads of possibilities I'm sure.

- whether it need to be weather proof, or if we'd pack it all up if it rained.

 

I'm sure we could develop something for a lot less than the £500 that chap wants to hire you a set anyway! I'm well tight (saving for the Sup) so if there is a cheap and effective way to do something I'll find it.