aka SPTS by Scuderia McEwen
This timing system is very easy to build, reliable and, best of all, inexpensive.
The hole thing was built from wood, about 1cm thick. The sizes depend on what track you have.
Also you have to play a bit with the light source, thats why i use a dimmer (the white box in the above picture).
In this picture you can see the inner of the gantry with the reflector (just some alu foil)
removed. The bulb is at 20W and 120V.
The holes for the photocells were drilled and then shaped and are about 7x7mm straight to the slot.
If you have bigger cars you may can drill the holes beside the slot, i couldn't. Don't bother about the cars
leaving the slot there, they don't.
This is whats under the track, just a small platine with the photocells connected to a printer plug, no other elements
there, no special wiring. Easy, isn't it? For more info how to build your timing gantry go to the Yarker Memorial Speedway
(the link is on my links page). They also have the software for it.
In 2006 i wanted to change the design to something sleeker, lighter and preciser. With the now avaible LEDs its very easy to create a powerfull, yet space and cost effective, light source. The new design uses 4 superbright LEDs, the photocells below the track remain the same. Starting lights (5 normal red LEDs) were also added, they add to the atmosphere and you can keep your eyes on the car. After all a very great improvement over the old "bulky" version.
My thanks go out to the people of Scuderia McEwen (SPTS), Holger Schligtenhorst (slotcartimer.de) and to my friend Armin, the electronics expert. Without their work i couldnt enjoy slots as much as i do.