Tuesday March 02, 2004

Carlson Sensor Track

When it comes to lap timing systems in our hobby I fully admit my ignorance. For years I have used the DS System on my previous 2 lane layouts but since moving up to 4 lanes I could not decide what to use.

Although my DS System worked flawlessly for years 2 major issues soon became clear if I chose to use it in a 4-lane application. PRICE and AVAILABILITY. I like the fact that the system is all plug and play but they are just too expensive for me to recommend them anymore, especially in 4-lane use.

So I looked to the experts in our hobby who have been using computer-based lap timing systems and asked their advice. There were many different answers of course and in the end I chose Lap Timer 2000 by Gregory Braun. I went with this system because I have long been a fan of his website and knew that he stood behind his products. Other systems like Track Mate are also great products but my choice was made…Lap Timer 2000 it shall be. Best of all was the price: FREE

You will need a computer of course, but you can find older systems out there for very little. My old system is P-III 450 running Windows 98 and is worth (maybe) $150.00. I looked around at a few computer places in my community and the average prices ranged from $100 to $250.00.

However it was now time to figure out how to hook it up to my track. Again turning to the experts I asked what was the best way to accomplish this. I have seen many of you building your own custom sensor tracks and although it looked easy enough I knew I was in trouble. You see, when it comes to electronics of this nature I only know enough to stay alive. Luckily there are enthusiasts out there who custom builds these sensor tracks and Brent Carlson stood out as being one of the most helpful and knowledgeable I have had the pleasure of meeting.

He can custom build a sensor track using any brand of track on the market and can make it completely PLUG AND PLAY and this is exactly what I wanted. Just to make sure that I would be happy, I was fortunate enough to test one of his systems that he had built for a friend of mine (thanks Craig) and all I can say is the results are more than favorable.

When the track arrived it was neatly packaged and protected with instructions on how to hook it up located right on the track. Each connection is clearly marked and fit together flawlessly. All the wiring underneath is very securely mounted in place with hot glue and is very durable. You might find that your track will not sit perfectly level on your table, but on carpet such as I use it wasn’t a problem at all.

I hooked the printer cable end to my printer port and the power cord to a surge protected power strip. I turned on the computer and loaded Lap Timer 2000 and went to begin a race. The first thing I noticed was that the lanes were not in order and one of them would not function.

However this was my fault, as I didn’t have the correct options set in the software. I changed the system to use Track Mate compatible sensors and then re-tested. Brent has this information on his website as well as covering the settings for other software programs. Everything worked exactly as it should and we decided on some longer runs. After 1 full week of hard racing I can only report that the work he has done has functioned perfectly.

I recommend that if you are seeking to use a computer based lap-timing system to drop Brent a line about his sensor tracks. Not only is it of high quality but he is more than happy to help answer any of your questions regarding software, hook-up and more. Sometimes good customer service is hard to find but not in this case. Thanks Brent! I look forward to my very own system soon.

- Harry

Prices: 80.00 US for a 2 lane setup and 100.00 US for a 4 lane setup

What you get:
1 (2 with 4 lane) Standard Straight track with optical sensors installed.
AC Adaptor, used to power IR Emitters.
12 ft, Printer port cable, used to connect track to computer.

Quick Link To The Brent Carlson Website For More On This Sensor Track

Quick Link To The Gregory Braun Lap Timer 2000 Website