Slotting the day away ...

Hi Folks,

not that there is not enough lap counter software for your slotcar hometrack (e.g. Carrera, Tyco, Tomy or Faller), but here is another one. And it is freeware under GNU Public License (Version 2). But if you like the program and want to say 'thank you', just send me some parts of tracks or cars or whatever has to do with slot racing.

Features:

ASCII art animation
really big numbers
2 lane time race
2 lane lap race
training mode (driver with fastest lap time wins)
lap time, fastest lap time
speed, average speed
lap number
start reaction time
race history (shows all lap times of the last race)
penalty laps for false start
handicap laps for drivers
hall of fame
required hardware is like in Alex de Kloet's Basic Software (Uses the parallel port)
- starting light support (parallel port pin 2 to 6) (I changed this!)
- lane input (parallel port pin 10 to 13)
requires DOS
written in Turbo Pascal
some hidden features: Try the 'c', 'w', 'f', and 'l' key in the main menu after a race
by the way, did I mentioned the 'q' key, which allows to quit a training session or a race?
internal timing is done with 0.8381 microseconds resolution, but you will see only 1/100 second resolution.
a small driver data base (NEW FEATURE)
simple lane swapping (try 'c' key)
Version 1.3.1 (some bug fixes)

Screenshoot 1 Screenshoot 2 Screenshoot 3

Download

The executable program (Version 1.3.1) Do not forget to download the driver.dat file too.
An example driver data base (driver.dat) You need this file too!
The source code

Driver Data Base Format

The driver data base file consists of some driver entries. One entry consists of three lines. The first contains the drivers name. The second holds the car type and the third is the handicap entry. Look at the sample driver data base file to see how it works. The name of the driver data base file must be 'driver.dat'. You can edit the file using a standard text editor like vi, emacs, edit or notepad.

Hardware

If you understand German, you can get this wonderful hardware (which supports 4 lanes, traffic light and also works with SlotMan, SlotRaceManager and Alex de Kloets Program and some other programms too). Otherwise build your own hardware. Please check Alex de Kloet's Homepage or Badenslot or Volkers Rennbahnseiten or this link for a infra red version

Light Bridge

Some examples of selfmade light bridges

Turbo Pascal Bug

I did compile the code under Turbo Pascal 5.5. So this error should not happen. But If you recompile it, this may be of interest for you. Information on the Turbo Pascal Bug on fast computers.

And remember:

Warranty

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License , or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, write to the Free Software Foundation, 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

More timing software

On the net you will find a lot of timing software. Here are some of them (please note: some names below are registrated trademarks and all rights belong to the owners, see also this german disclaimer):

Matthias Nutt