How to build Slot Car Track Lap Counting Hardware!

[@xheadrasta1799]

Thanks for this Marty! Awesome job. I'll file this away next to your "patent pending" "Non-schematic Schematic" !

[@twolinesslotcars]

😂😂😂😂

[@chrisfreter3629]

I always love Saturday Morning Two Lines Coffee Time! Oooo, I think I can even do this one. Having the sensors in the track lanes are a lot cleaner looking. I can see adding time to our track in the future.

[@twolinesslotcars]

You can do it!

[@clinttalbot9093]

Marty your a smart guy! --- Good job explaining...Very Nice!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Clint, Thomas is the smart guy.. I will give credit where credit is due 😂

[@racinchevy492]

Very impressive Marty!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks! I am pumped about how well it works… except for NSR guides 😂😂

[@jasoncoburn8166]

kool video and very helpful for alot of people .... one thing i noticed is most track call buttons are red but hey no big deal ! GREAT JOB !

[@twolinesslotcars]

Jason… those are temporary buttons 😂

[@jasoncoburn8166]

You could also mount all of the hardware under the table for a cleaner look.

[@twolinesslotcars]

@@jasoncoburn8166 that is the plan 👍

[@jimstaigers8200]

Great information 🤜

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks! 👍

[@Dafingers1]

Very cool setup...this will be so helpful for many.. thanks for sharing this information.. you will be a happy camper now.

[@twolinesslotcars]

It works really well.. adding control for track power is a game changer without marshals….

[@JohnnyRover5557]

Thanks Marty I was anticipating this video. Currently I am using race coordinator with webcam for lap timing and fueling VIA 3 zones in each lane using Webcam Zone Trigger thanks to your past videos and for the most part am very happy, but always looking to improve.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Tom… I would agree.. webcam and zone trigger work surprisingly well. It is a legitimate timing solution. My goal was to clean up the false laps anytime we marshaled in front of the camera. Especially with 4 lanes.. was pretty easy to mess up the lap count.

[@JohnnyRover5557]

Looks like you fixed that problem.

[@TADD29]

Pretty slick Marty. High tech stuff right there.

[@twolinesslotcars]

It sounds high tech.. but pretty easy.

[@Gale_Force_Raceway]

I love my Race Coordinator.... but I foo-foo'ed early on. I was struggling to create a race where we rotated lanes, then cars etc. And I accidentally erased the BUILT-IN practice, so eventually I created one from scratch...not quite the same...but close. Problem is I can't get it to "look like EXCEL", where many laps are listed for EACH driver etc.. SO TO ALL! TINKER YES, BUT DON'T DELETE ! ahah - Way to go Marty!

[@twolinesslotcars]

I can probably fix that.. k can send you the correct XAML file to get that screen back.

[@renee102099]

I love the subject. How does this work for digital? I’m extremely new to this hobby and I have the Scalextric system (Arcpro) and I want to be able to run analog and digital. Love your program.

[@twolinesslotcars]

@@renee102099 I do not have any experience with Scalextric, I thought Arcpro has the ability to do both digital and analog?

[@dannywiley4072]

I’m so glad you’re doing these video Marty. This is awesome!!!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks Bro! I hope you are doing well.

[@dannywiley4072]

@@twolinesslotcars of course. Never thought this day would come but went and got the boy a truck today. He’s about to turn 16 this month. I’m getting old.

[@slotr]

great setup, that's another thing to add to my projects list!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Definitely! It is a very clean lap counting solution..

[@SouthernSlotRacing]

Really creative idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thank you! 😊

[@Georgepayne-d4d]

love your shows like this Marty all this tech information is a great help to people like myself.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks so much! Happy you enjoy it!

[@josephstanczak4340]

Excellent work Marty!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Many thanks!

[@DTSlotRacing]

brilliant show Marty

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks so much!

[@slotcardude68]

Great tutorial, thanks for sharing!!!!!!!

[@twolinesslotcars]

It’s a game changer for the layout! Thanks Nico!

[@slotcardude68]

@@twolinesslotcars yes it is and it is an easy option!!!!!!

[@codecantina9302]

Nice addition!

[@twolinesslotcars]

It works great! Thanks

[@Clearwater124]

Good stuff Marty.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks Greg 👍

[@SlotSpoilsSlotCarTracksi-hb5ml]

A suggestion to solve the White pickup problem with the sensors, You can install IR sensors which come in 2 parts. 1 part goes in the track (just a 4mm hole near the braid is needed) and the IR LEDs go on top, you just need to have a bridge where to stick the IR LED strip. If you are interested I will send you some photos when I go next to the track. I hope this helps!

[@twolinesslotcars]

@@SlotSpoilsSlotCarTracksi-hb5ml Ben I have since switched to those sensors.. timing system has been rock solid since..

[@consco3667]

Been extremely busy of late completing the room for our slotcar track finally! This is great stuff! I am going to be catching up on the vids I missed. You’ve converted to 4 lanes so you will have to change your name…so obviously with a lap counter like this there is no crossover/lane change tracks? Thanks Marty

[@twolinesslotcars]

Congrats! I can run 4 lane analog.. and 4 lane digital.. I use Smart Race or Faslaps when using digital. Race Coordinator for analog racing at the moment..

[@customslottracks6677]

This is great, though I wish youd done it before xmas as I bought DS gear to use for my track, but I will probably have a go at this for my next build.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Next time!

[@rhysthomas209]

G'day Marty great work impressive 👏 👍

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks 👍

[@Patriot_Hobbies]

Good stuff. Thanks Marty!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Pretty happy to have it all working so well..

[@Patriot_Hobbies]

@@twolinesslotcars you’ve inspired me to pick up an arduino and try this with my Ho track. The aftermarket timers are so expensive.

[@twolinesslotcars]

@@Patriot_Hobbies hit me with any questions! I can go into more details if you need me to.. but honestly.. very straight forward.. track power control is a game changer…

[@Patriot_Hobbies]

@@twolinesslotcars thank you sir!

[@funkybearcat]

No Fear Marty, never underestimate your capabilities

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks!

[@JohnnyRover5557]

Marty that was so cool. Are you planning on adding fueling by way of Arduino. Another question. Is Arduino Vinny's brother?

[@twolinesslotcars]

Tom, the programs will do fueling… but we switch over to digital for that.. :), I believe you are correct.. Arduino IS Vinny’s bro..

[@JohnnyRover5557]

I see. Looks like you fixed your problem. For now I will be sticking to the webcam because the race setup in race coordinator doesn't allow you to mix and match Arduino with webcam. You have to choose one or the other. I want to say that I love, love, love Race Coordinator. I think it is the best thing in analog slot car racing since I have been hooked on slot car racing since 1964. Keep the excellent videos coming Marty.❤ You are the one who turned me on to Race Coordinator. My friends and I love it and we are having more fun than before.Thank you. and let's not forget the guy who came up with R. C. and your Arduino guru.

[@kevinroach9380]

Hey Marty! Nice job! I was getting ready to buy a system and thought about making something also. Do you have the link for the programming?

[@twolinesslotcars]

The Arduino code is in the Race Coordinator download.. it’s free.

[@kevinroach9380]

@@twolinesslotcars Thank You!

[@Bluepanther80]

Will electric interference from non/ capacitor cars set off laps on the photo sensor? Mine certainly do with the carerra lap timer

[@twolinesslotcars]

Yes, I have fought it and had to chance to IR Beam Break Sensors..

[@DustyFord]

So much cleaner than light bridges and web cams

[@JohnnyRover5557]

I noticed that Marty was using the car you gave him in the video.

[@DustyFord]

Yeah he’s got it tuned up pretty good. Maybe too good. It’s pretty close to my GT cars. He will get it faster. It’s his life goal to be faster than his little brother😂😂😂

[@twolinesslotcars]

50 yard dash… let’s go!!

[@blueovalracing1582]

I enjoyed the video very much. I’m trying to figure out how I could use this on my HO track layout

[@twolinesslotcars]

I would use IR beam break sensors.. should would great for HO.

[@blueovalracing1582]

⁠​⁠@@twolinesslotcars would all the other hardware still be the same except for the IR beam brake sensor

[@twolinesslotcars]

@@blueovalracing1582 Yes.. you could use race coordinator.. or faslaps once hit releases..

[@blueovalracing1582]

@@twolinesslotcarsthanks for the information

[@SlotSpoilsSlotCarTracksi-hb5ml]

Hello Marty, I have a question, if i may, When the call button is pressed do the car roll to a stop or the they go on brakes? I am asking because if the call button is pressed and one of the cars is at the end of a straightaway the car would fly off the track! thanks in advance.

[@twolinesslotcars]

Great question.. power is killed to the track, so the natural braking of the motor would impact how fast the car would come to a stop. If a car would come off a turn after the power is shot off to the track.. it was already going to come off at the end of the straight… we have never had this happen..

[@SlotSpoilsSlotCarTracksi-hb5ml]

@@twolinesslotcars Hi Marty, thanks for your reply. From past experience, unfortunately it wont work for us. We stopped using the kill button because we were breaking too many cars. To give you an idea, the clubs wood track is just under 45 meters with a 15 meter straightaway, where we clock around 8.20 seconds with NRS F1s and Moslers. If the power is killed less than 3/4 meter from the end of the straightaway, the cars smash into the barrier. Would you be kind enough to ask Thomas, whether he would be interest to amend the Arduino system to cater to our needs? Or pass on his contact details. Thanks in advance, Ben 🙏

[@SpareRoomSlotCars]

Cool video, thanks

[@twolinesslotcars]

Thanks Gene!

[@RandyBeard-i3e]

Thank you, how do I get the parts list

[@twolinesslotcars]

I have switched to different sensors.. less interference issues.. IR break sensors.. wire and an Arduino Duo r3

[@twolinesslotcars]

Randy, on my newer videos descriptions I have an Amazon list that has everything I have used..

[@All_RC_Fun]

Very helpful. 👍🏼

[@twolinesslotcars]

Glad you think so! Thanks for watching!

[@josephstanczak4340]

Does Thomas have a channel that gets into further details?

[@twolinesslotcars]

Yes, Thomas Sidener.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d33XYXaPj5eDp9Esi=zFFZO0y6vBzftRaN

[@barrylogan2358]

Does that system work on scale electric track?

[@twolinesslotcars]

Barry, I would think you could do the exact same thing with Scaley track. I have not tested it.

[@slotto4922]

So did you have to write any code for the arduino?

[@twolinesslotcars]

Race Coordinator has the Arduino code included in their download.

[@hendrikpelser8011]

You used to run RC with a webcam, why did you change?

[@twolinesslotcars]

I wanted something more accurate. The webcam did a good job, but you would get misreads and false laps. It became a problem when trying to host a race.

[@hendrikpelser8011]

@@twolinesslotcars thank you, appreciate the feedback.

[@Slowhustle]

Marty I have a 5 lane oval Lug Nut Speedway and want to add this system. Will this setup go out to 5 lanes ? Any help would be great, I appreciate what you do. Check out Old Dad Fab

[@twolinesslotcars]

I don’t see why not.. might need to ad a little bit of programming to the Arduino code.. also, I would change the sensors to IR Beam break Sensors.. in the end they are more reliable.

[@Slowhustle]

@twolinesslotcars I saw a Mega R3 Audrino card. Seems to have more inputs ? Might give that a whirl. Thank You

[@Dafingers1]

HAPPY SATURDAY!

[@twolinesslotcars]

Morning!

[@bigdogbrosadventures8371]

Great project. Where can I find the Arduino firmware code to load onto the Arduino controller? Thanks Marty...got it working! just need to build a 1/32 wood track. Although I am familiar with Arduino IDE there was no mention of needing to load tha Uno R3 with code and was confusing. Had thought that RC would upload all the code to the Uno R3 without a separate IDE upload. Thanks for the video!

[@twolinesslotcars]

The Arduino code is in a folder that is in the Race Coordinator download.

[@stevesweeney7892]

I forgot to wake up

[@twolinesslotcars]

Wake up Steve!!