Pinewood Derby Winner Determination - Also Works with Grand Prix Race Manager

Description

EASILY DETERMINE WHO THE WINNER IS IN YOUR
PINEWOOD DERBY RACE
- ALSO WORKS WITH GRAND PRIX RACE MANAGER
We took our great Winner PWD device and added the ability to work with Grand Prix Race Manager.  The device always measured the times for each cub but this information was never used.  Now with a few hardware/software changes our Winner device can communicate with the Grand Prix Race Manger software program.  We call it WinnerGPRM.
WINNER DESCRIPTION
Why guess or argue about who the winner is in your PWD race?  The winning cub scout  shouldn't be the one whose father has the loudest voice.
This circuit device is not a timer but rather a circuit that will tell you who was the first to cross the finish line in your Pinewood Derby race.
It will also tell you who was second, third and fourth.  The device can handle up to four lanes.
If you hate computers you will love this simple device.
If you are wondering what the 4-digit display is, we'll tell you.  The four digits represent the four lanes (or 3 lanes or 2 lanes?).  The leftmost digit is for lane 1.  Th rightmost digit is for lane 4.  Initially the four digits show 0000.  After each race the display is updated to show who won the race.  For instance, if the display shows 2143, it means that the car in lane 2 won the race.  Lane 1 is next, and so on.
But wait, there's more.  A SELECT push button has also been added to allow you to see the times.  Above each digit is an led.  Pressing the SELECT push button will light the led above digit 1 and show the time for lane 1. The time is shown in milliseconds.  1000 milliseconds equals 1 second.  Pressing the SELECT push button again will light the led above digit 2 and show the time for lane 2.   This is great because sometimes a cub will want to know his time.  You don't need to use the SELECT button if you are not interested in seeing the actual time measurements.
Pressing the RESET button will clear everything, reset the display to 0000 and ready the WINNER circuit for the next race.
The device operates on a 9-volt battery.  This device will work on tracks with 2 lanes, 3 lanes or 4 lanes max.
This package includes the main unit box, 4 sensors with mounting hardware and pre-printed sample race sheets with a link to where you can get more free (pdf file downloads).  The sample race sheets are for two, three and four lane tracks.
The pictures show several sample score sheets for a 4-lane track.  One sheet has only 1 heat.  That means the cubs race only once.  The second sheet has four heats.  That means the cubs race four times and each time they are placed in different lanes.  The small chart shows how the cubs get placed in each heat.
You use the score sheets to keep score which means you are keeping track of who was first, second, etc., in each race.  The ultimate winner depends on how you decide to use the information that you collected on your race sheets.
You might want to do a double elimination race.
The instruction manual describes how to use the sample race sheets.  There are some interesting variations that you can try.
The four included sensors work with room light.
The installation involves drilling a hole in the center of each lane at your finish line and attaching a sensor underneath.  Screws are provided.   The sensors get plugged into the main control box.
If you are racing 4 cars and one or more do not cross the finish line then what?  A built-in circuit timer will end the race after 6 seconds and any car that didn't finish will be placed in last place with his led off.  A typical PWD race lasts about 3 seconds at most.
The circuit is mounted in a black plastic box with measurements 5 inches by 2.5 inches.  The four sensors plug into this box. Each sensor cable is 3-feet in length.  A
sensor is shown i
n the picture.  Each sensor is 2 inches long and mounts with 2 screws.
This whole package costs 9.  Shipping is .
This system is arguably better than a timer system because the time isn't measured, just who was first, second, etc.  Once you tell a group of cubs their times then they already know who they can beat
just
by comparing times.
WINNER PLUS GRAND PRIX RACE MANGER DESCRIPTION
Our Winner device received a few hardware/software changes to allow the Grand Prix Race Manager software to work with it.  A Start Gate input was added.  And a way to communicate with a personal computer where the Grand Prix Race Manger software resides.  This was done by adding a USB/serial connection.  Since the Race Manager program runs on both Windows and Apple computers, both types of computers can now talk to our upgraded WinnerGPRM product.
The included Start Gate switch also includes a 35 foot connecting cable.  The cable uses 3.5mm plugs.
The Grand Prix Program Manager software needs to be configured to talk to our WinnerGPRM product.  This is explained in the Installation manual.  The Grand Prix Race Manager software program is
NOT
included with the WinnerGPRM package.  You must purchase the
Grand Prix Race Manager
program yourself.
The Winner product will still work as before.   You can work it either way.
Please allow ten days for shipping.
Please ask questions.  Thanks.