Fairways Racing Complex Forum

O'Brie and Steve joined me for some very special track work at FRC yesterday afternoon. We all know of the problems and disagreements that occur when there are no marshals and we have a de-slot situation. Everything from cars coasting for half a lap, drivers who have slow reflexes so their cars continue moving when everyone else's stops, not hearing the track call, etc. Then we have the re-start versions where a car starts before the "go" signal, including the car driven by the signaler.

Well, thanks to O'Brie's ingenuity and the work done yesterday, those are now things of the past, because we now have the six kill-switches installed and functioning. From now on, when your car de-slots, you hit your kill switch and power to the track is disconnected, stopping all cars regardless of their throttle trigger positions. So, there'll be no more long coasting, no more creeping, no more jump-restarts. Things should work much more smoothly with all future track calls and restarts.

We finished by cleaning the start line sensor electronics and testing it all with some cars and everything worked perfectly.

Here are some pics of the work in progress.

O'Brie doing his magic with the wiring and Steve offers moral support while consuming a refreshing beer:


Masses of wires to sort out:


The "magic box" that does almost all the work:


Switches in place while work continues:


View from driver station 1. The switch "up" position for all switches means the track has power. Any switch in the "down" position kills all power to the track:

A very productive afternoon. Looking forward to racing with the new setup.

Gordon,

Real cool and (as usual) very neat work ..!

The electrical knobs looking like it can withstand a good number of track calls.

Luke

Luke wrote:The electrical knobs looking like it can withstand a good number of track calls.

They're all marine quality so they should give us good service.

G M Gordon,

I’m sure you are happy about ... because I have (over the years) seen this “kill switch” method used at MCATT and TSCC racing competitions and must say it was very useful stopping, restarting plus helping out with any other (on track) racing issues ...

At the same time we at FRC had this “kill switch” method/idea (not as elaborate at the time) on the drawing board and now that it’s achieved - not one but 6 electrical knobs will surely produce new and positive results ..

On the other hand though ~ you don’t normally leave me out on these kind of racing driver “project limes” and not that I’m sad or any love lost but (if I was there) would have suggested you install a 7th “kill switch” for the head-steward when there are marshals present.

Thinking it through ... sure you (and others) may agree

Have a GR8 day,

Luke

Luke wrote:On the other hand though ~ you don’t normally leave me out on these kind of racing driver “project limes” and not that I’m sad or any love lost but (if I was there) would have suggested you install a 7th “kill switch” for the head-steward when there are marshals present.

Luke, O'Brie and I informally discussed this at length over the past several weeks. I initially thought about having a 7th switch but it makes sense just having 6 since we the drivers have just a single car to look at, whereas a head steward would have all six cars to keep track of and will never be as quick to react as the driver who de-slots.

A-Okay Gordon and for what it’s worth ~ it is biblically known 7 is considered a perfect number ...

Here are good reasons - there are 7 Continents, 7 Oceans on the globe, 7 Colours in the rainbow, 7 Notes on the musical scale and last but not least 7 Days in the week ...

Bless

Luke

I guess that's where the term "Lucky 7" comes from .

Hi guys thanks for your commitment and love for slot car racing, i do appreciate the efforts made , thanks again to Gordon , Obre and Steve.Looking forward to trying it out on Thursday.

gordon wrote:I initially thought about having a 7th switch but it makes sense just having 6 since we the drivers have just a single car to look at, whereas a head steward would have all six cars to keep track of and will never be as quick to react as the driver who de-slots.

I will have to agree to disagree on this Gordon because being a FRC head steward a number of times ... Stoping a Race.

Luke