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At this month's meeting it was mentioned that a new display for timing for autocross is needed. A dual sided display was required. I asked why and the reason given was so that the folks in the bus could see it too.

Is there any reason an external monitor can't be connected to the lap top so folks in the bus can see the time? They are getting very inexpensive (less then $200 for a 24" display). If that could be used then a single sided display for outside could be used which, I believe, will broaden the number of available possible replacements.

Ron

I have a 19" Dell and and an 18" LG LCD display that I'd be glad to donate to the club if needed in the bus. 1280x1024.

However, a dual-sided display would be really nice at an autox since in some course setups, one side can face the driver at the finish while the other side can face the crowd/bus. Even nicer would be a printer that spits out your time, place in class and your PAX time and ranking handed to you after each run.

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I don't think the need was for people working in the bus, as TnS workers have the timer display for that. I think it is what Chuck states and for the convenience of the setup on many courses allowing spectators and drivers to see the times.

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About that, Blue Ridge has that and it's awesome. Is it an add on to AX software, or a separate program that was written for them? Just wondering.

About the timing display...are we looking only for double sided displays, or would 2 single sided units be less expensive? More wires laying out, but more flexibility on placement. Again, just curious.

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Even if 2 single sided were the same price or a little more, wouldn't that greatly improve the flexibility of having a timer for spectators, and one for the drivers to see without having to go both-feet-in after the finish just to read ?
Another plus - redundancy.

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Nope, no add-on AFAIK, you just need a POS printer like the Epson TM 220 which runs about $250.



I am pretty sure the timing box only has one display output, I don't know if it can be split to two displays.

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I thought I recalled a discussion herein a few years ago when it was said that Blue Ridge had a program or dll or whatever written (or bought) that gathered the data and pushed it to a printer?

If not, I'll be glad to throw some $ into the pot toward purchasing that printer. I'm guessing we could quickly raise enough money from club members if $ are the main issue for not having one. The usability of the output is so high that I would think many would be interested in it?

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

There are cheaper POS (Point Of Sale) printers out there. That's the one Vitek recommends on his forum.

As far as I can tell from the AXware site, time slips are part of even the most basic system.

http://www.axwaresystems.com/axfeatureswin.htm

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STF 9

I don't want to step on toes, but is there a behind the scenes reason we don't do the printout (other than not having bought a printer)? I'm not one to simply throw out requests and then expect someone else to make it happen. I simply have had an insane schedule the past couple of years and haven't made it to more than maybe 3 autox events in the past two seasons. That coupled with my main autox car leaving for college a few years ago... (hoping to change that soon by buying something fun and competitive to autox).

So, yeah, what the hell is that idiot doing who doesn't come to events much anymore blabbing on about a freaking printer?

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Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

::like button:: AS's not looking too bad for next year Chuck.

The timing coupon machine is such a great idea. The only issue I can see (other than the expense) is having an additional worker to hand them out. Then again, haven't we had someone handing out the slips at most events?

I believe there are a handful of issues with this that we would need to figure out. I can't swear that all these are fixable or not, this is just what comes to mind at the moment:

1a. It's another "special" work assignment to man that thing, and we're sometimes short staffed. Not always, but sometimes. If you rattle off the list of "special" work assignments we already have, it's a pretty long list.

1b. Similarly, it's another piece of equipment to have problems with, which can stop the event.

2. It's another piece of equipment to maintain, store, set up, and tear down.

3. It's common for the finish line to be pretty far away from the bus. Sometimes REALLY far away from the bus. Which could be a cabling problem.

4. I don't know if our software supports it. It might; I've never looked into it.

5. I don't think it's a money issue. I think it's just one more thing to do the morning of an autocross, which is a time when we have PLENTY to do already, even when things are going perfectly.

6. This is actually the first I've heard of such a thing, as I haven't run with BRR in forever. It's a cool idea that I didn't know had been implemented elsewhere. At Pros and Tours, you get a hand written post-it with your time plus penalties.

I'm not saying that it's not possible - those are just the issues that came to mind for me. I'm sure that whoever the 2011 officers are will figure it all out.

(Edit: typo)

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Karl S.
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I was VP when we got into the AXWare thing, there was no big conspiracy to not use it. We used to have this nice, double sided display and didn't really NEED a timing slip printer. Times may have changed.

Plus all of the other things that Karl mentioned. Nothing is as simple as it seems at first blush.

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I actually have one of those, a Star SP200, that could be used if someone wants to have a go at setting it up and giving it a try.

_________________
SCCA Solo Triad Award Recipient 2014
SCCA HSL National Champion 2012
SCCA DSL National Champion 2013
SCCA DSL National Champion 2014
NCR National Driver of the Year 2012
THSCC Heel of the Year 2011
Former Club Secretary
http://www.petscompanioninn.com

I seem to recall during the night time series we ran we had timing slips. I believe they were printed (maybe by hand??) and I think put out at a table by the bus so folks could come by when they wanted to collect them. Handy but took a couple people to man the table and create the time slips.

Everything old is new again! Back in the day, when we used TITS for our timing system, we printed out timing slips. We stopped when we began using the LED display that Ron Spencer has been hoarding for many years. We actually own a POS (that's Point Of Sales, not what you thought, you perverts) printer that I have. The problem, as was pointed out, is that it can't be used more than 10 feet or so from the timer. Incidentally, TITS was actually the computer system, not the tube/switch setup that Rallycross has been using!

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