With an IR based 36 car detection system in field trials for lap detection and lane changer requests, it’s time to turn some attention to throttle control options for higher numbers of cars.

I’m exploring potential control options and am interested to focus on options which are distinct from current in-market systems. That said, I am keen to retain compatibility with the major brands wherever possible.

One option is to better compress data to achieve twelve car control via track packets i.e. the SSD and D132/124 approach but extended from six to twelve cars. Big thanks to drifter2 for helping to explore this potential approach.

The second option is of course to go wireless and here I am looking into 2.4GHz broadcast methods where a single broadcast message commands up to twelve cars. 

The thinking here is that twelve cars is more than enough for at least 99.9% of the world’s 1/32 slot car tracks. But for racers who desire up to 24 or 36 cars in their races then either two or three broadcast modules could be operated side-by-side with one as the primary device. The broadcast method offers the opportunity for higher power levels and hence better suppression of in-channel noise.

So that’s the plan for 2024… to build both approaches then test and compare their performance.

c

Hi All 
I have just held out first rally event and as always there was a few teething issues to solve. Which was resolved and a nice event was had and a lot was learnt for the next meeting. 
One of the issues I had thought about is rally event timing. 
Now the DS200 is good as it gets the timing done via laps etc.. but to make the event more exciting and a clear narrative of what is happening would be the option of DISPLAY TIMING ON THE ONGOING STAGE. 
 Like the real timing on the WRC when the stage is being run the competitors time is shown as he drives the stage. So my question is, Is there a way of displaying the overall stage time when it is being run? 

If I can get some way  to display the timing as they are actually happening the whole drama of rallying   Would enhance the event 
. I look forward to reply’s from people who may know a solution.

NSR released their 2024 catalogue yesterday.

   
 
It's available from the NSR website and it's also now available in The Library.

Race reports - 18th January 2024 - Snow & ice…no racing

…not to be deterred and with the roads being clear I went down after work and spent a couple of hours or so testing, tuning and tweaking a few cars…quite a few actually



--------------------------------------------

Next week is Club BMW Gr.5’s plus Sports

As a racer/collector I like to see models of cars that ran races, so for me they have to have real liveries.
I find it important that everything is right, I am no nut counter but I would like to see all the "stickers" in the right place.

Since a couple of years some brands start to trow out cars with fantasy liveries, or classical liveries on modern cars. They all have in coming that there is no real example of the car. No need to name (and shame) brands, we all know who they are. I also understand that it's a way to utilise the model financially because most cars ran with few different liveries.

I try to avoid buying them but I must admit that some are really looking good.

So what do you think? Do you buy these, maybe for club racing, or do you stay away from these?

I myself try to stay away from them but there are exceptions ?

I just joined this Slot Racer forum. I was really into AFX back in the early-mid 1970's. Now

fifty years later and 64 years old I am back into this hobby.  Having fun again. Racing
my cars brings back so many memories. And makes me feel young again...

Can anybody help and stop me going mad?
I have an excellent start light Arduino sketch working on pclapcounter , written for me some years ago. Unfortunately I can’t contact the author  anymore . I have managed with great difficulty ( I’m not really  a sketch writer) to modify the sketch to incorporate  two codes to make an oled ssd1331 display flash a green flag , or VSC on track call. I’ve managed to get  the revised sketch to verify,
but the new part , ie the functioning oled display ,is not working.
Any help would be so much appreciated.
Tim

Slot It SCP-2 Controller with separate Analog cartridge.
As new, hardly used.
£60 Plus p&p

Our wood track is topped with polyurethane floor paint, it gives MUCH improved grip over the manufactured surface that has years of use.

Most treatments work well with rubber tyres on the track from 3in1 oil to RC tyre treatments, Koala Klaws, NSR oil, bicycle chain cleaning oil, Olbas oil, Tea Tree oil...I've tried allsorts, there isn't one 'best' as it's more important to get the right tyres in the first place which are NSR Ultragrips (NOT the Evo's) which are sadly long out of production and getting hard to find.

Some tyres don't need treatment on this new track surface but if raced carefully they polish to a shine, stock Revoslot tyres, Thunderslot 002 (again can't find these in the UK) and given time even NSR Evo Supergrips.

Well I found a bottle of something I bought probably 30 years ago and most of it is still there...Redex for petrol.  This is the old style round bottle and has a strong smell, in fact the same smell as my old Toolroom overcoat.

I thought 'why not' and smeared some thinly round a pair of NSR Ultras on one of my cars.  There wasn't really any noticeable improvement for over an hour and much better the morning after, now this is a good sign for me as 'instant grip' treatments have always been short lived so will be trying this on Thursday night.
My only concern is will the Redex attack the rubber too aggressively so that it crumbles...time will tell.