RE: cheap transponder system
Well you should learn how to play with microcontrollers. And you also need as many LM555 timers as the cars you wanna time. If you already have the transponders it's easier. If not then you should make a transponder first. There's also a program that can do anything with input output systems: Labview from national instuments but it alone may cost you more than 4-5 expensive lap timing systems...