Have you ever whished you had a lap counter timer for personal use? Lets say you want to go to your local track on days when there is not any races and the equipment for counting laps or lap time is not available? You want to do some testing and tuning but have no way to see if you are actually improving your times? Or like in my case where I have my Mini-Z’s with a nice RCP track and no one to run with so I wanted a clock to run against with out spending a wad of money for a lap timer counter!

So I bought a MicroSizers digital lap counter (Radio Shack makes one to for Zip Zaps) and timer that are available from Towers or off ebay for under $5. The only problem is the control unit and sensor platform have to be no more then 8 inches apart which is to narrow even for Mini-Z’s much less 1/10 and larger. KEEP READING! So I go on the net looking for other solutions and came across this web page where I can use my $4 lap counter and timer with some modifications and when it is all said and done you can have a personal lab counter and timer for $20 to $35!
http://www.snipx.com/comersus/store/fun_cheaptimer.asp

nifty

sounds cool. i want one now.

46u,
Just noticing you got around to building one "and" found a web page with instructions.

Now I have something to race my Mini-Z’s against. Wish someone in this area was in to Mini-Zs. I all so have a mini inferno on the way from your friend at Kenon. When you go race at his shop tell him you and I talk on forms all the time. My real name is Jeff from Macon, GA.

I wish it was true but im just not sure it will work. I mean Laptimers can cost alot of $ way way more then $25 so i just find it hard to believe.

Take not this is not for racing it is just for timing one car or truck to give you an idea of how changes you make work and if they improve you lap time. The reason most lap counter and timing systems are so high is because they are keeping up with many vehicles. I am not trying to compare this with high dollar systems but for testing and tuning you cannot beat it and yes it works and you can do it for asl little as $20 to $30.

46u,
I noticed the flack on the other board. Some people.

cjennings,
Core Racing's timing systems have been going for around $500.00 to $600.00 for a small-scale timing system. The last time I checked, the Ko Propo units and the Amb-It systems range around $2,000.00 to $3,000.00 depending on the transponders. The Amb-It personal transponders are around $80.00 each.

However as 46u mention, the other systems are for multiple cars, not a personal timing system. Of course, someone could use a flag system and vary the hight of several Microsizer units, so that several cars could be timed. Myself, I simply used a kitchen timer when several of us ran together just to set a certain number of minutes to race and everybody ran the honor system. After all, it was more for fun since it was just a group of local guys getting together to race, eat, and chat.

If I am correct what I like about the Ko Propo is it works off frequency and not a transponder. I like the idea of no transponder. But for the money and the fact I do not have any one to run my Z’s with I like my CHEAP system.

Core's transponders are paper thin, but will wear after a while since they are not much more than paper. There are also various types of Amb-It transponders--the personal transponders for RC are smaller and lighter than the loaners, which need to be charged. I also removed most of the plastic from my personal AMB-It so I could fit it inside my non-F1 Kyosho Mini-Zs. The last I knew, the Ko Propo system was more limited as is the LapZ system. Here are a few links if anyone is interested.

http://www.corespeedway.com
http://www.amb-it.com
http://www.kopropo.com/arc.htm
http://www.lapz.com