Micro Wizard Finish Line

Preacher Wednesday, 6/13/2012

Just wondering if anyone here has used them, and how they compare with the "Judge" finish lines. I'm currently using my "Hot Wheels Super Six lane" finish line to determine the race winner, but how important is the actual time vs the winner? Example: some finish lines tell you the time it took your car to make the run, along with telling the race winner. Whats most important to racers? Link: http://www.microwizard.com/k3page.html

Preacher


Discussion

View member profile
redlinederby 6/13/12
Site manager

While I think the timer lines are more accurate and less likely to error, I think having hard times associated with cars is less fun. We all know external forces play a part in a car's performance but I feel like if I ran Car A down the track and it got a time of 1:00 and then Car B raced and got a time of 1:02, I think the perceived competition between the two goes away.

You look at those two cars and you think "well, Car A will win because there's the time right there, it's hard data." Without the numbers if feels more like Car B could have a chance to win...as in maybe the last race where it lost to Car A was just a fluke or a bad bump or something. Numbers take some of the guessing and luck out of racing and I think that's have the fun. Especially when you're talking about Hot Wheels and many people (myself included) see cars and think "well that one looks fast" only to find out it isn't (or it is).

Obviously timer lines are more accurate so that makes them "better" and I would want one just for that reason alone, but I would probably cover up the timer just so it didn't impact my fun. I still like being surprised when I race cars and I think knowing the times of cars would kind of ruin that.

View member profile
Preacher 10/21/13

Well I pulled the trigger today and bought a Micro Wizards K3 race timer for our track. It has the ability to turn off the timer and just show sequence or which lane is 1st or 2nd. I'm pretty excited about this...I think it will take our racing group to the next level. We have some racers who are serious about speed and seeing actual times of the cars making the run from start to finish. The idea about taking the fun out of racing, because of the data, or hard numbers...might be true in some since. But I'm going to try and keep this racing as FUN and EXCITING as possible. We all know if a car runs 2.358 in the right lane, it doesn't mean that it will run that fast in the left lane...and then there is consistency in how the car races. Not all cars race the same in every race..so we will see what happens when we introduce this in our November Race Event! I will be posting pictures and video...so stay tuned!

Preacher

View member profile
iowastockcars 10/22/13

Our league track uses the Micro Wizard/Fast Track finish lines. It only displays 1, 2, 3, or 4. That works for us.

Would love to see the times though. Just to have a fastest time for each class for the season/for the record book would be fun to see.

I think the finish line we use is capable of showing times but not on the finish line itself. There is something else that they would have to purchase to hook it up to the starting gate and then it exports out to a PC.

View member profile
Milton-Fox 10/22/13

They say you cant please all of the people all of the time, but you can some of the people some of the time! Congrates on the up grade though, humans by nature are competitive, but it is having fun that feeds us!

View member profile
Preacher 10/22/13

They say you cant please all of the people all of the time, but you can some of the people some of the time! Congrates on the up grade though, humans by nature are competitive, but it is having fun that feeds us!

O Yeah...Me Likes to have Fun! I really feel this will allow us to run more cars and have an accurate way of recording them for the racers. I'm sure it will take a few times to get a system down that works with our group, but it should be exciting, and that's what I would like the race to be...EXCITING!!

Preacher

View member profile
redlinederby 10/23/13
Site manager

I'm thinking about biting the bullet and getting an electro finish line too. Judge or MicroWizard, something that can come pre-built with easy setup. Times aren't critical but I'll take it. I just want something that is less likely to breakdown and more reliable than I feel playset flags can be.

If I had unlimited time, I'd ultimately love to have a finish line that sends data so I can hook it up to a laptop. I can program the data collection myself and try to tie that into the web site. Automation of results/times would be big and help make things even more efficient.

I'm leaning towards the MicroWizard because the Judge guy hasn't responded to past emails and otherwise hasn't been that friendly. I think I have a MicroWizard in parts somewhere but don't know the best way to put it all together so it's true.

View member profile
Preacher 10/23/13

I'm thinking about biting the bullet and getting an electro finish line too. Judge or MicroWizard, something that can come pre-built with easy setup. Times aren't critical but I'll take it. I just want something that is less likely to breakdown and more reliable than I feel playset flags can be.

If I had unlimited time, I'd ultimately love to have a finish line that sends data so I can hook it up to a laptop. I can program the data collection myself and try to tie that into the web site. Automation of results/times would be big and help make things even more efficient.

I'm leaning towards the MicroWizard because the Judge guy hasn't responded to past emails and otherwise hasn't been that friendly. I think I have a MicroWizard in parts somewhere but don't know the best way to put it all together so it's true.

They have a K1 unit for sale right now that gives the lane winner, and can be hooked up to a computer to give the other data such as times etc. etc. It's only $150 and they are wanting to move this thing. Call them now before it gets gone...for that price its just what you are looking for.

Preacher

View member profile
tastelikedirt 10/23/13

THe number one reason I'd like to know E.T.s...I'd like to know exactly how fast my car was when it was stock. Then I'd like to modify it and know exactly how much faster I made it.

I'd like to know what specific modifications translate to in performance.

For example I'd like to add weight to the front of the car and test it. Then I'd like to remove the weight and add it to the rear of the car, and test it. Really narrow things down.

I wonder to if you can even get that precise with Hot Wheels.

Like if I got to '34 Fords. Tested them stock. Then did the same modifications to each. I'd like to know if the % of improvement would be the same for each car.

View member profile
redlinederby 10/24/13
Site manager

Good call...comparing mod speeds definitely requires a timer. Although having the time might lead you down a deep, dark hole where you're constantly tweaking your car to shave .01 seconds off the time. ;P

View member profile
Milton-Fox 10/24/13

I'd like to know if the % of improvement would be the same for each car.

I run through my race box at least once a day and the standings change constantly and then revert back to previous standings all the time. Some times only one place sometimes more than 10 (?). So I would think it would be hard to find a % improvement consistently over time. Real racing is like that as well - and most of us cant afford miniature wind tunnels or post testing equipment.

Granted I use three drag strips - primarily Lane 1 and 2, then 3 and 4, and finally 5 and 6 alternatively. I will also run through the cars from slowest to fastest - which also changes the standings as described above.

Then you throw in the differences in the two cars initially. When you make the same modification to both you still have the differences to contend with. So until you get access to a timer. What I would suggest then, is to make comparisons between the same stock cars then make improvements to one at time. And notice the new differences. You can also make the mods at the same time and then take note of the differences. Keep a log so you can accurately keep track. Tuning and testing!

to join the conversation or sign-up now