The Race screen:
This screen
controls the actual running of the Soap Box Derby Event. On entry it is
always in the Standby condition.
Standby Condition:
When the Race Screen is in the Standby condition you will see the Runs
Available Chart, which displays up to 10 runs that are available to be
raced and three buttons. The chart, the button functions and usually the
condition change as a result of which button you press.
Announcements and Lane Lights:
Other than when entering the Standby condition from another Tab on
the computer screen, entering the Standby condition is accompanied by an
announcement from SuperTimer II, “One moment, Please.” In the Standby condition,
both Lane Lights are ON (non-blink) or Alternating (blink) indicating a
‘red light’ condition.
Runs Available Chart: The Runs Available Chart may display as
many as 10 and as few as one available run. It displays only runs that
are truly ‘available’, that is, runs that have cars assigned. This chart
has four columns.
1. RD HPR. These letters stand for Run-Division-Heat-Phase-Round. The
Run number is unique and generally runs are activated in numerical order
starting at 1. The Division is represented by the capital letter from the
words Master, Stock, suPerstock, seNior, sCottie, Extra. Heat is the bracket
heat order number for that Division. See the
multiple bracket description for more information. The Phase is A,
B or T where T is a run with only one car (but not a scheduled bye). Examples
are Trial runs, Hot runs and the Wow run.
The Round is again from the bracket. Cars that survive to higher rounds
are eligible for placing.
2. Lane 1 Racer. This column displays the Car #, Racer name and age
for the racer in Lane 1.
3. Lane 2 Racer. This column displays the Car #, Racer name and age
for the racer in Lane 2.
4. Min. This column displays the minutes that have elapsed since the
related A phase was completed.
Standby Buttons:
The three buttons shown are Run Next, Run # and Delete #. These buttons
appear with the runs available chart and together indicate the Standby
condition.
Run Next:
Clicking this button will leave the Standby condition and enter the
Ready condition with the run at the top of the runs available chart as
the active run.
Run #:
Entering a valid run number in the field and pressing Enter or
clicking on Run # will leave the Standby condition and enter the Ready
condition with the Run # selected as the active run. The run number selected
must be a run with cars assigned. It need not be on the screen although
caution is advised. It may have been run previously, in which case a warning
will appear and you may continue, thus erasing the previous results or
escape and return to the Standby condition. Great CAUTION is advised.
Special case: Entering
a Run # greater than the last scheduled run will allow you to add runs
at the end of the day. Simply follow the on-screen instructions. If the
Winner of the Losers beats the Winner of the Winners in the final Heat,
a tie for 1st place results and two runs will be added automatically. However,
you may need to add runoffs manually for City Winners or other special cases.
Delete #:
Entering a valid Run number in the field and pressing Enter or
clicking on Delete # will, after a warning, DELETE the run you have chosen
and return to the Standby condition. GREAT CAUTION IS ADVISED. This is
generally only used to delete trial runs.
The Ready condition:
When the Race screen is in the Ready condition you will see a chart
which displays detailed information on the selected run and different labels
on the three buttons. The chart display, the button functions and usually
the condition change as a result of which button you press. In addition,
the condition will change if the correct number of cars cross the finish
line.
Announcements and Lane Lights:
Entering the Ready condition is accompanied by an announcement from
SuperTimer II that includes the run number, division, heat number, phase
and the word ”Ready”. If this is a phase B run, then the advantage lane
and advantage time are also announced. During the announcement both lane
lights are ON, after the announcement both are OFF.
Run chart:
This chart includes in large type the run number, heat number, phase,
round and division along the top line. Also displayed, for each lane are
the car number, racer name, age, city and sponsor. If this is a phase B
run, the advantage is shown as well in the lane with the advantage preceded
by an ‘A’ indicating the phase A result.
Ready Buttons:
The three buttons shown are Cancel Run, Clear False and Accept One.
These buttons appear with the run chart and together indicate the Ready
condition.
Cancel Run:
Clicking this button will exit to the Standby condition. The selected
run will not be DELETED; it will just be postponed until later. A typical
use for this button occurs when a brake problem is detected as the cars
are loaded into the starting gate. Cancel Run is not logged.
Clear False:
Clicking this button will clear the timer to its initial condition
and remain in the Ready condition. A typical use for this button is to
clear from the timer a false crossing of the finish line during the time
that the cars are on the hill. False crossings can occur because of wandering
spectators or dogs. Clear False is forwarded to the log file.
Accept One:
Clicking this button will accept the results of a two-car race when
only one car has crossed the line, and exit to the Accept condition. A
typical use for this button occurs when one car goes off the course or
has a mechanical breakdown or withdraws. Accept One is forwarded to the
log file.
Normal Run:
The most likely event is that two cars will cross the line. SuperTimer
II will announce the run winner and lane, light the appropriate lane light
and forward the information to the RaceManager. The RaceManager will accept
the information, update the run chart and enter the Accept condition.
The Accept
Condition:
At the conclusion of a run, the Race Screen enters the Accept condition.
Announcements and Lane Lights:
If this is a phase A run, then the announcement has already been made
and the appropriate lane light is active. If this is a phase B run, then
the RaceManager will calculate the heat winner and forward that information
to SuperTimer II. SuperTimer II will announce the heat winner and activate
the appropriate lane light. If the results of a phase B run result in an
elimination or placing for a car, that is also announced.
Run chart:
The Run chart will be updated with the results of the run and, if phase
B, the results of the heat. The results of the run (and heat) are forwarded
to the log file.
Accept Buttons:
The three buttons shown are Accept, Swap Lanes and Disqualify. These
buttons appear with the updated run chart and together indicate the Accept
condition.
Accept:
Clicking on this button accepts the displayed results as OFFICIAL and
exits to the Standby condition. The log file entries are marked with a
preceding ‘*’ to indicate they were accepted. SuperTimer II says, “Official”.
Swap Lanes:
Clicking on this button will swap the car numbers in the lanes to correct
for cars loaded in the wrong lanes. They must be in the wrong lanes in
both phases or the B phase must run again. The swap information is forwarded
to the log file.
The Disqualify condition:
Clicking on Disqualify button will enter the Disqualify condition and
the three button labels will change to Lane 1, Lane 2, Neither. Clicking
on one of the first two buttons will immediately disqualify the car currently
in Lane 1 or Lane 2, and make the other lane the winner, eliminating phase
B if it hasn't run. The Run Display will be updated and the information
forwarded to the log file. Neither exits with no change. All buttons exit
to the Accept condition.
Special Case:
There is no button for “NOT ACCEPT”. If you choose to re-run a particular
run, there are two available methods.
1. You can accept the run and then use the Run # button to re-race it
later.
2. You can click on any Tab other than the Race Tab before you accept
the results. In this case the RaceManager mostly treats the run as though
it never happened.
In both cases the results of the run are logged. In the first case an
official ‘*’ appears in the log, in the second case it does not. You may
view the log file at any time from the Reports
Screen.
Round Boundary and Lane Balance:
It is very difficult to get two lanes in a city street to be exactly
equal. This is the principal reason for the Lane Swap protocol. As an aid
to balancing the Lanes, the RaceManager keeps track of the difference that
is likely to be caused by Lane imbalance. At the conclusion of a Round,
when it’s safe (and fair) to adjust the Starting Gate to equalize the Lanes,
the RaceManager will show a message. Click here
for more information on Lane Balance.
SuperTimer II for the Soap Box Derby 800-654-2088 
