Need help finding a timing system - Triathlon Week

08-23-2004, 07:39 PM

I am a rookie race director and trying to get a new race going for next
season. My first big hurdle is that I need to come up with a cheep yet
reliable timing system. The race will be a sprint with a pool swim which
means something like 7 waves. I am thinking that we could probably do
something on a spread sheet but really have no experience. Any advice?

thanks,
Chip

08-23-2004, 07:39 PM

"Walden Manor, including Chip, Skipper, Sky, Sue" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<AZIsc.547$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].verio.net>...
> I am a rookie race director and trying to get a new race going for next
> season. My first big hurdle is that I need to come up with a cheep yet
> reliable timing system. The race will be a sprint with a pool swim which
> means something like 7 waves. I am thinking that we could probably do
> something on a spread sheet but really have no experience. Any advice?
>
> thanks,
> Chip

Just kicking around ideas...

Requirements:

* At least five camcorders with uninterrupted power. One for the swim
exit, T1 exit, bike finish, T2 exit, run finish. You may be able to
reallocate them as the swim & bike courses close(?).

* A couple VCR's with remotes.

* Someone to perodically synch splits by audibly stating elapsed
Wave-1 time into the camcorder microphone.

* A file containing a table that associates everyone with their bib
numbers and wave sequence.

* Enough spreadsheet-savvy volunteers (3-6?) to watch the replay and
key splits in shifts. Or... make copies of tapes and divide keying
into time increments and let them work simultaneously, joining your
data later.

Set an achievable expectation for publishing, but you could have it
done in a couple of days. This assumes you only have a couple hundred
triathletes.

Most races only post them electronically these days. You can email
them or create a crude web page in no time at all.

Good Luck,

rsquared

08-23-2004, 07:39 PM

"Walden Manor, including Chip, Skipper, Sky, Sue" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote in message news:AZIsc.547$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].verio.net...
> I am a rookie race director and trying to get a new race going for next
> season. My first big hurdle is that I need to come up with a cheep yet
> reliable timing system. The race will be a sprint with a pool swim which
> means something like 7 waves. I am thinking that we could probably do
> something on a spread sheet but really have no experience. Any advice?
>
> thanks,
> Chip
>

Interestingly enough, I have a friend here in Austin, Tx who has just
started his own timing system company specifically for doing smaller races.
Where are you planning on holding this race?

Jim Weeks