RC  DRAG RACE TIMER (Free Download)
(New Version Released on: 6/12/2026)
This timer design is for a 2-lane 1/10 scale RC drag race timer system for a 132 foot track. The design replicates many of the features of a professional drag race timing system including the following:
  • Vehicle Stage capability/indication (Sorry - No Pre-stage capability)
  • A functional bright LED Christmas Tree w/ Sportsman, Professional, or Street Outlaw class timing selections and selectable 0.4 or 0.5 second timing.
  • 1 or 2 racer capable
  • Front panel Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) of Reaction Time, Trap Speed & Elapsed (finish) time.
  • Wireless Bluetooth Timeslip printer
  • Speed indication in MPH or km/h.
  • Hand-held pushbutton for timer control
  • 12 Volt Battery operation
  • Additional features when used with PC based race management software: (a) Handicap (Bracket) racing, (b) racer assignment from a race roster, (c) enhanced race start control, (d) race results saved to data file.
This design uses the GTRIC LS12-R6MN2 retro-reflective laser sensors.
Click on the icon below to download the design package for building this RC timer.
rc_drt_ver12b.zip
File Size: 5070 kb
File Type: zip
Download File
ENHANCED RC TIMER (Free Download)
(New Version Released on: 8/30/2025)
The enhanced PC controlled drag race timer design for a 2-lane 1/10 scale RC drag race timer is now available.
Features include the following:
  • Handicapped (bracket) racing capability
  • Ability to control a full-scale light tree including ones with  120v, 100 Watt incandescent lamps
  • Measurement/Display of Reaction Time, 6 & 66 Ft Time, Trap Speed, Elapsed time, Overall time & Margin-of-Victory
  • Entry & Display of Car# and Dial-In time for handicap races
  • Optional Printout of Time Slips using a receipt printer at conclusion of each race
  • Early staging enable/disable
  • Optional addition of random race start delay when tree is in Outlaw mode to prevent racers from cueing off race star button press.
The design supports six sets of laser sensors w/ retro-reflective mirrors positioned down the track as follows:
1.    Stage Sensors: Positioned just aft of the start line
2.    Guard Sensors: Positioned at the start line
3.    6 Foot Sensors: Positioned 6 Ft down track from the start line
4.    66 Foot Sensors: Positioned 66 Ft down track from the start line
5.    Trap Sensors: Positioned 5.28 Ft (2m for Km/h) prior to the finish line
6.    Finish Line Sensors: Positioned at the finish line (132 Ft).

An Arduino MEGA micro-controller board is used in this design and provides the interfaces to the optical lane sensors, light tree and hand-held race start switch and executes the software that drives the tree lights, monitors the track sensors, performs the timing and sends the race results and track status to the PC for display and post-race processing.
 
Race management software running on the PC provides display of the race start reaction time, 6 & 66 Foot time, elapsed time, trap speed, overall time (elapsed time + reaction time) and racer’s status (win, disqualified, breakout) and Morgin-of-Victory. Display of racer ID numbers and dial-in times is also provided. An optional thermal receipt printer provides hardcopy Time Slips for the race participants.
 
Interested in other features? -- Contact me @ [email protected] for a custom design.
Click on the icon below to download the design package for building this RC timer.
rc_drt_timer_ver11.zip
File Size: 3837 kb
File Type: zip
Download File

2-Lane Wireless 4-Digit Large Display System

This large display system is an optional add-on to Version 12b of the RC drag race timer (above) and provides for the display of the racer’s overall time (ET + RT) (0 – 9.999 Sec) at the conclusion of each race. It works in conjunction with the author’s race manager software running on your PC and is easily added to the existing system by simply plugging the transmitter unit into a spare USB port on your PC.
  • Provides two portable large displays that can be placed at the user’s discretion for easy viewing by the race participants and onlookers.
  • Uses the ESPNOW Wi-Fi protocol to wirelessly transmit times to the large displays
​Click on the file below to download the DIY design package & software to build this sytem.
large_display_system.zip
File Size: 2397 kb
File Type: zip
Download File

​1-Lane Practice Timer

Features Include:
  • Start Line Stage, Guard, 6 Ft, 66 Ft, Trap & Finish Line Sensors.
  • Single Lane Light Tree that supports Sportsman, Pro & Outlaw operation modes.
  • ​Foot switch control for hands-free operation.
  • 12 Volt Battery Operation.
  • Wireless Bluetooth Thermal Timeslip Printer.
  • Optional connection to PC running Race Monitor Software that displays and saves race results to a data file.
  • Uses the Espressif ESP32 microcontroller.
Click Download File button below to download the design package for this version.
rc_drpt_ver2a.zip
File Size: 4689 kb
File Type: zip
Download File