Planning A Time Trial Race System

I've noticed a tendency for me to resort to informal time trials when I race. Whether it's to see how fast the car is going lately or how fast the current track design might be, it's always a little different and interesting enough for me to track it. So here's how I'm going to do it:

1. Design a layout using my existing track pieces. Once happy with it, save it and make a track out of it. Take a photo of the finished track.

2. Make a spreadsheet, which will look something like this, although likely much more defined as I go:

This was a first draft, and I see where there are places to add information that is pertinent: SCP-1 controller usage and settings, recent tuneups, that sort of thing. I'll include track comments as well as a reminder of each.

I haven't decided length of time trial yet, as 5 minutes feels about right for a long race, where one minute time trials make for an interesting dash. I think longer is better, though, as it gives a better indication of how a car works over time as opposed to just how lucky you might be to keep a car on the track for the minute of mad scrambling. Also, since I'm using a much less than scientific method of keeping time [I have no lap counter and time to a stopwatch], it's easier to see the differences in cars over a 5 minute period, especially if one pulls more laps than the other.

This spreadsheet will also be able to be modified and improved upon as I get more cars. I'll be able to go back to the original layout and situations and compete against my other cars without having to re-run the entire thing each time. That makes this a potential long-term project, and it doesn't matter the design of the track or now many pieces is used. The information I can collect on my cars can help me know their strengths and weaknesses.
If I find a particular track that is more exciting to race on than another, I can use that track as a primary time trial track, yet still have the option to go back to previous tracks and add times with new cars whenever I desired.

I will also include a column that would have special tuning information, in case I was working on a particular car for whatever reason as opposed to just re-entering the same data. What I mean is, it would be entirely possible to see one car do three or four 5-minute time trials, if the intention was to tune the car in a particular way for a particular track, or otherwise change it to compete with a prior lap time. If I change motoring, gearing or tires, for example, I would denote those changes so I could more easily understand the data. Having a car run 85 laps for 5 minutes, then 87, 88 and 91 would need to have some sort of reason behind the speed improvement, so I'd make sure to put that information into the result comments. If I true the tires before a race, I'll note that.

New Controller, New Results

Now with the SCP-1 Controller, I have the option to control overall track speed, so I'll need to have a consistent attitude regarding tuning the controller [and the cars] to the given track to make it a fair time. This will require some "rules" for the controller to follow. Here's what I'll do.

1. Controller setting will be LIN off/off [the overall power setting....or "kid-friendly" setting].
2. Car will be put on the track, trigger in full position, and the blue MAX dial turned up until just before the point of de-slot....so the car can make it around the track at the fastest average "hammer-down" top speed. This takes the driver out of the equation and only tests the car under current conditions.
3. Once that top speed has been satisfactorily reached, the time trial will begin and run for whatever length of time it is set to. Laps run is the determining performance factor, and not lap time, as I don't have a lap counter and do it manually.

As long as I stick to those controller "rules" I should be able to make a respectable showing of my cars. We'll see what happens.