The Transponder Electronic Finish Line for BestTrack

New Directions

900 Echols Street SE
Vienna, VA 22180    703-319-0840

High Performance, Affordable Accessories for
Pinewood Derby, Hot Wheels, Soapbox Derby, and other racing formats.

The Transponder for
Only for advanced groups that
project derby software on wall
or use big screen TVs

What is it?

A full-function finish line, with .0001 second resolution, equivalent to The Champ, The Judge, and other popular finish lines.

Just less expensive. Much less.


When you project your Pinewood software for the room to see, a funny thing happens: Nobody looks at your finish line anymore.

Reason: A finish line display does not tell you who won. It only tells you which lane won. Your audience wants to know if it was Jimmy or Tommy. Names are only on your big screen.

How does it work?

Cars break a beam of light,
like most other finish lines.

The finishing order and elapsed time are transmitted to your computer by cable.

It's tiny.

The Transponder is actually our Judge finish line, miniaturized and installed in this tiny enclosure. Because it only works in tandem with a big screen display, computer capability is not an option, it is an integral feature.

Other options are available. It can work outdoors. It can display lane functionality as an aid to setting up the IR source.

How does it mount?

First, install the sensor boards with supplied screws. The screws fit into slots in the track bottom.


Caution: Do not overtighten screws. Just snug.

Once installed, the sensors are never removed.

The transponder connects to the sensor boards with solderless connectors.

Then, mount the transponder

Use a single captive bolt and nut, just like how everything else is assembled on the BestTrack.

Finger tight only, please.

Then, hook up the sensor wires to each board.

That's it.

Without a display, the power requirements are very modest. A battery will last over 20 hours.

A green light visible from start line indicates the timer status.

Ready to flip the track over.

Click in the cable, snap in the battery.

Add the Illuminator

You supply the illuminator. This is usually not a problem

It's just a single light bulb over the finish line shining down.


Nothing beats a GU-10 halogen.

LED or Flourescent bulbs, (tubes or compact)
will not work.
It has to be incandescent (hot filament).

Some bulbs are better than others. If it makes good shadow puppets on the wall, it is good for this.

What is the difference in the displays when using the Transponder vs. using The Champ or other finish line?

Great question!
Displays of the Transponder and the Champ,
side by side, using GrandPrix Race Manager.

There are no differences.
Both finish lines send lane order, and times to your computer. The race software incorporates this data identically into its processing and display formats.

You see exactly the same thing no matter what finish line, or what software you use.
The Thinking Man's Finish Line

Dimensions HWD: 2" x 1.5" x 1"

Battery: A544  6V sold separately.

Computer signal: Serial 9600-8-1-None

Resolution: .0001 seconds

Cabling made to your requirements.


Price: 1/3 of Price of The BestTrack Champ
     Example: 4 Lane Transponder: $205.00

Specify track length when ordering: 35, 42, or 49 feet

Batteries: $3 each

Need a USB-Serial Converter? $29

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