Timing a Session

The Event Timing screen is split into a number of sections:

1. Device status – This panel shows the status of decoders, displays and live timing connection which can help you with your System checks before timing and diagnose any equipment issues. 
2. Session list – This panel shows a list of sessions, in scheduled order.  Above the sessions are options to see and edit the event details, see and edit the competitors and to generate / regenerate grids.
3. Timing control – This panel allows you to control the current session
4. Session details – This panel shows the details of the selected session
5. Latest passings – this panel shows the order the competitors last crossed the start/finish line
6. Notifications – If enabled, this panel allows warnings, black flags and so on to be recorded, which will also be shown on a compatible LED display (e.g. alpha eflag) if one is installed.

Once all connections to your decoders and displays (①) have been checked, you can prepare to time the first session.  To do this, click on the first session in the session list (②), then click the Time Session button in the top right corner of the session details panel.  

This will change the detail view to either the result or overview screen (depending on how the system has been configured) and will show the session details in the timing control panel.

At this point the timing is set in formation mode – all laps will be recorded, but the session will not be started. The green flag in the timing control panel is clicked to start timing for the session.  

For a practice session, is it usual to click this button as soon as the session has been loaded, but for races the green flag should only be clicked once the competitors are under starters orders (i.e. all formation laps have been run, and the race will start the next time the competitors cross the start line).

False Starts

If the green flag has been clicked and the start has been aborted, the false start button can be clicked. This will set all completed laps to formation status, and reset the race clock to zero (there is a configuration option to leave the clock running if required). 

Click the green flag button again when ready to start the session. As the competitors cross the line to start the session, they will change from red to green on the timing details screen, and be removed from the overdue & missing competitors panel on the overview screen. 

Missing and Overdue Competitors

Check for any missing competitors (red circle) or competitors who are overdue (orange circle). You can also see this information in the missing & overdue competitors panel if using the Overview screen (red circle below). If they are on circuit but not picking up on the timing they may have an issue with their transponder and need to be manually scored. The Overview Screen can be enabled in the Settings module under the General tab.

Manual passings

Manual passings can only be recorded on the overview screen, and are recorded by pressing the F12 key when the competitor passes the start/finish line. 

Note: on some laptops you may need to hold the fn key before pressing the F12 key.  

This will insert a passing with .??. in the competitor number. Double click the entry to assign the passing to a competitor in the usual way.  Manual passings can also be dragged up and down into the relevant position. 

Note: Laptimes are not recorded for manual laps as they would be inaccurate, but the time of the last lap is used as the race time for that competitor to determine their finishing position.  

If not all laps are recorded manually, the number of laps can be adjusted at the end of the race to put the competitor into the correct position. Double click a Competitor's name and select "Apply Adjustment" from the menu to make any adjustments to the competitors laps, times and/or points. 

Timing the next session

The timing system will automatically indicate the last lap, and the end of the race.  The chequered flag icon will appear next to all competitors who have taken the chequered flag on the overview, results and timing control views.

A panel will be shown giving the following options:

• Cancel – this will cancel the chequered flag and continue running the session
• All finished – use this button where one or more competitors stopped on the last lap and failed to take the flag
• Time: {next session name} – click this to prepare timing for the named session. If you need to run a session out of order (e.g. if a red flagged race is to be re-run) then you will need to select the session from the session list and click Time Session, otherwise this button can be used throughout the event
• Pause timing: This can be used where you need to switch to a different event part-way through the event being run, or if some sessions are to be timed on another timing computer.  It will stop recording laps, until a session is selected and Time Session clicked.