In an effort for more accurate and reliable lap detection, I've made an infra-red detection circuit to use instead of the mechanical hardware that comes with the Scalextric Race Management System.
Next to the numbers on the start line, I've drilled two small holes. Underneath each of those in an infra-red light detector. These are wired up to the circuit board of a USB gamepad I took apart, which in turn is plugged into the laptop.
Above the startline is a white light source cobbled together from a broken desk lamp. When the light source is interrupted by the car driving over the hole, the laptop software detects the change in state, and records a lap. Some more investigation is needed, but I should be able to use the same approach for pitstops - when the car is stopped over the hole, the software can calculate refuelling.
The cats have still not got bored of shooting up the ladder every time I go into the loft. As well as cars to watch, there's plenty to explore up there and they love it. But they also love chewing wires and there's metres of the stuff under the table now. So I've had to fit an extra trap door for when I go up in the loft. The cardboard piece is a flap so the whole thing can slide under the top of the ladder - otherwise the cats can still get in.
This is the usual view underneath.
