FullGrid
Race Simulation Software
What is FullGrid?
FullGrid is an exciting computer software product, developed by Scuderia McEwen International, that combines the results of multiple slot car races and replays them together (lap by lap), with as many as 20 drivers competing at the same time.
On the typical home track, you have two, three, maybe four lanes for head to head racing.
If you hold a race meet and have more drivers than lanes, you have a major problem scheduling your meet so that everyone gets to race against everyone else.
Tournament formats are not easy when you have an odd number of people.
FullGrid solves that problem by pitting each driver's race times against all other competitors. While you may not have faced a particular competitor on the actual race track, you go wheel to wheel with them on the computer screen.
FullGrid was originally developed for S.P.T.S. users but it can also interface with other computer timing systems.
It adds a completely new dimension to slot car racing.
Here's what the Statistics Viewer in FullGrid looks like.
The main FullGrid screen showing a race with 17 competitors.
This is a 12 lap race and you can see the lap counts, last lap times, elapsed times and interval behind the leader, for each competitor. Just like Formula One except you are competing.
What if I can't find 20 drivers?
No problem! You don't need 20 drivers. You can run with any number, but the more the merrier! A driver can actually compete with several cars. In fact, you could create a 20 competitor field with 5 drivers each racing the same 4 cars.
This way, you can see how each driver handles your ultrafast Jordan or your diabolical Benetton with the bent axle.
Just like F1, the best racing is often down in the pack.
In the picture above, there are only two real drivers, Art and myself.
We both raced the same five cars on his track and then I raced seven cars on mine.
Actually, if you have no friends and no life outside of slotting, you can do 20 races by yourself and then watch as you claim all three podium positions.
How does it work?
Simple... it has to be or we could never have figured it out!
Originally, you had to have our S.P.T.S. (Simple PhotoCell Timing System) installed and working on your home slot car track but we now interface with other computer timing and scoring systems.
With S.P.T.S., you run your races using one of our timing and scoring systems that has the LOGFILE feature (currently DINO and BERNIE).
You run your actual races over a pre-determined distance on your home slot car track.
The lap times are all stored in the LOGFILE along with lap counts, drivers names etc.
Once each driver has recorded their times, the LOGFILE's are ready for processing on your computer.
Remember, each driver could run multiple entries in order to fill the grid and add to the excitement.
Elapsed times are calculated from a common start time and the records are sorted into sequence and then replayed using either the Statisitcs Viewer or Interval VIewer in the FullGrid system (see illustration above).
Lap times are not changed and reflect your prowess on the track.
With other computer systems, their log files are either converted to our format or a direct feed is generated by the supplier.
Is it true that you can do International Slotting over the Internet with FullGrid?
Yes! You can email your LOGFILE to the Competition Coordinator who will merge them all together and run them as one race.
Naturally the lap times will be significantly different from different tracks. But we're not just pretty faces here at Scuderia McEwen, we have that one covered!
The lap times on each LOGFILE are sorted and computer analyzed to determine a standard base time for your track.
All lap times in each LOGFILE are then converted, relative to a common base time of 10 seconds per lap for each track.
Some of your laps will be less than the base time of 10 seconds and some will be more. All of your lap times remain unchanged relative to each other!
The Competition Coordinator can then email a copy of the combined, standardized LOGFILEs back to each competitor (or else downloaded from his/her site) and you can replay then over and over again, particularly the ones you did well in.
S.P.T.S. is now installed internationally, so it is possible to compete against someone from another country or continent.
Time zones aren't a problem either because the actual LOGFILEs are created at the convenience of the local track owner.
The South African competition can be on Thursday night, the Austrian race on Saturday afternoon, the Italian race on Monday night and the USA race on Friday night.
The final FullGrid results could be posted for everyone to download and play on Sunday morning.
What's the secret to winning a
FullGrid race?
The secret to winning is to drive quickly and consistently. A spin out really costs you, just like real racing, because there are 19 other competitors who just zoomed by you while you were in the gravel trap.
You have a lot of work to do to catch up.
Where do I get it and how much does it cost?
FullGrid is not available in stores. The only place you can get it is over the Internet at this website.
We distribute it as part of the SPTS Advanced Software Package.
A small contribution to our Research and Development budget of $10US gets Life Membership as a SPTS user and copies of all current and future SPTS software.
Remember though, that you have to have a computer timing system with a LOGFILE feature, preferably S.P.T.S., installed on your home track or else FullGrid will be useless to you. The popular TrakMate and Virtual Race Systems should interface with
FullGrid.
Our goal at Scuderia McEwen International is to promote slot car racing on the Internet. We're not out to make money from our hobby, although, the occaisional donation helps to motivate us and offset our Research and Development costs.
Any other features that you can brag about?
Yes again. S.P.T.S. was designed for use with 1/32nd scale slot cars but the product has turned out to be so versatile that it even works for 1/24th scale and 1/64th scale (HO). Therefore, it is even possible thru the miracle of FullGrid, to compete against drivers using different scale cars.
In fact, starting March 3, 2000,
FullGrid will be used in the new OnLine Race Series where slotters from around the world will be competing via the Internet in a series of virtual races.
Check out the ORS here.
We have even developed log conversion programs and interfaces so that users of other computer timing systems (like TrakMate and Virtual Race Systems) can compete along with the very best slotters in the world (i.e.
S.P.T.S. users).
Another giant step forward towards slotting harmony and peace on earth.
Want to see FullGrid in operation running a 17 car field in a 12 lap race?
- Create a directory called C:\SCUDM on your machine.
- Download the FullGrid Display Program (GRIDDS.EXE) and the FullGrid Input File (FGRIDIN.TXT) to that directory.
- From C:\SCUDM, run GRIDDDS.EXE and watch the excitement!
Download the FullGrid Display Program here:
GRIDDS.EXE (45KB)
Download the FullGrid Input File here:
(You may have to use the right mouse button to save a TXT file)
FGRIDIN.TXT (11KB)
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