PC-based lapcounter and timer
It's tricky to keep track of the numbers of laps without a lapcounter. It's also quite boring to race alone without a laptimer. My friend Bersan developed a really good PC-software and I added some simple reed-element sensors to a 1200 track section. I had really big problems with the electromagnetic interference the cars creates, so I recommend using coppertape to shield around the cables going to the reed elements.
The two sensors (one for each lane) is connected to the PC printer port (LPT-port). There is also a input through the same port to start and cancel the race.

If you race with original Märklin Sprint cars, they sometimes fail to activate a reed element, while they don't carry any track magnets under. If you are a hardcore Märklin Sprint racer, I instead recommend you to build sensors based on IR-LEDs and IR-sensors in the track. It requires a bit more of electronics, but is the better system for sure. I've tried with mechanical switches and can only say: "Forget it!".

Good Luck!


Download the "biltajm" software.
Here is the features included for free:
- Setup for 5, 10, 25 or 50- lap races.
- Keeps track on laps individually for each lane.
- Measures laptime.
- Calculate average laptime.
- Winner for each lap
- Winner of race.
- Also keep track on fastest lap ever for each lane.

Download the User-Manual.

System requirments: PC 486 or later model with Windows 95 or 98.
(Does NOT work with Windows XP.)

A modified 1200-track and a PC DOS software to keep track on number of laps and timing.