What's New with Version 9.0

GrandPrix Race Manager™ was originally written for use in our Awana Grand Prix races of Gateway Church of El Cajon, CA. Then it was offered as shareware for a couple of years before being rewritten as a commercial grade application and launched as Version 2.0. Each year we continue to improve the software and use it to run our own Awana and Cub Scout races each year. Countless race coordinators have given their feedback and suggestions over the years, which has helped make GrandPrix Race Manager into a quality race management software package and an outstanding value for the price.

Here's a summary of what's new:

• Registration Tab
  • ++ Added the ability to import racer data directly from a DerbyDMV data (MDB) file. You no longer have to first export racer data from DerbyDMV to a CSV file.
  • ++ Added a generic import ability, so you can import data that has been exported from a variety of other software packages that maintain your racer information (pack or club management software, spreadsheets, databases, etc).
  • Roster import will now ignore exact duplicate records. This will make importing newer records easier.
  • ++ Added an auto save capability when you finish entering data into a row.
  • ++ When saving data, the current sorting will be retained.
  • When saving data, the last used record will be re-selected.
  • Finalist and Grand Finalist columns will be hidden until they can actually be used.
  • Improved Undo functionality. Added Redo capability.
• Awards Tab
  • ++ Added an auto save capability when you finish entering data into a row.
  • ++ When saving data, the current sorting will be retained.
  • When saving data, the last used record will be re-selected.
  • Improved Undo functionality. Added Redo capability.
• Statistics Tab
  • Added a CSV export capability to all data tables.
• Schedule Tab
  • ++ Added the ability to pull up a Race Time Estimator screen. This lists all schedules that have been created, their number of heats and helps you estimate how long it will take to run all of those heats.
  • The Quick Chart Creation option will be hidden until a schedule has been created and preferences set.
• Manual Chart Entry
  • Improved Undo functionality. Added Redo capability.
• Dynamic Scheduling
  • Randomized what lane a Bye will be placed in for Phase 1, if adding a Bye is necessary.
  • Added a warning if running a two lane track and an odd number of racers. User would need to add a dummy racer to the roster to make the scheduling work as expected.
• Lane Rotation Scheduling
  • ++ Added "Phase Shifted" Lane Rotation charts. These allow each racer to face more opponents than other types of Lane Rotation charts. They also have the advantage of allowing you to stage cars faster. Racers will still race in each lane of the track and will race an equal number of times.
• Master Scheduling
  • ++ Alternating between groups is now based on the relative size of the racing groups. This will help ensure that smaller groups will not complete their heats too quickly. In the Software Options screen, users can specify the minimum number of heats to run for a group, before alternating.
  • Notices (missed heats and end of round) for a group will now only occur once the last master heat has been completed.
  • Any change in the Software Setup Options screen to the minimum number of heats to alternate will automatically regenerate the master schedule.
  • Scoresheet Report now supports master schedules.
• Racing
  • ++ Hands Free timing will now work in Test/Tie Break mode for more free flow of testing.
  • Added a warning if running a schedule that does not contain all racers that have passed inspection (racer added after schedule was created).
  • If using the Heat Winner tab, the winner will be displayed in the same color as the lane color.
• Video Replay Control
  • If using our RaceReplay V2.0 and above software for instant replays, GrandPrix Race Manager can now control the video recording and replay from a separate computer. The computer running RaceReplay and the controlling computer do need to be networked together for this to work. You still have the ability to run both programs from the same computer.
• Manual Results Entry
  • ++ When testing, you can fill in results for each lane with the click of one button. This will help speed up running mock races.
  • Results can optionally be entered in order of finish (e.g. 1st Place = Lane 1, 2nd Place = Lane 2, etc.). This will help if running a race without a timer. Finish judges can just call out the order that the lanes finished and the computer operator enters the lane numbers.
• Track Records Setup
  • Added the ability to delete records.
  • Added Undo and Redo capability.
• Top Times
  • ++ Added the ability to expand the Top Times display to a full-sized screen.
  • Added Undo and Redo capability to Top Times Setup screen.
• Fast Track Timers
  • Added support for timing out to 4 decimal places. K2F and K3F models only.
  • Added support for race start notification. K2F and K3F models only.
• Reports
  • ++ Added photos to Awards and Participation Certificate reports and to the Individual Car Stats report. You have the option to display photos or not on these reports.
  • Scoresheet Report now supports master schedules.
  • For most reports, the report title will now be displayed on every page of the print out. This should help with multi page reports, to keep pages grouped together during the race.
  • The setting on how to display racer names now applies to reports as well.
• General
  • All data tables now have the ability to export their data to a CSV (Comma Separated Values) file. You can use this data to make custom reports, if desired.
  • Restart menu option on the Main screen was moved to the Delete menu. This was to remove confusion, as this option deletes race results for the selected race group(s).
  • Some steps listed on the Overview tab, once completed, will be automatically reflected as such.
  • Several other less notable improvements and fixes were implemented.
  • Added support for Windows 7.

This page last updated: September 4, 2009
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