ZipZaps Speed Calculator v4.0 ============================= (C)Copyright 2003-2004, Rich „Weeds„ Nagel - All rights reserved What is this thing anyway? -------------------------- This utility will calculate speeds for Radio Shack's ZipZaps micro remote control cars and monster trucks. The utility can calculate speeds based upon motor RPM and gear ratio, as well as feet per minute and scale MPH that are displayed using Radio Shack's "Micro RC Speed and Lap Counter" (Radio Shack part number 60-7530). Note that there are many factors that come into play when determining the TRUE top speed of ZipZap cars and monster trucks (such as friction, battery condition, PC board version, track surface, laws of physics, etc...), and this utility should only be used as a mathematical comparison. Usage ----- Simply unzip the files contained in ZAPSPEED.ZIP to any directory on your hard drive, and run ZAPSPEED.EXE from an MS-DOS shell command prompt. The menus are self-explanatory. To upgrade an existing installation of this utility from a previous version, simply overwrite the existing files. Also included in the ZAPSPEED.ZIP archive is a program icon (ZAPSPEED.ICO), as well as a "Program Information File" (ZAPSPEED.PIF) which can be used to add the ZipZaps Speed Calculator to your Windows Start Menu. After running the utility, select "[M]onster Truck Speed Calculations" to calculate speeds for the ZipZaps Monster Trucks, or "[Z]ipZaps Speed Calculations" to calculate speeds for the original ZipZaps or the SE ZipZaps. Then select "[M]otor RPM and Gear Ratio Calculations" to calculate speeds based upon your motor's speed (in RPM) and your current gear ratio, or "[S]peed and Lap Counter Calculations" to calculate speeds based upon results that are displayed using Radio Shack's "Micro RC Speed and Lap Counter". The utility will then calculate wheel speed (in RPM), as well as ground speed (in inches per minute, feet per minute, feet per hour, real MPH, and scale MPH). After the utility displays the calculated speeds it will create the text file "RESULTS.TXT" in the current directory with the results (as well as the date and time that the calculations were performed) appended to the end of the file. This file can be reviewed at a later time using any text editor or viewer, or by simply selecting "[V]iew Saved Calculations Results File (RESULTS.TXT)", which will automatically load the file into your choice of MS-DOS Editor or Windows Notepad. Note that when performing the calculations, the utility will also prompt you to enter optional ZipZaps or ZipZaps Monster Truck model or user comment information which will also be added to the saved calulations results file. This can be used to keep track of various speeds of several ZipZaps setups, or to add any notes or comments that you wish for that specific calculation. Open the included ZAPSPEED.GIF file in any image viewer capable of viewing animated GIF format images to see the ZipZaps Speed Calculator in action, as well as for examples of using the utility. Speed Formulas -------------- The ZipZaps Monster Trucks motor RPM and gear ratio speeds are calculated using the formula "MotorRPM / GearRatio * 3.4649472 / 12 * 60 / 5280 * 64 = ScaleMPH", with a preset wheel circumference of 3.4649472 inches, and using the ZipZaps standard 1/64 scale. The original ZipZaps and SE ZipZaps motor RPM and gear ratio speeds are calculated using the formula "MotorRPM / GearRatio * 1.73228 / 12 * 60 / 5280 * 64 = ScaleMPH", with a preset wheel circumference of 1.73228 inches, and using the ZipZaps standard 1/64 scale. The "Micro RC Speed and Lap Counter" speeds are calculated using the formulas "FPM * 60 / 5280 * 64 = ScaleMPH" and "ScaleMPH / 64 * 5280 / 60 = FPM". Monster Truck Motor Speeds (Current as of November 1, 2004) ----------------------------------------------------------- 8,000 RPM - Stock (Green) 14,500 RPM - Performance (Red) 18,000 RPM - Turbo (Yellow) 21,000 RPM - Racing (Orange) Monster Truck Gear Ratios (Current as of November 1, 2004) ---------------------------------------------------------- 24 to 1 - Stock (Green) 20.8 to 1 - Performance (Red) 18.3 to 1 - Turbo (Yellow) 16.2 to 1 - Racing (Orange) ZipZaps Motor Speeds (Current as of November 1, 2004) ----------------------------------------------------- 10,000 RPM - Control (Blue) 16,000 RPM - Stock (Green) 21,500 RPM - Performance (Red) 23,500 RPM - Turbo (Yellow) 28,000 RPM - Racing (Orange) 34,000 RPM - NX Next Generation Nitrous Systems (Purple) ZipZaps Gear Ratios (Current as of November 1, 2004) ---------------------------------------------------- 12 to 1 - Stock (Blue) 9.86 to 1 - Performance (Green) 8.25 to 1 - Turbo (Red) Monster Truck Tire Treads (Current as of November 1, 2004) ---------------------------------------------------------- Factory (Stock) All-Season Swamp Slicks ZipZaps Tire Treads (Current as of November 1, 2004) ---------------------------------------------------- Factory (Stock) All-Season (Two types with slightly different tread patterns) Street Street Extra Wide Performance Performance Extra Wide Sport (Slicks) Sport Extra Wide (Slicks) ZipZaps Suspension Bars (Current as of November 1, 2004) -------------------------------------------------------- 2 Hole - Hard 4 Hole - Medium 6 Hole - Soft Legalities ---------- The ZipZaps Speed Calculator (ZAPSPEED.ZIP) may be freely distributed in it's unmodified and unedited form, and in it's original unmodified and unedited ZIP format archive for any non-commercial use. If Radio Shack wishes to offer the ZipZaps Speed Calculator available for download on their commercial web site, of course they have my blessings to do so without prior permission . Optionally, a free ZipZaps product would be very nice compensation though ! Use the ZipZaps Speed Calculator at your own risk. I will not be held responsible for deleted files, crashed cars, crashed hard drives, crashed Windows (Microsoft, automotive, or from driving your ZipZaps Monster Truck over one of your ZipZaps cars), dead batteries, as well as any of the crud that gets wrapped around the axles of your ZipZap . Version History --------------- v1.0 - First release. (May 1, 2003) v2.0 - Added "Micro RC Speed and Lap Counter" calculations. (December 1, 2003) - Added date and time stamps for performed calculations. - General menu enhancements. v3.0 - Added feature to enter optional user comment during (April 1, 2004) each performed calculation. - Added feature to view saved calculations results file using MS-DOS Editor or Windows Notepad. - Added feature to delete saved calculations results file. - Added feature to display help. - Included MS-DOS Editor v2.0.026 (EDIT.COM and EDIT.HLP). - General menu enhancements. v4.0 - Added ZipZaps Monster Truck calculations. (November 1, 2004) - Included program icon (ZAPSPEED.ICO). - Included "Program Information File" (ZAPSPEED.PIF). - General menu enhancements. ENJOY! ------ Rich „Weeds„ Nagel - #95 A/C Racing Of Homestead richnagel@earthlink.net rfnagel@racesimcentral.com richnagel@simpilot.net rfnagel@juno.com http://home.earthlink.net/~richnagel http://www.geocities.com/rfnagel http://www.geocities.com/timessquare/metro/7256 http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel http://snor.cmoo.com http://snor.cmoo.com/weeds http://snor.cmoo.com/weeds/zapstuff.htm http://www.cmoo.com/~snor http://www.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds http://www.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds/zapstuff.htm In Memory of #3 - "The Heart of NASCAR" - Dale Earnhardt [1951-2001]