Reply to "Build a timing building from scratch"
- mount counters so they stand off the wall 5 cm. Excess power cord, patch cables, etc can hang down in this gap between wall and counter.
- distribution panel for hill wiring should be either mounted low enough for easy reach from seated, or adjacent to counters rather than above them, or you'll be climbing on counter to change inputs
- must have coffee machine!!!
- organized shelf space on one wall - make slots and cubbyholes for devices like headsets, amps, photocells, etc for visual inventory. You can see instantly if something hasn't come in off the hill.
- have a folding table set up in middle of room for hardware coming in off the hill. Volunteers returning from the cold will dump stuff all over your work space, give them somewhere to put it.
- base station radio with conduit for outside antenna.
- timing room doesn't necessarily have to be on the course itself. You should have a finish line controller on headset even if you can see the finish from the shack, so timing blind isn't a big deal. Easy access from street/parking lot may be a logistical advantage and possibly more secure for storage of expensive equipment. Everything you need is already in the timing room, no oversnow transport required for race day. Each mountain has its own unique layout and access issues - keep an open mind when planning.
- good heating, ventilation and lighting aren't luxuries, they're necessities. Anything less than stable, comfortable conditions means human and electronic assets won't perform at their best.
