Show your derby on a projector or TV
A big screen answers the two questions you'll otherwise hear all night: "When is my kid up?" and "Who's winning?" All it takes is one laptop and whatever projector or TV the building already has.
Free for up to 20 racers. Runs in Chrome or Edge, and keeps going when the Wi-Fi doesn't.
What you need
A laptop running Chrome or Edge, a projector or TV, and the right cable, usually HDMI (newer laptops may need a USB-C to HDMI adapter). Put the screen where the crowd can see it without standing in front of the track.
Setting it up
- Plug in the screen. Connect the projector or TV to the laptop
- Switch to Extend. On Windows, press the Windows key and P, then choose Extend. On a Mac, open Displays in System Settings and turn off mirroring. Now the laptop and the big screen can show different things
- Open screen 1. In Derby Dashboard, go to Big screens, open screen 1 and drag the window over to the projector
- Make it full screen. The crowd sees the race; you keep the controls on the laptop
- Check it from the back row. Run a test heat and see if it reads from the far wall. Try the dark or light screen colors, whichever suits the room
What shows on the screen
During racing, screen 1 shows each lane's car, name and photo, then the finish order once the heat is saved, along with who's on deck. Before the first heat it can run up to three welcome slides with a countdown to the start, and a starting countdown goes up when the race manager turns on race mode.
Between dens or clubs, it introduces the next group with every racer's photo, and it can show an intermission screen with a countdown during breaks. With a camera at the finish line (Club and Club Plus), each result comes with a slow-motion replay. At the end, the awards are revealed one at a time with a drumroll, photos and confetti.
Two screens
On the Club plan, a big screen shows either the current heat or the leaderboard, one at a time. Club Plus runs both at once, so one screen follows the racing while the other keeps every race's standings up all night. Club Plus can also put announcements and sponsor messages on the screens.
The Free plan shows the current-heat screen, with a small Derby Dashboard badge in the corner.
Questions
Do I need internet for the big screen?
No. The big screen is a window the race laptop draws itself, so it works offline once the app is installed.
Can I use a TV instead of a projector?
Yes. Any screen your laptop can connect to works, including a TV over HDMI.
Can I show the standings and the current heat at the same time?
Yes, with Club Plus and two screens. On the Club plan, one screen switches between the heat and the leaderboard.
Why does the projector show the same thing as my laptop?
The laptop is mirroring. Switch to Extend (Windows key and P on Windows, or turn off mirroring in Displays on a Mac), then drag the big screen window over to the projector.
Sign-ups are coming soon
We're getting Derby Dashboard ready for more packs and clubs. Want to hear when it opens?