Abstract: Method and apparatus for timing a plurality of participants or their vehicles to complete a designated course, and for automatically starting the participants at spaced time intervals derived in part from respective sample times taken by the immediately preceding participants to cover a selected portion of the course. Sensors at start, finish, and intermediate positions monitor the progress of each participant on the course; a crystal oscillator is selectively connected to a plurality of electronic counters to accumulate an elapsed time for each of a plurality of participants; and a digital display device displays the times of participants as they complete the course.