Instruction Manual

Taken from http://fndcollectables.com/Fairchild/Instructions/num-9.txt

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
VIDEOCART(TM)-9
CARTRIDGE GAMES

Exclusive for use with
the Fairchild Video
Entertainment System

=================
F A I R C H I L D
=================

VIDEOCART is a trademark of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation


ON YOUR MARK
============

Get set and go with these four high-powered two-player drag racing games.
Take your Videocart cartridge and, with the front label facing out and 
the top label facing up, insert it gently in the chute marked 'insert 
cartridge.' To remove the cartridge, press the 'press to eject' bar, then 
slide the cartridge out. 

DRAG STRIP (all games)
======================

Press RESET. A G? will appear asking you which type of car you want to 
drive. Press button:

  1 for a family sedan.
  2 for a modified sedan.
  3 for a funny car.
  4 for a dragster.

The higher the button number you press, the faster the car you select.
After selecting your car, and M? will appear on the screen asking you 
which mode of game you want to play. Press button:
  
  1 for a practive game. The practive game is for you to get used to how 
    the cars drive and shift. Everything in the practive game is slowed  
   down--the car speeds, RPM's and timing.
  2 or 3 for cars that will not stall after starting lights are gone.
  4 for cars that will stall after starting lights are gone. (See 'How
    the Hand controllers Work' for an explanation on stalling).

after selecting mode, an S? will appear asking if you want sound with the 
starting lights. Press button:

  1 for no sound.
  2,3 or 4 for sound.

the sound is present only when the timing lights are counting down. This 
gives you a clue for starting fast. After selecting the sound option, the 
race will begin.

The left player car is on top, his RPM indicator and shift indicator on 
the lower left side of the screen. The right player's car is on the 
bottom, his RPM indicator and shift indicator is on the lower right side 
of the screen. Each player's car is color-coded to his RPM and shif 
indicators. Red car, red indicators, etc.

Get ready and set as the timing lights between the two cars count down. 
when the last red timing light has turned off, the race has officially 
begun and the elapsed time counter has started.

HOW THE HAND CONTROLLERS WORK. 

You control both RPM's (your speed) and shift position. TWIST RIGHT OR 
LEFT -- to control RPM's. As you twist, your RPM indicator will advance 
toward the green mark. If you hit the green mark (in racing terms, 
'red-lined' it), your engine will blow. The message BLOWN appears in your 
lane and you are out of the race.

SHIFTING. 

The drag race cars use a standard H pattern shift. Upper left is first 
gear. Lower left is second gear. Upper right is fourth gear. (See 
illustration).

  1           3
   |         | 
   |   / \   |<====== This is the shift diagram (H)          
   | /     \ |           
   |----O----|         
  /|    N    |\ <==== This is the triangular controller (pyramide)
 --|---------|--  
   |         |  
  2           4


PLAYING THE GAME

Drag Race races continue until either both cars have crossed the finish 
line, blown their engine, stalled or run the red light.

At the start of a race, a light pattern between the two cars counts down 
indicating players should rev their engines and prepare to take off. At 
the end of the light pattern, the cars leave the starting line by 
shifting into first gear. (The higher the RPM's, the faster the start).

Premature takeoff will result in a "RED LIGHT" disqualification from the 
race.

Players then accelerate by twisting right or left and shifting to 
successively higher gears. Shifting too soon will reduce the car's RPM to 
the point where it has no torque to accelerate in that gear. At this 
point, a driver may downshift to increase his RPM's. Each type of car 
(selected when G? was on the screen) has a different torque curve, so 
optimum shifting points differ with each type of car.

Upon entering the final lap, a 'finish line' appears to the right of the 
screen and upon crossing it the cars' motion ceases.

If the car was the first to cross the finish line, it is declared the 
winner. If both cars cross at the same time, they are both declared 
winners.

The elapsed time counter can only count up to 25.5 seconds. If either car 
takes longer than 25.5 seconds to complete the race, an 'OT' (overtime) 
message of 25.5 seconds will be displayed after he crosses the finish 
line. If both cars take longer than 25.5 seconds to finish the race, both 
cars will be declared winners and the overtime messages will be displayed 
for both cars.

SCORING

At the end of the race, (when neither car is running) the winner(s) 
receive one point for crossing the finish line first. The total points 
for each player are displayed at the screen bottom along with each 
player's 'ET' (elapsed time) if the cars crossed in under 25.5 seconds. 
Taking more than 25.5 secons to cross the finish line will result in the 
overtime message being displayed.

After a race is complete, PULL UP on the hand controller to start a new 
race with the same variables.

The first player to reach 99 wins the game. When the score reaches 99, 
the screen will clear and a G? will appear asking you to select a new car 
type.

The best elapsed time we have seen so far is 7.7--can you beat that?


ONE PLAYER DRAG STRIP
=====================

It's you against the clock in a race to see how fast you ca do seven 
laps. The best known speed is an elapsed time of 7.7...can you beat that?

Press RESET, then button:
  
  1 for a family sedan.
  2 for a modified sedan.
  3 for a funny car.
  4 for a dragster.

When the M? comes on the screen, press button 4. This gives you the stall 
mode and lets you play against the clock. The other car will stall after 
the timing lights have counted down.

When the S? appears on the screen, press button:

  1 for no sound
  2,3 or 4 for sound

HAVE FUN
========

If you have questions about this Videocart(TM)* cartridge or your Video 
Entertainment System, call the toll free numbers in the back of your 
console instruction booklet. 

Other exciting Videcart cartridge are available from Fairchild dealer, or 
for information, write:

          Fairchild Consumer Products
              4001 Miranda Avenue
              Palo Alto, CA 94304

*VIDEOCART is a trademark of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation
Copyright(C) 1977          Made in Singapore            Printed in U.S.A.