Personal lap timers, transponders etc.

[erics75218]

I just signed up for my 2nd track day, but they don't have any transponders available. I'd like to keep track of my times and I know some people "bring their own"

What does that mean..I'm familiar with transponders for R/C car racing.

I looked online and wasn't totally sure what I was looking for as most searches brought up R/C Products.

[apk919]

Originally Posted by erics75218

I just signed up for my 2nd track day, but they don't have any transponders available. I'd like to keep track of my times and I know some people "bring their own"

What does that mean..I'm familiar with transponders for R/C car racing.

I looked online and wasn't totally sure what I was looking for as most searches brought up R/C Products.

You need a transponder that's compatible with the timing system that's being used at the track... usually that's an AMB transponder:

Transponders - AMB Identification and Timing

EDIT: AMB transponders respond with their ID when crossing a timing loop at start/finish... that allows the AMB system that the track uses to record your lap times. If you only have a transponder, you will only get to see your lap times when timing and scoring "publishes" it (i.e. prints out the times and posts them).

[EricH]

Are you saying you already have a timer but lack your own transponder? If you have no timer yet, perhaps you might want to research the GPS options.

[EliseAtLeast]

Just get a GPS datalogger that has a display that shows you your lap time like the PerformanceBox. You can get one for less than $500.

[Iman]

Here is what I use. Its also for sale.
FS: AIM MyChron Light TG

[fishguy]

buy a traqmate, with the display unit, its simple and will allow you feedback on other things, not just lap times to learn from.

other optins will be cheaper, but these things hold their value, just try to find a used one out there. if you can find it, they go for maybe $100 bucks less than new. thats says everything to me. the sytem will "cost" you $100 when you are done with it.

you can see track maps, where you are braking, your g forces, AND you can compare to other people with the sytem to see lines, and where you are strong and weak.

if we were at the same trackday, and you had this system, i could help you a lot, with real info that you can easily see and compare.

GPS for any timer is the way to go. i have forgotten my beacon at tracks before, and it sucks to hunt it down.
with GPS, you dont need a beacon, and there is no error in false hits from other peoples beacons either.

[SteveLevin]

I'll be contrarian and strongly suggest you NOT do anything to do with timing yet. Focus on driving well, use all the track, don't turn in early, etc. Spend money on a little video camera for now so you can review your line.

Even once you become significantly more experienced, my feeling is that looking at lap times comes to no good. Even the most mellow person starts chasing some goal, and they then lower the bar on their decision making to try and juuuuuuuuuuust get under that time.

Admittedly, that's my opinion...but here's a bit of anecdotal evidence. The trackday groups in CA that promote timing tend to lose as many cars in a single day as the "no timing allowed" groups lose in a year.

Steve

[erics75218]

Great tips one and all. I'll look at all the available options, thanks oh great Lotus cabal.

SteveLevin, good tip as well, but last time I went out I didn't get any track times, so I felt that....I don't know I like to know all informations available to me in any given situation.

It's not about any overall goal, and honestly I'm not the kind of person to push beyond my limits, I just want to know what's up!! I'm not interested in breaking the only car I own...:-D

[Randy Chase]

All video is time coded. So if you take video, you can get lap times.

[erics75218]

Wow that traqmate looks AWESOME. So how do you go about "comparing", and where does the track "shape data" come from?

I'm also a nerd, and I love nerding out on stuff like this.

[erics75218]

Originally Posted by Randy Chase

All video is time coded. So if you take video, you can get lap times.

hahah CHEATER!!!

[apk919]

Originally Posted by erics75218

Wow that traqmate looks AWESOME. So how do you go about "comparing", and where does the track "shape data" come from?

I'm also a nerd, and I love nerding out on stuff like this.

The Traqmate determines the track layout from actual GPS measurements made during your track time. It will also show pit-outs, pit-ins, and spins (always fun). You need to tell it the GPS coordinates of the start/finish line (there are multiple ways to do this), and it will display your lap times (as well as how much slower/faster you are than your best lap so far). Once you've downloaded the data to your computer you can compare your laps against each other (or other driver's laps), in terms of G-forces, speeds, RPMs, etc. over time or distance. Great stuff, highly recommended.

And, it can control/sync your video camera (easy if it's a ChaseCam).

[fishguy]

Originally Posted by erics75218

Wow that traqmate looks AWESOME. So how do you go about "comparing", and where does the track "shape data" come from?

I'm also a nerd, and I love nerding out on stuff like this.

andy said it pretty well.
i will tell you that i can spend as much time as i want "nerding out on this stuff" as you put it.
the system is pretty cool, very simple hardware.
to compare you just load your session into someone elses laptop that has a traqmate as well.

one of the cool things that the system has is a way to divide the track into sectors so you can look at sector times (like F1) and work with info/improvements with that approach.
the software is simple, very intuitive(i can even use it).
combined with the chasecam, the system is really nice, my traqmate turns on my chasecam and its already syncronized with the data.
if you buy one, i doubt you will be dissapointed.

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by Randy Chase

All video is time coded. So if you take video, you can get lap times.

Randy makes a great point, especially for newbies. Concentrate on your driving. Learn from your instructors. Then go back, look at the video later and get your lap times.

[38bfast]

Also check out the AIM Evo 4 or the AIM Smarty Cam (video and data all in one). I use a lot of different DA systems and curently AIM is the best bang for the buck for me.

[Randy Chase]

We should get AIM to sponsor Lotustalk!



lol... just kidding. Buy what makes you happy. But if you want to be able to do separate (multiple) video inputs, mix audio files, have automatic triggering, work with any data source, manipulate your data AFTER it is recorded, compare data files from different sources, unlimited amounts of data, ... then one should consider their options. And we can do those things and we support the forum and community and LOGs and WCLM. So just another option. One designed in the USA.