I think the big difference is the MoTeC is end-user adjustable. While the initial cost of the MoTeC, Gems, etc are higher, I can tweak to my hearts content. I played the exchange rate game and found a race shop overseas willing to ship me a MoTeC box for much less than vendors charge here in the US...I think it set me back $1350 or so. Sometimes you'll find people willing to share a map, and you can load that into the box, drive around and see if its to your liking. Say you love the way the car handles 50mph and under turns, but like the way the supplied maps handle above that speed? Simple, just cut and paste the boxes to come up with a new map, then try that out as well.

Pre-made options are great for the folks that don't want to tinker around, or who tend to run with common setups in road race, auto-x, etc. environments. You can drop $500 or so and have a few maps to switch between. I'd assume if you wanted to try additional maps, you'll have to ship your ACD box back to get re-tuned, and then go out and try again, all adding to the cost of the initial $500.

Dave

 

Exactly.. Also, especially when you consider auto-x, in which the actual course is different every event and you only get 5 cracks at it, it's simply better to go with a map that is setup for auto-x in general and is gonna outperform stock - that's pretty much exactly what you need.

$1350 is killer..

 

Exactly. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to find optimal lockup for each varying situation, and I can't imagine that optimal for one situation will be the same for another..


I would think it also forces the driver to be aware of all the inputs that the AYC is reading and how it will react in order for the driver to get the most and optimum When the ayc is reading so many inputs that the driver isnt even aware of he may do things that put in input that may be "wrong" for the optimal situation. ie if the driver tries left foot braking, but that new input changes the output of the AYC which isn't optimal for the condition, etc etc etc..

There definitely is potential, but as you said that sweet spot is probably very narrow and very difficult to find. IMO, very complicated stuff. Changing the output for one set of inputs could potentially make it worse for another very similar set of conditions! What creates a perfect slip angle for one exact condition may create too much oversteer for another very similar condition -

 

And this is where the almighty compromise comes in

You can absolutely make yourself go crazy trying to find the perfect setup, the perfect tune, the perfect what ever. You can come very close for sure, as long as you are focusing on one facet of racing. This is why we offer the maps we do- it is a simple and very effective solution for guys who race autox, circuits, rally, etc. The basic maps we provide are EXTREMELY good at what they are meant to do- sure you might find a 10th or two with some on site tweaking, but let's be real here.

Dave,

When it comes down to it, the stock acd unit is just as effective as an aftermarket one as far as tune ability. It may not have the limp mode feature, but it is effective in dropping times in any facet of racing- that's a fact. It may also be a bit harder to tune due to 7 maps vs motec's 2 maps, but that is where I come in. I don't think that I will have a customer that would ship his acd unit back to me multiple times- if it came down to that, I would honestly stop charging at say...$1350 If I did have a customer that required multiple maps for all sorts of racing or just wanting to perfect one facet, I would recommend 2 acd units that you could just swap out.

Matt

 

I agree - I think the cost of MoTeC and that very same end user customization is probably overkill for even most track evos. Personally I don't even want that level of adjustment. I don't have the hours or the mastery of physics to optimize this kind of thing. I just wanna tell the car okay, I'm on a track, optimize lockup for higher speeds, or I'm autocrossing, optimize for lower speeds. Let the pros deal with the programming. Same goes for an engine tune - I don't want to tune the car myself, I want a professional to do it.

 

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Please note the MoTeC MDC comes with 4 tunes that are better than the factory maps and are expeically different in the LFB'ing realm. This means if you don't want to mess with them, you don't have to. FWIW, I've run those supplied maps for 3 seasons with the car and it wasn't until this summer that I started playing around with things...when I had time to do some back to back testing. I really want to invest in a traqmate to actually try to quantify gains/losses.

On a strictly economic basis, there's no need to consider using the MoTeC MDC now that guys like Matt are offering flashes for road racing and auto-x. Once (or if?) he starts looking at gravel and snow maps, that'll pretty much negate the need for a MoTeC for all but the most serious (read: big budget teams with development time) efforts.

Ain't technology great!

Dave

 

Dave,

Thank you for your kind words- I think we had a great discussion about the two relevant options out there right now. We do offer maps for gravel and snow by the by

I agree with you on the big budget team stuff- if they are doing such serious hard core racing- stuff is gonna break and the limp mode feature alone could save the day for them.

Matt

 

Just curious - is there any reason you couldn't program one of the settings to do the full lock thing? Sure, you'd lose one setting, but for someone running a stage rally event, you could do a gravel setting, a muddy setting (similar to snow maybe?), and change the spot for tarmac to be full lock. Of course I'd need royalties.

I think one thing that would be really cool for the techies to see is datalogging info related to vehicle speeds before and after the ACD tweaks. I'm not thinking the ACD code or any proprietary data, more something like Traqmate data showing differences.

Dave

 

I recently got the OEM USDM modified to what it should be, after I get used to that set up, i'll most likely be doing this next Definitely a great write up, and i'm anxious to try it out

 

You talking about re-arranging the rear diff plates and discs?

 

Dave,

The stock acd mod is capable of doing full lock all time if need be. Your staged rally map idea is no different than our 2-3map circuit idea (perfect map for each turn approaching). But I will definitely give you royalties because I'm nice

Matt

 

oops forgot to put "diff" in, yes the stock diff

 

what rear diff did you go with? And which ACD tune?


I think rear diff + acd tune is the perfect combination for CT9As to really unleash its full potential. ACD tune will send more torque to the rear for corner exits and the rear diff will send more torque to the outside wheel.. There's really potential for unreal exit speeds. I may even consider running a front sway bar next

 

Front sway bars are a great mod IMO. It really helped my setup with bump steer and stability.

Matt