So I’ve been looking around and figured why not asks? Does anyone have any experience with lap timers?? What GPS Lap timers would you recommend?

I’m looking for something you can logs your laps; I would rather use my laptop instead of a PDA or I-Phone. I’m looking for something cheaper and cost effective.

Any Suggestions??

 

http://www.racechrono.com/

 

Are you wanting just lap times or telemetry data for analysis?

A Traqmate is pretty popular for analysis. Like any good telemetry tool it's got a steep entry of about $800 for the base unit and right around $1k for the immediate readout (which you definitely want). I love mine, really helps analyze differences in laps. Especially if you have other data to compare with.

 

+1 for getting traqmate, it's worth the money. So start saving.

 

Not exactly what you're looking for but the price is right. I've got a Longacre lap timer with two beacons and tripods for $100. I'm no longer using it...maybe one of you guys can. I should EBAY it.

 

I have been investigating data/video systems and the best new product comes from Race Keeper. Complete GPS data system with 4 camera inputs. Cost $1395 with 2 camera's. Check out www.racekeeper.com

 

Ya I was noticing RK too, a lot of the SCCA guys use it.

 

i have maxQ data with a dedicated pda. if you are a do it yourselfer this is the cheapest option. but to be honest I think units with dedicated hardware and integrated sofware like traqmate are the best. I will be getting this next. once you really start logging data it is nice to be able to compare notes with others. this is easiest when on the same platform and traqmate is very popular at my local track.

 

I bought the G2X because it is portable from car to car. At the events I sometimes change it to 4 or 5 different cars and get times and telemetry data for each vehicle. I then compare with everyone at dinner and offer a different line through turns and lower their lap times.

Adam

 

Thank you for the input.. I'll have to think about it because of how expensive these things are. I'm dead set on GPS for analysis and fully understanding what I’m doing when driving. So the Trackmate is looking better every day.

 

This instant share & compare option of track data has to be the most beneficial options of these systems! At a new track last year, I think 4 of us would pull and compare out Traqmate data after every session. Just the simple 'dot race' provided some instant feedback in minutes before digging in a little deeper.


You can do this with Traqmate too. Takes about 5min to switch to a different car. Only problem I've ever had is when a car didn't have a cigarette lighter for power.

 

I'm looking for a nice, cheap, blackberry app or similar to do the job like that racechrono program for the nokia. I'd like to just begin timing myself accurately without having someone stand with a stopwatch and I'm not ready for the full blown traqmate yet. I've looked into this and given up several times. lol looks like this thread offers me no new insight either.

 

Change to Iphone. One of my instructors had an app with lap timer. It was pretty neat. I'm a blackberry user to so no luck for me either.

 

By the way, I've seen people put a stopwatch around their steering wheel for 'old school' type lap timing! That'd be your cheapest route.

Wanted to link to another thread that a few of us have posted specific Traqmate data in for anyone interested: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/mo...king-data.html

I'm also planning on data logging through Traqmate this year. From what I understand, I just need to buy an adaptor that'll plug into the main unit and then I can just run wires from the gauges I already have. Should be pretty helpful to have ALL that data together with the GPS of the track to see what's happening in specific turns.