Learn me Data acquisition - autocross

icaneat50eggs wrote: Apparently some people have forgotten they started doing this to have fun

That was one of the reasons I stopped doing autox (that and the time commitment). Far too many people too it far too seriously. I always saw it as a way to just get some kicks without getting arrested. If that's your goal, forget the data acquisition. Practice, practice, practice. Have fun and you'll get better.

My opinion is that some personal instruction would be far more valuable than data. If it were me, I would invest in a good autocross school like Evolution.

I understand the idea of seat time and schools. The problem is time. I'm so swamped right now travelling to track days, or further away autocrosses just isn't going to happen, so I get my one sunday a month.

Also, I'm an engineer. anything that can be dumped into a huge spreadsheet makes me smile.

But the point is bang for the buck. You could invest 7 months trying to obtain useful data from aquisition, or in one day learn how late apexing can drop 3 seconds from your times.

http://evoschool.com/

http://www.petreldata.com/ other wise known as Solo Storm..

This is becoming on of the fastest growing autocross based data loggers you can buy... Its not cheap but worth every penny...

Unlike Race Capture Pro or other more track based data loggers Solo Storm is designed so that you can quickly access and review data between runs... This is what really counts when it comes to data logging during autocross...

Part of the key to getting the most out of data logging is to have a co-driver who is better then you... This allows you to instantly after each run compare how each other drove the course between runs... Having video capabilities help because of GPS drift.. distance traveled is hard to be accurate with, but with video you can go back and see the differences in lines threw out the course..

hopefully my Christmas present this year will be a school like that. But I'm also struggling with car set up issues on a home built first time frankenstein car, I'm hoping that this will help me out there too.

In reply to icaneat50eggs:

We're proud to be the USA agent for the DigiDash Pro+ data logger by ETB Instruments and advertise in GRM.

http://etbinstruments.com/DD2_Pro_Plus.htm

The DigiDash Pro+ is a high quality unit designed by racers. If you review their functionality and ease of use you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Contact me directly for a special GRM price.

Chet

Galek Motorsports Racing

I'm with the OP re: data aquisition: yes, please. Have done a couple of Evolution schools and came away wishing I could segment my times at local meets as it was a valuable tool in class.

Many local clubs don't have the funds/proper equipment to set up more than strat/finish heads for timing.

I read the ads in GRM every month and there was an article maybe two years ago, but I haven't pulled the trigger because I really want to know the ins and outs of mapping an autox course and setting up the software/hardware for autox.

FWIW, I usually get 10 runs/day on longish courses. I could see data aquisition being less helpful on short courses or with few runs. Would really like to see the magazine do another article or youtube spot testing and demo-ing the latest offerings, especially the phone apps, 'cause they're the cheapest.