That said, it requires firmware and software updates for both Pista and Pro as well as updates for Racestudio2 and the GPS manager. Stay tuned for imminent version releases!
AiM has released it’s next generation GPS device. This new device looks quite a bit different than the old version. This version has just a single magnetic mount and a binder connector for the dash. Gone is the secondary CAN box. Functionally this new design is just the same as the old one hooking connecting via CAN.
MoTeC has just posted a new release that fixes some issue with the ADL3. ADL3 users should upgrade to this release of dash manager and firmware. The new version is available here. This release requires I2 Pro or Standard 1.03.0200 or higher.
Continue reading ‘MoTeC ADL3 5.12N software release’
We are huge fans of truck and rally racing. This was just too cool to pass up.
There is more information on the MoTeC capabilities on-board the truck on the MoTeC news page.
On January 12, a series of earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 7.3 devastated Haiti. The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, including the Haitian Red Cross, and other partners to assist those affected by this disaster.
Gorman Motorsports has donated to American Red Cross to help those who suffer from the recent earthquake in Haiti. If you would like to also contribute, click here. Every dollar counts.
Announced at SEMA, the new Chasecam DIVA (Data Integrated Video Acquisition) promises to usher in a new phase of data acquisition. In the last year we have seen the various video technologies merge with data logging. The idea is video is just another (albeit more challenging to log) channel. So devices set up for video logging can be augmented to add data channels. Chasecam didn’t stop at adding data logging to the new recorder, they added all sorts of features to move the unit to the top of the heap in terms of features. With four video camera channels, a video display, and automatically sync’d video and data, the DIVA has all the great existing features we love like the RJ-45 jack for external control of the unit. We can’t wait to get our hands on a DIVA, and as soon as we do expect a complete review.
I just got back from Daytona International Speedway. I was there for the 2010 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge January Test Days, supporting the #86 Prey Racing ST Boxster effort. What a weekend, the car is showing some serious speed with Chris Prey and Gene Sigal at the wheel. Gorman Motorsports provided consulting services, AiM equipment, installation and configuration. We upgraded the car with the new SmartyCam from AiM as well as new sensors and configs for the 2010 season. The weather was awfully cold with snow one day! We worked through the cold and turned some hot laps. We hope for great results from the Prey Racing team for the race weekend.
Gorman Motorsports would like to congratulate the entire Mercer Motorsports team for the fantastic win at the 2009 25 Hours of Thunderhill. To win this event in such a convincing manner really says a lot about the level of talent on the team. From drivers, to crew, to the folks who made sure there was hot coffee in the middle of the night, you deserve this amazing win! Gorman Motorsports was proud to participate alongside such a talented group.
Gorman Motorsports is very honored and excited to be supporting Mercer Motorsports at the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill, Dec 3-6 2009. We optimistic for the first effort for Mercer Motorsports, with a very strong crew, and driver lineup. We will be providing Porsche GT3 Cup data acquisition services using the MoTeC ADL data acquisition system.
I get asked all the time why would someone want to use a dash product for a club racing application. There are many reasons, but first of all let’s define a ‘dash’. A dash product is a data logging device that is designed to replace the stock gauges in your car. It has the capabilities to show the same information plus more information than your current analog dials. Typically the dash is backlit, and shows speed, rpm, various pressures and temps. It generally also has built in shift lights as well as the ability to set alarms on various conditions. A dash most always can display current lap time, best lap time, and predictive lap time. Most dashes have a user-configurable display. Most all dashes are also data loggers, but sometimes can be purchased as a pure display w/o the ability to record data. Most dashes are all-in-one devices that have all the electronics inside. Sometimes they have separate break out boxes in addition to the display. Typically the display is mounted in-front and blocking your stock gauges.
Ok, so now we have a handle on what a dash is. Let’s get into why one would want to use one. Let me first say that I don’t recommend that a dash product is for everyone. But for a club racer a dash product if used properly can be as useful tool as say a tire gauge or jack. If used properly a dash turns into a driver feedback system that a non-dash can’t match. Does the guy in front of you on the grid have such a system?
General Metrics. Most all dash systems have the capability to show the basic metrics everyone needs to see in order to operate a vehicle in a race environment. RPM and Speed are generally the two that are absolute requirements. Most dashes also allow for current gear to be shown as well as various other outputs. Oil temp, oil pressure, water temp, trans temp, engine temp, boost, fuel level, and various other parameters that are essential for making sure your car is operating in the proper envelope. Most dash systems have configurable screens that have different setups. Many times a screen will be setup so you can quickly see if all the systems are looking normal before you go out on the track. Then before you go out you switch to a screen that shows the items you need while lapping.
Alarms. Most dash products have configurable alarms. The most obvious use is for things like oil pressure and perhaps water temp. If the sensors show a metric out of range an alarm will fire. Typically a message on the dash can be displayed, or even a shift light activated to indicate the problem. Let’s say for instance you are at Cal Speedway on the banking and you get an alarm for oil pressure. You slow down and pull down onto the apron and finish your lap. Did you just save your motor? Above that simple example more sophisticated alarms can be created. Say for instance, you want an alarm to come on when you have 1 more lap of fuel left in the car so you can get around the track in time to refuel. This is very useful for endurance events. In a even more sophisticated example, a table of oil pressure vs RPM can be created to give a fine grained alarm threshold based on the speed of the motor and the pressure it is experiencing. Did you spend a lot on a race motor? Did you invest in monitoring it?
Timing. In most non-dash systems a lap time can be displayed. Even a predictive lap time in some systems. However, in a dash system you can display the current time, the best lap, the prediction for the current lap, and perhaps even a lap counter or overall timer. These items can be customized to match your needs. For instance, let’s say you are qualifying. You create a screen that allows you to see the predictive lap time, and total session time. You know how long you have been out there, and if you are on a flying lap. If traffic gets in the way you know if you have time to give it another go before the checkers. In the race environment, you can display the total race time for timed events and/or lap count for events where the lap count is used. Some dash products also allow customized events based on timers. For instance, the current lap time is displayed (numbers are always incrementing) until the start/finish is passed and then for 20 seconds the lap time is displayed. This type of usage can cut down on information overload and help the driver concentrate.
Visuals. With a dash product, the driver has a large display to give them feedback and make decisions. With most lap timers and non-dash data loggers they have smaller screens and are harder to see. But in addition to that, just the pure level of real estate to give feedback is increased and centralized into one place. Most dash products either have a built in progressive shift light system or have the capability to add one. In this case you are alerted when it’s time to shift. For instance, when you are doing a rolling start and the noise of the other cars makes it hard to know when to shift. Using a shift light gives a visual guide that it’s time to shift. Shift lights can be customized to indicate when the best shift point is based on the power band of your car. Did the guy next to you shift at the correct time? Did you just beat him to the first corner?
Math Channels. While not specific to a dash type product, oddly most dash products offer this type of functionality. A math channel is a compound channel made up of formula based on a single or multiple other channels. Math channels are very useful things for a club racer. For instance, a math channel can be created showing when the driver is coasting. Not on the brake, but not on the throttle either. This information can be used to quantify the performance of the driver. Again, while not specifically enabled because a product is a dash, most all dash products do have this capability. The top end loggers allow math channels and tables to be computed and sent to the dash vs just shown in the software. The MoTeC loggers excel in this area.
Ok, but what about driver information overload? Isn’t this sometimes too much data? The answer is there can never be too much data, it just has to be presented in such a way that only the important stuff is conveyed when it’s needed and only when needed. With a dash product this is easy. You can customize the display to do what you want. If you only want to see the last lap time for 20 seconds after you pass start/finish then it can do it. If you want to see it all the time, then you can do that too. Most dashes have the configurability to display data in a configurable place and time. Look for this capability when purchasing.
So a dash is a useful tool for any club racer. In fact, I would say a necessary tool for a club racer. A dash allows for information to be conveyed about the current status of the car (temps, pressures), the current performance of the driver (lap times, best lap, current lap), and gives a competitive advantage (number of laps, shift lights, alarms).
Expense. Are dashes much more expensive than non-dash products? Oddly, not really. The cost of the LCD displays has come down dramatically as well as more and more club racers are starting to see the competitive advantage to a dash product. Because of this the delta between the two is actually quite small at this point when you add it all up. Plus a dash is typically an all-in-one product so things are just that much more simplistic.
In terms of actual dash products, here is a quick comparison:
1 is lower rating
5 is better rating
| Dash | Cost | Display Quality | Configurability | Shift Lights | GPS | Software Ease of use | Expandability |
| Racepack IQ3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| AiM MXL Pista | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4* | 3 | 4 |
| AiM MyChron3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | n/a | 3 | 3 |
| MoTeC SDL | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5* | 5* | 5 | 5 |
*indicates add-on at add’l cost.
If your convinced and need to look further at the various product offerings out there, give us a buzz to discuss.
We previously announced it, and now it’s available. The new Chasecam Data Module is a very exciting new product from Chasecam. The data module allows capture of data right onto the Chasecam CF card, to be interleaved with the video using Dashware. This new module is a leap forward in combining data and video. Previously you would have to purchase an entire data logger just to get simple data on your overlay, well, no more. The pricing of this unit at $450 is extremely aggressive. At this time, this is the *only* unit on the market offering integrated data and video with the ability to also see the data trace and not just overlaid information on the video. Data acquisition combined with video just got a whole lot less expensive folks!
The new Chasecam Data Module is available in our store now. The unit comes with Dashware 1.1 with Analysis so there is no extra software to purchase.
