Because I now live in a location where there is a track 20 minutes from my house that I'm driving 1-2 times per month I decided to pick up a lap timer. All open sessions at the track are simply practice or "test and tune", so I am usually out there by myself and wanted a way to track my progress as I improve (I'm not trying to set any track records) as well as see the results of changes made to the car (suspension, weight, tires, etc) reflected in actual data rather than "it felt good".

I decided to go with the Ultra Lap Timer (http://www.cc-2000.com/xtracin....html). I got it from Plavan Racing for a good price. http://www.plavanracing.com/ultralapindex.htm

The quality seems to be exceptional. All enclosures are made of machined billet aluminum. I'll post a review after my next visit to the track in a couple of weeks.

All the stuff


IR Receiver


Shooting through the glass


Display

 

Looking like a nice unit!

 

That looks a whole lot better than the POS unit we are forced to use:

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That looks a whole lot better than the POS unit we are forced to use:

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've got that same one.

It works, not too expensive.

Your Ultra looks really nice, and appears to have much more functionality than my HotLap.

 

i have the XT unit as well. much much much much much better than the hot lap timer. the only advantage of hot lap is the sheer number of them around so most of the time you can get away with not having the beacon.

best thing about the XT unit is if there are multiple people at the track with their XT beacon you can set them up at various places around the track and get split times.

the one missing feature of the XT unit, and the hot lap timer as well, is the in car sensor must be remounted depending on which side of the track the beacon is on. i wish it had a sensor on both sides of the receiver.

 

Where do you guys with these type of units mount the display? You can see I've put mine where they radio once lived, but I am going to be putting some gauges there in the near future.

 

I got some velcro and put it right above my glove box, works decently. Although there is velco glued to my dash now and will probably be a b*tch to get off. Couldn't think of any other method of display

 

Nice

My display is mounted on a Broadway style mirror, it works great. While your checking your mirror you can check your times also. I set up the sensor so it can point out either rear window, just flip it around. The wire is run throught the headliner to the display, only down side is I can take it out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Where do you guys with these type of units mount the display? You can see I've put mine where they radio once lived, but I am going to be putting some gauges there in the near future.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i'm set up the same as canuckr except i don't have the larger rear view. it prolly takes up about 1/3 of the mirror but i don't use it anyway cause who can pass a hype-aaaaarrrrrrrrrrr. huhuhu

 

Do you guys that have it mounted to the mirror have any pics? I'd like to see that...

 

So do you mount another reciever somewhere off track? LOL I'd assume you do since you have the IR piece mounted on the rollbar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris93Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So do you mount another reciever somewhere off track? LOL I'd assume you do since you have the IR piece mounted on the rollbar.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, there is a transmitter that you mount to a tripod that is placed on the side of the track that trips the IR receiver. Cool thing is, if you get more than 1 transmitter around the track you can record split times...

 

So do tracks have there own transmitters/beacons?

I've wanted to get one of these, but I don't really understand how they work. My kart has magnetic sensors on the floor pan that pick up a magnets placed under the tarmac on the track.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you guys that have it mounted to the mirror have any pics? I'd like to see that... </TD></TR></TABLE>

it's nothing special, just hold the display up agains the bottom left corner of the rear view mirror and use a zip tie to secure it.

one of these days i'll get a big ricer mirror like canuckr and velcro it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IGGY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So do tracks have there own transmitters/beacons?

I've wanted to get one of these, but I don't really understand how they work. My kart has magnetic sensors on the floor pan that pick up a magnets placed under the tarmac on the track.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not usually. You get your own transmitter as part of the package. The transmitter is constantly sending out strong IR signals, when the IR receiver in the car picks up the signal it trips and begins counting. When it passes the signal again it counts the lap, calculates the lap time, displays it and stores it in memory and starts counting again for the next lap...

Same principal as your sensors and magnets.

 

what track you talking about cuz i live in CO also

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdm2teg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what track you talking about cuz i live in CO also
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Second Creek Raceway
http://www.2ndcreekraceway.com/

 

If you have a guage pod you could build a thing to mount it in there. I saw a supra with a vafc mounted in one. Pretty cool looking.

 

I drilled holes in the back of the display and ziptied it to my rollcage (Front cross bar)

[e]I'm looking for a transmitter as well, if anyone has one for sale let me know. Lost mine 8*(

 

lance/flux -

do you guys have any suggestions on getting the XT to actually pick up the transmitter? i tried it a couple different ways at the expo and couldn't get it to work.

-how sensative is the transmitter to distance from the infrared sensor in the car?
-how sensative is the sensor to being pointed directly at (not kilted up or down) the transmitter?
-how sensative is the unit to having the transmitter and sensor at the same height (ie 3ft high for the transmitter and 3.5ft high for the sensor)?
-how wide of a "window" must the sensor have to look through?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lance/flux -

do you guys have any suggestions on getting the XT to actually pick up the transmitter? i tried it a couple different ways at the expo and couldn't get it to work.

-how sensative is the transmitter to distance from the infrared sensor in the car?
-how sensative is the sensor to being pointed directly at (not kilted up or down) the transmitter?
-how sensative is the unit to having the transmitter and sensor at the same height (ie 3ft high for the transmitter and 3.5ft high for the sensor)?
-how wide of a "window" must the sensor have to look through?</TD></TR></TABLE>

tnord, I didn't have any problems using the XT set-up.

-how sensative is the transmitter to distance from the infrared sensor in the car?
I had my transmitter (running on AA batteries) about 12-16' from where the car would pass on the main straight. When I passed the transmitter I was probably travelling ~ 80mph

-how sensative is the sensor to being pointed directly at (not kilted up or down) the transmitter?
When you say sensor, I am asuming you mean the receiver. I think you want this as level as possible so it has the widest possible angle of picking up hte signal form the transmitter. I was fairly careful to get mine as level as possible.

-how sensative is the unit to having the transmitter and sensor at the same height (ie 3ft high for the transmitter and 3.5ft high for the sensor)?
I also think this is fairly important. While they do not have to be exactly the same height, I think it helps if you take measures to at least get them close. I have my transmitter on a tripod so I can adjust it. I find a place on the side of the track and eyeball it - using cars going by to help get an estimate while I set it up. I would lean towards making the transmitter a little too high rather than a little too low.

-how wide of a "window" must the sensor have to look through?
It doesn't have to be much I don't think. I was a bit worried about this as I am shooting into a small triangle in the rear window between the driver's seat and the rollbar.

Hope this helps. If you are still having trouble I would suggest picking up an inexpensive external 12V lead-acid battery for extra power.

 

Thanks for the info so far.... lance/flux/etc

Considering picking one up this month for the prelude.

Chris - who is not modifying the lude whatsoever this year... I have a feeling driver skill level can be vastly improved given the weight/body roll/etc. (and i know i had a lot to learn in my previous R...)

 

Do you think that there might be problem with tinted windows?