Advice wanted for club timing gear

[mx52nv]

Hi guys,
Our club is looking to purchase our own timing gear for running an all MX5 Autokhana/Sprint series at our local driving centre.
As such, I am researching the best value timing gear for our purposes that is both easy to use, reliable and has a proven track record.

Some friends of mine in the U.S. Autocross scene pointed me towards the Solo Performance Specialties (SPS) Wireless Auto Cross Timing Package for approximately AUD$1350 plus shipping.
Apparently this is what a lot of the U.S. SCCA series organisers use.



Here are its features:

Autocross Timing System
Electronic Timing System with separate start/finish line functionality
Why spend more for an autocross timer, and get less? The Polaris autocross timer offers an unmatched combination of features, ease of use, and low price!

* Wireless Convenience:
o No cables to connect to the photo-sensors.
o No power connections to the photo-sensors or the timing console.
o 300 foot radio range from the photo-sensors to the timing console.
o Set up and tear down in just minutes. All equipment, including tripods, fits inside a custom made carrying case.

* Long range, through-beam, wireless photo-sensors:
o Very easy to align – just roughly eyeball the alignment.
o No vehicle color / reflectivity issues as with retro-reflective sensors.
o With a 200 foot optical range, the photo-sensors can be placed well off the course to reduce the chance of getting hit by a vehicle.
o Start/stop Sensors run 70-80 hours from a standard 9 volt alkaline battery.

* Full featured timing:
o Time up to three vehicles at once to 0.001 second accuracy.
o Hands free operation (as long as each car finishes). Controls on the timer console allow recovery of times for subsequent vehicles on course when another car fails to complete the course.
o The console runs 50-60 hours from standard AA batteries.
o Spectator displays, printers, computer interface cables and software available separately.

* Reliability:
o The Polaris timer console and wireless photo-sensors have been proven by thousands of satisfied customers in a wide variety of applications including circle track, monster truck races, motorcycle rodeos, hill climbs, and more!
o Manufactured by FarmTek, Inc., the leading provider of timing equipment to the equestrian sport marketplace for over 20 years.

Has anyone else used this package and can provide some feedback?
I would like opinions from experienced folk on the subject of timing gear around the $1500 mark.
What do other state organisers recommend and have used with success?

All the help and advice given would be greatly appeciated as the MX5 Club of W.A. attempts to start an all MX5 Autokhana competition series.
Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Les Proctor
MX5 Club of WA Motorsport
P.S. the 9" x 32" SPS LED scoreboard is so tempting!

[project.r.racing]

o Spectator displays, printers, computer interface cables and software available separately.

Don't forget you'll need to put some money into these things also. Software is a must to upload all times into a labtop etc on the day for the event.

[scb]

Hi Les

I am a member of Holden Sporting Car Club Queensland. The club runs approx 10 motorkhanas through the year - last week we had 48 competitors and an mx-5 won on handicap for the day (CapitalF no me). We have automatic timing gear which was designed by one of the members and then manufactured by another member who owned an auto electrical shop. The timing gear was manufactured to a high standard and has run flawlessly for the last three or so years touch wood.

It does not sound as high tech as the one you listed. However it works over a good range so it is out the way of cars, reliable as we do not need many reruns and times to 0.01. It does not have a display or an automatic link to a spreadsheet so there is still some manual transcribing.

I will see if I can get the contact details of the member who put it together but I have not seen him at a club event recently and I also think he has sold his electrical shop. I will see what I can find out.

Cheers Stewart

[CapitalF]

Hi Les,

Sad that its Sunday morning and here we are reading this forum instead of on our way to an event today.... (Bloomin i'state family visitors!!!!)

Yes - our HSCCQ timing gear was all custom built but it is very user friendly, and driver friendly with very few switches and lights. That's a real plus as as far as I'm concerned as many volunteers man the timing gear. No laptop involved. It would be great to have a large display so competitors and spectators could see the times.

One feature that has been worth its weight in gold and could easily be added to most new systems is a simple wide plastic bucket lid attached to the top of the timing gear items with a simple clip or even butterfly wing bolt. It protects the gear from light rain and sun all day but more importantly protects the delicate parts when it gets bumped / knocked over and that WILL happen - even when volunteers are helping setup. If you go to this Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0KcX2e-JR8 of a mate of mine in my car and stop 3 secs in you will see what I'm referring to - the blue top part. Simple cheap insurance!

2c worth Ends

Peter

[mx52nv]

Thanks for the information guys and keep it coming!
What about the car club guys in other states? Do you have your own timing gear?
The more information I have, the easier I can make a decision when the time comes.

I have two more local avenues to pursue:
1. one of our local car clubs also built their own timing gear so I need to talk to them and
2. there is a defunct Motorsport event that the organiser still has the timing gear - hopefully he is willing to sell/lease it to us.

Again, thanks for the information 'project.r.racing', Peter and Stewart - very much appreciated.
Software is AUD$93, connects via a standard USB cable (included in the price) and is only for automatically uploading the times onto a spreadsheet on Windows.
You do not actually need it to 'run' the timing gear package.

By the way Peter, if that is your 12 year old boy Jeremy in your car then he is very talented (even with the error)!
He used the handbrake well to initiate oversteer to go around the cones - I am impressed!
I was still playing with my Millenium Falcon when I was 12.

Les

[CapitalF]

Hi Les
yes Jeremy is getting used to the hbrake and to limit it's use. Last event he did a reverse throw / flick successfully. Turned 13 a few weeks back. Just don't tell him he's good!
Signed
proud dad

[Boags]

The MX5 Club of QLD has stop watches.

[bigdog]

I thought they used sundials up north...

[de Bounce]

Les
Us Mexicans are also looking for a timing system for our state Motorkhana's.
Currently we use stopwatches.

Initial thoughts was the Solo/AutoX kit was good however our interpretation is it can only time a single course with up to 3 cars on course at once (staggered starts) hence why it has only 2 photo sensors and 2 transmitters for start and finish lines.

I have two more local avenues to pursue:
1. one of our local car clubs also built their own timing gear so I need to talk to them and
2. there is a defunct Motorsport event that the organiser still has the timing gear - hopefully he is willing to sell/lease it to us.

Would be interest in any development on a self built system including a component list.

[SPy vs. SPy]

The MX5 Club of QLD has "dusty" stop watches.

Fixed

[mx52nv]

Hey everyone,
It seems like there is hardly any negative feedback on the Solo Performance wireless timing system. As a result, this may be the direction our club is heading. The fact is that it really takes very little time to set up and tear down (based on what my Autocross friends in the U.S. are saying) and has a good reputation.

Plus, as we are looking to run a MX5 competition series, we may also look towards renting the system out to other local car clubs. The more we can get out of the timing gear means the Motorsport budget continues to grow and we can start using other venues like Jack's Hill for sprints.

So I guess what I am saying is that if no one has anything bad to say about the Solo Performance system then I will be proposing the purchase at the next club meeting.

Les
MX5 Club of WA Motorsport

[project.r.racing]

Never ever rent the system out to another club unless you have a club member from our club present at all times to set it up and pull it down, and observe it. Not worth the $50 they charged for the day usage. Since one of the units is worth $250 to replace.

I'm aware of a club that did it once, and the other club put it too close to the finishing garage. And one of the senders got side swiped.

Or charge enough per day to cover the full replacement cost of one senders. That way it will cover you if there are any unavoidable accidents.
And have a spare also. Nothing worse than lending it out, and it gets busted. Then the next weekend, you have a MX5 event and you're back to stopwatches.