Lap and/or trap timing systems

[tribble]

I'm looking for some leads on reasonably priced lap or speed trap timing equipment. A few of us are interested in knowing how much our lap times are improving or exactly how much that latest tweak is helping or huritng speed-wise. I've been searching for a while but all I've found are multi-thousand dollar race management/transponder systems or equipment for "full size" sporting events.

Does anyone have any leads on a model-sized timing or speed measuring system?

Thanks,
tribble

[Top End]

As far as I know, if you want to count laps, get lap times and average speeds etc for multiple cars, and you don't want to do it manually on a computer, you have to have a transponder system. The cheapest I've ever heard of a transponder system going for is $1500 pretty old, and very used.

[rcracer_xxxt_futaba]

At my local track they don't have transponders, but they have the avg. speed and the lap times.

[tribble]

It doesn't have to be multiple cars at once... just a pair of sensors we can run a single car through to get a time is enough.

rcracer, what do they use at your track?

tribble

[Top End]

I've seen advertised in RCCA a very small (about 3-5 inches) radar gun. It sits on the ground or you attach it to some kind of mount and you drive the car past it. It gives you top speed, but I doubt if it calculates lap times. I think it was about $100 or so. Maybe the moderators can help you out with info on this one?

[SteveP]

We just got a trick new personal timing system from a Japanese importer that looks really trick. It uses a transponder-type device in the car and has a control box that counts laps and lap times. I don't know much about it yet, but it looks pretty trick. I'll let you know more when I get more info.