Does data acq make a difference?

[Hornswoggler]

Just curious what everybody's thoughts were on the influence of data acquisition at the club level?

 

With GPS-based units becoming much more affordable, and the analysis software easier to use, I believe data acq is more accessible than ever, and can be a powerful tool in the right hands.

 

But like most things, you get out of it what you put into it. The interpretation takes some understanding, and most of all, you have to take the time to put the effort into it. I'm sure it helps to have an aptitude for gadgets.

 

There is an art and science to going fast. I was never very good at art, so I tend to gravitate towards the science approach! Of course, there are people who are already fast and have less opportunity to gain from the data, but do you see it help mid-pack runners finish closer to the front?

 

I find it handy to have a good baseline for the tracks I visit... as a watchdog to make sure I don't start taking a corner slower than before. Could be good for test-n-tune, see what adjustments or mods actually make a performance difference.

 

So how much influence do you guys think consumer data acq has at the club level? Or for those who use it, how has it helped you?

 

Do these things work or is it bunk?

 

 

 

disclaimer: as a traqmate dealer, I may be biased!

[Hornswoggler]

c'mon now... 34 views and nobody has an opinion on the subject?

[Alan_Wolfe]

I don't use it, but a few of my track buddies do. The most intriguing use to me is after a session constructing the best lap from each of your best sector times. Its amazing how much time you could gain if you could string your best sectors together for one lap.

 

Personally I judge myself against others in my run group, but I admit that there have been a few last-sessions-on-Sunday running by myself when having a timing device would have been nice.

 

Alan

[Raznkane]

I have not used one yet as I just did my first year in DE. I purchased a used one and will start using it this year as I move to driving alone most of the time. I hope to use it checking my lines and get some input from others on what my lines are or should be.

[Sterling Doc]

With the right interpretation, and comparison, it can be quite valuable. I first used it seriously at Mid-Ohio during the 2007 Nationals. The Traqmate guys were helpful, as was Doug Hillman's input. By showing where I had more braking & turning G's left (esp. in trailbraking), I took about 1.5 sec off of my previous best lap.

 

Since then, comparing it with other 944 Spec guys have been helpful. It can really show where people are making time on you, and visa versa. It really helps new guys get up to speed. When someone thinks another person has more motor on them, looking at the data often tell the tale - the faster guy is getting on the gas earlier, or has higher mid-corner speed.

 

So, it's really only useful in a Spec series - all the rest of you guys are wasting your time (or need professional help) .

[SpeedPak]

I would disagree that a system is 'only' useful in a spec series. In the mixed class PTE series I run, I've found the data to invaluable in not only helping me go faster as a driver, but also to help decide what direction to follow in terms of car setup. With only so many points available, you often have to mix and match upgrades and come up with a formula that not only works for your driving style but in relation to you competition. Using the traqmate system has allowed us to focus on our car's weaknesses in relation to our competition.

 

Lastly power modifications are well and good on the dyno, but often they don't translate into 'useable' performance on track, a solid data aq. system will tell the true tale in black and white.

 

I was amazed at the moments where my brain was telling me that I truly was 'flat' through a given section, and the data shows that in fact I was not, the next session you bet I made sure I was.

 

Lastly when used properly there is no faster way to get up to speed on a new track, than analyzing data.

[Weston]

Traqmate is pretty awesome. Something I've noticed, as someone who still doesn't have a Traqmate of his own, is that you can even learn things from looking at other people's data, assuming that they're willing to share. You can see which lines seem to work better than others, and when you compare data from different drivers on the same track, you can see where each person is faster and how they did it, then try to apply that to your own driving. I also look for where they're making mistakes, because more often than not, I'm making the same mistakes in the same situations... A common example is getting a real good run on a straight by maximizing exit speed out of the turn before it, but actually running a slower lap than before because of too much use of the brakes at the end of that straight.

 

I really want to get one of these so I can directly see where I can improve my own driving... Plus it's really cool to be able to overlay the data onto video.

[Hornswoggler]

Some of the common opportunities I see from years of data analysis:

 

1. Coasting. Most people do this between braking and corner turn-in. There is some time lost here, but its better than braking early. Easy to identify, easy to correct, moderate time gains here.

 

2. Wussy braking. Need to know the vehicles maximum deceleration capabilities before knowing how much of the brakes the driver is using. Diagnosis can be moderately challenging, ease of correction depends on the driver (more difficult without ABS), but the time gains are HUGE! I sometimes find club racers doing this and can usually find them 1-2 seconds in braking alone.

 

3. Driving line. This goes without saying for most single/simple corners, but for combination corners, some drivers do not sacrifice the entry corners and their final corner is slightly compromised. This can sometimes be worth .5 seconds down the straight-away.

 

4. Lifting for kinks. Well, some kinks (Road America) may even need brakes, but others can be taken full throttle. For example: Putnam Park turns 3 and 6, many people coast through those when they could be accelerating.

 

5. Late apex driving. From the data I have seen, I am a firm believer that all cars are momentum cars. HPDE may teach slow-in, fast-out, but that has to be un-learned if you really want to go fast. (More like, fast-in, faster-out!). Late-apex driving is safer and easier.. and I can understand where the instructors sense of self-preservation may allow drivers to continue late apexing. It can still be fun, just not as fast.

 

6. Throttle modulation. This comes with the fast-in, faster-out approach. The higher speed corners should not be full throttle at apex.. else you came into them too slow!

 

7. Low corner minimum speeds. This jumps out most obvious when comparing two drivers in the same car. Keep those min speeds up, and you'll be faster.

[944-Spec#94]

Data Aq can be very very important. They key to it being usefull are 3 things.

 

1) Time to evaluate it and look at it. If you only have time to run the car and get back to the real world it is a waste. Taking data does nothing.

 

2) Skill knowledge to know what to look at and how to "read" what it is telling you. Just looking at numbers/charts etc does nothing if you dont' know what it means

 

3) Driving skills to make changes and have some consistancy. If you are all over the the place or drive and have no idea what you did data won't help. The key is to understand what you did on track and then make some changes to driving/car etc. Then see what impact they have. If you lack the skills to do anything other the drive by the seat of your pants you will have hard time.

 

 

 

BTW.. I would love Data Aq. I can learn #2 and believe I have #3. However I am not sure how much time I have. It is already hard to even perform normal maint on my car due to spliting time with work and family. I don't have a ton of money to pay a shop to fix the car nor to spend on fancy toy that I will never have time to study.

 

Even so I an getting closer to getting one as I feel it is going to improve lap times at the track.