Aotocross timing
01-14-2010, 10:13 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Aotocross timing
The Northern California Corvette Club is really interested in an Autocross timing system. Can anyone recommend a good new/used system for sale or lease.
01-15-2010, 01:20 AM
#2
Instructor
Axware seems to be a very popular software system - we've been using it for several years. We use Tag-Huer for the hardware (timer, photocells) but there are other systems that may be cheaper.
01-15-2010, 04:37 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
The Washington DC Region (SCCA) uses JACircuits timers with AXWare software.
The single biggest thing you need to be mindful of are your cables - they take all the abuse, and can cause problems. Consider them a wear item to be replaced commensurate with use. I'm very wary of the ones (like RaceAmerica) that use RJ45-based connections and Cat-5 (like?) cables - they're just not designed to hold up to that kind of outdoor abuse.
I switched the DC cables over to Microphone cable with Neutrik XLR connectors with good results. The Mic cable is thinner gauge than what the distances probably call for, but with the laser heads power drain hasn't been an issue even with some pretty long cable runs. The Mic cable is designed to remain flexible and not degrade as quickly as a lot of the wiring that gets used that's not really rated for UV stability. Once the outer jacket starts getting torn, it lets water in which eventually causes odd faults (false or missed trips).
There's been some wireless stuff out there, but you have to pay attention as not all of them have the necessary resolution to work well for autocross where wins may come donw to a thousandth of a second.
The single biggest thing you need to be mindful of are your cables - they take all the abuse, and can cause problems. Consider them a wear item to be replaced commensurate with use. I'm very wary of the ones (like RaceAmerica) that use RJ45-based connections and Cat-5 (like?) cables - they're just not designed to hold up to that kind of outdoor abuse.
I switched the DC cables over to Microphone cable with Neutrik XLR connectors with good results. The Mic cable is thinner gauge than what the distances probably call for, but with the laser heads power drain hasn't been an issue even with some pretty long cable runs. The Mic cable is designed to remain flexible and not degrade as quickly as a lot of the wiring that gets used that's not really rated for UV stability. Once the outer jacket starts getting torn, it lets water in which eventually causes odd faults (false or missed trips).
There's been some wireless stuff out there, but you have to pay attention as not all of them have the necessary resolution to work well for autocross where wins may come donw to a thousandth of a second.
01-15-2010, 07:06 PM
#5
Team Owner
With systems like RaceAmerica, you can use cables that are plenum rated and those will have much stronger sheaths. RJ45 connectors will always be a weak link but there is no reason why adapters can't be used to provide a stronger connection. Like any cable arrangement, strain reliefs at each end always helps the RJ-style of connectors. Smae with running the cables away from where people walk and away from the path of cars.
RaceAmerica also has wireless timing lights so that can take the cable issues out of the equation.
RaceAmerica also has wireless timing lights so that can take the cable issues out of the equation.
my club wants to upgrade it's system.
01-18-2010, 02:57 PM
#10
Drifting
Member Since: Sep 2005
Location: Woodway TX
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Even if our club did approve a new system we would keep the old for back up. I am told that the new system is around $4000.00 but I didn't talk to anyone my self.
01-18-2010, 05:41 PM
#11
Racer
Member Since: Nov 2007
Location: Yankton South Dakota
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Race America Systems Rock.. Durable and easy to use...
You can use barcode, connect into axware software etc...
Great customer service etc...
But be careful with the cables they do wear out over time. I would suggest budgeting new cables every 5 years or so. We have been having issues with last year and it has caused some amount of headache. We may upgrade to wireless but need to hold out another year atleast. Event turn out last year was kind of weak.
You can use barcode, connect into axware software etc...
Great customer service etc...
But be careful with the cables they do wear out over time. I would suggest budgeting new cables every 5 years or so. We have been having issues with last year and it has caused some amount of headache. We may upgrade to wireless but need to hold out another year atleast. Event turn out last year was kind of weak.
01-22-2010, 04:11 PM
#12
Team Owner
Got any questions, I can pass them along to JAC himself.
