Timing on track
Author
Discussion

ywouldi

Original Poster:

762 posts

261 months

Tuesday 13th July 2010
quotequote all
Got my first track day booked at Bedford and was wondering how/if timing is allowed. I understand that it's not meant to be a race but it would be nice to measure any improvement.

Pee Bee

11 posts

200 months

Tuesday 13th July 2010
quotequote all
No timing allowed on any trackday I'm afraid. If you're fairly new to trackdays you won't need a stopwatch to see the improvement. Have fun.

hyperblue

2,862 posts

204 months

Tuesday 13th July 2010
quotequote all
I thought you could time, but not have it displayed in car? E.g. review the times from a datalogger at the end of the day. Stops you chasing the clock all day, but allows you to get an idea of your laps.

fiveoclockhero1

672 posts

208 months

Tuesday 13th July 2010
quotequote all
If you get caught timing at a track day you'll be lucky if you're not thrown off.

pilotea

185 posts

255 months

Wednesday 14th July 2010
quotequote all
fiveoclockhero1 said:
If you get caught timing at a track day you'll be lucky if you're not thrown off.
you could use an iphone and keep it in your pocket... there is several apps that can do datalogging...

juansolo

3,012 posts

302 months

Wednesday 14th July 2010
quotequote all
Strictly verboten. Expect to get sent home and never allowed back if caught. TDO's take a very hard line on timing as it invalidates theirs and everyone else's insurance.

Data logging is generally ok for analysis at the end of the day. Live lap timing is not.

Edited by juansolo on Wednesday 14th July 08:46

fiveoclockhero1

672 posts

208 months

Wednesday 14th July 2010
quotequote all
pilotea said:
fiveoclockhero1 said:
If you get caught timing at a track day you'll be lucky if you're not thrown off.
you could use an iphone and keep it in your pocket... there is several apps that can do datalogging...
Yeah you can, someone can use a stopwatch in their pocket on the pit wall too and a number of other ways of timing and the TDO's know them all better than you do.

Brian McGee

1,595 posts

201 months

Wednesday 14th July 2010
quotequote all
I also think the timing invalidates the TDO insurance, well is a caveat, hence it being classed as a track day, not a test day.

I am sure Jonny will be along to confirm I am talking tosh!

BM

pilotea

185 posts

255 months

Wednesday 14th July 2010
quotequote all
fiveoclockhero1 said:
pilotea said:
fiveoclockhero1 said:
If you get caught timing at a track day you'll be lucky if you're not thrown off.
you could use an iphone and keep it in your pocket... there is several apps that can do datalogging...
Yeah you can, someone can use a stopwatch in their pocket on the pit wall too and a number of other ways of timing and the TDO's know them all better than you do.
then the iphone is much better, no buttons to press (except once) and it can run all day :-)

not that I would do a thing like that of course

silverthorn2151

6,359 posts

203 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
If I can be frank, I don't want to share track space with someone driving and fking about putting his hands in his pockets.

ANY sort of timing at a track day will get you red carded, and that includes stopwatches in the pits and so on if you are caught.

You will know if you are getting quicker (as a novice), and if you are focussed on getting fraction of second improvements on a lap time, well...shouldn't you be racing or on a test day with a race licence?

Reviewing how you did in the evening by looking at videos is a different matter in my view and actually, a good idea.


steveavxt

209 posts

217 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
I use a Racelogic Preformance box for Datalogging which most TDO's are OK with as is it in a place where I can't see It or touch it while driving. I download the data to my laptop when I get home to analyse the best laps and lines. As long as you are not benchmarking live on track you should be OK.

Greg_D

6,542 posts

270 months

Thursday 15th July 2010
quotequote all
Absolutely,

I use the timings off my video camera (securely mounted, obviously) when i get home to figure out the lap times.

As stated, as a novice it will be obvious when you are getting quicker

Greg