I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea of vintage racing cars with a data acquisition system. It doesn’t really matter how we might feel about this. It’s happening and you could be the next person in line for a high tech system. You need to think about how complex of a data acquisition system you need for your car and then what you’ll do with all of the data.
You’re only going to understand the data if you get some knowledgeable help. Don’t start with the hardware. Start this whole process with selecting a person who can help you understand data acquisition. Remember data acquisition is about making you a better driver. A driving coach can do that. Once you have a coach you simply buy the system that coach is familiar with. That’s the easy way.
Ask around the pit area about various coaches that people have used. Some coaches may be a wizard with the Motec system but have never worked with a Race-Keeper system. You certainly don’t want to pay for their learning curve.
Actually it’s not a bad idea to select a coach before you select a data acquisition system. Find a coach you can work with and then buy what they suggest. Use the driving coach as your consultant. There’s a lot greater difference between different coaches than there is between data acquisition systems.
If you don’t want to hire a driving coach you need to find a dealer who can help you after the purchase. Ask around the paddock how different drivers feel about the system they use. Ask questions about what sort of support they’re getting from the manufacturer of the system in their car.
If you purchase a data acquisition system that’s popular with racers in your area you’ll have something to compare your data to. Comparing your data with data from a better driver is a lot more valuable than just looking at cornering speed and G's. How much information do you need and how much is data overload? You might want to ease into this high tech world. Purchase a system that’s expandable. Start with the basics and as you get comfortable using data you can add more inputs. MoTeC has the greatest room for expansion. AIM has a little less and the Traqmate, or Race-Keeper, even less. Less isn’t all bad though. Too much data can overwhelm y– driving a racecar.
Some people put a professional driver in their car to lay down a fast lap. That fast lap now becomes a template. It establishes what your car can do. Now you can compare that information to what you do. Just don’t get depressed.
When I spent time with Bruce at Klub Sport he said that Traqmate, Race-Keeper, AIM or MoTeC are all good systems. He felt that Traqmate, or Race-Keeper, may be all that’s necessary for most people. On the other hand almost all of the Klub Sport cars use the AIM system. The AIM system is a huge step up and is much more flexible in terms of what can be monitored.
The Motec system produces more information than most people can use. No one questions the ability of the MoTec system. They do though question their ability to comprehend all the data acquired by the MoTeC system.
The cost of a data acquisition system is rather reasonable if you consider how much you spend on tires every weekend. Yes, tires have become my new baseline. You need to think in terms of at least $2,500 plus the cost of a computer, which you may not have to purchase. While there’s no upper limit $5,000 will get you a very good system.
A lot of people love to watch themselves drive. It’s even nicer if you can watch data on the screen as you watch the in-car video. This means your video cam has to work with your data acquisition system. You should purchase the video cam from the same vendor that sold you the data acquisition system.
You’re going to need a computer to do any real analysis. You probably want a PC for this. You can use an Apple system but you have to do a work-around. It’s just easier to use a PC system for the whole thing.
You’ll want a 17-inch screen with any system you use. It’s easier to see everything without having to move the screen around. Some people even go so far as to put a large flat screen in their trailer and connect the laptop to that. Don’t try to learn everything on your own. All of these systems have enough data that you’re going to need help understanding it. Factor into the cost of your system a driving coach that’s familiar with the data acquisition system you’ve just purchased.
There’s a certain irony about having a very sophisticated GPS based data acquisition system in your vintage racecar. Keep in mind that you always want the newest and greatest tires on your vintage racer. Why should you not use modern computer technology to improve what you enjoy doing most – driving a racecar.
