From personal experience, 3 events now. The use of the transponder system to be the starting system doesn't work. In the PacRims 2006 and Ivanpah 2008 when a seperate system was used to the "computer" I heard of no complaints whatsoever. When the "system" was used in World Titles 2008, I would consider it to be highly innaccurate for use as a starting system. I remember one race the "system" called me early yet I started my timer a second after the signal..computer generated, and according to me arrived at the line 2 seconds late. Therefore I should have been 3 seconds LATE for the start, yet the system called me early and over, therefore recross the line!

Please seperate the two for the Nationals. a stopwatch a siren and a few flags is pretty easy to organise

Transponders are definitely the best way to go.
I ran a RC car club for three years and using an Alley Cat software for all races was the only way to be absolutely acurate for timing and lap counting. The system gave a countdown, then start signal and counted individual competitors for the given race time, called you when you finished and calculated the winner by overall lap count and time right down to the tenth of a second. If you wanted detail individual lap times then it could be printed out after the race for you to make improvements for the next race. This system meant that it was driver skill, not grid position that won races.
The old days of someone counting you (hopefully) over the line each lap, and having to be relegated to a poor start position by luck of the draw have been left well behind.
If this was the system being used, then it wouldn't matter if you were a second after the start or 30 seconds as your 5 min race started when YOU crossed the line.
But what the heck, we're not playing for the farm, we're out there to have fun, make friends and go home with a bloody big smile on our faces.

See you there
Cheers Brett

Hi Russel
Think you could be in a bit of bother here as i think Trumpy is using the transponder system from NZ(Blokart Heaven),which i believe works very well as not heard to many gripes about it from the local guys over there.
Some great points there too Brett especially about the friendships and great big grins,will also see you on the beach in yeppoon.

Bailey said...

Arjay,

2,3,4 sec late for the start is a small price to pay to make sure that you are not over the start, a good sailor can make that time up.

Unless you are a good sailor trying to catch a better sailor

No matter what system is used there will always be a glitch. I have used transponders in both go-karting and offroad rally and in dealing with electronic equipment there can be one that has a glitch but I think its still better than someone with pen and paper trying to keep track. At the offroad rally they do use pen and paper at checkpoints along the way just in case of a failure.

I felt sorry for the timekeepers at the State of Origin as they could hardly see in the driving rain and somehow the placings seem to have got a bit mucked up as someone who didnt even race all day beat someone who did race!! I saw a few other discrepancies but as well but as Redsails said - we arent playing for sheep stations!!

Let's go and have fun, meet some new people and hopefully even learn a bit more along the way!!

So is there any glitchs in their system of late as last time i used it there seemed to be no problems.
As said before Russell thats the system that will be used so no point debating if its good bad or indifferent and certainly beats all the hands on stuff at these events espcially if you are entered to race in the event as well.
Even if my own personal performances are average on the race track i cant wait for social events around the pool to commence especially if there is gunna be some good targets.
See you all at the briefing and oh dont forget to pack the sun block.

Thanks Phil,

I have no problem with the system keeping track of number of laps completed and is a magnificent jump from pen and paper. As it is when calculating score results!

It is just use of the system as a starting system I was questioning. I hope more people can add valuable input to the discussion.

Russell

Arjay,

I take your point, & yes being a computer generated system there are some glitches when starting in the system (BeeGee can shed some more light on this) but as a starting/timing/transponder system its is the best that we have at our disposal & we should be thanking the Bay club for bringing to over for us to use.

Bailey

Red sails said...


You say the Kiwi's are bringing the equipment over... Give them a reminder to switch the lights off before getting on the plane lol

We love our Kiwi mates, hey bro.

Cheers Red

No need to ... some have to stay home and look after the sheep