Data logging for all?

[dennisdoyle]

How about moving the speed trap from it's current position at the finish (where it only tells us how much money we have spent on the engine, how good/bad the 'aero package' is & how little wing we are running) to the exit on Valentines - where is would tell us the size & stickiness of tyres or concievably correlate with the size of driver's tackle or his/her lack of imagination of the consequences?

Seriousy, how about having both, or even instrumenting the entire track? Is this feasible?

OK I understand we would need to finance another few miles of copper cable - but it would be a major 'value-add' & would equalise the field a bit by giving data logging to everyone?

Dennis

[sprintman]

As part of the commentary team the two things that would benefit us in the box would be split times at Valentines and Beechers rather than another speed trap. With the Commentary box sited at the start line as soon as a competitor rounds Country Corner they are lost. The next time we can pick them up is on Railway Straight. Two splits, one at Valentines and the other at Beechers would allow us to (a) let the spectators know the competitors progress, and (b) allow us to compare performance.

However I would urge caution. Both Harewood and Loton Park have introduced additional split timing points and have had a great deal of technical problems with their new systems. It is all well and good advocating such a change it is another thing to try to implement a working system.

[dennisdoyle]

Agreed, split times would be much better than another speed trap.

I also take your point about the additional complexity & resulting lack of reliability. Probably only feasible at a venue where it could a bullet-proofed, permanent fixture.

However, it must ultimately be the way to go. It will be a bit silly when all 120 competitors have each spent hundreds of pounds on individual data logging - we could have an additional 20-100 grand's worth of electronics circulating at a meeting!