Timing Events

dweller · Powerhouse Poster

Timing Events

Dusteater · In rehab

Probably a good idea but the cost would be high I would imagine. See if you can find out from AMSAG what their operating costs are.

LIAbillity · Rehab Dropout...

thats pritty much what western desert racers have ,
the last race we had they used timing transponders on every car , it worked a treat im told , took away any chance of errors and was less stressfull for the timing guys
and it gave instant time results on the net to

Matt72 · Newbie

They also used transponders like that down in Vic at the Highlands 150. Has to be easier & far more accurate.

ARB TIPPING CHAMPION 2013

I recieved this email asking for cars to put a Rally Safe tracker in cars at Lockyer Valley :

Rallysafe has kindly provided the trial to us at no cost. This means at no cost to you, you can be involved in this trial. There is the need to wire in / provide simple wiring for the transponder and a suitable location for the transponder / aerial. This trial is open to all competitors but is strictly limited to the first 24 cars. So if you would like to be involved and have others in your team, spectators and sponsors see your car live via the internet, then contact Edwin Vandenberg, ORRInc chairman on 0419 512 526email edberg@internode.on.net Remember this is limited to 24 cars only and all you need to do is provide the wiring (simple instructions will be sent through).

-- Edited by 2204 on Tuesday 23rd of October 2012 07:19:18 AM

dweller · Powerhouse Poster

Yeah, transponder systems would be the ultimate and something to aspire to and obviously I'm thinking of our event and where improvements are needed. Have contacted AMSAG with the question.

Nina · Powerhouse Poster

Dweller, Finke Desert Race uses transponders from Motorcycling Australia - NSW. They have a couple of guys that run the units and we find them very efficient, easy to deal with and are a reasonable price. Might be worth giving them a call to get a quote. We run all our cars and bikes with their system.

-- Edited by Nina on Tuesday 23rd of October 2012 04:13:39 PM

simpson · Rehab Dropout...

David we have a team of people that do the same as you described, Murray & Julie Rogers have done Offroad events for anyone that hires them all over the country. They also own and run a website www. offroadracing.com.au i think they would be open to do other types of events as well.

Patrol842 · Forum Addict

WDR trialled a transponder system at the Hyden 6 hour. Our unique and varied vehicle designs presented some challenges with mounting transponders in consistent positions on the vehicle and obtaining reliable readings. rally cars are easy because they are all the same basic structure. The system we trialled was relatively affordable with transponders costing a few hundred dollars each.

The rallysafe system looks brilliant with request to pass and distress features as well. I would like to get my hands on one to have a look at it. It's not clear if the distress feature has to run via satellite or if it can work effectively via the inbuilt WiFi system.
The marketing material uses the word satellite a lot. If it is for communications then it's going to be tremendously expensive with ongoing costs, if it's WiFi then our large tracks will present some coverage issues unless the transponders form their own store-and-forward network amongst themselves.
Despite the advantages I can't see these units costing less than $1500 each, there are no prices listed.

The request to pass system is useless unless every vehicle on the track has it and I cant see anyone putting their hand in their pocket to purchase enough for 70 vehicles as well as pay for 70 satellite phone plans. Remember the cheap cars are the slow ones, they aren't going to be running the system because they cant afford it. So where the passing system is needed most it will be useless.
By the same token the distress system if it works car-car may take a while for word to filter back to the control point if only a few vehicles are carrying the system. As SOS controller I need complete faith in, or complete awareness of all shortcomings of, the systems I'm using to monitor the safety of people on the track. You dont have time to run a trational checkpoint system as well as test out something new, I havent had to manage more than 50 vehicles yet and running 70 is going to be hard work. We'll get riddled with false alarms becuase the way we use our vehicles we experience much higher G loadings than a rally car will. How many rally cars have you seen roll then continue unharmed? It's a regular occurance at national events.

So what does that leave us with? Passing is useless, automatic crash detection is useless, distress calls arent neccesarily reliable. so we have a transponder and a tracking device that uploads only when the vehicle is in range, or an enormous satellite phone bill.

At such costs it will never filter down to state level, and the system requires many mountings and holes in the vehicles. I also wonder if the controller is weatherproof.
I commend the designers for developing the system, it's excellent.

Two things are massive barriers to the adoption of the system:
1: it's likely to be too expensive for everyone to be able to afford.
2: even if ORRInc manage to buy or rent enough to run a race a temporary installation on 70 vehicles will be a logistical nightmare.

I really like the sytem but the costs and logistics mean we aren't ready for it.
I'm sorry to say that it's a waste of peoples time to trial it when you could put similar effort toward a basic transponder system that can benefit everyone. In order for the system to be used by everyone it needs be about $500 at most which I really doubt.

Jusy my 20 cents as a comms tech, grassroots competitor and official.

-- Edited by Patrol842 on Thursday 25th of October 2012 09:45:42 AM