Landracing Forum
Tech Information => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: fastesthonda_jim on March 12, 2006, 05:47:14 PM
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Even in this day and age I still see some of y'all running airspeed indicators and/or mechanical speedos to see how fast you're going.
By sheer luck I pulled one of these from the shelf at Fry's a couple of years back and it has been too cool. Not only does it measure speed VERY accurately, but it has a nifty little feature that plots position and speed every second for up to 35 minutes (and then "wraps" around and starts over writing the early data) and then downloads it into an Excel spreadsheet format so you can plot run to run changes with overlays.
http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexLegend/
About $180 as I recall.
Keep the shiny side up (You too, Kent)
Jim
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Ok, sounds like a good idea to me. Just picked one up for $132.44 from Walmart.com
Thanks!!!
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If ya got time to ead it ya ain't going fast enough, right Jack D.
Just kidding. I think most of the liners run a airspeed indicator.
Glen
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Glen,
Yeah I figure you can sorta tell how fast a car really is by looking at the dashboard. If it's got a bunch of gauges it can't be THAT fast. The really quick ones only have a shift light.
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How difficult you make your vehicle to drive will determine how much time you have to play with the radio and stuff.
Some vehicles offer a lot more time than others at the same speed.
Just because your ride was a handful does not make it any faster or indicate more power.
It might just be wrong and that is where you need the Depends. :wink:
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Considering the speeds I will probably be running I can check my velocity with a calendar. I plan to mount it next to the cup holder right under the magazine rack. And the price is great. I got a free calendar from the VFW. Shift points are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and if it is pulling well I should be in high gear by Saturday. Actually the car will go faster than that but I don't think it counts while still on the trailer.
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"Theoretical speeds are accomplished by theoretical vehicles."
"A personnel best is all you can count for yourself.
Only sometimes it is a class record but that is less important."
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Jack,
You are either the oldest guy around with a great memory for sayings or you have a great book called "The Book of Wise Oneliners"!!!
Keep it up!
Rex
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I started really early with some people that were already old and vowed to not only listen to them but sort out the good information from the bad and not repeat. :wink:
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Back on the subject of using GPS to determine speeds, we need to be a little careful. I got a new Garmin Streetpilot 2610 for Glenys and our first trip revealed a glitch in software. Note fastest speed. I swear this has not been doctored. We were in my E350 van going to Florida. I have yet to talk to Garmin, but thought I should share.
Rick Byrnes
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The trick for the bikers is to send it aloft on a private plane and then stick it on the bike for show.
That speed indicated she was going for the last parking space at the mall.
Your mileage may vary.
Everything looks good. :wink:
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Trees, buildings and using a GPS inside your car (without an external antenna) causes glitches, gaps and hiccups. My wife got a top speed of over 1,000mph while walking near our house. Of course, you don't have to worry about trees and buildings at Bonneville.
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Bonneville is the worst place to depend on any RF transmission because of the electrical characteristics of the salt. :wink:
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I tried to give my GPS to one of my kids, but he gave it back. Next, I decided to take it to Bonneville to see how it worked there, but I can't remember where I put it. It wasn't a big hit with us (my wife wouldn't use it any more after she got the 1,000mph walking), but I did find that our house was 873 ft above sea level.
I've not quite given up on running my 1950 Harley Hummer 125cc, but can't get it Bonneville legal until maybe 2007 - I have to safety wire the axle nuts and put ball ends on the clutch/brake levers. Since I weigh a hundred pounds more than I did in 1952, I probably won't have any traction problems with it. Of course, the 8 1/2 hp might still overpower the salt. If I use an expansion chamber instead of my "blewie" straight pipe, I might get 9 hp. Bonnie watch out - my GPS will certify I'm going at least 2,000 mph!
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There is a unit out from Racepak called the G2X Pro which is a GPS based Data Recorder. I have tested the GPS unit in our 811 fuel roadster at Bonneville and El Mirage and works great. The GPS is accurate down to the feet which I believe is less that 1% in error. (I would have to double check my notes but I believe that is correct). I picked up nine sattelites at Bonneville with no problems. It has an optional display but most of all it can log all of your cars functions on the recorder to be later downloaded for data analysis. (Engine RPM, Drive Shaft RPM, Distance, EGTs, Boost, etc..) Cool unit just released.
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Nitro H., I am almost afraid to ask this, but what does one of those babies retail for? :?:
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Good info. Just don't drop it in wet salt. I still can't find my GPS, so I can't try mine out. I'll try to talk my wife into going to Bonneville as a spectator.
I'm looking for 2.75x19 H rated 2-ply tires for my Hummer so I won't have to buy new hubs, 17" rims, and modern 125cc tires. And I'll have to do head/cylinder work and install a carburetor that works. My main problem is choking about buying leathers for $1K - can't they make an exemption for me and let me wear my bathing suit? I still have my 1952 Clymer crash helmet. My wife probably won't let me go to Bonneville unless I lose 50 pounds and can fit into leathers without looking like a bloated seal.
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Bob, the Racepak G2X Pro Unit starts at $1700 for the unit and the GPS but then if you want Boost EGTs etc.. then it will be extra.
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Bob, the Racepak G2X Pro Unit starts at $1700 for the unit and the GPS but then if you want Boost EGTs etc.. then it will be extra.
(http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/images/frame_300_LM1.jpg)
Another option is the Innovate LM-1 Wide Band O2 sensor and controller along with the LM-3 aux-box.
The LM-1 with a wide band O2 sensor is about $350. The neat thing about it is besides the O2 sensor you can data log for up to 44 minutes 5 other functions. They can be anything that puts out a 0-5 volt signal. Last year I adapted a TPS off another car (http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/techinfo/LM-1%20TPS.htm) to the blower linkage on Hooley's Stude and we data logged throttle position along with the air/fuel ratio.
This year he added the aux-box (LM-3) for another $300 or so that has a lot of the inputs you normally want built into it. Besides the TPS we ran last year the aux-box will monitor rpm, boost, EGT (one cylinder) and acceleration. These last 4 are all built into the box. The TPS signal will now go to the aux-box and will be forwarded on to the LM-1 and data logged. You can data log as many sessions as you want up to the 44 minute max.
Back at the pits you down-load the data into your computer and the memory in the LM-1 is freed up again. Once in the computer they have easy to use software that lets you graph the data, separate it out, re-scale it, average (soften) the graphs, etc..
The only drawback I can see is the limit of 5 inputs in addition to the air/fuel it is collecting. If we wanted to add say inlet temps it would be no problem, but we would have to disable one of the others, say acceleration.
We bought this system originally for the air/fuel readings not realizing really how versatile the system is. One other hand thing is I have O2 bungs welded into my truck and will add them to my other vehicles and the LM-1 moves easily from vehicle to vehicle to help tune it. I just used it going to Missouri and back to see my air/fuel going and coming.
The wideband LM-1 also has an output on it so if you are running a computerized fuel injection system that will run under wide band vs. street narrow band the LM-1 will give an output to your computer.
We've been dealing with Greg at Motorsports Innovations on the LM-1 and LM-3 (who has been giving John Burk a hand with his streamliner I believe) and he understands us and has been helpful in a number of ways:
http://motorsportsinnovations.com/index.htm
For more info on the LM-1/LM-3:
http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/index.html
c ya, Sum