Do racers want to pay to use transponders at EVERY race meeting?

[gixerracer]

You fellas shoul take up lawn bowls I herd thats pretty cheap.
No transponders than you need more people to lap score etc and the modern fairing design would make this very hard

There has been some talk about the expense of using transponders as opposed to mark-time or equivalent at race meetings. Here is a poll to have your say on the matter. Obviously this is unscientific and arguably even pointless but it will be interesting to see what you lot think on this issue.

Lets keep it to racers only so as to try to get a feeling for what the average road racer wants from thier club. So if you currently race, feel free to vote.

[prettybillie]

So excuse my ignorance, but how does marktime (and similar) work out lap times?
Nobody (marshal or comfort girls) came over and held my hand or rubbed my back when I fell off weekend before last!

Sorry Pud - with the leg in plaster they wouldn't let me

[scrivy]

Back when men were men and if you had a problem with someone you just punched them.
WTF??? What's that got to do with my post?? Read it again. I didn't say the good ol' days of no transponders - just the reference to having none! But needing a tonne of timekeepers!

I splashed out and bought my own transponder sure it cost me nearly $700 but it just about paid for itself now and when your a high roller like myself (insert account ballance of 26 cents here) a little bit of future proofing is a good idea.

Plus you get heaps of cool features on mylaps.com to compare yourself with other peoples laps.

How many people didn't qualify at the TRRS this year because the people in the box couldn't see the numbers???????? As Bob stated, because their numbers do not comply with MNZ's own rulebook. There were up to 8 people trying to read their numbers at one point - but in the end no-one could identify the said bikes. Not good from a spectator perspective either.

Motorcycles are fast now real fast.........................................shoul d we wear fluro bibs next year to make it easier????????
If bikes are now 10 seconds a lap faster than they were 10 years ago (which they aren't) over a 3 km circuit, then over the span of 50 metres (the viewing area for Marktime), they are only .16 seconds faster. That is about nothing - but people used to manually time them back then. What's changed?? The number size - that's all.

Everything changes..........some times for the best, I think transponders is the way forward

Good thread Biggles!

I personally think people are getting too anal about lap times.
You can't compare yourself with others lap times from different meetings at the same track. Weather conditions change the mix immensely. Too windy, rainy, dusty, oil spilt on the track, cement dust on the race line....... not to mention was your competitor using the same tyres... or qualifying tyres, oh then there is the case of having Robert Taylor there......... did he get used to better your times, or were you there without his help??

[CookMySock]

I'm surprised that timing isn't a built-in feature of the track.

Steve

[Ivan]

You fellas shoul take up lawn bowls I herd thats pretty cheap.
No transponders than you need more people to lap score etc and the modern fairing design would make this very hard

Agreed thenew fairings are getting smaller and smaller look at the r6 for example the seat is so small.

[codgyoleracer]

I suppose there is "lap timing" and "lap scoring" . Obviously the scoring part is pretty important and provides us all with a result of who finished where. The timing thing is a personal choice and at nats is handy to record lap records etc.
If your into lap times for your personal ego , or for personal improvemnt then get an onboard unit that works anywhere you go.
If the cost of lap timing everylap is tipping the clubs over the point of non-profit , then its a no brainer decison whether to run it or not. Lap scoring is a fundamental basic requirement though.

[neil_cb125t]

Its is an additional cost, and i have competed at a few events that don't use then. The qualifying is what yanks my chain, you need some way of setting up a start grid - the old PMCC days of 12 bikes on the front row didn't really grow allot of friendships.

I dont quite see how they are so expensive per day - Go cart drivers rent a transponder for a year.. it costs them $70.. for the year.

Maybe there needs to be some competition in timing equipment providers - would we complain if it was $20 a weekend? or $100 a year?

[wharfy]

Remember the old days before transponders.............

Stop watches and lots of time keepers!!!
No one worried back then..............

I bet the guy that lost third place to me at Manfeild in 1976 in the consolation race is still pissed - It was my first podium - I carried the check for $15 in my pocket for about a year to show everyone who was interested (and lots of people that weren't) - I'm pretty sure it was a timekeeping error .
I bought my own transponder, one winter series and two street meetings and it has paid for itself.

[Clivoris]

Transponders definitely make things easier but there is no way that I can pay $37.50 perday. Mines paid for itself and more, and will be gracing someone elses bike this Actrix Winter Series.

[lostinflyz]

why does it only cost 10 bucks down south to hire Transponders???

[SWERVE]

I would guess that the $10 hire with MCC is susbsidised by the club................... and i think the club bought the whole system/set up (which is a lot of money) which would allow them to re-coup costing over many years. Prehaps the other clubs hire the whole system on a meeting to meeting basis. Sure someone will correct me if i am wrong.
If you are serious about racing and improving your riding........transponders are a very valuable tool. If you collect data and analize it you can find some very interesting areas for improvement. For anyone who has ever used transponders where there are 2/3/4 different timing points and split timing is avalable the data you can log is phenomenal.
Its not just a case of looking at a row of final lap times.................. there is much more.
We will be purchasing our own this year and looking forward to having split timing asap.

[scracha]

I can't see how anyone even remotely serious about racing hasn't bought their own. Cripes, put it on the credit card and it'll pay for itself within about 6 meetings....and you can sell it when you've finished.

[Whitebait]

I would guess that the $10 hire with MCC is susbsidised by the club................... and i think the club bought the whole system/set up (which is a lot of money) which would allow them to re-coup costing over many years. Prehaps the other clubs hire the whole system on a meeting to meeting basis. Sure someone will correct me if i am wrong.
If you are serious about racing and improving your riding........transponders are a very valuable tool. If you collect data and analize it you can find some very interesting areas for improvement. For anyone who has ever used transponders where there are 2/3/4 different timing points and split timing is avalable the data you can log is phenomenal.
Its not just a case of looking at a row of final lap times.................. there is much more.
We will be purchasing our own this year and looking forward to having split timing asap.

Split timing would be awesome aye!

Like you say you can break the track up into 3 or 4 sections and see where you are slower or faster than your oposition, Alowing you to work on improving particular parts of a track.

For some of us in the lower levels our lap times is all we have.....................

[quickbuck]

Split timing would be awesome aye!

Like you say you can break the track up into 3 or 4 sections and see where you are slower or faster than your oposition, Alowing you to work on improving particular parts of a track.

For some of us in the lower levels our lap times is all we have.....................

Well, 3 sectors like almost every race you see in V8 Supercar, and F1 would be good.

As mentioned there may well be too much emphasis put on lap times, especially comparing it from one day to a very different day.

BUT comparing lap times with yourself on the same day in my opinion is one of the few measures of improvement a racer has.
Comparing sector times would be even better!

As Scratcha said, it is best if you get your own transponder.... Could very well be something you could ask one of the Sponsors to buy you?? Just a thought...( and a hint Neil).

[scuzeme]

I brought my Transponder for about $700, so at $40 per race meeting thats going to pay for itself in 2 years a worth while investment.
I like the transponder system because the night after the race you can go onto mylaps, and for those who know how to use it properly, you can get all sorts of useful data from your races.
The club isnt tied up with extra bods having to score/count etc just charge the fucker up slap it on a forget about it.
As far as lap times are concerned i dont even have to use my XT lap timer anymore, Transponders are the way to go.