Low cost lap-timer...interested?

**skelstar** · 21st December 2005, 09:53

Hey guys,

Im not a racer but I AM an Electronics Engineer.

I kinda had the idea of building a very low cost/budget lap timer. What Im thinking is purely having a box with a simple display on your handlebars and a trigger located very near one of your handgrips. The idea (havent fully thought it through yet) is that you would pull the trigger as you go through the start/finish or a fixed point on the circuit. The display would tell you the elasped time since you last 'pulled the trigger'.

Questions:

Would anyone be interested in buying one? (very low cost, not looking to retire on this product).

Is there something that already does this?

Is it too simple, difficult to use? Remembering that it could be any fixed point on the circuit. You could even do the timing through a section of the course.

Thinking about hiring them out at trackdays/races too maybe...

What do people think? Enough interest may warrant further investigation.

**Sketchy_Racer** · 21st December 2005, 09:58

yes i would be very interested!!!!

what sort of price would you be thinking??

**skelstar** · 21st December 2005, 10:00

Originally Posted by RG100!!

yes i would be very interested!!!!

what sort of price would you be thinking??

Havent really priced it yet. Wanna do some product spec first...see what the market wants. If it were just a trigger, circuit board and 4 digit display then it could be around $150 or something. But dont quote me on that (literally)

.

**SimJen** · 21st December 2005, 10:00

Sounds good, lots of new bikes are coming out with similar things....except they use the starter button as the trigger (electronically disconnects once started).
A better idea would be a triggered timer using an infrared beacon or similar. Real ones aren't cheap to buy.
Or a cheap transmitter and pickup to wire into a PC for proper lap timing with individual bikes able to be picked up seperately just like the big tracks use (AMT i think).

**Sketchy_Racer** · 21st December 2005, 10:01

yea thats all i want, is just something simple to let me know if i am acctually improving..

**wendigo** · 21st December 2005, 10:05

What I'd be really interested in is if you could build a det counter?

**Marmoot** · 21st December 2005, 10:05

Need to have a memory for at least 10 lap for analysis at later stage. I don't want to analyze my data while steaming full pace at 250+

**Sketchy_Racer** · 21st December 2005, 10:07

hmmmm yes a memory could be a good idea as it would be a pain in the arse trying to read it at 200kph lol

**bugjuice** · 21st December 2005, 10:07

my bike has one factory fitted

only problem I find is that when you cross the line each time, you won't be able to get it smack bang on, so they're not totally accurate. But it is good for an indication of how you're doing. And it's often best to do it on a straight. Nothing worse than fumbling with buttons mid-corner!

What'd work better is if you could figure out a system where the 'brains' is on the track side, and the transponder is on the bike, and it just times you when you pass the point each time. Yes, they have this in racing already, but you can't buy them cheaply, and they're really cool..

**skelstar** · 21st December 2005, 10:08

Originally Posted by SimJen

Sounds good, lots of new bikes are coming out with similar things....except they use the starter button as the trigger (electronically disconnects once started).
A better idea would be a triggered timer using an infrared beacon or similar. Real ones aren't cheap to buy.
Or a cheap transmitter and pickup to wire into a PC for proper lap timing with individual bikes able to be picked up seperately just like the big tracks use (AMT i think).

Yeah, I know thats what people would want but I want it to be VERY simple, which means not setting things up trackside etc. Dont want to support software on laptops and other technical issues. Im not going to be able to be at events with people to show them how to use it. Low stress for customers, low stress for me

.

**skelstar** · 21st December 2005, 10:09

Originally Posted by wendigo

What I'd be really interested in is if you could build a det counter?

Detector counter? If so then check out the other reply. ta.

**skelstar** · 21st December 2005, 10:11

Originally Posted by bugjuice

What'd work better is if you could figure out a system where the 'brains' is on the track side, and the transponder is on the bike, and it just times you when you pass the point each time. Yes, they have this in racing already, but you can't buy them cheaply, and they're really cool..

That would be cool, but probably expensive and prone to environmental issues (ie is there a bike between you and your detector?).

This would def be for the novice making big gains. Or for the lads on the rimutakas

.

**skelstar** · 21st December 2005, 10:13

Originally Posted by Marmoot

Need to have a memory for at least 10 lap for analysis at later stage. I don't want to analyze my data while steaming full pace at 250+

Chicken

.
I could have a memory, that would download afterwards through RS232. Not too difficult. Dont want to write software for computers though. Could just use a terminal program...or cycle through times on display. Real simple-like.

**bugjuice** · 21st December 2005, 10:14

the coro loop? place it at Kopu

using some low vol FM, it wouldn't have to be line of sight. but then it could fail it's accuracy. Even if it was line of sight, it'd be too hard to get a reading, cos the bike would be in a different position each time it passed. Do some intramanet search and see what systems are in use already, and just 'borrow' some ideas and make it cheaper

**Marmoot** · 21st December 2005, 10:15

Originally Posted by bugjuice

What'd work better is if you could figure out a system where the 'brains' is on the track side, and the transponder is on the bike, and it just times you when you pass the point each time.

You mean ACTUALLY having your missus on the track side to time you?

And yeah, I was actually interested in instaling the sensor on SH22 if it's inexpensive and inconspicuous