Questions about the my-chron lap timers.

[Ssketchy RC]

I got my timer today just before my next track day. My question is this. Where should I place the beacon? It is a small box so I dont know if I am supposed to put it on the wall of the front straight or on the ground or on the back straight. And if the beacon is on the wall then will it register since I run kinda close to the wall in the straight at T-Hill? Also where do you guys mount the transmitter? It says under the fairing in front of the back wheel. I just dont wanna screw it up the first time I use it. Thanks in advance.

[NoQuarter]

If it's going to be a sizable trackday, other people there might have them too. In which case, you'll want to make sure only one beacon is set up. Otherwise, you'll end up with wacky split times. Typically, folks will set one up on the back straight at T-hill, so that the exit lap will count as a timed one. But that's up to everyone to agree upon.

As for mounting it. I've seen quite a few people mount the transmitter (receiver?) on top of the ram-air intakes (gsxr-style intakes) just under and aft of where the handle bars are. This didn't work for me on the R6, as my arms were blocking the line of sight. I ended up mounting the sensor inside the fairing opening on the side, up near the radiator. That worked just fine.

Wherever you mount it, make sure it's easily transferrable to the other side of the bike... as different tracks will have the beacons set up on different sides.

[mikeyjudkins]

Just a little gripe Ive been having lately with the MCL is it only seems to register my lap times about 75% of the time. Not sure why - probably beacon placement, but it happens. Sucks when you KNOW you just logged in a scorcher...

I mount my read out right above my odometer and string it over and velcro it on top of my ram air intake covers. For T-Hill its on the right, for Buttonwillow its on the left.

[Ssketchy RC]

But what about the transmitter? On the ground or on the wall?

[mikeyjudkins]

Oh yeah...the transmitter. It should be at the same approximate vertical level to where the receiver is mounted on your bike. This means it would be best placed on top of a barrier wall or tripod, 4 feet or so high, to allow the infrared beam to shoot directly across in a horizontal line when you pass it (doesnt work too well if you are leaned over). I have never seen anyone put it on the ground, unless maybe for kart racing.

[Holeshot]

Originally posted by NoQuarter
If it's going to be a sizable trackday, other people there might have them too. In which case, you'll want to make sure only one beacon is set up. Otherwise, you'll end up with wacky split times. Typically, folks will set one up on the back straight at T-hill, so that the exit lap will count as a timed one. But that's up to everyone to agree upon.



Fuck this guy! He has no clue what he's talking about.

The more transmitters, the better. Have everyone that has one put one out, and in different sections of the track so you don't miss all of them. It works AWESOME that way!

[Ssketchy RC]

Do I just throw it up on the wall or weigh it down with something? My only concern of leaving the transmitter on the wall is if a gust catches it could blow it into the track. Any ideas?

[Holeshot]

Don't worry about a gust of wind. It'll be fine. On the wall is best.

I've got a spare to sell if your breaks, but it won't.

[theSteveCo]

I once overheard someone saying they broke 2 minutes at Thunderhill, only to find out later that someone had added an extra beacon on the back wall. :laughing

Seriously though, don't some (all) timers have the ability to support multiple beacons, thus providing split times?

[Holeshot]

Yeah, AIm does.

I got 1:45's!

[donoman]

Are there cheaper lap-timers than the MyChron? Or is it just accepted as "the best" and nothing else compares?

[Holeshot]

I'd get the Mychron. It's pretty universal and a good piece.

[Trackho]

Just a little gripe Ive been having lately with the MCL is it only seems to register my lap times about 75% of the time. Not sure why - probably beacon placement, but it happens. Sucks when you KNOW you just logged in a scorcher...


I have the same prob---also my batteries dont last worth a shite--best to carry a couple spare sets

[rdcyclist]

In answer to your questions:

1. I mount the Mychron unit on the tail. I seem to get better readings there and I'm not tempted to try and check the last lap time when I should be paying attention to the track. Then you just look at your lap times when you come in. You can racer tape it down. A buddy puts his readout in the trunk and the sensor outside on the tail. That way it's less likely to fall off. I run race fiberglas and have holes set up for zipties to hold it down.

2. At T-Hill I put the transmitter in the worker opening in the fence on the backstraight. Usually I bring a heavy camera tripod but last time I forgot the tripod (now where is that checklist!) so I just taped it to the fence. ALWAYS put fresh batteries in the transmitter. The batteries in your readout should last for quite awhile; if they don't you might want to send it back to AIM for service. Carrying a spare is a good idea.

3. The other brand of timer sounds pretty good. If I'd heard about it before doing the group buy I would've got those. They're compatible with the Mychron transmitters, have a better instruction book, and download to your computer. I think they even cost less! You can find the name of the company in RoadRacin' World mag.

4. I may be putting together another group buy. Any interest?

[rdcyclist]

Originally posted by Holeshot
Fuck this guy! He has no clue what he's talking about.

The more transmitters, the better. Have everyone that has one put one out, and in different sections of the track so you don't miss all of them. It works AWESOME that way! Hey Berto! You get your shorts twisted around or somethin'? Espresso late at night is always a bad idea...:laughing

[Holeshot]

haha! No Mark, Dave's my pitmate.

[NoQuarter]

It's all good... Berto's just worried that I might figure out how to get a decent start and give him a little competition next season.
:laughing

But back to topic...

I'm no rocket scientist, but it seems that since the system uses an infrared beacon/sensor, the most important part of placement is to make sure their is a clear line of sight between the two. I'm sure the bulb array is set up to project a detectable cone of light for at least the width of a normal track, getting wider with distance. Vertical placement is probably not all that critical, as long it is within a couple of feet. I think the book says something like between 2 and 4 feet. And the observation that it wouldn't work well with the bike leaned over is pretty obvious.

As far a multiple transmitters go, split times are very cool to do. It really helps narrow down which sections you're losing time in. But for split times to be useful, you'd have to coordinate all the beacons and space them equally around the track. Last race weekend at T-Hill, there were two... one the front straight and one on the back... but that setup gave split times like 1:45/:20 , not particularly useful unless you really wanted to know if you're losing time through the last two turns.

_david

[Ssketchy RC]

If the batteries are brand new they will last at least one track day wont they? Now you got me all worried. :laughing How about just throwing some duct tape over it and sticking it to the wall. I am thinkin thats what I am gonna do. :thumbup

[Holeshot]

Dood, it's not gonna fall. If it's that windy out, you'll have some big problems on the front straight!

Put the beacon at the Start/Finish line.

[rdcyclist]

The other timer system is called "UltraLap" and it's sold by xtracing (http://www.xtracing.com/). Costs about 10 bucks less than the Mychron with some more functionality.

[rdcyclist]

Originally posted by Holeshot
Dood, it's not gonna fall. If it's that windy out, you'll have some big problems on the front straight!

Put the beacon at the Start/Finish line. Dood, the reason for putting the beacon on the back straight is so you get a time for your out lap. The advantage to using start/finish for the beacon location is that you'll use the last lap to cool down. Probably better for your bike. If I was putting the beacon at start/finish I would just tape it to the wall.

[fireblade_rr]

Check this guy out http://www.revlimiterracing.com/

He carries the XT and My-Chron. He's a real good guy new shop.

I went with the XT as the My-chron would have taken 2-3 weeks to get one. And the XT has more bells and whistles not that it matters.

[wsitch]

Hey fireblade_rr, I'd like to see that ultra-lap jobbie at Laguna Seca tomorrow. Look me up! I'll be the guy in the Jeep, hauling the white truck-box-cap trailer, riding the fzr400 with the multicoloured plastic.

ttyl,

[Holeshot]

Originally posted by rdcyclist
Dood, the reason for putting the beacon on the back straight is so you get a time for your out lap. The advantage to using start/finish for the beacon location is that you'll use the last lap to cool down. Probably better for your bike. If I was putting the beacon at start/finish I would just tape it to the wall.


WUSSY!

[rdcyclist]

Originally posted by Holeshot
WUSSY! :laughing :laughing You must be fishing for some warning points!!!

[Big Daddy]

I just emailed Shane at revlimiterracing about the XT- Racing timer to see if its possible to purchase an additional receiver along with a complete system as this is what the SSA will be using at our Thunderhill t-days for 03.

BD

[mikeyjudkins]

Just my experience, the ultra lap beacon DID NOT work with the MCL unit when I passed by it, nothing. This was over the course of 2 or 3 sessions even. I finally had to go out and put my own MCL beacon up. They are feeding you BS if they say they are compatible.

[MackeyStingray]

i bought my rearsets from shane @ revlimiterracing and he's a good guy to buy from. props to him and his shop!

umm...ya...back straight... :D

[Holeshot]

Originally posted by rdcyclist
:laughing :laughing You must be fishing for some warning points!!!

HAHA! I'm awful at fishing. Too mundane... You healing up well?

[Robert R1]

Originally posted by Holeshot
HAHA! I'm awful at fishing. Too mundane... You healing up well?

He's old as hell. Give him a few years!!! :wow :wow :p