Ultralap mounting bracket - any interest??

[ozz]

First - I will say that I am super happy with the Ultralap timer. I've used it at several events this year and it has worked great and, someone else has always had a transmitter set up. Easy as pie.

BUT - Velcro didn't work and I got tired of trying to use 2 zip ties to mount my Ultralap IR receiver to my roll cage. There is no room to work reaching over/behind the seat and working by yourself trying to hold it in position and snug down the ties on the roll cage is a real PITA. Plus, depending on which track I'm at, I need to move the unit from one side of the car to the other from time to time. To solve this headache, I'm working on mounting bracket that will hold the IR receiver, attach to the roll cage with a couple of small cap screws, and allow you to adjust the position of the receiver. To remove the bracket, loosen the cap screws and mount it elsewhere or just take it off completely. You could also leave the bracket mounted and just pop the receiver off the bracket if you like as well. Nice for cars like mine that spend time on the street as well.


I have my prototype about done and am ready to track test it shortly. If it works as planned and there is enough interest, I may offer them up here to anyone else that might be interested. Right now it looks like the cost will be just under $40 - maybe less depending on quantity.

I'm also still working on a quick disconnect cable to allow you to quickly and easily disconnect the cable from the IR receiver (and maybe the display as well) if you want to remove it or move it to the opposite side of the car or take it out of the car completely. If you have done that before, you know that you typically need to take the receiver apart (1 tiny screw) and unplug the cable.

Any input on either of these items would be appreciated - I'm just trying to improve upon an already great product and suit it more toward our particular use. Thanks in advance - Gary

[earlyapex]

I'm interesed in the mounting bracket.

[Plavan]

Sounds like a great idea.

[ozz]

Thanks, Chad

Do you have any suggestions for me based on your use of the Ultralap? My design is simple, but effective and presumes that the user will be mounting on either 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 roll bar/cage tube.

[Cory M]

You may want to consider that not all users have a roll cage, for example my car is also driven on the street and has a rollbar only. Maybe you could adapt your mounting system to a plate that would bolt on by the ashtray or something so that more people can use it.

[ozz]

Cory -

Thanks for the feedback. The mounting bracket I'm referring to is for the IR receiver (which needs to be mounted by a window to get signal from the transmitter) not the display unit and, will work on any roll bar (or cage) so long as the tube size is either 1 3/4" or 1 1/2". So, whether you have a roll bar or full cage, this should work fine.

And as you have suggested, I have been thinking about a mounting plate/bracket for the display unit as well and the ashtray area is probably the best. Thanks again... Gary

[ozz]

FINALLY - after months of haggling with the fab shop, I have the UltraLap receiver brackets finished. They are laser cut aluminum billet pieces that are black anodized with a vinyl coated spring clip to hold the receiver securely. This will fit all 1 3/4" roll bar/cage hoops. Just clamp the bracket around your roll bar hoop rear support leg at about the center of the quarter window, snap the receiver into the clip, position both so the receiver is facing out the window and snug up the bolts - no more hassles with tie-wraps!! The hold-down clip is fully adjustable on both axis to allow you to position the receiver properly in your car. $31.95 shipped anywhere in the CONUS.

I tried to upload a picture here but am getting an error.

You can see the bracket here - scroll down past the UltraLap systems to see it: http://www.esells.com/ecitemlist11.asp?CO=NC&CMD=SRCH&AIMCID=4936&AIMDID=44414 you can order here as well if you like.

Please email any questions to me at gnosborne@alltel.net

I'll also have a bracket that fits in your ashtray to hold the UltraLap display unit as well. You will just pop the bracket into your ashtray when you are at the track, attach the display and then pull it all out when you are finished. Quick and easy with no permanent mounting marks. That piece should be finished next week and probably in the $10 dollar range.

[Don Plumley]

Gary - very interesting. I just picked up an Ultralap from Chad and to mount, was planing on fabbing two brackets - one for each side, and bolting them to the B pillar - this seems much cleaner.

But I'm not sure I'll have enough clearance to my B pillar:



Suggestions?

I'm also interested in the mounting bracket.

[ozz]

Don - the bracket is to be mounted on the rear leg of the hoop support about the center of the quarter window with the receiver pointed out the window rather than on the hoop leg (at the a-pillar) itself. In my original post I neglected to be clear on that - I'll edit and correct that. I'll try to post a picture of it installed in my car. Thanks!!

[earlyapex]

That looks like a Longacre bracket with a nice attachment for the receiver. Do you have the same system for 11/2 inch bars?

[ozz]

Eric,

It's similar but my bracket is thinner than a Longacre bracket, the rear U is thinner for clearance purposes, and the bolt slot is for a 10/32 machine screw rather than a 1/4 bolt. Other than that they are similar. I'll try to get a better picture posted here tomorrow.

The only brackets I have are for 1 3/4 - are you sure your hoop support isn't 1 3/4"? The only 1 1/2 tubes I've seen is the hallo portion of a cage and maybe the door bars, the hoop and supports have all been 1 3/4. Thats just my thought, I may be wrong.

[Don Plumley]

Gary - The reason I was going to use the main hoop (or B pillar) to mount the receiver is I thought it was better not to go through a window -- and mine is tinted as well...

[ozz]

Don,

The window isn't a problem and, mine are tinted as well (you can almost see that in the picture below) and it worked just fine for me mounted shooting thru the window last season so, no worries there from my experience.

These are pictures of the bracket installed with the transfer module (instead of the actual receiver) the modules are the same size and I used this for picture and reference purposes only.

Eric - here is a better picture of the bracket so you should be able to see the differences between this and the LA piece.

[earlyapex]

That's a vary nice piece. I'll measure my cage today and likely order a couple in the morning. Thanks for putting the time and effort into this product.

[Don Plumley]

I'm very interested as well. Would like to see the dash mount and will potentially order as a set.

[earlyapex]

I put a link to this thread on Rennlist where someone is looking for a mounting solution for their Ultralap receiver.

[ozz]

Eric - Thanks for the feedback and for posting on Rennlsit.

I thought about this last night and while not perfect, if your roll bar is 1 1/2 dia tube, you could take a very thin piece of rubber and cut a 1/2" W by 4 1/2" L (roughly the circumference of your 1 1/2 diameter tube) strip and place it around the tube and clamp the bracket over it. The bracket is a snug interference fit on 1 3/4" so it wouldn't take much to make that work nicely if you do have 1 1/2". In fact, I may locate material and cut those pieces and include them for anyone that has 1 1/2" bar. Let me know and I can try to pull that together for you if you have 1 1/2 tube.

Don - my car is off to the shop for alignment and corner balance tomorrow so, I won't have car related projects tempting me and should have some time to focus on the ashtray bracket in the next few days. The prototype is done and works well (it is amazingly simple but, effective) I just need to get some production pieces completed.