Hot Lap Questions

[old_skul]

Okay, I'm considering purchasing a Hot Lap reciever and display for my car to do some lap analysis at the different tracks. You can buy either the reciever and display alone, or you can get the whole package with the transmitter as well.

My question is: do the tracks, specifically Mid-Ohio, Putnam Park, and BeaverRun, already have Hot Lap transmitters at the track? Will I have to set up a transmitter?

[Blackdimonds]

Most tracks don't supply (have set up) transmitters for hot lap. However, at most events, someone (driver) has one set up. I bought the system without the transmitter, but added a steering wheel switch. This way I can still use the system if a transmitter is not set up at the track. With the switch, you can also time sections of the track that you may have a question about.

[Joe Bob]

Nope....but many have the SCCA transponder units. Whether they are turned on during open track events are a different matter.

The transmitter for the hot lap is relatively cheap, works off of a 12 volt battery and a tripod. Pretty idjut proof.

[dad911]

I have a Hot-lap setup, it's a PIA to use. Tracks do not set up transmitters, and PCA usually doesn't allow timing at driver's ed. I just bought data- logger DL-90 as discussed in this thread: Data Logger

More expensive, but IMO well worth it.

[John Brandt]

Mark
For drivers Ed, that would be strongly frowned upon, and you will have serious insurance problerms if something goes wrong. Besides, isn't that what girlfriends are for?

[ChrisBennet]

Here in the Northeast at least, someone always has a Hot Leap beacon set up. The Club has nothing to do with it but looks the other way if you want to time yourself.
-Chris

[gchappel]

I actually use both the DL-90 datalogger and a hotlap timer- for different things and often at different events.
The problem with the DL 90 is it does not give any data while you are in the car. If I do a 10 lap run, and then download the data from the datalogger, I often cannot remember which laps were clean, when I got bogged down in traffic, etc. I find the hotlap timer very useful while on the track- if I think a particular lap was good or bad- I know immediately.
The data logger is useful for events that don't allow timing- and gives much better post driving evaluation of timing than the hotlap timer can.
BTW- I bought the total hotlap system 1yr ago, and haven't used the transmitter yet- there are always a couple already set up at the track.
Gary

Paul, by the way- how did you set up the steering wheel switch with the hot lap system- that would be useful
thanks

[old_skul]

A. I don't have a girlfriend.

B. Personally timing your laps, as opposed to competitive timing, isn't something I'd mention to an insurance company if there were an incident. Is it a timed event? No.

I don't know if there would be a transmitter at the event. Honestly, I just need to get some sort of feedback now as to how I'm doing around the course. I know my times are getting better - I saw a 5-second drop between 2001 and 2002 - and I'd like to start getting better feedback on what it is I'm doing out there.

[Blackdimonds]

First thing I did on my Hotlap set up, was to use velcro to attach the display box it to the car. This way if someone has a problem with it at a DE (if I'm an instructor or not) then I can remove it at the track with no problem.

Second, I just drilled a hole in the right hand spoke of the steering wheel. I placed it so I can just lift my thumb up and hit it quickly. I even used it once last weekend at our local autocross. That as fun to see how close I could get to the offical timing. I got with in .450 sec.

[Tim Walsh]

How about a DL-90 and a video camera? Then after the even you can corellate the two together? Granted it's not instant feedback but at least you know how you're doing week to week.

[TimT]

One thing to think about when using a hot lap at a track, is that sometimes more than one transmitter is set up at the track. This leads to some funky lap times trying to track down the other transmiters and getting a bunch of people to agree to set up and use one transmitter in a pain.

[Plavan]

Just to help guys who search for "Hot lap". There is something better out there now. The Hot lap is an old toaster now. The Ultra-lap is the way to go.
Here is the link. it is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than a hot lap timer. Now there is a different choice for a little less $$$$ that is smaller and does a TON more. It works great.

NOTE 10/28/04: I may be even more biased now since I now sell them I will be updating the website soon www.plavanracing.com

[Jack Olsen]

No matter who makes the box, there's no substitute for lap-by-lap real time feedback.

I've never heard of insurance having an issue with individually-timed cars at an event. A competitive timed event (as in: timed by the event itself) is another issue.