Data Logger at the track - anyone here using em?
 

I'm looking at a used Racepak G2X gps data logger and dash unit. Anyone here using data logging for autoX, time trial, HPDE or otherwise? Whatta you think? Good tool, great tool, fun toy, useless pos?

Curious what anyone's experiences are. What models do or did you use? Any advice on getting the most out of it?

I figure some of you hard core track guys have used or seen them used. Worth spending $400-500 on? I know my car has a lot more to give at the track than what I can get out of it yet. I'm guessing it's cheaper to improve my driving than to make the car itself faster.

True on improving yourself. But a modern phone with RaceChrono and a 5Hz GPS will do that job just fine for alot less than $.5k.

By modern phone do you mean my Bell Princess wall unit? It has push buttons instead of a dial!

No internet phone for me unfortunately.

Uhm you dont need an Internet phone per sé, just a Nokia with S60 2nd edition or S60 3rd mobile phone and an external 5Hz GPS unit.

hm, would the iphone work at all? I've looked at a few free apps but haven't liked them. I'm hesitant to buy one since there's a good chance it'll suck too.

@curly: Dynoliscious. Not sure if it does lap times too.

Curly, while obviously affordable I'm not sure the racechrono ap gives you all the informantion you might want. It gives lap times, split times, section times, best times but doesn't look to have the other information a datalogger like the g2x has. No cornering, braking or acceleration g's, no tie in with vehicle information like rpms, temperatures or afr's. A racing unit like the dl1 or g2x is a more complete, albiet more expensive, package. Looks like racechrono is pretty good and would be useful. It's just the burger though, not the happy meal.

I'm running a traqmate system and a friend of mine uses the g2x. Both are nice tools and provide great info that will help improve your lap times. You do have to know how to interpret the data inorder to get the most out of it.

The iPhone gps and accelerometers give poor resolution as the sample rate is too slow.

A cheaper way to improve your lap time is to put a camera in your car. You'll be able to review you sessions and if you can get the tach or speedo in the field of view you'll be able to heck your exit speeds in the corners.