I'm wondering if there is an economical lap timer that uses a GPS.

I like to time my sessions for consistency and compare different track conditions. The only time I may use a stopwatch in the car is when I have a clear track with no one around me. I may get 3 timed laps during a session once a day. It takes all of my concentration just to drive let alone think about hitting a tiny button.

I can't use a hot lap timer. I am just looking for something easy and portable. I don't need to see the time until I'm done with my session.

Garmin has a watch that is used for track and field.
http://www.garmin.com/products/forerunner201/
It looks like you can set the distance of the track and it does the rest using GPS to figure when you've gone x distance and set the split.

Any ideas?

Looks like a neat idea.

I don't know what sort of accuracy you're looking for, but on a good day, a single GPS receiver will give you a position within 10 meters 95% of the time. This equates to +/- 0.4 seconds at 60 mph. Obviously, the faster you go, the tighter the timing.

I'm not familiar with other types of lap timing equipment (besides a stopwatch, of course), but in terms of ease of use and probably price, this seems to be a good tool for what you need.

What timing system does the Autox use? Because a lot of beacons can be interchanged since they produce the same type of signal.

Find out exactly which timing they use, then just get a matching timer.

Also there are some new GPS guided Data acq systems that have 3d telemetry. So when you analyze it in the program, you can set a start/end point and it cna calculate lap times, and split times.

Originally posted by 95m3racer
What timing system does the Autox use?

Originally posted by 1996 328ti
I like to time my sessions for consistency and compare different track conditions.

The only time I may use a stopwatch in the car is when I have a clear track with no one around me.

;)

Regardless, auto-x courses use an on/off system, usually based on some sort of laser or light placed at the start line and finish line. There's no sort of beacon that could be used to trip a sensor mounted on the car because the light is usually mounted a few inches above the ground.

Any why would you want to time your auto-x runs when they are already timed by the officials? ;)

What about just shooting video, then going back and watching it? Timing's more or less built in, and you can even check up on your lines and review the track.

Handheld GPS is nice, but I've had mine skip out or lose the connection when travelling really fast in ORR events without an external antenna.

The GEEZ Cube is the cheapest analysis tool I know of, but I believe it just uses motion, not GPS.

If I install a roll bar I'd mount a cheap camera and can always review the tapes afterwards. Or possibly a harness bar with a mount. I still like the idea of being inconspicuous. I want to be ready on the false grid and not think about anything but being smooth and not scaring my instructor. I think I had Bryan in my right seat once already. And I'm not that concerned about the accuracy. To the second is more than enough. The problem I've been having is I have been fairly consistent for 2 years now and need to see what sections I can smooth my line out to increase my exit speed. My car has so much more in it.

We have a Geez unit we never used lying around. If you want it, make a good offer and its yours.

All you need is a cheap Palm to run it, and you can have it start when you move...since its run by accelerometers, it knows when you starts. And since you come to a stop at the end, you know when the lap ended.

Geez is a great tool for autox.

http://www.race-technology.com/WebPage/Products/Logger/DL90Home.html

Are we talking about auto-x or tracking here? I'm confused? Steven seems to be talking about DE's, judging by his use of the word "track" and his statement that he only times himself when there aren't other cars near him.

If auto-x, why would you need to time your own runs?

I is be confuzed....

Time to dig up this old post.
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS. It is a cool device for runner as it ws designed for. On my way to the track I compared it to my other GPS and it was very accurate. More so since it went to hundredths of a mile.

The reason I bought it was to time myself. I wasn't looking for super accuracy, just wanted to check consistency. I do not like distracting myself while driving. This GPS will perform split laps after you enter the distance of the track. Once you get to that distance, click! A new lap is started. This way I can set it and forget it.

Well is did not work as I hoped for. Sometimes the lap started as I entered a turn, sometimes as I exited. It wasn't that the point was creeping either way, it was just too inconsistent it be useful. It would probably have worked on an oval but with lots of high speed turns and elevation change, it just didn't work.

So if anyone should ask the same question, here was the answer.
Now if the Garmin started a new lap based on location rather than mileage, it might have worked.

I bought my wife a Timex GPS watch for marathon training. It has a receiver and a watch and you just hit a button on the watch to do your splits. I was thinking the other day it might work out for lap timing.

It will calculate time and distance, avg pace, max and min pace, etc.

That is probably the one I have. It would work great for a runner since that is what it was designed for.

If the software used to calculate the start/stop split was based on position rather than distance it may work better for the track.

In the past I have velcroed a stopwatch to my steering wheel but I find it to distracting. If I have no traffic around me I can remember to click off a few times. Generally I'm concentrating so much on my driving that I can't divide my attention to a stopwatch. I'm not going to sacrifice safety over a lap time. I'm not going to put myself or anyone else on the track at risk. We all get the same prize money at the end of the day. For me it's driving my car to work on Monday.

No, that's not the same as the Timex. The Timex still requires you to use the watch to do the splits. It will calculate your distance automatically.

But you're right, remembering to hit the button is far from your first priority. I've never liked systems that require this.