Any datalogger with external inputs can do this. I forgot to add that it was likely around 15 events or so of playing with the RT software before I was able to really understand what I was doing. I've even used it for other vehicle testing at work now that I'm comfortable with it. The live gauges on a laptop are REALLY handy if you're ever testing anything that you want to monitor in realtime - it's super easy to make a custom display in 10 minutes to get exactly the info you need in an efficient format.

The full video/data solution from RT does sync the video and data perfectly right on the card. It's a bit too spendy for my budget though. CF cards blow though, they're not very common. I'm trying to figure out how to output the data overlay on a green screen so I can manually merge it with HD GoPro video in something like Sony Vegas. I need to spend a bit more time experimenting with that, which I'm short of right now...

Did you see the DL1 mk3? It supposedly has a high enough capture rate to do suspension frequency analysis. If I were buying new, I'd spend the extra pennies on that over the DL1 mk2.

Actually it wouldn't show how late you turn in, it would just show if you're under or oversteering and the rates of turn-in. Now comparing with your co-driver (hopefully faster) in your car on the same course reveals a lot about this.

Steve Wynveen said that he got a lot of useful driver info out of a yaw-rate sensor. I debated buying one but they're not simple devices (unless you buy the $$$ setups).

 

A suspension position sensors would be awesome for setting rebound and analizing the suspension movement. Although I was thinking you need 500hz or something for it to be accurate. I saw the DL1 mk3 and would prefer to get the "best" because it would last longer and give me the best data but they don't list a package that includes the mk3 and the video 4 unit. If you can plug the mk3 and video 4 together and it sync the video and data automatically then I'd go with that. I might have to call and ask.


I'm prolly going to pick a unit for my tax money present. Wf I have any questions about using it I'll message you guys that already have them. It seems the software is very powerfull.


How are you all starting the video/data on your runs? Are you button starting it or g-meter acivation of some sort?

 

Personally I'm button starting it, I don't want to mess with it turning on and off when I don't want it to. And pressing the button at some point while I'm in grid before my run is easy. Then before my next run I press the button twice at some point. You can draw the start line in in the program.

Alternately, I just press the button before my first run and don't touch it all day and treat each run as a "lap". That's what I do at prosolos since I don't want to mess with it in my little bit of time between runs.

Either way works, the 1st is a little easier to take out runs you don't care about though.

 

We've used a MAX-Q setup for the past four years. I found it invaluable to "learning the physics" and where the trade off was between distance and speed.

My personal bias is that I want something simple. A picture is worth a thousand words. I don't want the thousand words.

The combination of MAX-Q and GoPro is my current favorite combination.

I like the MAX-Q over a DL-1 because I can review runs in real time. Between runs, between co-drivers, between heats, whatever.

 

I would prolly end up using my phone for instant video repay between runs locally but at every national tour I've been to I've had atleast 10 mins between runs with a co-driver. At blytheville I serious felt like I had 20-25 mins between runs. So if I have time and care enough to look at the data between runs I could but for at the track data my iphone will give me the basics. Reviewing the data afterward is where I would learn what I need to work on.

I'm still in school and yet I still work and pay crazy taxes. I've payed in more then the unit would cost and I normally get back everything I pay in plus alittle more. So if I can get back atleast $2000-3000 in taxes I'll just spend it all on a data logger. I've still got to spend my shocks off for a $1200 rebuild job and plan to have them shipped out Dec. 8th. I had intentions on sending them out last week but ended up buying another badass Movado watch which took all my rebuid money. So in another check I'll have enough extra play money to send them in.

My parents are basicly buying all my maintenance items I want beside all new a-arms. I forsure have to buy the rear lowers to fix my binding issue but the others arn't a must have the second the season starts. I don't have anymore STR parts to buy besides a option for tuning but if I can't find a fullstand alone option I dont think I'll waste the money on a stupid Emanagment. The car is 99% done but with 147k on it maintenace is needed to keep it fresh.

I think a data logger would be a good tool to help me become a better driver.

 

having driven Guy Ankeny's car with an emanage it is definitely worth having than nothing.

 

I put a button and a 'logging' light inside my radio door, and start with that. All my attempts with auto-starting at RPM or speeds have failed at one point or another. It missed more runs than I do by forgetting to push the button. A tip if you have a co-driver: You push the button 3 times before your run, your co-driver pushes it once. Then when you're looking at the files you have one tiny run file before each of your runs - very easy to figure out which runs are which driver later in the day.

I agree with Ckit - being able to analyze between runs is a HUGE benefit. I've heard stories of some competitors having a 'data guy' help them with data between runs. As in, they do all that work and give them the quick summary/graphs before the next run. That sounds epic, but unrealistic for 99% of us. Kind of like having a pit crew and 3 sets of tires at Nats...