Data Acquisition Deals, Discounts for World Members Options

[Matt Romanowski]

If anyone is interested in getting a data acquisition system for their car, get in touch with me. I can offer great deals on AiM products. I can help you out with anything from a Solo that mounts on the windshield to a full dash setup with sensors on everything. I can also help with the analysis and understanding how to work with the program. Shoot me an email at matt @ TrailBrake.net.

[Matt Romanowski]

Hey Matt I have checked out your website in the past and it is a great resource, thanks!

I have been wanting a lap timer/DL for some time now. I am an engineer at heart and by education; the more data points I have the happier I am. Through your site I have review a bunch of the currently available systems. The basic Solo gets me in the game at a great price but I have a hard time in my mind getting into a system that wont let me expand into data logging of engine systems and what not. Because of that I keep coming back to the XT Racing product line as the best bang for my buck.

What are your thoughts on this system vs the AIM Solo and the Traqmate system. Assuming I would like to spend under $700 to get started with data acquisition?

Regards,

Miguel

Most hardware from all the data companies is pretty good. There are differences in weather proofing, connector quality, and wiring that matter, but everyone's stuff works at least ok. AiM is very good that everything is waterproof and they use high quality connectors and wiring. The real difference in systems and what matters the most is the software. That is where the meat and potatoes is and where you will do your learning (and spend the most time).

AiM's software, called Race Studio 2, is very powerful. It's not quite as intuitive as Traqmate's, but it allows you to do some pretty neat things. You can add math channels, which are calculated from measured channels. The key to this is with some pretty easy math channels, you can find things like corner radius, look for early/late apexes, calculate g-sum to point out if you are using all of the tires abilities, etc. AiM also lets you take the GPS map and color it with a channels information, so you map speeds as color on a track map. You can also do things like lateral or longitudinal G, g-sum, or some others to visually see on the map what you were doing.

So, long answer to your question - for <$700, what system? You have to make some future decision - Do you / Will you want video with data overlaid? If so, the best way is a Solo DL ($700 retail + $35 for the mount) with a Smartycam HD ($999 retail). You can do this progressively adding the camera to the Solo DL later on. With the SmartyCam HD, you can add an RPM bridge and get that info in the data and on the video too.

If you want to add more sensors, then you have to do something like an MXL Pista or an Evo4 with or without a display. That pricing will range from $1,399 retail to the sky depending on what you want for sensors and display.

I'm interested too. I noticed your dash in another post. What kind of data can we get? Does it replace gauges? Lap timer too?
Shane

All of the AiM systems have a lap timer built in. The predictive lap timer in the Solo and Solo DL is amazing. It will give you a running lap time, your last lap time, a +/- based on your best lap, and/or a combination of those.

The data you get really depends on the system you go with and the sensors you install. With a 914, running a Solo or a Solo DL will give you lateral and longitudinal G force, speeds, air temp, gyro and a GPS map. If you go with one of the other logger products, you can then get RPM and any sensors you want to install. Those sensors can be things like steering, throttle position, brake pressures, shocks, and whatever else you can think of.

In my track car, I replaced the gauges, but that is up to you. A Solo or DL won't replace your gauges, but an MXL or Evo4 with G-Dash can. With an oil pressure and temp sensor, they will record those parameters and give you alarms if they exceed a preset number. The G-Dash will also do gear specific RPM limits!

Hopefully I answered everyone's questions. If there are more, please let me know. The regular Solo at $399 retail + $34 for the mount is an amazing setup for a 914. That will get people 80% of a $2000 system and give them everything they need to improve their driving.