Karting is expensive so we are always looking for savings. I was cynical that an application called Trackmaster on the Google Android Market Place that ran on my T-Mobile G1 would be any good. To my pleasant surprise the application from Trackaroo does a really good job and is definitely worth the money just $5!
Jenson has used it at both Camberley and Forest Edge and helped me see things like his engine is well down on power and he is flat to the floor on the straights.
What you Need
All you need to start getting lap timing and mapping data is a Google Android Mobile Phone with GPS and the free Google Earth Application.
Lap Time Summary
The application can export the data to excel format or show you on the screen
|
|
Lap | Top Speed (mph) | Avg Speed (mph) | Distance (miles) | Time |
|
|
1 | 40.82 | 25.68 | 1.10 | 2:33.126 |
|
|
2 | 40.26 | 28.24 | 0.53 | 1:06.064 |
|
|
3 | 40.82 | 26.06 | 0.54 | 1:14.830 |
|
|
4 | 38.59 | 28.16 | 0.53 | 1:07.857 |
|
|
5 | 33.64 | 5.74 | 0.12 | 1:35.562 |
Click to see bigger version
The chart above was created by saving the data in excel and then using Google Documents to to create a chart of each of the laps Acceleration.
Click for bigger version
Mapping the laps with Google Earth
Using the free application Google Earth you can save the data into a KMX file and then overlay each lap onto the Track. Below are examples from Camberley and Forest Edge.
Click the image to see a bigger version
Click on the image to see a bigger version
Lap Start and Sectors
Before you go out on the track you need to set-up the lap start and as many sectors as you like. This can either be done on the phone or using Google Earth.
Below shows the splits we used for Forest Edge
Click to see a bigger version
I would recommend anyone who doesn’t have any lap timer to get an Android phone with GPS and TrackMaster it works well. My only disappointment is the sampling frequency of data needs to be higher to cope with tight kart tracks and I need to work out a better place for the phone than just zipped inside Jenson overalls. I am sure Trackaroo will put Kart features in if enough of us use it.
Wish List
These are some of things I would like to see in the next version
- Increased frequency to cope with short tight kart tracks
- Theoretical Best Lap (The best sector from each lap during a session)
- Best Rolling Lap
- Ability to quickly change drivers and vehicles and setup for each session
- Include Kart set-up information – gearing, axle widths, carb jetting, engine etc.
