traqmate

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:53 pm

I'm thinking about buying the complete traqmate data system from Apex Performance using the 20% off certificate. I was thinking about a new stereo or springs for the mustang, but you know me. One week it's for sale and the next it's the best car I've ever owned. At least this would be transportable from car to car and I assume would help me drive the car better provided I can get someone else to run the traqmate w/ me so I can compare.

So, who here uses a traqmate. How good are they? Good data gathering or so so? Ease of hook up? How do they compare to other track data devices? Any feedback you can provide is appreciated!

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

i like mine, it's particularly effective when comparing similar data (two drivers in the same car, old vs new tires, current laps vs. last years, etc). i actually transplanted it for the first time last weekend, took it out of the race car and hooked it up in the m3. haven't pulled the data yet but i assume it's all good.

don't expect 20% off from apex, i think i only got 15% on mine. not enough profit margin to take a 20% hit. but that's still $150 off which is pretty good. let me know if you place the order, i want an extra power cord and antenna, maybe you include those in your order

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:33 pm

Rodney, I had one. I liked it a lot for road racing, but for autocross, not so much. I had a difficult time getting it to work in that setting - IIRC, it wants a "Start/Finish" line, and autocross courses don't have one. This may have changed over the years since I sold mine, so check into that before making a decision.

That aside, it was excellent. The software was easy to use and understand, and hookup was simple. "Hookup" of most data acquisition systems is pretty easy with all of them these days, though.

The only way you're going to get your money out of a DA system is to spend time poring over data. Ask yourself if you're really going to do that. In fact, I'd recommend downloading the Traqmate software and some sample data.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:35 pm

let me be the first to play Devil's Advocate here Rodney. how many instructed track sessions can one get for the price of a Traq-Mate data acquisition system these days? aren't they about a grand?

now forgive me, but unless you plan on doing 6 or 8 HPDEs a year real soon, you are wasting your seat time money IMO Rodney.

you want some track data? ride with me. :wink:

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

a traqmate system doesn't wear out, used ones are still worth nearly as much as new ones. so if you can buy one now for $850 and sell in in a couple of years for maybe $700 it's a pretty good investment.

and after you're done riding around with steve you can ride with me, it'll be kind of like those "before" and "after" examples used in advertising.

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:43 am

I like mine, I bought it last year and it was useful on the track when comparing the car with and without the wing. I like the predictive lap timer.
You can see, compare to your best lap time, if you are faster or slower when trying different thing on track. For the Auto-X it work good, they have an Auto-X / Rally mode now.
You come to the start, select start and it will wait that the car start to move to acquire data. At the end you need to manually set the finish line.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 9:16 am

Traqmates are good, and probably the best PC software package out there, but be sure to check out my new systems:

http://www.mh-motorsports.com/laptimers.htm

Our units can have separate start and finish lines, segments, and now 10hz sampling so accuracy is very good. We can also log RPMS, Throttle Position, and steering position.

We have all the standard graphs and comparisons.

Basically 99% of the traqmate at 50% of the price.

Let me know if you want to talk. I will have all the systems at CMP next weekend.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 9:57 am

We've had ours for several years now. Patrice, glad to know there's actually an autox mode now. Will look into that. When we both drive the same car we've found it very useful for autox. Overlaying our runs showed us quickly where each of us had strengths and weaknesses. Actually Keith Vail and I used it together @ L'burg earlier this year. Because you need to download the data on computer we couldn't use it between runs to maximize our line, braking points, etc -which would naturally be the most helpful-but as a learning device once I was home it was very helpful. When I use it by myself it's useful to see where I'm over braking (a large problem for me). For track, Bernie says "what Patrice says x 2". Also, on track, you can break down segments to look at particular places on track.

If I could find a unit that could give me data on the spot, between runs, and not cost *out the wazoo* I'd jump on it. Otherwise, the Traqmate is good.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:08 am

Gwen Baake wrote:

If I could find a unit that could give me data on the spot, between runs, and not cost *out the wazoo* I'd jump on it. Otherwise, the Traqmate is good.

see above..

We have realtime feed back, on the spot data review, and easy comparison and data sharing. All can be done without the PC downloads. You can also download later to the PC.

One thing we offer is the real time feed back, you know instantly if what you just changed made a difference or not.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:17 am

Marty Howard wrote:

Gwen Baake wrote:

If I could find a unit that could give me data on the spot, between runs, and not cost *out the wazoo* I'd jump on it. Otherwise, the Traqmate is good.

see above..

We have realtime feed back, on the spot data review, and easy comparison and data sharing. All can be done without the PC downloads. You can also download later to the PC.

One thing we offer is the real time feed back, you know instantly if what you just changed made a difference or not.

What type of immediate feedback? TM gives instant speeds and lap times. That's not much help in auatox. I'm thinking more of overlays and graphs.
Do you have that? I'll check out your website as soon as I can.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:34 am

Gwen Baake wrote:

What type of immediate feedback? TM gives instant speeds and lap times. That's not much help in auatox. I'm thinking more of overlays and graphs.
Do you have that? I'll check out your website as soon as I can.

Yes, we have traveled route/course overlays and full graphing on the display unit itself. We also have segment displays, so you have the course you can break it down into segments and not just total lap time and overall speed. So if you run a segment (say a Chicago Box) faster than your comparison (last lap, best lap, someone elses lap, etc) then the whole screen turns green and +/- amount shows, if it's slower then it turns red. It will also show this for the entire run.

Then as you come off course go into the comparison/graphing mode to see why it was faster or slower on the display unit itself with no downloading needed. With the OBDII package you can even see if it was throttle input, more or less steering, etc. OBDII is optional though and you don't need it. Without it you will still have all the run/lap information, just not engine and car data like RPMS, Steering, and throttle position.

I can post some of the graphs and comparison images here if you want.

here's also a quick video on how it works...the video only shows a fraction of what can be done though.

http://www.mh-motorsports.com/RC_Pro_Demo.htm

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 10:49 am

Marty,
We've just looked at your Demo. Looks like this unit has a lot to offer and might be just the thing for autox too. What are the chances of you bringing a unit to a THSCC meeting? I'd sure like a hands on demo.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 11:11 am

Gwen Baake wrote:

Marty,
We've just looked at your Demo. Looks like this unit has a lot to offer and might be just the thing for autox too. What are the chances of you bringing a unit to a THSCC meeting? I'd sure like a hands on demo.

Sure thing. I will try to be at the next one. When is that again?

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 11:19 am

Marty Howard wrote:

Gwen Baake wrote:

Marty,
We've just looked at your Demo. Looks like this unit has a lot to offer and might be just the thing for autox too. What are the chances of you bringing a unit to a THSCC meeting? I'd sure like a hands on demo.

Sure thing. I will try to be at the next one. When is that again?

Wednesday, Oct 13th 6:30 for dinner and chat. Meeting starts at 7:30.

Current meeting location is Rudino's Pizza & Grinders just off of I-40 and Miami Blvd (check their website for map).

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 11:27 am

Got it.

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