Adding a cheap laptimer to the Spitfire race car.
For many years the Spitfire has been fitted with a Rollcenter T200 laptimer (pictured below).
T200 Lap-Timer
It works based on an infra-red timing beacon that you either buy separately and position yourself on the pit wall or rely on one provided at most circuits (or someone else’s).
I never had my own infra-red transmitter so it was always a bit hit and miss as to wether of not it did anything.
This year I decided to go all modern and try to use an Android app called RaceChrono, there is also an iPhone version.
It works by using your phone’s GPS positioning and has downloadable maps for thousands of circuits.
The reason I’m calling this a cheap laptimer is that
- RaceChrono has a free version available (although if it proves any good at Zandvoort I will probably pay for the Pro version).
- Android phones good enough to run this app are cheap/free. I found one in a drawer that works fine for this purpose, but you can find them second hand for next to nothing.
- The mounting cost less than £5 all in – it’s a modified ‘selfie camera’ mount bolted to some aluminium bolted to the dash – the cable tie is not required, it’s a solid mount but I added it just in case.
- To power it I used the innards of an old car USB cigarette lighter wired up to the ignition switched live side of the fuse box.
RaceChrono laptimer installation in the Spitfire
I’ll report back as to how useful it is!
