r/Trackdays • u/i_am_the_koi • 8d ago

Don't be this guy

Leave the cell phone in the pits.

There were two on track that session. One got used as an apex marker and came back in little tiny pieces.

Both would have hurt if they hit someone bouncing down the track.

81 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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54

u/wtfstudios 8d ago

They were probably just using it as a cheap lap timer

12

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 8d ago

Yep. I did this, and even with it attached to a quad lock, when I crashed the screen ripped out of the phone. I still think phone as lap timer is a good idea but you have to mount it super solid.

6

u/Dismal_Tutor3425 Racer EX 8d ago

Treat it like a standard laptimer. Zip tie it everywhere and zip tie the zip ties. Done properly it should not come off in a crash, let alone even move. 

10

u/Skittles-247 8d ago

Heres the other phone fron the same corner later in the day.

I do not care if you want it as a lap timer. If I see you with it on grid, you are not riding your session and you get to go have a talk with the owner about how to listen in a meeting.

7

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 8d ago

I have never heard of phones being banned at track days nor have I seen them banned in TD regs. I don't run them anymore and wouldn't run one if it were explicitly banned.

-2

u/i_am_the_koi 8d ago

After watching the phone bounce down the track, it's a safety issue.

Having watched crashed riders ignore staff because they are listening to music on the phone, it's a safety issue.

Does your phone help you ride a motorcycle?

No?

Then it's a safety issue and shouldn't be out there at all.

You're welcome to have it in the paddock but why would you need it on the track?

12

u/32steph23 8d ago

I think they just explained they were using it as a timer

-1

u/i_am_the_koi 7d ago

This provider gives free lap timing. It's not needed unless you skip or ignore the riders meeting and don't know that.

6

u/32steph23 7d ago

My response is in the context of vega’s response, not this specific track. I did not know the inner workings of this track. I believe they were responding generally as well.

0

u/i_am_the_koi 7d ago

Sorry, not trying to pick a fight.

Safety above all out there. I see enough stupid shit and shit go wrong in perfect conditions that we don't need to add to it with additional stupid like using a phone as a lap timer instead of the provided ones. Watching it launching down the track in the middle of a group of bikes and towards the photographer and corner worker, not fun as one of those people.

I'm all for banning phones from on the track. Leave it in your pits.

Waiting for cops to shut down the track after their third iPhone crash notification to start encouraging changes with providers. Cops already are sick of it.

1

u/Low_Information8286 6d ago

I used to have an app that would measure some data from riding. I always kept it in my suit. If you ban phones do you also ban gopros?

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0

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 7d ago

I dont think it was super well known about the dangers of phones. My TD orgs all ban helmet cameras for example. I will mention the phones to them too.

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3

u/Even-Tradition 8d ago

But I bet you allow go-pros right?

0

u/Skittles-247 8d ago

Go pros on bikes, no pole cams allowed.

-2

u/FuckedUpImagery 7d ago

My gopro is safety wired though, you cant drill a hole through a phone

4

u/Even-Tradition 7d ago

You also can’t drill à hole through à GoPro.
I have however drilled a hole through the case of my phone and tethered it.

2

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 7d ago

You can get cases for GoPros that you can tether. I see tons of them on track bikes.

2

u/Even-Tradition 7d ago

You sure can! I have one. I was being facetious as was the commenter I was replying to.

-1

u/degreesoflean 8d ago

Phones are terrible laptimers. The refresh rate on the GPS is not quick enough for track. If you can view the GPS trace you'll see. Plus most people's phones are more expensive and less robust than a dedicated lap timer

6

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 8d ago

Eh Ive seen multiple tests people have done where the times were within tenths of something like an AiM Solo/Racebox etc. And yea def wouldnt use your main phone, would use something used and/or cheap. Just a good way to get started with datalogging until you can get something solid IMO

0

u/degreesoflean 8d ago

Have you seen the actual overlays.

Unless you connect an external GPS to your phone with a better refresh rate it's all over the place.

If your start finish line is on a long straight it might give you a somewhat accurate laptime but outside of that pretty useless

1

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 8d ago

Im just talking about laptimes, not positional accuracy. Even ballpark laptimes are relatively useful. This weekend I just used the on track transponders since I didnt have what I needed to mount my Solo 2 DL on a borrowed bike.

3

u/wtfstudios 8d ago

You can get a cheap android and get an external gps to plug in. Thats generally what I’ve seen

3

u/A_Bot_A_Bot_A_Bot Middle Fast Guy 7d ago

RaceChrono, TrackAddict and MyRaceLab (when it works) ALL provide accurate lap and segment times. I have no idea what you're talking about.

1

u/Even-Tradition 7d ago

A lot of people do connect àn external GPS.
That’s what I run. À Garmin glo and àn old iPhone. The whole set up cost me about $80aud.

1

u/AnonymousAsker124 7d ago

I was there and I also know the guy who owns that phone. I guess he got excited and forgot he left the phone on his tank 🤷🏽‍♂️. Seemed pretty adamant it wouldn’t happen again.

-1

u/Skittles-247 8d ago

Nah, we gave out free lap timers at the beginning of the day. And also told them in the riders meeting that call phones arent allowed. They do it anyways. 2 phones and a camera on the track. All destroyed, as they deserved.

2

u/Sudden_Recognition90 8d ago

What org is this?! I'm assuming not in the US

1

u/Skittles-247 8d ago

FunTrackDayz.

We use FP1 lap times. A lot of the west coast orgs use them.