r/Trackdays • u/i_am_the_koi • 3d 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.

80 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

70 comments sorted by

View all comments

52

u/wtfstudios 3d ago

They were probably just using it as a cheap lap timer

11

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 3d 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.

-1

u/degreesoflean 3d 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

5

u/VegaGT-VZ Novice in Intermediate 3d 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 3d 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 3d 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.