Traqmate software is easy to use and easy to share. It is just as much "fun" as it is useful. I have learned the most comparing data from different cars or drivers and seeing trends that separate very fast drivers from those just lapping at a decent pace.
The display unit is NOT intended to be a replacement for your current dash, but can be useful in providing laptimes and predictive lap timing. One thing G2X and AIM do better is a replacement display/dash.
I have yet to see anybody do a decent write-up using G2X software and screenshots. Here are some example write-ups that used Traqmate data:
Finding improvements at Road America and Sebring
Differential review w/ Data
Putnam Park HPDE analysis
(this is a public call-out for you G2X guys to put together something decent!!! Not just numbers, give us some analysis! Convert data into real-world improvement using your G2X.
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In the end, data is just a bunch of numbers. It is the
information that you can interpret from that data that you actually use to make a decision or improvement. This requires proper interpretation and analysis skills. You get out of it what you put into it. With any of these systems, you will need some basic aptitude with gadgets, computers and reading charts (not rocket science, just can't be afraid to install software on your laptop or plug in a USB cable, etc).
Some of the common opportunities you can spot with proper data analysis:
1. Coasting. Most people do this between braking and corner turn-in. There is some time lost here, but its better than braking early. Easy to identify, easy to correct, moderate time gains here.
2. Wussy braking. Need to know the vehicles maximum deceleration capabilities before knowing how much of the brakes the driver is using. Diagnosis can be moderately challenging, ease of correction depends on the driver (more difficult without ABS), but the time gains are HUGE! I sometimes find club racers doing this and can usually find them 1-2 seconds in braking alone.
3. Driving line. This goes without saying for most single/simple corners, but for combination corners, some drivers do not sacrifice the entry corners and their final corner is slightly compromised. This can sometimes be worth .5 seconds down the straight-away.
4. Lifting for kinks. Well, some kinks (Road America) may even need brakes, but others can be taken full throttle. For example: Putnam Park turns 3 and 6, many people coast through those when they could be accelerating.
5. Late apex driving. From the data I have seen, I am a firm believer that all cars are momentum cars. HPDE may teach slow-in, fast-out, but that has to be un-learned if you really want to go fast. (More like, fast-in, faster-out!). Late-apex driving is safer and easier.. and I can understand where the instructors sense of self-preservation may allow drivers to continue late apexing. It can still be fun, just not as fast.
6. Throttle modulation. This comes with the fast-in, faster-out approach. The higher speed corners should not be full throttle at apex.. else you came into them too slow!
7. Low corner minimum speeds. This jumps out most obvious when comparing two drivers in the same car. Keep those min speeds up, and you'll be faster.
Traqmate vs RacePak G2X ?
Linear Mode
