Data Acquisition - A Helping Hand

Generating a trace of a lap and then overlaying subsequent laps over the baseline lap helps illustrate where these things are happening on the track. The overlay function is the kind of feature that makes DA systems so valuable to the tuner. Many drivers do not have the experience or the seat-of-the-pants feel to tell the crew chief what the car is doing from lap to lap or from one small change to the next. A DA system helps develop a driver's ability to read what the car is doing. By being able to visualize a specific lap and the deltas between laps, the driver can gain a better understanding of the relationship between changes in stagger and crossweight, for example.

Drivers frequently direct all their attention to racing and don't pay enough attention to the more subtle nuances the car is trying to communicate through the seat and the steering wheel. This is not the driver's fault, as it takes time to learn what the car is communicating and how to listen to the car. The race car is a complex system, and the various subsystems in the car need to work together. It is the job of the tuner to integrate all the multiple systems on the car to yield a setup that works for the car and the driver in a very fluid and dynamic atmosphere. The car is changing, the track is changing, and the weather is changing. These inputs need to work together to generate a satisfactory output. A DA system can help your race program by compressing the learning cycles and giving you the ability to visualize each lap the car is taking.

Data acquisition gives you a group of numbers that you can arrange as a picture to better communicate what is happening on the track. With a computer and DA software, you can arrange the data in a graphical format that gives you a clearer picture of what is happening on the track instead of a mere stream of numbers on a screen or sheet of paper. This is true not just from a gross perspective, but from a finite point (or points) on the track.

You can spend as much as you want on a DA system. The prices range from the mid $500 range to several thousand dollars. The software is free on some DA packages, such as the AiM system, so all you have to do is download it from the Internet. Many systems do not require a computer, as the units themselves have some processing capacity. The use of a computer to accomplish analysis, however, lends a completely different dynamic to the analysis function. Without a computer, the data has to be extracted from the unit manually and transcribed with a pen and paper. The data can be downloaded by connecting a download cable from the unit to the computer. Then a simple keystroke completes the task. You can save the data to a file that you may name for the day and the setup. This makes record keeping almost as simple as breathing once you learn to do it, and it is not that difficult to accomplish.

So why should a racer spend money on a DA system? It's simple: The level of competition is extremely tough, and it is not going to get easier in the near future. Track time is a valuable commodity. To get the most out of your track time, you need to gather as much information as possible in a limited amount of time. DA as a driver development tool has real value. The opportunity that DA systems offer to teams, developing drivers, and crew chiefs is a very real advantage. The ability to understand the performance of your car from an individual system perspective is valuable.

Technology, contrary to popular opinion, is not the enemy. The first step in solving a problem is asking questions. Then you gather data, and at that point technology is your friend. The use of a DA system will expedite the data gathering process and data analysis.

The choice is yours. But remember, your competition is making a decision, too! Chances are, the racers standing on the podium will have opted to enter the new age of data acquisition. Where will you be standing?