Get your official laptimes in real time

[kl3640]

Westhold Corp., the company that makes the timing system that CCS uses, has a new product called the LapCeiver.  You can get more info here (under the "Handhelds" category in the upper right):

http://www.westhold.com/products_main.html

Here's an image of the device:



The device is about the size of a pager.

It will display your official laptimes, from the same source that CCS officials use for scoring, in real-time.  It has the advantage of actually giving you your official times, the same as CCS records.  It does this by getting its info directly from the CCS scoring computer via a wireless signal that has a 1.5 mile range, so it will work throughout the paddock, etc.  All info for all transponders issued that weekend is transmitted.  You simply take the # from the transponder that is issued to you on a weekend, enter it into the LapCeiver, and then whenever your transponder crosses the timing loop (at the S/F line), the timing info is sent to the CCS scoring computer, which broadcasts it wirelessly.  The LapCeiver then picks up that signal, but only for the programmed transponder ID.  It stores the laptimes from up to 2,500 laps (500 laps in each of 5 memory banks), and users can then download those laptimes to their PC's later on if they wish.  I have tested it so far at BHF and Homestead and it works great.  The range is pretty good too - I've found that it works over a pretty good distance from the scoring tower (I rode around pretty much everywhere over the track property at BHF and Homestead, and it picked up the signal just fine).

The LapCeiver costs $179.95 direct from Westhold.  Contact info@westhold.com if you are interested in buying one.

NB: Not all regions are setup with the transmitter at this time.  I know that events where the main CCS staff are present have the transmitter, and so does CCS Florida.  Other regions will be online soon.

[kl3640]

UPDATE: Westhold has updated the transmitter so that it now works with AMB systems (that's the other major timing system out there; it's used by WERA, AMA, IIRC FIM too, and others).  So the LapCeiver will work at tracks/events that are using the AMB system, so long as they hook up the transmitter.