OBDkey

 

That is what I just have recently. I am getting a lot of useless gadget lately. This is a bluetooth OBD/CAN scanner that can take data from ANY car. Any car is nice, since I am shopping for my 2nd car. Just been putting it in my car. The unit is pretty small and it will not in anyway affecting the driving.

 

It can be used in PC with bluetooth. Windows smartphone or Palm/Window CE PDA. No Nokia smartphone program yet, but racechrono can use it to scan the data and it works! Data logging capability will allow logging of the data. Although it cannot be exported, just reading the data on the screen is cool enough.

  This is what you can see in the screen of Nokia N95. The grey line is 

 

I also went with my friend WAY in his new 135i (experimenting ECU tune and catless downpipe). We did a 4.95 sec! We thought after reviewing the GPS data that we prob did a 5.70 sec, but after consultation with racechrono developer Antti, we just need to determine 100kmh GPS speed in OBD then we will have a time! So it is just over 5 sec! Fast.

 

A 5Hz GPS

While the car is in the panel shop (btw the insurance claim has been approved), I gathered some new equipment for testing and lap timing. I really thing the GPS system is the way to go now. Anyone is going to buy my AIMS? I may still keep it as back up but I think racechrono is what I am going to use from now on.

This is the new equipment. A 5Hz GPS receiver, it is simple device, running a background of 1Hz. When the unit is 1Hz, they update the GPS data, and thus getting the data, once each minute. A 5Hz is than 5 times faster, update and getting a data point every 0.2 second. That means very accurate result. The V Box is a 10Hz unit. So this semi pro!

This unit looks like any ordinary BT receiver. In fact the back of it look exactly the same as my iBule GPS receiver. The only difference is the word "eXtreme". The 5Hz is not the default setup and the unit need to connect to the PC to get into a program came with the CD. Then, you select 5Hz in it. Do not touch the program afterwards, coz it is very easy to reset it back to 1Hz mode.

But after setting it the unit is amazing. I ran racechrono on it and it is definitely getting data 5 times a second. Perfect!

Did some run on my 4x4 Toyota Kluger on the freeway. 0-100kmh only (all legal)

I mean the time came up so fast in this GPS make it very worthwhile on the track. I think I am buying a sturdy mount for it. Do I really need a second mount?

What do you reckon on those?

Sandown driving lesson - oh what a lesson

On Friday I went to Sandown to get some practice laps with Driver Dynamics. Oh god what a day! I crashed again. Here is the story to tell.

I already battled with the flu all weak, with self diagnosis of viral tonsillitis. At the time of writing it, it is the first time feeling comfortable. So I was a bit run down. After 3 sessions, I was already equalled by best time at Sandown (1:31.78). I needed to do better. When I decided to chase the guy in front (a Z M3) to get a target, I oversteered coming out of turn 4 and could not get back enough. The road is too narrow and I brushed the barrier. Here is the damage! On first sight with Nelson it is cosmetic only. The oil cooler just behind that was pushed it but appear undamaged, since the bracket appear intact with no scratches or breakage. The oil pressure appear normal driving back from Sandown. More detailed assessment on Monday.

Sratches are in the side and the clear corner is cracked a little and there is a dent just next to the headlight set. Lucky is that the headlight is ok and the oil cooler ... finger crossed.

There is the video of the accident. Please comment if you can. I basically was not preparing the spin and was half a second late to wind the steering wheel down or to get the power off. The tyre so slap quickly when they are cold compare with they are warmed up. I guess that is the biggest lession to learn here.

  
Video = "What you should not do when you have cold tyres"

Otherwise it is a good day. It is time for me to drive the Dunlop tyres and so far I give it a BIG thumbs up. These are sticky tyres! They are so responsive to change in direction and so progressive when understeering. They create the best tyre - bitumen matching. You know Sandown is old technology tarmac and it needs some matching in compound. I am sticking with these for a while.

I have increase the caster (+7.9) with reduction of camber (-1.6) at the same time, in anticipate to rain (which did not arrive). The car understeer a bit but it is no big deal. The tyre temperature runs less than 5 degree across from inside to outside. RevSpeed recently recommend testing the tyre to up to 9 degree different across the tyre. So it is ok. The right front is reduced to about 1/2 the thread but it is expected. I guess too much camber on the front decrease the grip at turn 1, which is off camber sloped down left hander, so the right front will suffer no matter what you do.

Some randown shots!

  Here we are. This time I changed the ignition coil so there is no issue with misfire!

Another Z4M with no mods. They are very powerful

Mr Brown brought his tubroed renesis. We are comparing the oil and water temp during the day. He wins in these parameters. He did a 1:27 flat today, well done Craig!

Some dangerous wind slicing wing here. No cops with yellow canary around I hope.

 

Assyl with his new 911 black spec. Well everything is black, including the driver's suit and helmet.

 

Wayne brought a new helmet for this track day. Good on him. He needs it when he drive this magnificant BMW 135i with twin tubro flat 6, 225kW and 400Nm. That is a lot of power. I tried it. I love it. No money to have it though.

Next thread I will talk about the data I got and some video.

Taka in RX-7 magazine (Japan)

I appear in the RX-7 magazine Japan. The interview was performed last year in Aug 07. That day KnightSport people came and tuned the ECU of my 8.

The caption of the picture said, "Australia's first vehicle being tuned is TAKA's RX-8. He is the RENESIS club staff. Defi link meter works for all the RX-8 around the world and it is the best system yet!"