April 19 AutoX

The first autox of the year is coming up. I have received 16 preregistrations so far and they are coming every day. I will post every few days on the current head count.

Susan and I will be there. Do you want us to mail ours in or bring them with us? I know I will do the season, sure Susan will also.

You need to send it in ahead of time to get the $30 price. It's your choice. See you soon.

Rob

great event as usual!

nice start to the year! I have a bunch of pics posted here.

AutoX video from Sunday. The last two vids are from a cam attached to my helmet, and I aimed the cam too low at first and then too high at second, so they will make your head spin.. next time, I'm attaching the camera to the car.

Marc's run in his RX-8
My 2nd fastest run in the Miata (best part is at 2:00)
My fastest time in the Miata

Thanks for the pictures. You caught nice shots of me (805 - Cayman S) and my buddy (23 - C2). Much appreciated!

Hey Apollo, glad you brought your buddy, hope to see you and him at more events!

One good thing about Renegade events, when I bring newbs to them, they walk away with absolute enthusiasm for the sport of AX.
I warn them that events are probably one of the tightest run ships, "track-momma" is merciless about order and safety, and Rob's courses are technical as hell... But they seem to catch "the bug" anyway.
This year I am going to try to make to all of the PCA (NCR and NER) and Renegade Miatas events. Should be nice full season.

The results for the April 19 autocross are posted. Go to the Autocross page on the RMC site and look for the links to Word and pdf versions of the results next to the date of the autocross. Thanks to all who participated.

Also, Rob provided an explanation of two classes I don't remember seeing before in the Street Prepared division: BSP is the Mazdaspeed Miata and DSP is a Spec Miata.

Here is a video from my car with sdata overlay for speed, G's, Course layout and position on the course. I will also make a GPS overlay comparing the optional section soon and post it. The colors on the left are LatG, LongG, decel and accel displayed in a unique way. Thanks all, that was a great day!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMocKQBJ0Bs


Ralph-

Hi Ralph. Your video is even fancier than last year!

I learned a lot from reviewing the video. Please please keep making it.

A fan,
Yiming

Thanks Yiming, don't watch too close, you start to pick up some of my bad habits....


Ralph-

Ralph, what do you use to record video and, especially, sound?

The system is a MaxQdata system and a mini laptop mounted in the car. I can have up to four cams linked to the data. The video is actually two webcams, one cheap microsoft from ebay, like $25-. The other is a Logitech 9000 that it was like $50 or $75-. The microphone is a Behringer USB mic, it's really nice with a wind screen from ebay also like $60-. One of the guys on the SVT list figured out the cheap mics can't handle the high sound pressure and distort. This unit is rated for 136 db so it doesn't distort in the car. I have some other Behringer equipment and have been very impressed so I bought the mic, it's nice but it's huge... The other thing that is nice is it's powered by the USB, I bassically plugged it into the mini laptop and it worked.


http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=C-1U


R-

Hey Ralph

Is that one of the Packages that they now offer or one that you put together on your own??
They now offer a 5Hz and a 20Hz Data Transmitter connected to a NetBook with 2 cameras...
http://www.maxqdata.com/VeQtr.htm

I have one of the 5Hz units and a Pocket PC to record the Data and I like it but would like to integrate the data into my Video...

Joe,

I'm pretty sure you just need to upgrade the software, and add a laptop/netbook with bluetooth and camera(s). Your 5hz should work fine, but you might want to call Kevin @ Maxqdata to confirm. Bob

Hey Bob...

How did yours work Sunday???

It's the 10hz unit and there is additional software for the video package. I thought the 5 hz was not great for autocross but haven't seen it work so I have no idea. I am pretty sure you can upgrade the software and pay just the incremental price.


Bob,
Which setup do you have?

Ralph-

I'd upload one of my 5Hz runs for you to check out but there doesn't seem to be a process for that...

I like the all inclusive packages they have set up but think I'll wait for Windows 7 to release before deciding on whether to build my own system or save up and buy one of theirs...

Joe,

I'm still in the figuring-out phase, but the video worked great! My problem is that the GPS unit seems to be dropping part of the data during the run. I am trouble shooting with the MaxQ folks. I'll have it all worked out by the next event, so I'll post video, etc. after that. Bob

Hi Renegades,

I wanted to say thanks for a great event. I've been to quite a few Autocrosses, but this was my first with the RMC, and it was the best run A/X I've been too. Everyone was very friendly and approachable, for the most part everything seemed (to this newbie) to run much more smoothly and efficiently than at other club's events.

I'm looking forward to the next event, on my birthday!

Thanks again!