by "ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
Published 10/18/2017 at 11:49
by "ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
Published 10/18/2017 at 11:49
Tags: Let there be racecars
STARS: 7
At oppo’s request, I threw on the race wheels and took a picture of the whole livery while the car was up on jack stands to do other stuff on Monday. The hood latch was removed, some wiring for the front lights was tidied up and secured, and some no longer needed ballast was removed in the form of the factory front tie downs and the horns.
Being under there also let me confirm the best news of the day: My transponder appears to still work. This saves some money, especially since AMB went and got greedy while I was out of the game.
It used to be that you bought a transponder, mounted it up and used until it either no longer worked when the batteries wore out on the rechargeable model or the direct power model got crunched in a crash. AMB made a good transponder that was durable and usually a one-time expense of around $325 when I bought mine in the early 2000's (after borrowing and nearly crunching a rechargeable one for a season, I coughed up the money for one of my own). They largely cornered the market for timing in amateur and all but the highest levels of pro racing, and most sanctioning bodies adopted them to the point that there are no longer other alternatives on the market. Then they got greedy.
Now AMB (now called mylaps) operates on a subscription model where you buy the current model X2 transponder AND you have to buy an annual subscription for your transponder to be recognized by the track’s now networked equipment. It appears to be about $200 for a transponder and about $100 a year for the subscription. This is horse shit, but fortunately the old models are still recognized by the system for a long they still work. This has caused the old transX260 models like mine to now sell for$400-500 used. This is the only part of my racecar that has ever appreciated. Otherwise it is just the shiny red place where money disappears to.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
10/18/2017 at 11:54, STARS: 1
HHHRRRRRRNNNNNGGGGG
"Discerning" (discerning2003c5z)
10/18/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
Sounds like a potential business opportunity. I wonder if someone could make an alternative that would be able to transmit AMB’s signal. Shouldn’t be hard to mimic the old signal.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
10/18/2017 at 12:26, STARS: 2
Indeed. I read somewhere that mimicking the unique ID of each transponder and not stepping onto one that has already been issued to another is the harder part, but I’m not an electrical engineer. This sounds to me like a prime opportunity for something open source to come along, but folks would have to convince tracks to put in the hardware on their end and sanctioning bodies to go along with it. I know AMB/mylap bribed advertises plenty in with SCCA.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
10/18/2017 at 14:02, STARS: 1
THe white wheels look gooood.
"Trevor Slattery, ACTOR" (anacostiabikecompany)
10/18/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 1
I would reach out to the cycling community to see what alternatives they are using. I know when I was promoting we were using AMB as well but that was back in 2008.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/18/2017 at 14:41, STARS: 1
If you are ready to part with your red money pit, I will gladly take it off your hands. No questions asked.
Offer is valid as long as car has no major damage. I may ask for time, place, and price. No other questions tho.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
10/18/2017 at 15:02, STARS: 1
Has only been crashed once and repaired hastily. The right front corner of the car is not quite like it originally was. I always said I’d fix it right after it crashed again. I ended up not crashing again, although I would’ve replaced the fender had I thought the paint would come out looking even half as good as it did. There may come a time in the future where I make the jump to playing with an original Formula Mazda or a Spec Racer Ford, but I want to get back out there in the Integra first.
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/18/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 1
Yeah. It would be hard for me to part with 1999 Corvette and replace it with 80s Integra. Mostly the explaining to others part would be hard.
Also some voodoo magic or something but red cars try to kill me...
Damn it. It’s just not meant to be. Maybe you let me take it out for a spin one day.... or even push some buttons to make the flip up lights wink... bring back childhood memories.
$1 says wife will be standing in the vicinity rolling her eyes looking at the time