Track day app? (RaceChrono vs Track Addict)

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
05/12/2020 at 16:03 • Filed to: None

The speedometer in my Alfa is... Italian. Despite being sent off for very expensive repairs... twice... it is still pretty nonchalant about giving actual speedometer numbers. Which is to say it is rarely bothered to display over 50 MPH, and that is usually only when I’m going 90+.

So, for track day I was sort of interested in what actual speeds I was achieving and figured I would use a GPS speedometer app. I’ve used them in the past and they’ve worked fine.

But why not a track day app? Surly those exist?

Well the answer is because they all want money, data, or both.

Before I launch in, if anyone reading has used a track app (Android) and would like to contribute without hearing me shit all over these two chosen apps, please go ahead and comment now and skip the rest. You’ll be better for it.

RaceChrono

So... the first one that came up in my search was Race Chrono. The app was re vi ewed well and seemed to offer some impressive telemetry and data. AND IT PROBABLY D OES, but three things immediately tur ned me off on this app:

1) The app really, really wants you to create an account and sign in.

2) The app immediately and continuously has its hand out for money. I’d say 6 0% of the things I clicked on were “pro version only” with no indication of such, or even what they did. Just a little pop-up text to tell you to give them $20 and they promise the app will be good.

3) The default, uncustomized interface (i.e. free interface) looks like ass. Not sure where all those pretty screenshots came from because the app itself looks BAD.

Furthermore apparently you can only really start setting it up by starting a lap and then, of course, giving them the $20 they so request.

It appears to support OBDII (not that the Alfa does) as you’d expect and allegedly has some cool features, but I didn’t stick around to find out.

Like.... look. I get it. Apps aren’t free to make and developers need to get paid. But like the news industry, if you put everything behind a paywall I’m just not going to use you! I’ll move on to something else, even if it is inferior because how would I know !?

Maybe I didn’t give this app a fair shot... but my attention span is not unlimited and we’ve only really got one shot at this.

So, back to the well I selected....

TrackAddict

Uni ronically the #1 “Similar” app to RaceChrono, TrackAddict is yet another lap tim er.

Unlike RaceChrono, TrackAddict has the majority of its features available without sign-in or money giving. In fact, according to a random list I read, the free version is quite full featured, with additional add-ins requiring you pay to play.

Cool.

This one seems a little more full featured and has several customizable displays and alarms, which is neato. You also have some settings for adjusting tolerances and stuff on the track waypoints, which is cool too. It will let you video as you go which seems... fine. Not sure it is required but also doesn’t hurt anything.

Overall this one appears to be the winner. It does everything I want, didn’t hit me up for money, and has the track pre-made. My only concern is making sure it is set up right and if we happen to be doing the track in reverse it doesn’t appear to have a map for that.

But I am open to suggestions!

DISCUSSION (12)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/12/2020 at 16:09

I would suggest Trackaddict. No reason other than I use Racerender for my videos sometimes and it works well. (same developer)

Edit: I feel that Racerender gives you enough in free mode and enough value in paid mode to make paid worth it. Hopefully track addict is the same

chaozbandit > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/12/2020 at 16:12

I liked using Harrys Lap Timer for its integration.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/12/2020 at 16:20

I am a fan of Harry’s Lap Timer ( https://www.gps-laptimer.de/ )

Here’s a sample of the output taken on an older iPhone with a crappy mount.

And here’s another also taken on an iPhone with a slightl y better mount (the WRX is mine and the camera car is my buddy’s Charger) .

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheRealBicycleBuck
05/12/2020 at 16:22

+1 for Harry’s.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/12/2020 at 16:52

I’ve used track addict paired with race render plenty of times. Idk how accurate it is but I guess it’s as accurate as my phones gps can be. I do use it with OBD in order to use that speedometer and add in tachometer data, but definitely not a requirement. It’s pretty easy to sync up an external dash cam which is neat.

Overall I love being able to do the data analysis immediately after runs as well as comparing sessions at the end of the day. It even works a bit for autocross if you use it on a course walk through to map it out, although timing I’ve never gotten quite right for that. On track it handles laps very well honestly, my lap times are comparable to other similar skilled people running real timers at least.

AkursedX > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/12/2020 at 16:57

I use racechrono pro for autocross and have been pleased with it. I use it with a Garmin GLO GPS and it is very accurate. I purchased this combo based off this grassroots Motorsports article: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/data-driven-how-quickly-digest-data-quicker-autocr/

I have used track addict in the past and enjoyed that as well, bit with a phone GPS, it's not very accurate. I have no experience adding the Garmin to the program though.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
05/12/2020 at 17:05

Poor_Sh > TheRealBicycleBuck
05/12/2020 at 17:40

Yup I have Harry’s and paid for the petrolhead edition. Also got a obd reader linked but I’m guessing that’s not an option for you lol

TheRealBicycleBuck > Poor_Sh
05/12/2020 at 17:52

I don’t own one, but I did try out my buddy’s OBDII reader. He was using it in his Charger that day. It adds some interesting information which I wish I had from that day.

WRXforScience > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/12/2020 at 21:28

Comments already say just about everything I’d add, except: phone gps is usually only 1Hz which is okay for laptimes but not great and won’t give you accurate information about other things and is only marginally useful for data analysis. You should probably look into a gps unit, they are either 5Hz or 10Hz (10Hz is good enough for all the data analysis you’d ever want to do).

You can go with a standalone unit, or you can go for a camera or laptimer with the gps built in. I’d recommend that you eventually get an AiM Solo or AiM Solo II for real data analysis if you are going to start doing regular track events. They are more expensive but the data and time you find are worth it in the long run.

If you just want to see your laptimes though, Harry’s or Track Addict are great options (Race Chrono used to be better but they’ve succumb to bloat and have become too focused on hooking customers).

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > WRXforScience
05/12/2020 at 21:51

Thanks! Yeah I noticed a lot of support for external GPS. I have a USB unit, but none of them seem to want to play with a USB . Ahh well. For what I am doing (1 track day every 1-2 years) I think phone GPS will be fine.

WRXforScience > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
05/13/2020 at 01:04

If that’s all you’re doing, then yeah, phone gps is just fine.