Circuit Map: Adams Motorsports Park (AMP), Riverside CA

Last week we had the opportunity to gather some new driving data with help from local driver Vincent Luong and his Subaru Wagon. This small track is particularly unique in that they host many types of events for vehicles ranging from karts, automobiles, super-moto, and even mini-bikes. Adam's Motorsports Park has quickly become a popular local race and hangout location, catering to different motorsports groups and events.

The data acquired from this day was during their Tuesday night "Time-Attack" events held weekly. This day Vincent and his wagon ran against a mixed field ranging everything from run of the mill daily-driven econoboxes, small hatchbacks, muscle cars, to track regular Miatas, S2000's, and even a Lotus.

AMP features various layouts as well as paved/dirt sections for different types of vehicles

Despite being a relatively small track (for automobiles), it's proven to be a popular short track layout with regulars coming in from all over Southern California. It also provides plenty of turns and straights for karts, mini-bikes, and even super-moto, with several layouts to mix it up.

Though we could not participate in the event nor attend this time around, we are happy to announce that we now have Adams Motorsports Park (AMP) circuit map available for anyone with DigSpice to download and use (with official start/finish line).

Our driver data comes from Vincent, a local automobile enthusiast who began grip driving since acquiring his '93 Subaru Impreza Wagon. His initial interest was sparked playing Gran Turismo, and wanting to do the same in real life. He got a great deal and purchased this wagon back in 2010... not knowing it was a FWD (Front Wheel Drive) variant of the popular AWD platform. Since then the wagon has gone through a complete transformation, including an entire AWD drivetrain swap and an EJ22 engine swap (which features mixed components from the EJ18 to increase compression).

Vincent's wagon in the early stages of transformation

How the wagon sits now, she cleans up nicely!

Various STi bits adorn the car inside and out

There's no turbo here! Vincent has plans to swap this NA EJ22/18 for a full 05-07 STi EJ257 in the near future

What's a track car without proper brakes? Large Brembo calipers help scrub speed and heat over the stock units at the track

The simple interior compliments the functional, track-oriented exterior

Hard to believe this wagon used to be something your mom might have been driving to get the kids to school and pick up groceries!

Getting back to the data, in the usual fashion, data recorded has been sent over to the DigSpice programmers in Japan and voila! We have a full circuit map generated using data and points from Vincent's driving data! The same can be done with anyone's data by "tracing" the inner and outer boundaries of a circuit and using the built-in circuit map generator within the Driving Analysis Software included with each DigSpice GPS Data-Logger.

The complete layout/map of AMP is shown, allowing drivers to view their line regardless of what layout they run

Since the complete paved area is shown in the circuit map, any rider or driver can run any layout on the track, clockwise or counter, and still record data like normal. There is no need to change settings or load additional maps if the layout changes. The beauty of DigSpice is it's portability, and the ability to simply turn on the logger when you're ready to go, and then download the data later. No hassle, no set up, just turn on and go!

A screen capture of the fastest lap data latched/synced with video footage from the event

Since we had in-car video from the time-attack event, we are able to load the raw video (most video formats supported), and sync the video to the lap data for real-time footage of the driver at any specific point/time during the lap. Once the video is latched, users can easily skip lap data forward or back, and the video will automatically show the correct frame from that point on the track. For continuous lap data/footage, the video will stay latched even when comparing different laps, making back to back or continuous lap analyzing a cinch.

Because the drivers at this grip time-attack event can rest between heats/sessions, it gives the perfect opportunity to fine-tune settings and driving techniques/lines in between. Novice and experienced drivers alike can benefit from data-logging and post race analyzing, shaving off seconds a little at a time. Being a kart track, it's easy to see that the track is fairly low-speed and technical, favoring smaller, lighter cars. We can see from the data that some of the fastest times in Vincent's wagon were recorded on laps that took the widest line, and when driving as straight in a line as possible through the connecting turns.

We will continue to add more local and kart/motorcycle tracks to expand our library of circuit data that can be downloaded and used by any DigSpice user for free. We also look to feature more unique tracks and personal rides in future blog entries so be sure to let us know when you decide to hit the track!

Big thanks to Vincent, you can find more details on the progress of the car on his build thread at www.rs25.com

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Video: DigSpice Driving Analysis Software Playback

As many racers now, simply watching a video playback of their run may not be enough to understand what was actually happening at the moment the video was taken. How fast is he going? How tight is that turn?Since DigSpice Driving Analysis Software is also capable of displaying playback video simultaneously, it can aid in understanding time discrepancies between laps, different drivers, different vehicles, etc. from viewing the data-logger info during playback.

View elapsed times and lap times, as well as the usual speed, corner G, acceleration/braking points, all while viewing the video as it occurs. When paired with synced video footage, not only do you have visual reference to the point on the track, it can tell you if a driver is having difficulty passing, difficulty maintaining control, or other problems that can't be seen in the data.

Since the video is synced (essentially "locked" into position in relation to the recorded data), you can freely switch between course, G/Radius meter, and the video footage on the fly during playback. We will show this in a how-to in a later video.

How-To: Vehicle tests and 0-60 times in DigSpice Driving Analysis Software (also 0-100, 0-100-0, etc)

0-60, 0-100, 40-0, 60,0, 0-100-0, 60-80... What are we hinting at here? Many motoring enthusiasts will probably recognize these numbers as common testing benchmarks for all sorts of vehicles during acceleration and braking tests, usually on a flat straight line.

Something as simple as a 0-60 (MPH) sprint can be calculated on many GPS-based devices today, but the same method can be applied to testing a wide range of data within DigSpice's Driving Analysis Software. With the DigSpice II GPS Logger and the Driving Analysis Software, you will be able to extract all sorts of data, such as sprints (ex. 0-60), braking (60-0), slalom, top speed, and more.

While many lap timers or applications will require you to use certain modes to record your acceleration times, this same data can be extracted from the Driving Analysis Software at any time during playback, without having to worry about using predetermined routes, stopwatches, settings, etc.

How does this work? Simply record you data as you would with any run with the DigSpice II GPS Data-Logger. You will save your raw data as you normally would, but take note of which session you wanted to extract your acceleration data from if you have a mix of lap times and acceleration tests mixed within your data.

Basic steps:

1) Make sure to place the DigSpiceII GPS receiver in clear view of the sky. Best results when placed in the upper front windshield (unobstructed), or affixed to the outside on the top of the vehicle using the included enclosed outdoor case or gaffer's tape (or similar) as shown:

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It is highly recommended to set the GPS receiver to 10Hz within the Driving Analysis Software to ensure accurate data recording within 100 ms. Also recommended to set recording trigger speed to the minimum to record all movements


2) When first extracting your GPS raw data from the DigSpice II unit, manually set your regions in which you wish to record your acceleration or braking times. Since we have recorded data in a straight line, we have set up Start/Finish sections as shown below (similarly, this can also be done using standard circuit control line data using just sectors instead with a start/finish line).

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For raw data sets containing multiple overlapping or indistinguishable lines, it will help to check the box labeled "Show stop position" to help identify where runs start and stop.


2) In the next screen you will see your data presented in both mapped location and as a graph/chart above. Since we are looking to examine acceleration times, we want to jump to the first section of the data right on the graph where we can see the vehicle accelerating from a stop. Since we are determining 0-60MPH times, we want to set the first sector right where the GPS logger registers movement at the beginning of the run. Set the second sector where you wish to record the elapsed time (in this case, at 60MPH). Once a set of sectors has been placed, times will automatically be displayed on the same color line at the bottom of the screen (as outlined).

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Again, besides target speed, sectors can also be set based on your own preference, such as how long it took reach 1/4 mile, how far a vehicle traveled in a set time limit, or what was the maximum speed in the given time/distance.


3) For multiple sets of data, you can set up additional sector points to compare consecutive runs, or a different test entirely (in this case the data shows 3 back to back 0-60 sprints on the same straight).

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And that's it! We hope you find this how-to useful. DigSpice Driving Analysis software allows a quick and easy way to compare set of data and to save those sections for easy access for later use.

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How-To: Using Corner Radius in DigSpice Driving Analysis Playback

At first glance, the information displayed on the screenshots of the DigSpice Driving Analysis Software may be overwhelming for some. Let's break down one of the overlooked features of the software, the "Radius" feature. Here we will take an in depth look at a driver's data recorded at Streets of Willow in Rosamond, CA. Vehicle is a Honda S2000.

When viewing data in the Driving Analysis Software, you will see sliding triangles that rise and fall as a driver/rider enters and exits a turn. The rings (shared with the G-indicator), are marked in increments which help you gauge the severity of the turn as the driver is making the turn. "G" or gravity (lateral acceleration), is helpful in understanding how close to the limit the vehicle is taking the turn. However, a driver may not understand why one lap was faster or slower, despite entering the turn at the same speed and cornering just as "hard" as the previous lap. Where is that time being lost or made up?

Some data loggers will show you your driving line, but even fewer will tell you what's really going on besides speed, heading, position, and lateral G's. Understanding the "actual" corner radius you take through a given turn can be used to your advantage. A vehicle that is driving in a straight line has an advantage over a vehicle that is turning. Basically the straighter and smoother the line, the faster you can enter and exit a turn. In short, a vehicle passing the same turn with a wider line, or a line that minimizes steering at the end of the turn will be able to get on the accelerator sooner. Studying the line and experimenting with different entry and exit points can also help you traverse through sets of turns or a particularly difficult turn.

Let's take a look some screenshots from the DigSpice Driving Analysis Software. Below we have the same driver in the same vehicle, on the fastest two laps recorded that day. The red line represents the fastest lap time, and the blue, second fastest. The driver was almost neck and neck throughout the runs up until the final turn (as can be seen by the overlapping graph lines at the top).

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Taking a closer look, we can see that the driver has entered the corner at exactly the same line as the previous fast lap (talk about consistency!). The entry speed into this low speed section is nearly identical, as are the real-time turn radius and corner G's. However that's where all the similarities end as we'll see in the next shot.

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The driver during the previous fast lap (blue) is still ahead at this point. So what has changed? The obvious difference is the line the driver is taking during in the red outlined lap. What may seem like just a small difference in the line makes for a huge difference at the end of the lap in the last 2 turns. We can see that speeds are relatively close, but the driver is taking a wider line during the red run by a small margin.

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Now let's study this next section. By taking a straighter line to the last corner, the driver has now positioned himself in a way that he can make a nice smooth arc around the last turn. This is a particularly tricky part of the track as it is part of a skidpad (just a paved lot with no course markings). Drivers here need to decide for themselves which line is best to take.

Although still behind, we see that during the "red" lap, the driver is taking a much, much, wider radius, allowing him to carry more speed through the same set of turns without exerting as much lateral-G's as the "blue" lap. We can clearly see the difference by the position of the Radius, lateral-G's, and speed marked on the screenshot. Although you would not typically see these slight changes in line in a video recording or by studying the line itself via GPS, analyzing the real-time turn radius may tell a different story. Let's see what happens once the driver enters the final turn...

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Again, driver is maintaining the same speed, at the maximum end of it's mechanical grip (lateral G's) in both instances. Both vehicles are also taking a similar radius during the turn. We see in the line that during the "red" lap, the driver is making almost a perfect arc into the final section of the turn before the straight. Let's see what happens to the vehicle during the "blue" lap.

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During both laps, the driver had maintained nearly identical corner speed, G's, and radius. However, the driver during the "blue" lap now faces a dilemma at the end of the turn. In order to prevent overshooting the end of the turn, he has had to scrub speed in order to make the turn. At this point the vehicles are both travelling at about the same speed, and are at the same location on the track. However, we also see that the driver during the "blue" lap, has had to take the last bend sharper or "harder," unable to get on the throttle as a result. Meanwhile, driver during the "red" lap has maintained a steady arch through the turn and has already begun accelerating being on a wider radius.

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What happens next is quite obvious. The driver during the "red" lap has literally overtaken himself in the previous fast lap by getting on the throttle sooner, allowing him to exit the last turn with more speed (still on a wider radius as can be seen outlined on the screenshot). Within the last few seconds of the lap, this driver was able to better his overall lap time by over 0.100 sec just by making slight changes to his line.

If you ever found yourself in a position where a different driver in a similarly equipped (or identical) vehicle seemed to just "pull away" at the end of a corner... might be time to start looking into your line. Studying the "actual" turn radius throughout different sections of the course will help tremendously. By understanding how to approach a particular turn and setting yourself up for the next bend, you may just find that there may be a second or two (or more) here and there that you would have otherwise missed.

This concludes our how-to section for using the "radius" feature of DigSpice, hope you found it useful. As always, feel free to message us or shoot us an email if you have any questions on how to use DigSpice! The DigSpice II GPS Data-Logger can be purchased directly from our online store at www.DigSpice.com, or through any of our dealers!

Be sure to follow us on our facebook/twitter/blog to see our next tip!

web: www.DigSpice.com
facebook: facebook.com/DigSpice
twitter: twitter.com/digspice

Dealer Inquiries are Welcome!