I recently had a long talk with the salesman from Tag Heuer regarding automated scoring for short tracks. Yes, after only 10 minutes I am already an expert! Ok, not quite, but I know enough to ask the question “why aren’t all tracks doing this?”
The obvious answer is cost, BUT there is a much less expensive automated system that is proven reliable and very effective for short track racing. It uses RFID tags instead of transponders. If you didn’t already know, RFID tags are all around you: they are used in the Sunpass toll system, used to track frieght and vehicles, and they may even be built into your tires.
The great thing about it is that the RFID tags cost pennys while the transponders are much more expensive.
Total cost of the system? It is around $5,000, plus a software subscription that is around $1200/year. Keep in mind how much it costs to pay a few scorers for a season of work, and I"ll bet you that the RFID system pays for itself in one year.
Guess what else you get: a laptop to run it on, and the ability to upload to the internet in real time, so that your fans can sit in the stands with their iphone or ipad, and follow the progress of qualifying or the race. I know it sounds dorky, I’d rather look at the cars, but at the RPM meeting the organizers stressed the importance of engaging the tech-wired young fans. Without this, they would be texting the kid sitting next to them. This way, they may actually get interested in the race.
I drifted a bit off the point…the idea is to get fool-proof standings and data from one person using a laptop, instaed of a stressed out staff using pencils trying to keep things straight. (Its impossible for a human, by the way)
The transonder system is better than RFID in one way: it is more accurate. RFID is good to about 0.01 of a second, but the expensive transponder system is accurate to 0.001 of a second. 0.01 of a second is fine for Saturday night racing, but that extra precision may be required for bigger events, especially during qualifying.
Why not use it? The technology is long proven, and its inexpensive enough to be commonly found in much smaller venues than our tracks. Even RC racecars use them!