Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

She bought me the camera - its a duesy - great zoom don't you think ? Anyway - its like they ......you reap what you sow .......or something like that but you get it .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Guess I better get back to cars or the boss will be back on me again . A lot of surprises in SuperStock as one lane was prone to spinning from my view - they did fix it but I'm sure there were some unhappy campers after round one .It is also hard to tell if some who spun were bitten by the track or their cars .

Racing is done for the evening as the circle dirt track next door has begun their 4th of July events followed later by fireworks .

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I'll expand a little on what Jim wrote. Not all tracks have Compulink timing systems, and even then, sometimes the Compulink systems and our data capture software are talking slightly different languages, and we still have to put all the numbers in by hand (that has happened to me twice - once in Bradenton several years ago, and at Ashcroft this year).

We are working on getting a usable data feed from other track timing systems. That process is still in a somewhat beta testing phase. We've had some success with Accutime and TSI systems, but every timing system is set up a little different at each track. The Compulink data feed can and usually does come right out of the timing system wiring punch block - that board under the counter with about 500 wires running in and out of it. The Accutime and TSI feeds that we've been trying to get to work utilize a tap into the timeslip printer feed. That involves figuring out which port is the timeslip printer feed (they aren't always marked on the track computer), what type of 9-pin Y-splitter you need (they aren't all the same gender), what the baud rate, parity, data bits, and stop bits the timeslip printer port is set at (they aren't all the same), and lastly, if we get all of that stuff figured out, hooked up and working, it is possible that our tap will draw enough power from the serial feed to the timeslip printers that they'll stop working. That's not a good thing!

A perfect world would have Compulink fiber optic timing systems installed at every drag strip. Those are plug and play for us. Entering the numbers by hand is done after each round is completed from the run logs. Not only is that tedious, we spend more of our time looking at run logs and our laptop screens than watching what is actually happening on the track. That takes some of the fun out of the job. It also limits our ability to provide extra info like incrementals.

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

That would be mostly a matter of personnel. Divisional events only have one reporter working (with the exception of the Las Vegas season-ending divisional). Dial in classes need to be watched for dial in changes that don't make it through the data feed if the track clock operator doesn't re-enter both lanes. All classes need to be watched for wrong car numbers entered for the same reason. Winners lists and/or next round ladders until there are 16 cars or less allow us some time to do other necessary stuff, like eat lunch or go to the bathroom. Sometimes we even get time to talk to people! :)

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

You know, every time I go to the races I end up with a bunch of shots just like this......I keep telling my girlfriend that there must be something wrong with my camera......I swear I was shooting cars !

JimR

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Thanks a lot for the explanation, Bob, but about how often are the wrong dial-ins and/or car numbers entered into the computer? I would guess it can't be all that often. I know I could live with a few errors. It would be a lot better than just a winners list, IMHO.

Also, I know if I had access to the high speed internet they have at Las Vegas I could post a video in a few minutes instead of 2 or 3 hours. :)


-Toby

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

The same thing can also happen with Compulink systems. I have been at tracks at which as soon as I plugged into the system, the track's dial-in boards go dark. I unplug, and the boards come back on. So in that case, I have to unplug and enter data manually.

There is also one track with a Compulink system on the second floor of the tower, while I have had to work on the third floor. The track owner refused to let me work on the second floor and refused to let us run the cable to the third floor.

Jim

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

It does not happen often, but when it does, it draws attention. The last time I missed and incorrect dial, it sparked the creation of a thread here calling me a dumbass! LOL!!

What does happen a dozen or so times at each race for Stock and Super Stock is that drivers change the class they are running in. We have to make sure we catch the class change because that affects the qualifying order. When we post an incorrect order, the drivers in the pits let us know. In addition, drivers often bring different cars to different races and we try to catch that too.

What I would encourage you, or anyone else that has a suggestion for DRC, to do is go to the DRC site, click on Feedback and send a message with your suggestion. The feedback is read by those who make the decisions.

Jim

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I can tell you that Jack would have better shots to post if he could break his tendancy to get so engrossed in looking at the subjects that he forgets to take the photo.

Jim

Re: Live from Lebanon Valley-NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Third row first pic. What do you think the guy in the pic is smiling about??? LOL