Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/634989
in gold. With continuous lap time displays and predictive lap timing, you can push yourself on track, try things in different corners, and instantly know what works and what doesn't. Then, after a session is over, you can download the data, learn from mistakes and overlay it for really cool in-car videos. The drawback is that good data acquisition systems aren't cheap. And if you have multiple vehicles you like to thrash around a track, then multiply the system cost by the number of cars you own. The costs are adding up. I've seen 24 Hours of LeMons teams that have data acquisition systems installed that cost three times what their racecar is worth. We wanted to use a system that could be moved from one car to the next with ease, which also would save us money. We found a way to take a Racepak IQ3 data logger and transition it from a permanently mounted hardwired data system to a completely portable system that can be installed in one vehicle to the next in less than three minutes. This wasn't an easy task because the Racepak IQ3 isn't just a GPS based data acquisition system. It is also the vehicle's dashboard, giving the driver all of the pertinent information needed not to blow the head gasket. The first step was to find some suction-cup mounts that would go on a windshield to hold the Racepak dash in place. We found what we wanted from RAM Mount, which allowed us to custom-order any type of modular system it makes, setting us back a mere $80 shipped. Once we had the mounting system, we needed Backing Plate >> This simple backing plate was made from aluminum using the rear of the Racepak as a template. Its only job is to give the Racepak a place to be mounted on one side and a place for the suction cup RAM Mounts to be mounted on the other side. Drive Fast >> Once you throw in your portable data acquisition system, the only thing left to do is go out on the track and drive fast. A simple press of a button tells the Racepak system where the start/finish line is as you go by it on your out lap. OBDII Module >> This OBDII module will replace all of the expensive and time-consuming sensors in one shot. Instead of wiring a car for water temperature, oil temperature, oil pressure, tachometer, fuel pressure, etc., which requires lots of sensors, fittings and bungs for different engines, all of that can be replaced for modern cars by simply reading the data from the vehicle's on-board diagnostic system. 35