Racelogic Traction Control

[JayPSC]

Looking at buying it ASAP when I finally get my 40 as they are doing a group buy on the 300ZX site at present. Was the best thing I bought for my Z - anyone have any experience of using it on a 40??

Thanks
Jay

[Bigend]

Interesting concept, can it be used on a car without ABS, as TC usually uses the ABS sensors?
regards, Mike

[Gary Gibbs]

Some systems (including Autornic and Motec) can utilize a magnetic pickup on the front and rear wheels.

[Robert Logan]

Our latest GT40 has both Traction Control and ABS. I used two sensors on each wheel as I wanted to have independant systems. I can switch one or both systems off if I choose and as this was the first time we used these options I played safe !!!!!!

The ABS is from Bosche and the Traction is Motec. Both use bosche sensors.

I am more than pleased at both systems and especially the ABS.

Best wishes, See you all at Knotts next week,

Robert

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Hi all,
We came up against a TVR fitted with Racelogic Traction control @ a Lydden Sprint and he seemed to have a real problem keeping the car on the track! - maybe it was turned off?

On a positive note, Club member Tony Marsh has Racelogic Traction Control on his twin turbo GTD MKII (630BHP) and when dialled in correctly he gets awesome starts - even on treaded tyres.

We use Motec management on Roy's Mk1 but have not yet fitted the traction control or launch control options (take note fellow competitors/disbelievers!) as we still enjoy being able to steer on the throttle if required. I am more intrigued by the Full Throttle Gear-Shift facility - might be worth a few tenths on a hill or sprint.

Has anyone any experience of such systems? are they brutal on the transmission?

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ April 02, 2003: Message edited by: Paul Thompson ]

[JayPSC]

The best thing about the racelogic system is the adjustable slip control so you can get the back out 20% 15% 10% 5% if you still want some fun. Launch control will destroy a clutch very quickly, as you're pretty much dropping the clutch at 5k revs,
wouldn't have thought the Full throttle shift would do much damage as it drops the revs as you press the clutch in.

Jay

[Gary Gibbs]

I know the Autronic (and assume the Motec) systems allow for user definable slip percentage in each gear. You can have 10% slip in first and 8% in second, etc.

[JP]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul Thompson:
Hi all,
We came up against a TVR fitted with Racelogic Traction control @ a Lydden Sprint and he seemed to have a real problem keeping the car on the track! - maybe it was turned off?

On a positive note, Club member Tony Marsh has Racelogic Traction Control on his twin turbo GTD MKII (630BHP) and when dialled in correctly he gets awesome starts - even on treaded tyres.

We use Motec management on Roy's Mk1 but have not yet fitted the traction control or launch control options (take note fellow competitors/disbelievers!) as we still enjoy being able to steer on the throttle if required. I am more intrigued by the Full Throttle Gear-Shift facility - might be worth a few tenths on a hill or sprint.

Has anyone any experience of such systems? are they brutal on the transmission?

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ April 02, 2003: Message edited by: Paul Thompson ]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Paul,

I thought you were already using your lead feet for full throttle gear changes last year!! Why bother with the expense! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Regards,

J.P

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Hi James & all,
Me? lead footed? I don't know what you mean!

Jay - the system I was thinking of limits the rpm electronically during the shift, holding it at the rpm you shift at. So shifting at 6500rpm limits the rpm at 6500 - even with the clutch fully in, i.e. off load.

Have you or anyone else heard of such systems?

James, how's the MDA coming on? got any piccy's we can see yet?

[Martin Weigold]

Anybody have an idea of how much these options would cost (both parts and fitting)?

[img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[JayPSC]

Paul, I think the racelogic system drops the revs to a preset rpm when you dip the clutch, I'll try to dig out the details [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Martin, I'm gonna get a group buy price on the Racelogic system soon so will let you know.

Jay

[Gary Gibbs]

The autronic systems comes with their SM2 engine management system. You can get it with traction control, launch control, and what they call flat shift. With the flat shift you do not left off the throttle and push the clutch in and shift. I assume it cuts fuel and/or spark during shifting.

[Julian West]

RE full throttle gearchanges, I've used an 'Armtech Speed shift' on my Circuit racing Westfield. It's a relatively cheap & simple system, linking an adjustable rev limiter to a micro switch on the clutch pedal.

TBH I doubt there is much time to be gained, but it does make shifting gears alot easier, just keep your right foot pinned to the floor & dab the clutch for up shifts. Fantastic! Great fun at Santa Pod... It can also be used as a crude 'Launch control'

As for gearbox life, I'm pretty sure you'd kill the box in reduced time & I doubt even a rod change would be 'tight' enough to use it to it's full advantage. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[JayPSC]

Here you go:

Launch control http://www.racelogic.co.uk/launch.htm

Full throttle shift 'The full throttle gearshift system is activated by a switch fitted to the clutch pedal, either a hydraulic switch or a mechanical switch. Once the clutch is depressed, the system automatically drops the engine revs down by using a momentary rev-limit, allowing the next gear to be selected without lifting off the throttle. Because the throttle is always fully depressed, the engine is instantly back on full power, and on a turbo car the turbo is still producing boost. Tests have shown up to 0.1 seconds can be gained per gearchange.'

Jay

[750hp]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Roaring Forties:
Our latest GT40 has both Traction Control and ABS. I used two sensors on each wheel as I wanted to have independant systems. I can switch one or both systems off if I choose and as this was the first time we used these options I played safe !!!!!!

The ABS is from Bosche and the Traction is Motec. Both use bosche sensors.

I am more than pleased at both systems and especially the ABS.

Best wishes, See you all at Knotts next week,

Robert<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Robert,
Did you use the GT101 hall effect sensors for the traction control? I hope you chose that option, because I was going to use magnetic sensors and was talked into the GT101s. I hope I did the right thing!?!

Thanks for the info!

Craig

[Julian West]

JayPSC,

Sounds like exactly the same function. I never used the launch control... impossible to get the revs right.

BTW the Armtech unit was about 80 UKP plus vat when I bought it a few years ago....

[Bob Putnam]

"Full throttle shift 'The full throttle gearshift system is activated by a switch fitted to the clutch pedal, either a hydraulic switch or a mechanical switch. Once the clutch is depressed, the system automatically drops the engine revs down by using a momentary rev-limit, allowing the next gear to be selected without lifting off the throttle...'

How do you downshift smoothly with this system? Double-(de)clutching would be usless too. I guess you have to program yourself to always require X revs when you change gears, up or down.

[ChrisL]

ABS is not ideal on the racetrack. Anyone who saw the carnage of the final Carrera cup race at the Melbourne F1 GP would have seen how it can all go badly wrong.

In that example, the bonnet of the offending race car had flow open after colliding with the car in front, blinding the driver and sending the car out of control. The driver fully applied the (ABS) brakes, but of-coarse the car continued to travel in the direction of the pointing wheels. As the car spun, it hit walls and continued on across the track in a totally unpredictable manner taking a number of other cars out with it.

Had it not had ABS, it would have skidded in a straight line to the wall and slid along it until it stopped totally out of harm's way.

On the other hand, on a road car, ABS is pretty cool.

[Julian West]

Bob,

The rev limiter is only activated if the revs are above the preset level when the clutch is pressed.

IE at idle you press the clutch & the revs are not limited. Hold the revs above the limit & press the clutch, the limiter cuts in.

cheers!

[Bob Putnam]

Julian,

So - if I go into a corner at 4000 rpm, and depress the clutch to downshift, it will be smart enough to allow me to rev the engine to 5500 rpm to match engine speed to the lower gear?