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March 29, 2007
Formula Car Pr0n!
A new photo of our forthcoming Formula Car Wheel, this one a production model. Specs and prices coming soon.
Posted by Mike Jaynes at 10:37 PM | Comments (1)
March 28, 2007
Data Analysis Seminar
Dave Redzus of Precision Automotive Research will be presenting a seminar at Advanced Autosports in Beloit WI on Saturday April 7th. The seminar titled "Beyond Basic's" will delve deeper into the analysis side of AiM's powerful RaceStudio2 software. For more information click the link below.
AiM Sports
Posted by MyChron Mike at 02:48 PM
March 08, 2007
Racing and Warm Weather
Its that time again for the WKA popular Manufacturers Cup to get underway at the 103rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville Florida. Its been several years since the Man Cup competed at the Jacksonville track and judging by the turnout for last weeks divisional the crowd should be huge. Popularity amongst drivers as well as the warm weather should make for a great weekend of racing.
With that I am outta here and on my way to the airport. Check back next week for my update and GPS report.
AiM Sports
Posted by MyChron Mike at 12:46 PM
March 05, 2007
Global Warming
With all the rhetoric on global warming being thrown around I figured I would add my 2 cents worth. I have checked my "carbon footprint" and found that I am below average in my contribution to "global warming" According to the calculator I used the average American has a carbon footprint of 16.64, mine was just above 12. I recycle at home, the office and at my girlfriends even though here in Roanoke its not the easiest to do. We also have planted many trees at the house over the past 3 years so I dont feel I need to give money for carbon offsets to companies whose administrative cost far exceed their contribution to cleaning up the environment. I believe based on what I read that our planet goes through climate cycles no matter what man does. Its very hard to know what the truth is when you have so many different theories from so many sides many of who have agendas. And I am really sick and tired of those who stand on their pulpit preaching to me how I need to live my life as they get on board their private jet to fly across the country for a haircut or off to Europe to attend a film festival. If you seriously want to lead in what you believe then get on a commercial jet along with real people who are the least contributors to your perceived problem. These politicians and elitist types wont in a million years live their lives like they are telling you to. I wonder who came up with the carbon offset plan? How wonderful that you can be the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases and because you have money you can make yourself feel so much better about your elitist ways by giving some tax deductible inherited or stolen money to your favorite green company who will plant a tree in your name. Did you know that at this years Oscars in the goody bags given to attendees they contained Terra Passes? I guess this was to offset all the private jets and limos used to get people to the show and parties afterwards.
OK enough of my ranting for now.
MyChron Mike
Posted by MyChron Mike at 06:00 AM
March 01, 2007
Race Studio 2 on a Mac
An increasingly common tech support and pre-sales question is "Does your software run on a Mac?" The short answer is Yes, on Intel based Macs. I use it every day, both on my iMac and my MacBook Pro. The long answer is…
There are a couple ways to run Race Studio 2 on your Intel Mac, both require you to buy a full version of Windows XP (Vista is not yet fully supported by Race Studio 2). Buying a full version of Windows XP can be a bummer for your wallet with a retail price of $299 for XP Pro ($269.99 at Amazon
Once you have a license for Windows, there's two suggested ways to install it, and a third option that uses both. The first method is made possible by Apple with a, currently free, piece of software called Boot Camp. Apple's Boot Camp allows you to partition your hard drive and install Windows XP. Boot Camp then allows you to boot in either Mac OS X or Windows XP. When you boot in Win XP, you are using a "real" PC with your Apple hardware, no strings attached.
The second install method takes advantage of a technology called virtualization made possible by Intel processors. This method requires a additional program called Parallels Desktop. This happens to be the method I use, and for a lack of better terms, Parallels Desktop rocks! The Parallels solution not only allows you to install Win XP, but about any other OS you'll find. I have Win XP, Vista, Ubuntu Linux, Sun Solaris 10, and Free BSD all installed. The Parallels solution does not require a reboot to change OS's, the OS opens up within it's own Window in Mac OS X. Better yet, Parallels offers full coherence with XP and Vista, which means you can drag and drop between Windows and Mac OS X, copy and paste, mount and unmount CD drives, and more. Parallels creates virtual hard disks when installing a new OS, and these HD's are dynamic in size, so you'll always have access to you entire unused Mac HD. You can download a full working demo version of Parallels from their site, or buy it for $79.99. Or, you can save $14 on Parallels at Amazon.
The third installation method, uses both Boot Camp and Parallels. You'd install Windows under Boot Camp first, then install Parallels which will allow you to access your Boot Camp Windows installation as a virtual HD. Using both like this is probably the safest in terms of compatibility, but I haven't had a need.
Whatever solution you go with will run Race Studio 2 just fine, and having Windows can be handy for those little apps that will just never make it to the Mac platform. That and those damned web sites, the few that remain, that only work with Internet Explorer. It's a no-brainer for web developers testing in different web browsers and OS's.
If you need any help, please call me.
Michael Jaynes
AiM Sports, LLC
(800) 718-9090
Posted by Mike Jaynes at 07:21 PM
Franklin Motorsports Data Seminar
Roger Caddell of Victory Lane Data will be presenting a seminar Saturday March 24th from 9:30AM to 1:30PM at Franklin Motorsports in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Roger will focus on analysis of your data along with how to's and proper setup to help you obtain the most from your investment. He will also focus in some detail on the new Kart GPS system and its advantages.
Please give Franklin Motorsports a call for more details and reservations at 414.764.1884.
See you there!
MyChron Mike
Posted by MyChron Mike at 02:14 PM
Calibration
In my day to day conversation with our customers one of the largest number of questions I get pertains to incorrect track mapping. And my response to this question is one which is met many times with a look of confusion and the reply of well I didnt know I had to calibrate the accelerometer.
Accelerometers require a calibration process to insure that you get the best possible data for a proper track map. In the MyChron3 Gold and Extreme gauges this calibration is done by first of all having the kart at the track sitting level and then conbnecting your USB cable to the gauge. Once that is done you will need to open Race Studio2 and go to system manager, look for the calibration button and click on it. Now click on the button which reads Accelerometer Calibration, now that same button will read Accelerometer Calibrated. The last step will be to click the Transmit Calibration. Once this has been transmitted your gauge is ready to go.
The MyChron4 calibration is done through the menu by first pressing the Menu button, now go to Control Panel, now System Setup, once in System Setup scroll down to Calibrate Acc, once selected just push the MEM/OK button and the gauge will read Calibrating while it performs the function. Once it reverts back to the previous screen you are ready to hit the track.
A couple of items to check prior to your outing which pertains to both gauges. The logger box must have the wires pointing front or rear and not sideways. If your logger box is mounted to the front fairing it should be as solid as possible to prevent excessive side to side movement. Be sure that your speed sensor is functioning and that you have input the correct tire circumference. Last but not least make sure you have good batteries in your gauge. If you follow all the above steps it will help to assure that you will get the proper data the first time out.
AiM Sports
Posted by MyChron Mike at 12:22 PM
Exciting Times
Well folks trade show season is finally over! After a successful KMI Show in Chicago last weekend its time to get serious about racing. Here at AiM we are well into our tenth year producing and supporting products for almost any kind of racing you can imagine. Our GPS system has finally begun shipping to our dealers in the auto market and the kart version will soon follow. These are just the tip of the iceberg of new offerings from AiM. We are testing our first car drag racing products as I type and should be heavily involved with that market later this year. So looking at my calendar this morning we are going to log a ton of miles this year attending races all across the country.
Check back here often for exciting news on new products as well as technical tips.
MyChron Mike
Posted by MyChron Mike at 08:50 AM