Slugworks Paul Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 I wanted to start a new thread regarding the 6.2.5 in the 2020 preview BCCR posted which says: "6.2.5. Flagtronics FT200 Wireless Flagging Display is recommended starting 6/1/2020. A Flagtronics FT200 will be required to compete as of 1/1/2021. You can bring your own or rent one from ChampCar." Does anyone know why this rule was added? Is this system mature enough to mandate use in the series or is someone in the pockets of our leadership? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snorman Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 We tried it at Road Atlanta and it did not work well. I don't really agree with the series mandating its use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Oh where's that popcorn meme when I need it. 1 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugworks Paul Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 23 minutes ago, SonsOfIrony said: Tested the fragtronics thing last year, ended up unplugging it like 20 minutes into the stint. Too bright, too delayed, and very distracting in the car. I won't be buying one right now. That being said, being required should provide funding, testing data, and feedback to significantly speed up development. This just comes at a cost to early adopters. Hopefully CC doesn't get left holding a case of buggy, feature poor, early generation units when all the money and feedback lead to an evolution. I'll help you be slightly less useless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Slugworks Paul said: I'll help you be slightly less useless. Oh thanks. If only there was a way to help you be less of a pretentious know-it-all I'd return the favor. Edited September 1, 2019 by SonsOfIrony 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67Mustang Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 I'm guessing the vendor made a sweet deal with CC in order to get their product in a racing series... What else could it be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Love the concept but as stated above it did not work for us. Once it begins to work more stably we would probably buy one and run one but i do not agree with the series mandating them. The series gains nothing by mandating them in terms of any kind of rules enforcement unless teams are going to be allowed to bring in car video with the flagtronics lights as an official instruction device thus being able to argue a penalty. The series is opening up a big can of worms here by mandating them. Seems like a pure $$$ grab by the series in an effort to gain another sponsor. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Bill Strong Posted September 1, 2019 Administrators Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 The system works. It is used in addition to the corner flags. The system will be used for other things, like replacing the egg timers. The system works. ChampCar put a call out for companies to make us a system using our specs and requirements. A few companies answered. Flagtronics showed us a working test system after our shooting of a show at RVA Graphics. It worked and we allowed them to move to the next stage. No one else even showed us anything. It work. And here we are. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Bill Strong Posted September 1, 2019 Administrators Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 2 hours ago, 67Mustang said: I'm guessing the vendor made a sweet deal with CC in order to get their product in a racing series... What else could it be? No 1 hour ago, Snake said: Seems like a pure $$$ grab by the series in an effort to gain another sponsor. No. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugworks Paul Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Bill, where are the requirements published? Just curious what champcar is looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snorman Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 1 hour ago, Bill Strong said: The system works. It is used in addition to the corner flags. The system will be used for other things, like replacing the egg timers. The system works. ChampCar put a call out for companies to make us a system using our specs and requirements. A few companies answered. Flagtronics showed us a working test system after our shooting of a show at RVA Graphics. It worked and we allowed them to move to the next stage. No one else even showed us anything. It work. And here we are. It seems like the series is expecting teams to pay for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shutupracing Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 I don’t even see a link to buy this equipment. What am I missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugworks Paul Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Snorman said: It seems like the series is expecting teams to pay for a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. I'm fairly certain this is not a 'solution' - because if that were the case we would no longer even have to look at flag stands (or need them?). I'm sure that the flag stand will still be the final answer and we'll be required to follow them over what the flagtronics unit says (and disparities seem likely based on what people have said). As a result, this is just an 'extra' that should be handled as such - don't require purchase. Edited September 1, 2019 by Slugworks Paul 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyk Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 2 hours ago, Bill Strong said: The system works. It is used in addition to the corner flags. The system will be used for other things, like replacing the egg timers. The system works. ChampCar put a call out for companies to make us a system using our specs and requirements. A few companies answered. Flagtronics showed us a working test system after our shooting of a show at RVA Graphics. It worked and we allowed them to move to the next stage. No one else even showed us anything. It work. And here we are. How is this going to replace the egg timer? Is the team going to be responsible to time the pit in/pit out, isn’t this is just a light? I’m really curious how this will work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKid Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Just now, scottyk said: How is this going to replace the egg timer? Is the team going to be responsible to time the pit in/pit out, isn’t this is just a light? I’m really curious how this will work. The version I saw had a timer feature on the display. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottyk Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 1 minute ago, LuckyKid said: The version I saw had a timer feature on the display. If hardwired into car doesn’t all power need to be killed during fueling, which would kill power to timer? In the last 5 yrs of racing champcar my team has not once gotten a flag for passing under yellow, pay attention to the god damn race! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eman911 Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Another unnecessary expense that does nothing but line someone else's pockets and increases my costs. I think I'm done with ChampCar as they have veered so far off the founding principles of budget racing with no interest in returning. 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugworks Paul Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 I have a hard time believing this was an open RFP - this topic has been shrouded in secrecy, and I believe this forum was being filtered for mentions of it. Sure doesn't seem like something they were being forthright about requesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugworks Paul Posted September 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 16 minutes ago, scottyk said: If hardwired into car doesn’t all power need to be killed during fueling, which would kill power to timer? In the last 5 yrs of racing champcar my team has not once gotten a flag for passing under yellow, pay attention to the god damn race! It probably has a backup battery. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuaTTro Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 11 minutes ago, Slugworks Paul said: It probably has a backup battery. Will it blink 12:00 when the power goes out? #oldmanjoke 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKid Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 31 minutes ago, Slugworks Paul said: It probably has a backup battery. It does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimS Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Where do you purchase this device? How much does it cost? Installation instructions? How will it be utilized by race control? Just a few questions I had after reading through company website. Fire extinguisher recertification will cost teams more money than this device it seems. I would like to see how it works and what it can do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyKid Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 (edited) Flagtronics is cool tech. Flagtronics has alot of potential. Flagtronics working with ChampCar is cool. Flagtronics may make egg timing easier. Flagtronics might help drivers recognize yellow sooner. Flagtronics could change the series in a good way. Despite all of this I can not see why this is mandated tech and more so sole source tech. Reasons to sole source would be: To get a better commercial deal for the club or the members, but I don't believe that happened. To get specialized development that you wouldn't otherwise, unlikely. If it's reciprocal exclusivity baring other series from using the tech, but I don't think that's the case. Overall it seems like a very odd mandate with little in it for the members. The mandate creates the market, which might be ok but the sole source hands it off to one company for what!?!? Edited September 1, 2019 by LuckyKid 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron_e Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 Is the device activated by central timing after a call from a corner marshal or the corner marshal themselves? How far before and after a local yellow is it activated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Originalsterm Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 1 minute ago, Ron_e said: Is the device activated by central timing after a call from a corner marshal or the corner marshal themselves? How far before and after a local yellow is it activated? And which is "official"? What if I pass with a yellow flag but my dash shows green? Or vise versa? Will an in car camera be mandatory to prove what the driver saw if they ignore either the flag or light? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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