Race-Trax Used For Weymouth Speed Week Timing

The Race-Trax GPS tracking system was trialled by the organisers of Weymouth Speed Week between 4th -10th October.  For the first time, a GPS tracking system proved capable of delivering accurate timing over the 500 metre course, giving competitors additional information such as wind data, and top speed reached on their runs.

Developed for military use, the modular system used an Ultra High Speed Data Link, rather than the traditional slow and expensive open mobile line.  LIVE! Data is transmitted back to race organisers, and is capable of update rates of twenty times per second.  This technology combined with high accuracy GPS giving sub ½ metre positioning accuracy allows the system to be used for the highly demanding needs of speed tracking.

Nick Povey, organiser of Weymouth Speed Week, was delighted with the system.  He says

"We asked Race-Trax to demonstrate their GPS tracking at the event this year.  Its functionality really impressed us and we are going to work carefully with the necessary governing bodies to get the system ratified for speed events.  In addition to its timing capabilities, it also simplified the event management for us, giving live data to the shore, with instant times, speeds and results for competitors.  We realised that the ability to locate competitors at all times can also be an important safety aid. We will be working with the Race-Trax team to see how we can integrate their technology into future events."

The Race-Trax system, carried by competitors in a small `Camel Back´ style pack was used to measure Anders Bringdal´s harbour record breaking run of 38.48 Knots on the first Saturday of the event.