9 replies to this topic

[bmarshall1]

I'm getting ready for the SCCA drivers class at the end of March at Summit and have a few questions regarding transponders..

 

Is a transponder a 'must have' or a nice to have item

Do I need it for both drivers school and racing?

Does brand matter or must it be an AMB 260 (if this is even correct)

Anything to look out for buying used

Any diffuculty if buying used to get the mylaps registration changes to myself?

 

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

Bruce

[LarryKing]

Yes, required for timing and scoring.

Most likely need it for school - get in the habit of always reading the event supplementary regulations (supps)

Yep, buy the AMB - I think the model number is in the GCR

BUY THE HARDWIRED VERSION - the rechargable is a major pain

I've heard horror stories about changing registration but no personal experience.

 

(Rant alert: a ridiculous sum of money for a small transmitter, like everything else, call it a racing item and jack the price up)

[Jeff Wasilko]

You need a transponder for racing, and it has to be a AMB.

 

I did the NJ school 2 years ago. They do run timing and look at the times during the school.

 

You might be able to rent a battery powered transponder from the track or the region. Ask or read the supps.

[FTodaro]

If your going to invest in this hobby find the hard wire version new or used and go with it. Nothing more frustrating to go to timing and scoring and not see your lap times posted.

[bmarshall1]

Thanks Guys,

 

Sounds like I'll just bite the bullet and grab one and be done with it, There goes another $500

[DCP]

 

I've heard horror stories about changing registration but no personal experience.

 

 

I bought a used one and changed the registration without too much difficulty. There was a $40 fee to change the registration so you need to factor the fee (whatever it may be now) into a used transponder price. 

[Andy Mitchell]

Not meaning to thread jack, but is there any real benefit to changing the registration of a used transponder? Mine's still registered to the previous owner, but it works fine and all my results have the right name on them.

[Armando Ramirez]

When we bought our SM we changed the registration to my son's name, it was a quick and simple process.

 

Our name - no matter what!

[bmarshall1]

I have been keeping an eye on eBay and it seems they are going for near-new prices, I may as well get with Advance Auto and call it a done deal!

[dstevens]

At first (several years now) it was quite an ordeal to change over a My Laps account.  It took them a year or so to get it together enough to make the process more or less streamlined.  The change over is so the results are available in the right My Laps account.  T&S at whatever race you are at adds the name to the number in Orbits (AMB timing software).  That's how rental transponders can have a different driver for each event.  I sold one of mine to a kid back east and I still got his results linked to my account until he changed over.