Testing iPhone’s based GPS Lap Timer@Sentul…

Just got my self an iPhone 3G. It just being launched in Indonesia and to my surprise when browsing the iPhone App Store I found a Lap Timer application. The iPhone does have build in GPS thus there are many navigation application available for the iPhone. But none is for specific track junkies like me except the Harry’s GPS Laptimer v5.4! Above pics shows the application name and on the right is Sentul Track layout. Bare in mind I do not draw the track layout, the application automatically draw the track layout when I rode with the GPS attached to the bike.

This Saturday I manage to test the application at Sentul track, and as I do not have special hardware to mount the iPhone to the bike I do bit worried that the iPhone may get damaged and God forbid if I crash my iPhone will certainly ruin! But I want to test the app first, and if it going well I will have custom mount and protector to mount and secure the iPhone on the bike. For now let just test the application first and if it provide useful information.

Above is the pic of the application when about to start. Obviously you need to key info like the track name and your vehicle, which in this case Sentul and my trusty CBR600RR. I have also put in reference “POI” which if I not mistaken is the “Point of Interest” at which will be the point of reference for the GPS to determines my position, and thus find out my speed, direction and so forth.

After several laps the above is the report from the application. My best lap time is 1:49.48 with average speed of 130.3 km/h and max speed of 218.4 km/h. The rest of the laps I only managed to do above 1:50, perhaps having a brand new iPhone on board “unsecured” properly on the bike make me bit nervous.. For sure I do not want to brake my new iPhone!

If you recall on top that the application was actually drawing the track layout and the interesting part is that you can zoom in and find out your speed at several part of the track! My max speed of 218 km/h was achieved at the home straight just before R1. At R1 I brake hard and turn in with the speed of 109 km/h as the pic above.

Now a lot can be gathered from the pic above, my next fastest speed was 196 km/h just before R3 and my lowest speed, obviously, at S Kecil was “only” about 57 km/h. I like this kind of information for sure!! Just on top of my head I was reducing my speed on R2 which I shouldn’t, and I actually faster on R4 then in R3!!

More information like the G-Force also available. Above pics show the G Force and the Speed, as you can see from the above pic I brake the hardest (highest G Force) when about to enter S Kecil, where the G Force is more than 1G.

So far I like what I see in this application, but there are some issues with the application as well. Like not all lap was properly recorded and when I switch the iPhone to my friend bike it did not properly recorded the result. Perhaps the GPS reception or the mounting of the iPhone distract it from receiving good GPS Signal.

Next I think I will use this application during my track time, but I need to get my self a “good” mounting hardware for the iPhone. Also need to find a good protector for the iPhone as well.

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