A true Rally Computer

[Magpie]

The unit is a full Windows XP computer and will do most things that a normal PC would do. About the only thing it's not real good at are graphics intensive stuff like 3d games etc.

It does both Nav and Roadbook preparation.

If you want to shoot me your email I can send you a demo version if you like.

[tamsey]

tamsey at tpg dot com dot au

[Magpie]

Originally Posted by Magpie

National 4x4 Show
As noted on the website Magpie Motorsports will be at the Melbourne 4x4 show starting on October 22nd. We have available 4 free passes for the first four members to send an email to scott@magpiemotorsports.com. Don’t forget to include your address.

Only two passes left !!

[Magpie]

Just to update you all, the Magpie FDRS is now on sale to the general public.

Please visit www.magpiemotorsports.com

[Magpie]

Hello again,

We've opened up a downloads section of our website. From here you can download a free Roadbook Editor or a trial version of RallyNav v 1.0

Cheers

[Magpie]

Not sure if RallyNav is for you? Magpie Motorsports now has the Magpie FDRS available for hire !
The unit will be supplied complete with RallyNav and compeGPS and of course the full specification of hardware.

Cost is $440 per week which includes GST and Postage (within Australia), for a minimum hire period of 1 week, excluding time in transit.
Reduced rates available on longer or multiple unit hire.

Ask about our Rent/Try/Buy Scheme where your rental fees can be used as credit towards you own Magpie FDRS.

Digital rally pace notes, a rally notes compilation service and digital maps of your event may be made available on request.

[Magpie]

With the arrival of Spring we are pleased to announce our super spring special, while stocks last the Magpie FDRS will be available for $900 + GST that's a 50% saving! Visit Home to see the full details.

[marc]

Originally Posted by Magpie

The unit is a full Windows XP computer and will do most things that a normal PC would do.

Oh great... the BSOD could be very interesting mid-stage then

[Magpie]

Originally Posted by marc

Oh great... the BSOD could be very interesting mid-stage then

5 years of testing in all conditions, never happened.

[kazekage]

How big is it?

Are you running software you have written or pre-packaged stuff?

[Magpie]

Originally Posted by kazekage

How big is it?

Are you running software you have written or pre-packaged stuff?

The computer is 280mm x 150mm x 25mm and weighs in at 998g

It comes with compeGPS which is a general "moving map" type software from a European software company and RallyNav which is our home grown software.

[Dave Kelly]

Originally Posted by Magpie

The computer ... comes with compeGPS which is a general "moving map" type software from a European software company and RallyNav which is our home grown software.

Not that this is the market that I presume you are aiming at, however the GPS component appears to make your unit illegal for the vast majority of rallies as run in Victoria.

See Victorian Rally Bulletin and in particular the following:

Originally Posted by 2009 Victorian Rally Bulletin

3.3.9 Global Positioning System (GPS)

The use or fitment of fixed or mobile GPS units is banned in all competition vehicles, in all events that contain navigational sections (including touring road events). This ban extends to the presence of GPS in the competition vehicle, regardless of whether or not the unit is being used.

Of far narrower application in terms of vehicles, however broader in terms that it is Australia wide, it is also worth noting that the eligibility criteria for HRC1, HRC2, & HRC3 as per the CAMS Manual for Historic Rally Cars also states at article 3.4 that satellite navigation equipment is not permitted.

Again, I presume the above HRC cars are not really the market you are chasing!

Finally, a part of me wonders (but its probably just me) that at the other end of the spectrum I'm not sure what benefit all the gadgetry would bring for use in cars in pacenoted events? I say this as whilst I don't know what others do, but the way I have done notes the terror-trip/coralba/monit whatever hardly gets used, and when it does, the simpler the better (hence I suspect this is a large part of why Monits are now so widely regarded!).

Best of wishes with the business.

Cheers

David

[Magpie]

Hi there, thanks for the comments.
I do agree that using a GPS moving map setup in a rally where the navigation skills of the crew are a significant portion of the competition does somewhat defeat the purpose of the event and therefor compeGPS is rightly not permitted however the RallyNav section of the software is really just an electronic road book that displays the road book data to the co-driver dependent on their distance into the stage. It is no different to a traditional trip meter in that respect and is certainly in keeping with the spirit of the event. We've not had any of our users point this out to date but I am certain that the rule makers for rallies would see that no unfair advantage is conferred by a team using RallyNav if the question was asked.
I would also suggest that the Magpie FDRS would be an excellent tool for the organisers of such events as it makes the preparation of road books etc a snap. You can actually have the road book ready to print at the end of a stage should you so wish.
Not sure on the rationale behind the Historic Rally Car rule but it would seem a little out of character to have modern high tech gear gear in a competition that seeks to recreate a bygone era. I assume the ruling also states that contemporary trip meters are not appropriate either?
As for pace notes, this gear is not "gadgetry". It is a genuine attempt at modernising the process undertaken to navigate a rally car using available technology to simplify the process. The tools offered by RallyNav allow the team to perform a one pass recce to measure and note a stage quickly and simply on-the-fly without the need to re-write or compile their notes once finished. It then allows the team to read back the notes in a simple and ordered fashion, without error, you can't get "lost in the notes". It allows you to do all of your thinking when the pressure is off and keeps it simple during the race, greatly reducing the co-driver work load.
To do a recce you need to press 2 buttons, to do the stage maybe press one button but usually none. No installation, no calibration.

[Dave Kelly]

Originally Posted by Magpie

....As for pace notes, this gear is not "gadgetry"......

It seems you have taken offence at my description, and for that I am extremely sorry! Just to clarfiy, please note that definitionally, "gadgetry" is something I understand as an "appliance, componentry or control device which is very useful for a particular job".

Originally Posted by Magpie

..... The tools offered by RallyNav allow the team to perform a one pass recce to measure and note a stage quickly and simply on-the-fly without the need to re-write or compile their notes once finished. It then allows the team to read back the notes in a simple and ordered fashion, without error, you can't get "lost in the notes". It allows you to do all of your thinking when the pressure is off and keeps it simple during the race, greatly reducing the co-driver work load.
To do a recce you need to press 2 buttons, to do the stage maybe press one button but usually none. No installation, no calibration.

OK sorry again..., its all my confusion I suppose with regard to the uses for pacenoting?

Just that when I looked at all the demonstration screens they seemed to only replicate a road book style of presentation one call visible at a time only (essentially a sequential list of corners/tulips presented one after the other in turn) as opposed to the way I have been involved in the preparation and use of pace-notes which is far more of a stage start to stage finish continuing line narrative written in a type of codified descriptive shorthand (hence very little need for reliance on the go with a distance measuring device).

The reason for this style is really predicated on the fact that the notes ARE the drivers notes (as it is only he/she that will really know what they will do/react/whatever when faced with hearing back a particular note or sequence of notes as after all its is THEIR commitment to take a certain action relying to a large extent on what is heard from the note as opposed to what they necessarily can see) and like all the finest narratives in history, great results tend to follow a compelling and flowing storyline.

I guess I just do it wrong..

oh well.. I am sure someone here will set me straight on all the errors of my ways

Finally, I am more than happy to scan a few pages out of some old pace note books of mine and send them to you as an example if you want? Perhaps you might then be able to point out where I am missing the point! Please note I don't claim to be anywhere near an expert on this, but just know what has worked extremely successfully for me and a number of different drivers that I have had the privilege to sit next to and learn from, and thus I suppose I am tending to adopt the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach.... but of course remain very happy to be converted if in reality what your system does can meet what I am talking about above.

Cheers

Dave

[macksrallye]

As a tool for event organisers i can see this as being an extremely useful tool, the amount of times i got lost trying to find out where roads went while writing the course for an event is astounding & a gps would certainly help, I can't see this working for competitors though.

I don't know any driver that would be happy with a one pass recce, as it is now we do one pass for writing & one for checking/editing. Add to this the fact that every drivers system is different & there is always going to be things that you've never had to have in your notes before but have to due to exceptional circumstances.

The one thing i can see being a real benifit (if at all possible) is turning this into a tripmeter that shows the roadbook with an external button for when you come across an incident. This would help no end for recovery as the position of the accident could be pin pointed & if linked to some kind of radio wave the screen lights up yellow as you approch said incident (as triggered by organisers of course).

This product shows promise but i can't see it as a real step forward in pacenotes... yet.