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Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:28 am
by Rabbit Farmer
We are planning ahead for next year to determine what equipment might best serve our events.

We are looking for ideas what would help us have successful events.

Some of the items that we have discussed include:
Larger trailer with shelves (i.e. 5x12 vs. the current 5x8)
Laptop and timing software
Plow truck (purchasing a truck with a plow)
Canopies (enough for Philo; also used at the autocrosses)*
Fire Extinguishers (enough for Philo; also used at autocrosses)*

* We spend about $120 picking up equipment that we rent from KSCC for the Philo hillclimb. Purchase of 10 canopies and 10 +/- fire ext would mean that we would not have to pick up any equipment. Potentially, our rental fee would also go down (by a little) as we would only rent the electronic equipment. Oh, and we would have to make our own signs....

That is the short list that the board came up with during a discussion last night.

What are your thoughts? Think of challenges that we have experienced and our events and what could fix that problem. Think of ways to improve the events either by being able to run a better event or improve a process.

Steve

Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 10:41 am
by WRX97
Laptop and timing software has always been a bit of an issue at the autocrosses this past season, sometimes leading to big hold-ups at the event

Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 12:55 pm
by vtwillys
I also vote to upgrade the IBM laptop and sw


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Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 9:23 am
by MX5 Driver
I have not made it to an autocross in four years, so I have not seen the issues with the Laptop and timing software first hand.

I can get a good discount on Certified used Lenovo laptops still. The specs on the current one would still easily run the updated AXware timing software.

Could some one post what the issues are with the laptop? I know the last time I did updates to it, I cleaned out about a tablespoon of sand from the keyboard and chassis. It's held up well for the environment we've exposed it to. It is over seven years old...

Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:12 am
by voklskier4452
The laptop itself has usually been reliable in my limited experience with timing. What are the advantages of the updated software? To those of us without tons of experience running the software it can be difficult to fix errors without someone knowledgeable around. I would be all for an update to the laptop/software if it is easier to run.

If a laptop is purchased make sure the screen isn't glossy or it will be impossible to use outdoors!

Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 7:09 am
by BugEyeRex
I am all for getting a bigger trailer. After an hour of three people yesterday rearranging it, I am convinced this should happen. All of the club equipment does not and will not fit in the trailer.

Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:44 pm
by Serrilion
I'd be for a new laptop as the old one I recall some issues with it. There are quite a few nice used ones on CL.... I also would say a bigger trailer should be brought up, I wish I could make the meeting tomorrow night to voice this, as it be nice to have everything orginized so someone checking out before they bring it to an event also maybe a few more cones for autocross so our evil track layout men could make our lifes even harder haha

Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 6:01 am
by vtwillys
MX5 Driver wrote:I have not made it to an autocross in four years, so I have not seen the issues with the Laptop and timing software first hand.

I can get a good discount on Certified used Lenovo laptops still. The specs on the current one would still easily run the updated AXware timing software.

Could some one post what the issues are with the laptop? I know the last time I did updates to it, I cleaned out about a tablespoon of sand from the keyboard and chassis. It's held up well for the environment we've exposed it to. It is over seven years old...
Your last line says it all. 7 years for a computer is 50 human years.


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Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:32 pm
by Rabbit Farmer
Larger trailer with shelves (i.e. 5x12 vs. the current 5x8)
Larger trailer... done.

Some folks are working on the shelves.

Need to sell old trailer. We need some paperwork. I will call Perfection again (twice already).

Re: Thinking ahead to 2015.... equipment purchases

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 9:43 pm
by BugEyeRex
We need to purchase fire extinguishers. We only have 2 working fire extinguishers.