STARS Pro is a set of tools that provides a simple way to chart and optimize gear ratios; track setup data from shop, to test session, to practice, qualifying and race sessions; categorize and track handling problems and their solutions; and monitor the duty cycle of critical parts. Whether you have one car or ten, STARS Pro will make your life easier.
Setup
STARS Pro tracks more than 170 separate setup parameters, helps youkeep detailed records of the setup of one or more cars, keep notes about the effects of changes that are made during on-track sessions, and can access and print that information in several different ways. Over time, if you use Setup each time the car goes on the track, you will compile a complete history of the setups you have tried, the changes you have made at each track, and the effect of those changes. Then, when you return to a track, you will know exactly what you tried and exactly what worked best.
To make data entry faster and easier, you can create a new setup record and import an existing setup in a single step, then just change the setup parameters that are different. You can also copy the setup from one chassis corner to another corner with the click of a button and then change any parameters that are different.
You can easily display and print tire logs that show the number of heat cycles, total laps and details about each on-track session for any tire or tire set. If you rebuild your own shocks or obtain the build data from your rebuilder, you can save and track the rebuild data for each shock. If you need to monitor fuel consumption, STARS Pro can do that for you and update the fuel correction factor used by your data system.
Race Calendar
STARS Pro includes a year-at-glance calendar which graphically displays race and test events for up to 3 different race series.
Gear Charting
STARS Pro includes all of the gear ratios available for Hewland Mk9/Staffs, LD200, Staffs Atlantic, Swift SG3, FT200, and several commonly-used motorcycle gearboxes and it is easy to create a new gearbox type and add the available gear ratios. Using any of 10 different chart types, you can quickly chart gear ratios for 4, 5 and 6 speed car gearboxes as well as 6 speed motorcycle gearboxes, change ratios (or final drive ratios in the case of a motorcycle gearbox) with the click of a button, and immediately see the results. Each chart shows the minimum and maximum speeds in each gear and the rpm drops between gears and, once you’ve told STARS Pro which of the available ratios you own, the chart will reflect whether any ratio you select is one you own. Up to 5 different charts can be shown at the same time to make comparisons between ratio choices easy.
Change Summary
STARS Pro Change Summary allows you to see at a glance all setup, tire, gearing and aero changes you made during the course of an entire race event. The Change Summary can be printed for inclusion with your race notebook or other records.
Suspension/Adjustments
STARS Pro provides a convenient way to record suspension jig lengths, adjustment/result ratios (one turn of the left front pushrod adjuster equals 5mm ride height change and 0.1 degree of camber change, etc.), and other important data like damper/wheel motion rations, damper free and installed lengths, etc.
Solutions
The solutions part of STARS Pro provides a way to categorize handling problems (corner entry, mid-corner, corner exit understeer or oversteer) in relation to corner type (low speed, medium speed, high speed, banked), track, corner, car and car class together with your solutions to those problems. The information can be searched by the same criteria: problem type, corner type, track, corner, car and/or class.
A Practical Guide to Race Car Data Analysis was written for the amateur and lower-level professional racers who either have a data system in their cars or who may be thinking about installing one but who do not have access to an experienced data engineer. Using real track data, numerous real–world examples, and more than 200 illustrations, the Guide gives racers the knowledge and skills they need to select, configure and use their data systems efficiently and effectively.
By Bob Knox (Author)