Illuminated Pit Boards

[Peter Mallett]

Yup you really do need them at night and whilst a torch shining on a standard pit board is ok, the new penchant for restrictive fencing on pit walls means that the old ways don't work anymore. At least not where there are

So, the question is, where can you buy a simple illuminated pit board? I've seen the computer linked thingies on DT at mega bucks but as we can't use pit to car coms these are no good. I need one that is back lit and the numbers/signals are manually applied.

[midgetman]

Peter, try www.headcaseurope.com. If not on site, email him. Pervez has a back lit board that you write on with pen. Not quite as mega professional as the Tweeks thing but substantially cheaper.

If you can wait til after Race Retro I can email a photo.

[Peter Mallett]

thanks Max,

We can wait, it's for the Spa 6hrs.

[tristancliffe]

Could you rig something up using 12V rear number plate lights? A few brackets and one wire to a battery. Cheap, simple etc, but not backlit.

[midgetman]

Glad you don't think the Snetterton 6 Hours will need them

[JohnD]

The internet is full of 12V fluorescent light fittings, eg
http://www.greenhousewarehouse.com/p...60cm-long.html

To anyone who fettles their own race car, to fit one of these to your ownm pit board, Top, or outer side, with a shade to stop glare on oncoming cars, would be a simple job.

Why do so many people look to buy in such items?

John

[Tim Falce]

What about a programmable LED sign? Something like this

[Peter Mallett]

John,

As explained, the restrictions on pit wall access means that anything bulky or unbalanced is difficult. We have used a light clipped to the top of the board, also a light clamped on the fence shining onto the board. I'm afraid they are not good enough now because there are two or three teams sharing the same gap in the fence. You need something lightweight and thin.

Tim'. I,ll look at that link later.

[andrewc]

Use electro-luminescent sheeting as a backing.

http://www.posterpoweruk.co.uk/page5.htm

[barnettracing]

Originally Posted by andrewc

Use electro-luminescent sheeting as a backing.

http://www.posterpoweruk.co.uk/page5.htm

Peter, as Andrew says, why not use one of those sheets as a backing to a traditional pit board and then buy a spare set of numbers and cut them out (leaving the black surround with a number-shaped hole). The light will then shine through these creating a lit sequence of numbers/messages.

That should give you a reasonably cheap (£50 plus your own work?) solution that is no bigger than a standard board.

[Chris Y]

Originally Posted by JohnD

The internet is full of 12V fluorescent light fittings, eg
http://www.greenhousewarehouse.com/p...60cm-long.html

To anyone who fettles their own race car, to fit one of these to your ownm pit board, Top, or outer side, with a shade to stop glare on oncoming cars, would be a simple job.

This is what the majority do for the 2CV 24hr. Top side, casting light down.

Long lead, battery on pit wall floor. Lightweight, and only a bit of wire to worry about, but no big deal.

[Peter Mallett]

Not certain if I made myself clear. There is no room for wires and batteries on a pit wall built to FIA international standards. The pit wall at Spa or Silverstone has debris fencing with slots approx 500mm wide and which at least three teams will need to use during a race. The old style pit board with a light attached is; a) too heavy when held at arms length; and b) just not feasible.

And to clarify, I generally fly in to the UK the day before a race. Exactly when I am supposed to do all this procurement and engineering work is beyond me.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by andrewc

Use electro-luminescent sheeting as a backing.

http://www.posterpoweruk.co.uk/page5.htm

A possibilty no doubt. Thanks Andrew.

[JohnD]

Thnaks for that explanation, Peter!
Chris, delighted that DiY still has a place.

But Peter, "There is no room for wires and batteries on a pit wall built to FIA international standards"??? What are those control rooms that NASA Houston would envy doing on the F1 pitwall? Are they cover for little boys that can run, very fast and do semaphore (aka Boy Scouts!)? Big Smiley!

John

[Peter Mallett]

John,

The pit perches are one of the reasons why the space is limited. But specifically the area around the slots in the fence is where the problem lies. Last year at Spa there were eight people using one slot. It works because the cars are running at different points on the track.

[Christian Devereux]

I have found at the 6 hour, that the headlights do pick up the board, the problem is finding which one is yours, as everyone uses the same orange Tweeks one.
I spent an hour looking at someone elses last year.
Modifications are being tested....

What are you driving Peter?

[Peter Mallett]

We have the MGB as last year. In fact until last year it wasn't a problem. We got there and discovered the fencing on the old pit wall. Hence the limited access over the wall. An illuminated Baird solves two issues, first it would be lighter in terms of weight and second they are smaller.

[JohnD]

Eight in one slot - not very F1 is it?

Good luck!

JOhn

[Peter Mallett]

With a grid of 98 cars it would be crowded anyway!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk

[diz]

There was a stand at Autosport doing an LED illuminated two car pit board affair. You flicked it on and the numbers were say fluorescent orange, then you flicked it into say fluorescent green for another car.
It looked quite effective.

Also see http://showtrax.net/products/timing-boards with a you tube clip as well

Or http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1779286&type=3

[Peter Mallett]

Hmm.

Good idea but for two things; a) these are the type that are fixed to the fence and worked with a computer in a pit perch; b) at £2500 I think I can manage without.

[diz]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Hmm.

Good idea but for two things; a) these are the type that are fixed to the fence and worked with a computer in a pit perch; b) at £2500 I think I can manage without.

I didn't pay that much attention at ASI, but the first version [without a link] looked like a normal pit board with number tiles

[midgetman]

I'll have a pic in the next couple of days Peter. Pervez had none on his stand at RR, he's promised to email me them.

[Automods]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but... Are these really in demand ?

i'm new here and only here because I found this thread in a search, I design, build and manufacture a shed load of different devices, generally one off prototypes for big manufactures plus test leads used for Rolls Royce avaiation engines, LED fixtures plus everything from aviation, MOD right through to custom back lights for classic cars.

I was approached today by a motorcycle racing team to supply a pair of bespoke LED Pit Boards, spec was brief but usage needed to be simple, highly visible day and dusk. and stand out from the rest of the standard boards hung over the pit wall

Looking through the net it does seem there is a limited need/desire for these, but I have been truly shocked at the prices the few firms that do supply are charging for them. i'm not sure if it is the ridiculas price that deters people from wanting/requesting them.

I recon that for a few hundred quid I can supply a fully operational keypad controlled full pit board. for a bit more I have it bluetooth enabled to run from your laptop or phone (but why is that needed, and track rules/regs may be an issue) I can also if required supply slim sections to fit into the standard pitboard frames you already have.

I am obviously going to go ahead with the request to build the two and will post pics when completed, but what I would like to know is, is this somthing that others may be interested in ???

[Peter Mallett]

Welcome Automods.

Well if you factor in the Le Mans Classic and Spa 6hrs you may have a market. I don't think it is massive though otherwise these boards would be cheaper anyway.

We've come up with another solution for this year apparently, although I have no idea what it is yet.