Tracking Results
So, now you know how to create setups, enter settings, get advice, and find shared setups from our Getting Started Guide. So, now it's time to get into the science part of setup tracking.
Record Track Conditions
For racing, recording track conditions is essential because it helps you remember what setups and settings will work in those conditions, so you don't have to do so much testing at every new race just to get a competitive setup - you'll already have a good idea of what works on a certain type of track and grip level, and you can tweak it from there to get your car so dialed (sorry, had to.)
See how So Dialed helps: Wyatt Wilson's Road from Novice to Pro Class
To illustrate, when a top racer shows up to a new track they've never raced on, let's say it's a smooth, tight, hard-packed clay track, they already have a good idea of what their "base" setup will be because they've raced on those conditions before. They will tweak settings, often up through the main, but their base setup is probably already pretty darn good because they keep records of all their races an all the tracks they've ever raced on, so they have a good starting point already.
So Dialed makes this record-keeping easy. To get started, cruise over to the Track tab of your Setup to easily record all the relevant details of the track you're running on, and how your car performed on that type of track.
Record Results
Recording track conditions is a good start, but you also need to record the results of using your setup on those specific track conditions.
Go to the Results tab of your setup for this.
When we talk about "results," we aren't just talking about how you finished in the race. What's really important is how did the setup perform? Did it have understeer or oversteer? How did it behave on corner entry vs corner exit? Did it have trouble with bumps? Was the chassis rolling too much? Was the steering too twitchy? Use the Results tab to record as much feedback as you can about the setup, so you can remember exactly how your setup performed.
Think of it like this:
- Settings tab: my guess on what will work
- Track tab: the situation
- Results tab: how my guess worked in the current situation
Recording all three of these is how pro racers learn and adapt to new tracks, and now you can do it easily, too!
But How Should I Use So Dialed?
To get the best results when following the Track/Test/Record pattern above, it's best to record a setup with race results for every race, but for casual racers it's probably too much work.
So, here are our recommendations on how to use So Dialed based on how often you race:
- I always race at the same track: Focus on the Settings tab of your setup. Your track isn't changing much, so you can set the values in the Track tab once and then ignore it. Create new setups if you want to save specific setups you think worked well. If you want to record race results, use the Race Log which makes it easy.
- I race at a few different tracks regularly: Create a Setup for each track you race on, so you can tweak each setup independently and when you switch tracks you can just refer to the Setup for that track. Fill in the Track tab on each setup once, and then you can ignore it. For logging race results, again, the Race Log is your best best.
- I am serious about getting faster: Create a Setup for each type of track conditions you face (low-grip dirt, high-grip clay, etc.) Then, use the Race Log to make it quick and easy to update your Settings, Track, and Results tabs. Read on below to see how easy this level of tracking can actually be.
This may be more tracking than you're used to, but if you're serious about getting faster and attracting sponsors, this is how the fast folks do it, so it's time to start putting some discipline into your race program!
If it seems like a lot, don't stress too much - start with our base recommendations above and start recording races using the Race Log to see how it will improve your race program. Over time, you'll get into a rhythm, and and everything will feel easier.
Race Log Makes it Easy
So Dialed makes detailed race-by-race setup tracking easier with our Race Log (free to try for 10 races, then requires a Sportsman membership.)
With the Race Log, you make your setup changes on the fly, check in after each race to record your results and rate your setup, and the app does the rest, storing Setup Snapshots after every race, so you can see exactly how your car was set up during any race without managing a huge pile of setups or coming up with names for them all.
Race Log process:
- Update your setup in the app so it is current with your car's current setup
- Choose your car and tap "Add race"
- Fill in the track details (once for the day)
- Then, after each race 1) update your setup, 2) hit Add Race to enter results & record your thoughts on the setup
As you'll see in this video, the Race Log automatically creates a summary of the changes you made between races and shows them along with the race results and performance notes, so you have a full summary of all your races, setup changes, and their results throughout the day:
Notice a few things shown here on the Race Log:
- Best lap / average lap / calculated consistency (consistency leads to speed!)
- Summary of changes made to the setup
- Summary of performance changes between runs
- Quick access to the Setup Snapshot - a snapshot of the exact state of your setup at the time the race was recorded (which you can then copy back into your Setup List if you want to make it your new Base Setup)
As you can see, with very little effort, you can keep detailed records, just like a pro driver. No more excuses - it's time to start tracking your races like a pro!
If you have any questions, please reach out to us, and we'll get back to you asap!