NEW MENUS :
On the RP2, you had to go through certain functions (CONFIG) to access others.
In Rallye Pack 3, there are several MENU pages, accessed by pressing M in succession.
Each function has a number from 1 to 8 displayed on each Menu page. No need to go through one function to access another!
The pages are displayed for much longer than on the previous version, which leaves time to read the 8 possible choices for those who are not used to them.
You can return to the main display at any time by pressing the ARROW.
When you exit a function, the main page is displayed automatically.
The 16 most frequently used functions are located on the first 2 menu pages for quick access.
A total of 5 menu pages and 30 functions + the traditional M/0 (start next minute) and M/9 (recalculate timer) functions.
RECORDING AVERAGES and DISTANCES :
For those already familiar with the RP2, the days of main and auxiliary memory are over! Now there's just one big memory into which you enter data directly. You no longer need to 'LOAD' the ZR. On the RP3, you 'CHOOSE' the ZR (which is more or less the same thing).
You just change the ZR by pressing MENU / 4 (CHOICE ZR).
RECORDING AVERAGES and DISTANCES (QUICKLY) : You can program averages and distances by pair ( MOY : _ _ . _ _ / DIST : _ _ _ . _ _) with an automatic switch from the ZR to the next one when you validate the last pair.
This makes it extremely quick to enter all the data for a rally.
CALIBRATION :
- 3 memorisable calibrations.
- Displays the distance travelled during calibration to make it easier to find the end of the calibration zone. Based on the last calibration zone covered.
- Guidance on what to do (GO FORWARD, CONFIRM, etc.).
- Menu for choosing one of the 3 possible calibrations.
NEW DISPLAY DURING SPECIALS or LIAISONS :
- The number of the ZR to be completed is permanently displayed on the screen.
- The actual speed at which you are driving is displayed on the screen.
- At regular intervals, the sector (s1, s2, s3, ...) in which you are (average 1, average 2, ...) is displayed.
- a decreasing distance counter between our position and the next recalibration is displayed (from 999 m to 000 in 10 metre steps).
- During the regulator, instead of the official time being displayed, there is a stopwatch from the ZR start time.
When the ZR is over, the official time is displayed again.
COUNTDOWN :
- In addition to the countdown in the minute preceding the start of the ZR, during the last 5 seconds a BEEP is emitted (every second) so as not to be surprised by the departure of the cadenceur.
The beeps are heard for both full-minute and 30-second starts.
ACTIVE RETRO FUNCTION M / 9 for RECALCULATING THEORETICAL KMS :
The function has been improved with :
- Detection of missing data (average or distance).
- Display of the missing average or distance number for faster correction.
- Faster calculations (less than one second).
- Possibility of quitting the M/9 function (EXIT) if the calculation takes too long or is unsuccessful due to an error in programming the averages/distances.
SHIFT FUNCTION FOR START WITH NON-ZERO DISTANCE
There's no longer any need to add the ZR start distance (when it's offset) to each average change value. The RP3 adds the offset distance to each distance by itself.
CALIBRATION MODIFICATION FUNCTION
When you enter this function, the value of the calibration distance is displayed on the screen. Example: Dist: 1000.
When the +2 or -2 keys are pressed to add or subtract 1 m from the calibration, the distance is increased or decreased.
Depending on the last recalibration carried out, a suggested correction in metres is displayed next to the calibration distance. Dist: 1000 Cor: -05
During the recalibration, the RP3 calculates for you the correction to be made to the calibration distance to make it more consistent with the Roadbook. So for the section between the calibration you've just made and the previous one, it calculates the correction 'in metres' that it would be wise to make to the calibration distance.
At the start of a special stage, it's always a good idea to check (and correct) your calibration quickly with a recalibration in the first few kilometres, because the ambient temperature affects the tyres and therefore the calibration. Just because you've calibrated your tyres correctly on the morning of the rally doesn't mean they'll be right all day. So you have to adapt the calibration to each new ZR.
FUNCTION M / 0 : START TIME ZR NEXT FULL MINUTE
M /0 can still be used to program the next full minute as the 'ZR start' time, but it can now also CANCEL the start time.
This can be useful when the ZR start marshal tells you: "no, you'll be starting at 14:23:00 instead of 14:22:00" and you had programmed a start at 22.
All you have to do is repeat M / 0 and the countdown stops.
You wait until you're in the right minute and then you can press M / 0 again to finally set the right time.
Of course, if you don't have time to stop the countdown if the commissioner says so at the last moment (and the timer starts), you can always stop it with M / 7: STOP TIMER.
If you have programmed the start time with M / 3, you can also cancel the start with M / 0.
FUNCTION M / +2: START TIME ZR to 30 SECONDS
Sometimes, ZR starts are given every 30 seconds when the organiser needs to save time and avoid cancelling the special stages. This is always a source of stress for some, as you have to quickly count the number of cars in front and deduce your start time.
The M / +2 function allows you to set the next half-minute as the start time, and it's just as quick as M / 0.
The competitor in front of us has just started! So you arrive at the start line and set off in less than 30 seconds! You simply do: M / +2, and the start time in the ZR is set to either 30 seconds or the whole minute, depending on whether you're between 00 and 29 or between 30 and 59. There's no need to think about which half-minute you're in!
The start is programmed for the next half-minute!
As with M / 0, you can cancel the start time if you set it with M / +2.
+2 and -2 keys
The +2 and -2 keys used to be used to add or remove 2 metres on the fly (while driving).
They can now be configured to add or subtract from 1 metre to 10 metres.
This means you can be even more 'refined' in your estimates of sharp bends. You can add a single metre instead of the 2m minimum on Rallye Pack 2.
The +2 and -2 buttons have retained their original names, however, so as not to confuse RP2 users.
CIRCUIT FUNCTION
A new function enables you to regulate your time on the circuit when you need to do a warm-up lap, then a reference lap and repeat this a certain number of times.
A reset point is captured before the end of the 1st lap, which will enable a reset to be made for all subsequent laps, so that you can always cross the start/finish line at the right time.
AUTOMATIC TRANSITION TO THE NEXT ZR
So that you don't forget to move on to the next ZR, the RALLYE PACK 3 can be configured to move on to the next ZR by itself, as soon as it finishes a ZR. This function can of course be deactivated for those who want to control the progress of the ZRs themselves.
A reset point before the start/finish line will be recorded so that you can finish the lap at the correct time.
MEMORISING THE ROAD BOOK / READJUSTMENT
For OPEN ROAD RALLYs :
You can memorise 170 alignment points / junction announcements per special ZR (64 ZR). To make it easier for the co-driver to navigate, you can memorise (when you have the Road Book sufficiently in advance) the boxes (mileage) in the Roadbook. So 200 metres (configurable) and 20 metres before reaching the point in the Roadbook, the RP3 warns you with the LED and the beep. You can choose whether or not to re-align.
40 metres after the point, the RP3 automatically moves on to the next point and displays the reset mileage.
The roadbook boxes can be recorded in the device during the links between the ZRs if you haven't had time to do so before the start of the rally and the rodbook is given very shortly before the start.
At any time, you can take control of the system and manually reset it using the keyboard. Once this "manual" readjustment has been validated, the RP3 resumes its semi-automatic readjustments.
For CLOSED ROAD RALLYs :
You can store 170 readjustments points per special ZR (64 ZR).
For those who don't want to invest in a manual or GPS remote control, here's a very effective alternative solution: with 170 readjustments points, for example, you can readjust every 100 metres over 17,000 km !
In practice, there will be fewer readjustments because you'll need to find a visual reference point on the road, which you'll have written down in a "paper" roadbook.
All you have to do is validate when the nose of the car is in front of the marker.
Having said that, readjustments every 150 m to 300 m is enough to achieve some very good performances.
RECOGNITION for VHRS RALLYS :
You can carry out reconnaissance with Rallye Pack 3 and record points as you drive (stopping, of course, at recalibration points for even greater accuracy).
You can "NORMALISE" the distances to each Roadbook point directly in Rallye Pack 3.
Normalise: Use a product of crosses to correct the distances since the last normalisation when there is a discrepancy between our distance measurements and those of the organiser because we don't pass exactly on the same track.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
DUPLICATING THE READJUSTMENT NOTES:
In VHRS, you often do the same ZR several times. Example: We have 3 ZRs (ZR01, ZR02, ZR03) which we will do 3 times. We can therefore duplicate ZR01 in ZR04 and ZR07, ZR02 in ZR05 and ZR08 and finally ZR03 in ZR06 and ZR09. So you don't have to rewrite everything. The RP3 will do the copying in a fraction of a second.
CANCELLING A READJUSTEMENT :
To cancel a readjustement press the C key for 4 seconds (as before). What's new is that after 4 seconds, the message CANCEL is displayed on the RECAL line.
This makes it easier to see that the readjustment has been cancelled.
FORMAT OF MANUAL READJUSTEMENTS :
99% of the ZRs that we do in VHR or VHRS are less than 100 kms. The first 0 in the readjustment mileage is therefore often unnecessary (RECAL: 012.235 kms).
You can therefore configure the readjustment to be in 6-digit format ( _ _ _ . _ _ _ ) or 5-digit format ( _ _ . _ _ _ ). This avoids typing the 0 at the beginning.
MULTI-AVERAGE FUNCTION (Time / Distance) :
This function already existed in Rallye Pack 2, but you could only do one ZR in multi-average.
In this new version, you can create as many multi-average ZRs as you like (up to a limit of 64 ZRs). So each ZR can be a multi-average !
A special function allows you to enter pairs of values (TIME / DISTANCE) with either a fixed or a variable step.
The times are converted into averages and stored in the memory as if they were 'normal' ZRs with averages/distances.
You can start a ZR even if you are still entering the pairs of values, for example if you are given the "time/distance" sheet very shortly before the start and you haven't finished programming everything.
MULTIPLICATOR COEFFICIENT FUNCTION FOR CORRECTING OFFSET distances :
This function is used to multiply by a correction coefficient all the OFFSET distances that have been programmed into the memory if you have carried out reconnaissance with a calibration that will not necessarily be the one used during the rally.
Each ZR can be independently multiplied by the desired coefficient.
This can be useful in VHRS recco when you want to NORMALISE all the values with the same coefficient.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF A READJUSTEMENT POINT:
When the RECALAGE function is used (from the keyboard or pre-recorded in memory), the RP2 warns the user 200 metres before and 20 metres before the readjustement by beeps and a flashing red LED on the front panel.
On the RP3, the 200 metres can be configured from 80 m to 250 metres.
AVERAGE CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT :
The main screen will display the new average 100 m before the change. This is indicated by the current average and the new average flashing, preceded by an arrow and accompanied by a beep. The co-pilot will no longer forget to tell the pilot that the average has changed. For example, 45.00 alternates with <41>, which means that you are going from 45.00 to 41 km/h.
The decimals are not displayed when the change is announced, because for the pilot it's not really important to know whether you're going from 45.00 to 41.00 or 41.25!
MULTIPLIER COEFFICIENT FOR CORRECT SPEED DISPLAY:
Depending on the car, the sensor pulses are picked up on 1 stud, 2 studs, 4 studs (wheel studs), 5 studs (wheel studs on Porsches). For 4 and 5 studs, I recommend dividing by 4 or 5 to avoid quickly reaching the 9999 possible impulses for a calibration.
In the case of 2 studs, you can do a calibration without worrying about division if the stud is less than 9 kms long (approximately). And so you have a measurement to the metre.
This is how I work on my race and recce car. 2 studs opposite each other, no probe division. This way I get a number of pulses greater than the distance. Example: WHEEL TURNS: 2725 / DISTANCE: 2500 m
But if you don't do this division, you need to go to MENU / Coef x 2 (Speed) and choose to multiply by 2 to get a correct display of the vehicle speed. A very small detail !
DEGRESSIVE PARTIAL COUNT WHEN REVERSING :
On previous versions, the PARTIAL did not decrease like the TOTALISER when R was pressed when reversing. From now on, the split counter will decrease like the TOTALISER.
DETECTION OF AVERAGE AND/OR MISSING DISTANCE :
When you arm the timer for a start in the next minute or within 30 seconds, or when you are preparing to ride on a circuit with the "CIRCUIT" function, an error message (plus BEEP) appears if you have not programmed at least the 1st average and the 1st distance.
This is because the timer can only calculate the theoretical mileage if it has an average and the distance up to which it must maintain this average.
CHRONO FROZEN FOR 3 SECONDS :
When the totalizer is reset, the stopwatch is frozen for 3 seconds to allow users to compare it with the lap time sometimes noted on certain ROADBOOKs. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
So much for the new features in RALLYE PACK 3. A lot of aids for the co-driver so that he doesn't make mistakes in his programming and navigation.
As for pure performance, it is still and will remain the driver's ability to stay on the green, anticipate gear changes, pass through hairpins as quickly as possible, keep to the right, etc...
All the equipment allows you to regulate to a tenth of a second. But it's the driver who makes it happen ... or not !
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