Harry's LapTimer Rookie App Reviews

Being able to re-live and review my track days with Harrys lap timer has been awesome. Viewing and comparing multiple laps, with the ability to correlate to video has allowed me to see where I can improve. This is an awesome, easy to use app. If you are into track days and want to geek on real useful data, try it out. You wont be disappointed.

I dont get to use it as much as I would like, it that has more to do with not doing enough track days. Love that this app is scaleable. I started with Rookie and have since updated to Grand Prix. It works with just the iPhone out of the box with just the app, but can also be scaled up with external hardware as you get more addicted - cams, OBD2 sensors, better GPS trackers. All of which I have done and am impressed with the capabilities of just an app. Support is awesome and it is continuously updated and features added, such as the new dyno function (which I think is free for GP only). Ive used it for autocross, lapping days, karting. Even mountain biking. Have always been happy with it and have recommended it to several friends.

After last update track list is empty and its not possible to download any track map

Ive used this software on my Palm for a couple of years and now its finally available for iPhone. Its missing some of the Palm features, but Im confident they will come. This developer has always responded quickly to concerns and problems. I have not seen any other software in the App Store that does what LapTimer does. This is by far the best software for road racers on this platform. Thanks for bringing this software to iPhone!

The app is very nice but the iPhones GPS gets lost easily in corners; my track maps look like spaghetti once I get into the corners. Too bad, because the app appears to have been well designed and implemented.

Good application, has lots of nice features, and is at a reasonabel price. Dont expect a ton from the iPhone GPS system, but it does well with auto-lapping. Its frustrating now in OS 3.0 that you cant disable auto-lock, I cant figure out how to keep this application "alive" without touching the screen every 5 minutes - not easy while track driving. Any ideas?

This MAY be a powerful app, but it is difficult to tell because there are no instructions on how to use it. The website shows some neat screenshots, but I have no idea how they were achieved. While I do get some instant data I cant figure out how to get the track mapping and lap timing shown on the website. The stilted English doesnt help. I tried using it in my racecar once and only got wrong data. I know my MG Midget doesnt go 212 MPH as much as might want it to! I also could not figure out how to keep it running for any meaningful length of time, as another review noted. And why must I agree to the license EVERY TIME I launch the app? I wish I could either get my 4.99 back or get some instructions that might unlock all the secrets that are hiding in this app.

It is easy to turn off auto lock so that really isnt an issue, however this is a terrible app. There are no instructions and simply trying to figure out how to set up a track is hard. Calibrating is a nightmare. Its really no more useful than a stopwatch... If you want a decent lap timer and data buy a traqmate.

I am really impressed by this app, as it fills a need for the right price. I have wanted a GPS/accelerometer logger for HPDE events for the last several years, but have not been willing to fork up the $600 -$1000 this would cost. Although this app does not give the same precision and reliable performance as such a dedicated unit, it is functional enough to do what I want: compare laptimes and analyze sectors where I can improve, as well as provide data for later video overlay. I looked at several other apps, but they seemed more expensive and less functional that this one. pros: nice realtime accelerometer view, useful GPS status information, easy export of data in a usable format, and nice viewing of individual laps. cons: still needs work in some areas (for example, I have not been able to get the accelerometer calibration to work as intended... it never finishes the last two steps for the "drive in a straight line" and "linear braking/acceleration" component. "Force calibration" does not seem to do anything useful. My workaround has been to position the phone uncalibrated using a swivel ball mount such that both axis are zero when level and at rest, oriented pretty much vertically in portrait orientation), and it would be good if the intermediate accelerometer data was used to augment the slow GPS update rate, or at least was logged so that I could provide this correction myself. It seems from the development plan on Harrys website that this is in the works, so I am looking forward to the next update. Keep up the good work!

I managed to figure out how to use the app in 5 minutes of playing with it. Easy instructions: Calibration happens automatically. If you want you can force it to calibrate manually by hitting the wrench in the "Acceleration" page, but its generally unnecessary. To get automatic lap timing working: 1) Create your car and track at some point by hitting the wrench in the "Classic" or "Racers" page. Select your car/track. 2) When you get to the starting grid for the first time on that track, hit the "More" page, then "POI List", then "+". This sets your current location as the start/finish line. 3) Hit Go on the "Classic" or "Racers" page and start lapping! 4 stars only because Harry should be writing these instructions and not me. This app has far more features than any of the other track day apps out there; theyre just harder to get to.

This app is great for the track day enthusiast. The ability to easily set up intermediate triggers using google maps is fantastic!! Once you know what you are doing with the app you will fall in love with it. The PDF and google earth track map exports are awesome and allow you to share your hot laps with anyone! Im looking toward to more timing views. It would be great to have a view showing the gps reference gap, current time and best time in huge numbers on the screen. Keep up the good work Harald!

One of the best apps in terms of using the full capability of the iPhone. Just great!!! You just need to learn how to use it, check his website for more detail. Once you figure it out it will blow your mind how cool it is. I cant wait for more updates, it keeps getting better and better. Must have for any truck enthusiast.

I spent three days at High Plains Raceway testing various laptiming software. Hands down this app wins. I used a Tom Tom mount and amazed everyone with the accuracy. My lap times on this app were within 1/100s of the transponder times! The ability to use NMEA data must have been key. I use the timer view to improve my times; the diff to ref lap is a very useful and advanced function. With this functionality one knows exactly how effective a new line was, immediately. The UI could do with some work because the font on the diff is too small. Use the iPhone accessibility menu to invert the colors for more contrast. This app works better than some dedicated loggers. Keep up the good work!

A friend at the track was using it, so I bought it on the spot and used it all day. A little tricky to setup a track the first time (if its not in the database). However, once the stop/start position was set and some interim "sector" points made, the app just worked great. Its really nice to be able to start it in the pits and stop it when lapping ends. I cant comment on accuracy, but the speeds shown are less than indicated on my speedo by 3-5 MPH, but its a BMW which are infamous for exagerating speed. I havent seen any information on if the iPhone 4 has better or more accurate GPS, but LapTimer is working on mine. My friend at the track was able to send me his Portland International Raceway map from his iPhone 3GS, but the waypoints were all bunched together in the wrong spot on my phone. Easily fixed by dragging them to the proper positions. As with any app that uses GPS and sensors, the battery will go fast. Use a power source in the car. Bottom line for me, this app is highly recommended for recording your lap times for HPDE days.

I havent had an opportunity to use this on the track yet, but it looks pretty nice. The only disappointment Ive had so far is that it wont run in the background while I simultaneously (sp?) record video on my iPhone 4.

Not good at all, hard to understand dont spend your money in this app you wont be happy

Another track buddy told me about Harrys Lap Timer and just looking at it while sitting still in the car I couldnt figure it out. But I thought for 5.99 it may at least give me a rough estimate of my lap times until I get a "real" timing and data system. I started reading the help pages and got more and more amazed as I read. I got to the video part and thought, "why did I not buy the Pro version?". So I upgraded right then and made a date with the track a few weeks later. Standalone products that do all this go into the thousands of dollars. Yes, HLT isnt as flexible as the standalones, but its literally 1/100th the cost. At the track this app is right at home. There was already a map for VIR, so I just downloaded the track map, turned it on and away I went. I bought a tomtom iPhone car kit, but it didnt have the iPhone 4 adapter so my first day was using the internal assisted gps only. And really, it wasnt that bad considering there isnt much cell signal anywhere near the track. Some laps were better than others signal-wise and it didnt provide a good baseline due the inconsistency, but that was expected. That night I bought the Pro version for my "old" 3GS and took it out the next day plugged into the tomtom. Perfect reception and consistent timings. I need to figure out what software to do the data analysis in now. The built in analysis pack is good, but the screen on the iPhone is tiny for all that data. I do like the lap time and comparison to a reference lap analysis. I havent tried all the modes yet, but what I have used (classic timer, video, speedometer, analysis) has been worth many, many times more than the $15 bucks for the pro version. Considering this is one guy developing this app, its totally 5 stars. I have a few wish list items for subsequent releases. -choose how many laps are recorded on video before saving to phone. -allow for background video recording and the classic timer foreground (I dont need to see the video while Im driving, I do need the timer up). -add a line from the center to the moving dot on the friction circle. -have the option of +/- time in comparison to your best time for the entire lap, not just a sector. -allow for one button "press and record" gps overlaid video without creating a lap (for impromptu mountain drives). I have all kinds of ideas- Harald, if you need someone to test just let me know. Thanks for creating this incredible app!!

I just used this for the first time at Summit Point and it was great! The lap times were within 1/10th of a second and often within a few 1/100 of a second compared to the transponder! Worked great every time and did not use data and the battery did not even go down very fast. Amazing App! Used with an iPhone 4, no Tom Tom kit.

This is a great application to use for track day data gathering. Ive been able to use it to shave time off my laps, and to help diagnose problems Ive had with my car. For the most accurate results, you cannot rely on the internal GPS. The TomTom mount is quite good. There are others listed on the Lap Timer web site which also work quite well according to the author. I havent tried them, but I have no reason to doubt. Ive actually ordered one of them since my TomTom mount isnt working, but havent tried it yet. Finally, if you ever have any questions about using the application, or even enhancement ideas, the author is very responsive. Ive always had an answer within a day, and in one case where a new track configuration was being introduced, he was up early in the morning getting the new config set and ready to use. Theres even a forum specifically for the application. Harry, keep up the great work.

Total waste of $8.99. Didnt work for a SINGLE LAP in a full day at the Thunderhill track. I attempted to get my money back, but was stiff-armed by the developer (Harry) and denied by Apple. Be forewarned, apparently "the app doesnt work" is not a vaild reason for getting a refund. Really? I feel ike Ive been robbed by both Harry and Apple. Dont bother with this one.