Trackmaster - Your Android Lap Timer

Since our article about smartphone apps for trackdays seems to be quite a runner, we've decided to give some of these apps a closer look. So here's...

Trackmaster - Your Android Lap Timer

Trackmaster is a motor sports lap timer that is intended for all forms of motor sports. This includes road racing, track days, autocross, hill climbs, oval racing, and more. It works for cars, motorcycles, and karts. Trackmaster provides high performance data acquisition that rivals racing systems that costs hundreds and even thousands of dollars more.

Trackmaster uses the device's GPS or an external bluetooth GPS and logs speed, times, and acceleration as you race. The app provides real-time, in-car data via the display or speech. Real-time lap times can also be posted to Twitter and Facebook for your fans. After the race, Trackmaster has a myriad of ways to analyze your data from comparing your race lines to viewing data tables and graphs. Exports to Google Earth, MS Excel and video data are also available.

Device data connectivity extends Trackmaster to the cloud by providing data synchronization to MyTrackmaster.com, the web complement of the app. There you can manage and analyze your data, view real-time tracking, and research competitors' race data.

Trackmaster of course has many more features!

Here's a little Q&A session with Jeff, the developer behind this great app:

What is your background and why did you decide to create Trackmaster?
I'm a wireless software engineer for my day job. For fun, I race a 2004 Subaru STI in time trials and track days. I've always tinkered with developing motorsports software for the race car. I actually have a pico-ITX computer in the race car that collects data and video. When the smartphone app revolution and Android came about, I was excited to develop similar software for smartphones.

How long did the app take to build?
The initial release took about 6 months to develop. That was way back in 2009 on the original HTC G1. I've continued to develop the app since then. At this point, it's been over 2 years of continuous development.

What part of the app are you most proud of?
I'm particularly proud of the features that have never been done before in a lap timer app. The cloud sync to MyTrackmaster.com and the Live View feature are some examples. Overall, it's amazing what you can do with your phone and an inexpensive app. Before Trackmaster, I used an infrared Hot Lap timer that only gave me a digital display. Technology has come a long way.

How many people work on the app and have you had any help?
It's just me. I developed the app and the web site at MyTrackmaster.com.

Are you surprised with just how popular the app has become?
Yes, Trackmaster has a very loyal following and it's rewarding to see something you created used all over the world.

How often do you release updates?
I usually release an update with new features once a month.

Jeff, congrats for the great app!

A few screenshots of the app: