Re: Performance Trends Newsletter (updates)

To: Visitors to Performance Trends Website

Subject: Product News/Updates, Sept 2010

1. Trade Shows Coming Up in Indy and Orlando
2. New DataMite Data Logger Features (Dyno and Vehicle Systems)
3. Valve Spring Tester Software Bug Fix
4. Are You Up To Date?  (list of our latest versions)
5. Last July's Newsletter

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1)  Trade Shows Coming Up in Indy and Orlando  It's not too early to start thinking about attending some of the Motorsports trade shows coming up at the end of the year.  This year we're doing 2 trade shows, the PRI show in Orlando (which we've always done) and the new IMIS show in Indianapolis.

International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) Trade Show Dec 1-3  This is only the 2nd year for this show, but we've heard good things about it.  This will be our first year for attending, and we're in Booth 2339, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Check out their website at www.imis-indy.com or call 317-429-1004 to register for attending.

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, Dec 9-11  This is known as the worlds largest "hardcore" motorsports trade show, the PRI show in Orlando, Florida. We'll be in booth 5578, part of SuperFlow's "Test World".  Stop by and see what new things we have for 2011. You must make reservations to attend, so call PRI at 949-499-5413 in California to make them.

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2)  New Dyno DataMite Features (Dyno and Vehicle Systems)  We've added several features to the DataMite software.  These include:

HP as the "Torque" Input  The Dyno DataMite can now use a power signal (HP or KW) instead of the typical torque signal.  Some chassis dynos output power signals for graphing on a chart recorder, but no torque signal.  This new feature means you can easily use our Dyno DataMite system on your dyno and NOT have to add a torque sensor.  See screen below.  Pro Version Only.
   (click image to enlarge it)

Calculated Volumetric Efficiency  As mentioned in last July's newsletter, the Pro Version of Dyno DataMite can now use an air turbine to measure engine air flow and calculate the engine's Volumetric Efficiency.  Pro Version Only.  

Fuel Flow Options  A feature the Dyno DataMite software has had for several years is the ability to record fuel flow and calculate Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC).  Well, it now has the ability to add 2 fuel flow readings together, so you can run just 1 fuel flow meter for smaller engines, and then run 2 flow meters for higher HP engines.  It also lets you subtract the flow from 2 flow meters.  For example, you can measure flow going to the engine, and then subtract the flow returning to the tank in a return line to get just the fuel flow being consumed by the engine.  Pro Version Only. 

Peak Tq and HP Display  The Dyno program now has a Preference for showing Peak Torque and Peak HP in a large display on the Main Screen (below the torque/HP graph).  See screen below.  Pro Version Only.
  (click image to enlarge it)

Offset a Custom Table Calibration  The program now offers a "Correction" input for a Custom Table Calibration so you can shift the entire table up or down slightly.  Custom Table Calibrations are typically used for "non linear" sensor calibrations, like some of our earlier A/F sensors and our Blow By sensor.  For example, this new feature lets you easily zero out the Blow By sensor when the engine is not running.  Pro Version Only.

New Graphing Features  The arrow keys on the keyboard can now be used in all DataMite packages for several graphing features, including:

  to read the Readme.doc file of recent changes for all our DataMite Data Loggers.

These are FREE updates to anyone owning the v3.7 software.  If you do NOT own v3.7, it is a $100 update to v3.7.

Click on Help (at the top of the main screen), and then select About... to determine your complete version number (written in blue), something like v3.7 A.044.

  for downloading the latest Dyno DataMite software, v3.7 A.102.

  for downloading the latest Drag Race DataMite software, v3.7 A.103.

  for downloading the latest Road Race/Circle Track DataMite software, v3.7 A.099.

When asked during this installation, select to do a Refresh installation instead of a Complete (typical) installation.  This will ensure you keep your settings and your current unlock information.

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3)  Valve Spring Tester Software Bug Fix  If you have one of our Valve Spring Testers, we've found a bug which could affect you.  If you are testing several springs, and cycle (compress and release) some springs at a much slower rate than other springs for one particular test file (one set of springs), this bug could affect you.  All data is correct unless you select to change something in the Test Options screen (things like seated or open spring heights, lash, retainer thickness, etc as shown below) which would require a "Refresh" of all calculations.

  (click image to enlarge it)

The current version, v1.1 A.096, does NOT have this problem.  However, any files recorded before this version may have them.  The current version will at least warn you of this problem if you try to "refresh" the calculations, and tell you to NOT save them to the same test name as your current file.  Then you will still have your original correct results for the original set of Test Options.  See screens below for typical messages.

If you make changes in the Test Options screen, which would require "refreshing" the calculated results, you could get the screen below:

Answer Yes, and you could get:

And then you could get:

Click on Help (at the top of the main screen), and then select About... to determine your complete version number (written in blue), something like v1.1 A.044.

  for downloading the latest Valve Spring Tester software, v1.1 A.096.

When asked during this installation, select to do a Refresh installation instead of a Complete (typical) installation.  This will ensure you keep your settings and your current unlock information.

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4)  Are You Up To Date?  (list of our latest versions)  Many times customers will call in and not realize there program has been updated.  Some updates are Major, like Engine Analyzer Pro going from v3.5 to v3.9 and may require an update charge.  Some updates are FREE.  These are for some of our smaller programs, even when they go to a completely new version number,  like Compression Ratio Calculator going from v1.1 to 2.0 and now v2.3.  And then there are the minor revisions like discussed in Items 2 and 3 above, which are also FREE.  That's when, say, Engine Analyzer Pro goes from v3.9 A.022 to A.023 because a customer found a tappet lift value for a particular cam is wrong, or possibly some other bug fix.

Here's a list of our more popular current programs and major version numbers:

Engine Analyzers (dyno performance simulations):
    Engine Analyzer v3.4
    Engine Analyzer Plus v3.4
    Engine Analyzer Pro v3.9

Drag Racing Tools:
    Drag Racing Analyzer v3.2
    Drag Racing Analyzer Pro v2.0B
    4 Link Calculator v2.0
    4 Link Calculator Plus v2.0
    Practice Tree v2.0
    Practice Tree Plus v2.0

Suspension Tuning/Circle Track Tools:
    Roll Center Calculator v3.6
    Roll Center Calculator Plus v3.6
    Circle Track Analyzer v3.6
    Suspension Analyzer v2.0
    Suspension Analyzer Full Vehicle v2.0

Engine Building Tools:
    Cam Analyzer v3.8    
    Port Flow Analyzer v3.5
    Compression Ratio Calculator v2.3
    Compression Ratio Calculator Plus v2.3
    Fuel Injector Calculator v1.1
    Engine Log Book v1.1
    Valve Spring Tester v1.1

DataMite Data Loggers:
    Dyno DataMite v3.7
    Drag Race DataMite v3.7
    Road Race/Circle Track DataMite v3.7

  to bring up our Downloads Page of all our programs.  At this page you can check out the exact, detailed version of your particular program.  You can then select if you want to download the latest version.  If asked during the installation, select to do a Refresh installation instead of a Complete (typical) installation.  This will better ensure that if your program was already unlocked, it will stay unlocked.

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5) Last July's Newsletter  Here are the topics covered in our previous newsletter.  If you would like another copy of July 2010's newsletter for detail on these topics, visit our website at: http://www.performancetrends.com/news.htm#newsletters

1. Performance Trends Contributes to First Cobra Jet Win
2. New Dyno DataMite Volumetric Efficiency Channel 
3. New Dyno DataMite Single A/F Sensor (no gauge)
4. New Dyno DataMite Mini USB Weather Station
5. Last June's Newsletter