GTech Debate Resolved:

There has been much talk about the GTech and it's accuracy.  For the most part the GTech is a very good device for gauging performance upgrades and baseline vehicle performance.  Keep in mind you get what you pay for and at $149 for the standard model and $249 for the Pro model, what in the hell do you expect?  This isn't NASA grade equipment.  Personally, I love my GTech and find it to be very accurate if used properly.  The ongoing debate about a GTech'er saying "I have a 12 second car" and a Track'er saying "You're full of it" has given me fuel to find out for myself.  Since I have GTech pro and have been using it since October 2002 as a means to gauge my own upgrades, I took it to the track.  I calibrated and staged the GTech as I hit the first track stage light and crept ever so lightly to the second track stage light to compare run for run, Track to GTech.  As usual the GTech reported 12.7 and 12.8, the track reported 13.2 and 13.5.  The runs were virtually identical up to the 330' mark and pretty close at the 1/8 mile, then gradually strayed farther apart to the 1/4 mile mark.

GTech vs Track, run for run.

As you can see, there is a level of consistency.  It may be wrong at the end of the track, bit at least it is consistently wrong.  The GTech gives you more information than the track will, like 0-60 MPH times and HP & TQ charts.  The first run I did was a dial-in run to find my track baseline.  I found out (thanks to the GTech) that my HP drops off after 6000 so I was shifting too late to achieve max HP to the ground.  I reset my GTech shift light and ran again shifting at 6000 all the way down the track and ran exactly 3/10th second faster, same trap speed, just got there quicker.  The last run was a complete wash out, over 1 second R/T and took 1st all the way to 7500 (forgot to shift), basically I feel asleep.  Still managed to match my first run by shifting at 6000 through the next 3 gears, overall trap speed faster.

Keep in mind there are many variables that the GTech cannot measure as well as variables that the track can't measure.  Accurate weight plays a role in good GTech numbers, whether you stage the GTech in a slight roll, GTech internal temperature will throw off the accelerometers, how far you actually stage at the track (there is a 12 inch variable between stage lights and another large gap up to the track red light sensor), the time dissolution it takes for electrons to travel 1320 feet to and from the track sensors and additional footage to the track central timing computer, track sensor reaction efficiency (not all track light beams are as fast as others, there is a slight delay within the sensor itself, although not that much), track central timing computer efficiency, and several others.  It has been said that a properly calibrated GTech is more accurate than a track because of these "real world" limitations.  Since the GTech doesn't have thousands of feet of cable for electrons to flow through and "not 100% efficient" light beam sensors to deal with, it makes sense, but that will never change the face of the planet as far as the track being the ultimate gauge.  Besides, not all GTechs are calibrated to each other, so the track (as a neutral source) will always make the grade.

Anyways, enough blah blah blah.  The Gtech is a great feedback device to aid in tuning and driving performance.  It is NOT the basis by which performance is measured.  If you don't have one, you really don't know it's potential.  If you do, use it for what it is and take your car to the track (neutral source by which all others are graded) to find out how fast you really are.

So for all those GTech'ers that swear by the GTech, realize that those numbers are not real world and be careful not to put your wallet out to back it up.  You're living in a fantasy world and the real world will eat your shit.  Wake up and take your car to the track!

And for all those Track'ers who curse the GTech, get a life and realize that there is no battle between the GTech and the track.  The track has always been the dominant force in measuring performance.  You're so caught up in your "Gung-Ho" fuel burning macho ways, you're threatened by anything that merely appears to challenge it.

That's my 2.637@100.0% cents worth on this subject.  Hope we can all wake up to the reality of this situation and get on with life.

Peace.