How To: Show Two Vehicles or Two Runs/Laps on the Same Map

This is a step-by-step guide for displaying two vehicles (or two different runs/laps) on the same track map. This requires them to both have been recorded on the same race course.

  • 1) Setup a RaceRender project with your primary data file, like normal.

  • 2) Double-click on the Track Map display object to open its properties box, and customize it to your liking.
    • a) You may want to change the "Vehicle Position" icon to "Arrow 1", as this will help make each run/lap more visible.
    • b) If you made the map full screen or very large, set the "Resolution" option to "Higher" or "Extreme" for increased quality.
    • c) Do not use the Zoom or Rotate options, as they will not align properly.

  • 3) Add the second data file to your project, and cancel out of the template menu that appears, so that no displays are created for it.
    • a) If you are intending to overlay another lap from the same input file, right-click on it in the "Input Files" list and select "Duplicate", then change its name to be more unique.

  • 4) Click on the Track Map display object, then press the "Duplicate" button to make a copy of it.

  • 5) Double-click on this newly-created second track map display to open its properties box, then change its "Input" selection to your second data file. You may also want to change its label to be more clear that it�s the display for the second data file.

  • 6) On the main preview screen, click and drag the second track map to position it on top of the first track map. Assuming that both runs/laps covered the same geographical area, and had good GPS data, they should align easily.

  • 7) In the properties box for the second track map, change the "Vehicle Position" color to something different, and then un-check the "Draw Map" box. That will make this display only show its vehicle position icon alone, and not its own map plot as well. It will still appear to be on a map plot due to being aligned on top of the other map and vehicle position display below it.

    • a) To confirm this, the primary data�s track map will be on the bottom (and will be shown lower in the Display Objects list), and it will have its "Draw Map" box checked. The secondary data�s track map will be on top of it, and this one�s "Draw Map" box should not be checked.
    • b) If you make other changes to either track map display (other than color), you will usually need to make the same changes to the other track map display so that they stay in proper alignment.
    • c) Note that the "Draw Map" checkbox may be automatically set if you make changes, so you�ll want to be sure to go un-check it on that second (topmost) track map.

  • 8) Synchronize the second data file so that the start of its run or selected lap matches that of your primary data file:

    • a) Click the "Laps" button at the top, set its "Input" selection to your primary data file.
      • i. Click on the line that shows the lap you want to use. For autocross, rally, drag, etc., runs, this will typically be the "Lap 001" line.
      • ii. The main preview should now seek to the exact start of the lap/run for the primary data.

    • b) Now click the "Synchronization Tool" button under the "Input Files" section, and set its "Input File" selection to your second data file.

      • i. If your second file contains only a single run (typical of autocross, rally, drag race, etc.), or if you are wanting to use Lap 1, 2, or 3 from a circuit recording, click the "Data Sync Wizard" button.
        • 1. Ensure that the "Data Input to Sync" is set to your second data file
        • 2. Set the "Data Event" selection to "Lap: First time crossing start/finish line (Lap 1 start)". If you intend to use lap 2 or 3 instead, choose the corresponding option.
        • 3. Click the Synchronize button below it.

      • ii. In other cases (most often needed for circuit laps):
        • 1. Drag the sync slider forward until you see the icon on the track map start to move.
        • 2. If doing circuit laps: continue dragging the slider forward and count how many laps, until you get to the desired lap.
        • 3. Move the slider back forward, and/or use the -0.03 or -0.15 buttons below it, to set the timing just very slightly before the start of movement.

    • c) The two runs or laps should now be synchronized. Only one of the position icons may appear at first due to them being exactly on top of each other, but you should see them separate a bit as you play the preview of this run/lap.