Kart display on steering wheel

How To Choose The Best Kart Display

When it comes to setting up or upgrading your kart setup, one of the most impactful changes you can make is enhancing the dashboard display. A quality display can enhance functionality, lap times and the overall driving experience by delivering crucial performance data and metrics in real time.

But with so many options out there, how do you know which one is right for you? In this article, we will guide you through how to choose the best kart display, along with Aim’s recommended kart display. 

Consider Your Specific Needs

When it comes to selecting the best kart display, understanding your specific needs is critical. Not all kart display loggers are created equal and choosing the wrong one could lead to an underwhelming experience or even technical issues. To help you make an informed decision, we have broken down the key factors you should consider.

What Do You Want To Achieve? 

Begin by defining your goals. Are you looking for a basic display logger to monitor lap times or do you need an advanced display that provides real time data tracking like speed, RPM and tyre temperature?

For example, if you’re a recreational kart driver, a simple dash display might be enough. However, competitive racers might need a setup that clearly displays performance data mid-race to ensure that they’re reaching their maximum potential. Choosing the wrong type of display could leave you either overwhelmed by unnecessary features or underprepared for race day. 

Determine The Size & Resolution Required

Screen size and resolution are other important elements to consider when choosing a display for your kart setup. A screen that’s too small can make it difficult to read important performance data at a glance, while a large high-resolution screen display can provide clarity, but might feel too bulky.

Consider a display that is the ideal size to show important data to you and is compatible with your setup. Remember: Not all displays are built the same size. Opt for a display that can easily mount to your karts steering wheel, without being too big or getting in the way.

Display Quality & Longevity 

Investing in a durable, high-quality kart display ensures long-term value. Look for displays from a reliable manufacturer who is well-known for their durability against exposure to dust and rain, long-term quality for value for money and reliability for your peace of mind. Note: While their higher upfront costs may seem steep, reliable manufacturers can often save you money in the long run by avoiding frequent repairs or replacements.

Researching Different Types Of Kart Displays 

The right kart display is about choosing the best device that can enhance your karting experience by providing valuable insights to improve performance. To make the best choice, it’s essential to understand the features available and how they align with your karting needs.

Kart Racing Display Features 

When researching which kart display might be best, we recommend that you consider the following essential features to enhance your karting experience:

  1. GPS Tracking: Modern kart displays, such as the MyChron 6 series, often come with advanced GPS technology for precise tracking of lap times, position and even racing lines to help identify areas of improvement with pinpoint accuracy. Note: Standard GPS sampling rates are around 10 Hz, with higher Hz offering greater accuracy.
  2. Lap Timing Functions: Regardless of your level of experience, knowing your lap time is always a useful feature in any kart display. Consider a display with basic lap timing capabilities, as well as displaying and logging data in real time to monitor and improve performance to stay competitive.
  3. Real Time Data Tracking: Features like real time tracking of speed, RPM and engine temperature provide critical information to drivers during track sessions, helping them to identify potential performance issues before they escalate. Note: Some displays support expansions and sensors to enhance data collection.
  4. Steering Wheel Mounting: Many kart displays are designed to securely mount directly onto your kart steering wheel, ensuring that valuable data is easily visible while minimising distractions.
  5. Customisable Displays: Customisable layouts allow you to prioritise the most relevant metrics, offering quick access to critical data during sessions—particularly beneficial for competitive racers.
  6. Battery Life: For long motorsport days, choose a display with at least 10 hours of battery life to avoid interruptions.
  7. Durability & Weather Resistance: Opt for a display with proven durability and a weatherproof rating of IP67 or IP68 to ensure it withstands dust, rain and rigorous use. Note: IP ratings measure protection against dust and water. The first number 6 indicates that the device is 100% dust-proof, with the second number (7/8) indicating that it can be immersed in over 1 meter of water for a period of time.

What Are The Key Features Of Aim Kart Displays?

At Aim, we manufacture a range of data acquisition products for the motorsport industry. While all of our motorsport displays share core features like lap timing, real time data tracking and weather resistance, our newest MyChron 6 series comes with even more advanced features for karters:

  • Delta Bar Animation: The larger display allows for more graphical lap timing features to be displayed. The Delta bar animation visually shows how your current lap time compares to your personal best, helping you instantly identify whether you’re improving or losing time on the track.
  • Battery Life & Durability: Its improved battery life can last up to 20 hours of continuous operation. This, along with its robust, weather-resistant construction, ensures that these displays can withstand the rigours of kart racing while remaining reliable and consistent.
  • GPS Tracking: Aim displays come with an advanced 25 Hz GPS module to provide precise lap and split timing, along with precise tracking of your position on the circuit within a few centimetres. In motorsport, this level of precision is essential when it comes to identifying the smallest differences in lap times and racing lines.
  • Customisable Displays: Using Race Studio 3 software, you can customise the display to show the most important data for your specific needs, analyse performance data through detailed graphs and histograms and integrate video feeds for in-depth session analysis.
  • Steering Wheel Mounting: MyChron 6 displays are designed to be mounted directly onto your kart steering wheel to ensure that valuable data is easily visible while minimising distractions.
  • Expanded Data Logging: MyChron 6 displays are compatible with a variety of expansions and sensors, such as SmartyCam 3 series cameras, MyChron Expansion and Lambda (LCU-One and LCU-One S) to expand data collection.

Whether you prioritise battery life, lap timing features, GPS accuracy or display size, the right kart display logger can significantly enhance performance. Take the time to explore your options—choose a display that will maximise your performance and provide invaluable insights for every lap to give yourself the best possible racing experience.

Setting A Budget 

Now that you have a better understanding of the features of the ideal kart display for your needs, it’s important to set realistic budgets. Consider elements like potential additional costs (mounting kits, sensors etc) and how often you’ll use the display—if you don’t go karting often, a more affordable option with basic features might be preferable.

Be realistic with your budget though. While it’s tempting to choose the cheapest option, investing in a high-quality kart display logger often provides better value over time. Durable displays, like the MyChron dash display offer robust construction, reliable performance and long battery life, reducing the need for frequent replacements or repairs.

Seeking Expert Advice & Recommendations 

Word of mouth is invaluable when it comes to kart display loggers, particularly if you’ve never owned one before. Speaking with experts and getting involved with karting communities (whether it’s online through forums or at track events) can help you make an informed decision.

People with first-hand experience with a product are often happy to share their experiences and can offer practical advice on what works and what doesn’t. They can help you make a more informed decision, giving you that extra layer of confidence that a display that you’re interested in is right for your needs.

Why Choose An Aim Kart Display? 

Aim are industry leaders when it comes to providing the motorsport community with advanced data acquisition devices. As previously mentioned, we manufacture a variety of displays for various motorsport industries, providing drivers with features like GPS lap timing, real time data and simple integration with other Aim data collection products.

Choosing the best kart display can be challenging with so many options on the market. With our help, we will ensure you get the right kart display logger for your needs—backed by superior support and service every step of the way. Here are just some of the ways that we can support you:

By choosing Aim, you gain a trusted partner who is with you every step of the way, providing the tools, knowledge and support you need to succeed on the track. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced driver, we are here to ensure your kart display delivers the best possible performance and support, helping you stay ahead of the competition.