Losing our transponder: How we lost 15 laps in 30 mins while driving at full speed.

Karting Genk 24h, middle of the night. Suddenly our team started dropping in the ranking with no laptimes showing up and not making any pitstop. Called in our driver, only to find out that the transponder and numberplate were no longer attached to the kart. So got a new transponder and number, switched kart and back on track. Only to have the exact same thing happening again 5 laps later. End result: 15 laps lost and not getting anything compensated. This same thing happened 14 times to 8 different teams during the Genk 24h and apparently is a known issue. So be aware next time you take part in an endurance race @ Karting Genk. Watch the video to see how exactly it happened and what are our learnings for the next race.
"A transponder is a small electronic device that is attached to a kart, motocross bike or car during a race. The transponder is used to measure the time taken to complete a lap, as well as other data such as speed, position, and number of laps completed. This information is transmitted wirelessly to a timing and data system, where it is processed and used to create live results and rankings."

[@karting4u]

Feedback from Karting Genk: after reviewing the video they found that most likely the latch at the top was not completely pushed down. They did a test and in that situation the transponder looks correctly attached but if you pull harder you still can get it loose. So it is mandatory to push the transponder plate all the way down so you can push the latch down completely as well. They did confirm they are looking into other ways of attaching the transponder.

[@opticzz.karting]

RIP....

[@SylverPfeil]

Looks like lesson #4 is for the track people themselves: make the walls at the back chicane fully immovable for a rental kart race. Once everyone takes the straight line you can’t NOT take it, this is racing.

[@karting4u]

Agree. They did put back the tire wall @ 6:35am but by that time the damage was already done.

[@jimmyq10_rastafari79]

its a real problem in Genk since they changed how they attach the transponder. The previous method with 2 safety pins was much better. Lets hope they change this method they have now! I have lost the transponder once too but i saw it happen so just slammed on the brakes and drove back for it on the gras 🤣

[@karting4u]

Cool 👌 Also heard from someone that managed to catch it flying off 😅