Chip Timing Information

With the exception of "fun run" participants, all entrants in the 5K, 10K, and half marathon will be timed using ChampionChip timing chips. You will receive your timing chip at packet pick-up. Chips are not available at the starting line.

How to use the ChampionChip!

Before you start

Wear your chip on your shoe. Use the zip-tie of tie it into the top laces, DON'T just tuck it in and please don't tie it into the laces. (It comes off much more easily with scissors.)

MAKE SURE you are wearing YOUR chip - if you mixed yours up with someone, well guess what - that person will get your race time, and you'll get theirs!

During the race

Make sure you run over the activator pads on the road at the starting line and at the finish line. Do not run around the pads, or you won't get timed!

Don't jump over the line, or stomp on it, just run normally, and it will read you.

After the race

Turn your chip in immediately to the people at the finish line! (They will help you remove it.)

If you forget to turn in your chip, mail it back to:

Gault Race Management
P.O. Box 232, Flushing, MI 48433

If you lose your chip or don't return it, you will be billed $30 dollars.

Can I use my personal ChampionChip?

Yes. Simply fill out the number of your personal ChampionChip on the race registration form online or at the expo. But it must be a ChampionChip, as other types of chips will NOT work!

How it works

Your chip works like ID badges at work - it has a unique magnetic code imbedded into it. The pads you cross over emit a magnetic field. When the magnet in your chip sweeps across the magnetic field of the pad, a unique disruption to the field is created than can be registered by receivers in the pad. It's called telemetrics. It's also how Mobil "Speed Passes" work.

First your personal race data is loaded into a computer and matched to your unique chip ID.

As you cross the actuator device at the starting line, your exact starting time is loaded into the computer "ear" via electro-magnetic waves. The same thing happens at the finish line. The starting line times are all transmitted to the results center via cell phones data transfer.

The difference between these two times is your exact finish time for the race. The chip was first used in competition in '94 Berlin Marathon, & in the U.S. in '96 in L.A.

Remember, Chips are NOT available at the starting lines so please remember to bring your chip!