Tripmaster
Also: Rally tripmeter, Halda
A Tripmaster is a precise rally trip meter that measures via a sensor on a wheel or gearbox and can be calibrated.
A Tripmaster is a dedicated rally odometer. It shows the distance driven to the metre and can be calibrated for your car.
Where the name comes from
Tripmaster was first the name of a device made by the Swedish company Halda. Today many crews use the word for any rally trip meter, whatever the brand.
How it works
Classic Tripmasters are driven mechanically by the speedometer cable. Electronic units take pulses from a sensor on a wheel, drive shaft or gearbox. A correction factor sets how far your car really travels per pulse. Many models have two counters: one for the total distance and one for the current section.
Pros and cons
- Very accurate once it is set up on the calibration route.
- Works without GPS signal, for example in forests or tunnels.
- Fitting takes time, and at some events a period correct Tripmaster is part of the class rules.
Mechanical Halda units are a piece of rally history for many crews. Our guide to app or Tripmaster compares both options.