yep, LIDAR would work

Is that anything like "LIE-DAR"?

That's what most guys I know use to measure their speed.

Drag boat racing is done in creeks were the water is not a 3/4 mile wide. Drag boat racing also uses poles driven into the ground for the beams to set on. If I am not mistaken this particular area is about 64' deep making that a little impractical.
Lets face it, this is an event for charity. It does nat make any difference wether MYWAY speed was 208 or 217, it was clearly the fast boat there and he was awarded the same as he would have been if they had recorded 217. If the top speed is important to the owner go out and show us on GPS.
Allen

MYWAY was aware of this problem when the boat was in the dock before they drivers meeting Saturday morning. On the front port side sponson he had a device bolted thru one of the hatches in which I assumed was for the rader to pick up.Maybe this device was to small and is why the rader gun did not pick up 2 of his runs. Other dealt with the problem in other ways for example Eddie Young and Bruce Gibson covered the noise of there boat in a metal tape.
Allen

Does not matter cops do not have poles "driven into the ground" and measure your speed just fine.

It seems a Laser Speed Detector Mfg. would see this as a opportunity to showcase their equipment...

In my area cops do not use beams for timing equipment. They use rader or laser.

You ever notice cops using lasers hold it real close to there eyes. They are doing this aiming this device. They way it was done at the shoouout no one was on the boom lift. the rader guns are fixed mounted and have a display remotely mounted making sure that human error was not in the equation.

Just had the argument about radar accuracy with my best friend (local cop). They just had the latest Stalker system installed in one of their squads. His only comment was that the new stalker system that is permanently mounted in the squad car is much more accurate then models before. It interfaces with the vehicles powertrain control module to pick up vehicle speed. So my argument to him was that if they are running either low or worn tires wouldn't that affect the accuracy.... I think so! Let's face it, lights are way faster than sound (radar.)

They could use a vbox ( http://www.vboxusa.com/products.php ) with the optional remote hard mounted signal base to boost accuracy. Also, could use telemetry so judges could see data realtime and download remotely.

I've used them and they are pretty darn accurate.