A few years ago infrared temperature gauges were not a feasible purchase for many in the hobby. They tended to be on the expensive side, and only serious racers could justify a cost that started around $100 and increased from there. More recently a need for affordable temperature gauges has been seen, and a proliferation of handheld temperature gauges has hit the market. Some were good, while some were less so. However O'Donnell Racing saw the need for yet another entry, so they've made their TGX1 temperature gauge available to the masses.

So what sets the TGX1 infrared gauge apart from other handheld gauges? First and foremost is the fact that the gauge also provides you with a stopwatch. The stop watch function gives you a very handy way to determine runtimes for pitstop planning, as well as allowing you to gauge your vehicles performance by timing your lap times.

The O'Donnell Racing TGX1 temperature gauge also adds a backlit display, which is something that I haven't seen in an infrared gauge of this size. At first this may seem to be more of a novelty addition to the gauge. However as one who has raced many times while the daylight faded, I can honestly say that a backlit display concept has a serious advantage. The backlit display will definitely prove useful for your hurried pit guy working with minimum light. In a situation such as that, anything you can utilize to get your truck in and out of the pits quickly is well worth the expense to most of us in the racing realm.

However, a temperature gauge's benefits extend beyond what a racer may want or need. Even bashers can benefit from the use of a temperature gauge in helping to establish a good tune for their engine. And just like at a track when the light fades, the daylight can disappear while you're at your favorite bashing area as well. So the usefulness of the backlit display certainly isn't lost in this application either.

The display on the TGX1 is large and easy to read, and the front of the gauge features what O'Donnell calls the '"O' Cone" which makes positioning the gauge an easy task. Simply insert the O'Cone into the glow plug opening on the cooling head, without touching it, and press the button down. The TGX1 will continue to update the temperature reading for as long as you press the button. The soft rubber grips on the side of the gauge make it very easy to hold while performing the temperature reading procedure.

As an additional perk, you also receive a pouch to store the gauge in to protect it. The pouch has a loop for attaching itself to your belt, and the temperature gauge also sports a clip of it's own as well. Both methods allow you to have it ready at a moments notice. If you'd rather have the TGX1 hanging around your neck, you'll find a neckstrap along with the temperature gauge as well. All of this makes the O'Donnell Racing TGX1 temperature gauge a truly useful addition to your pitbox.

I used the O?Donnell TGX1 with several vehicles I had been working up some reviews on. The TGX1 temperature gauge was handy for both the break-in process as well as tuning the vehicle later as well. I liked the fact that I could not only see the current reading in big numbers, but also the maximum reading the gauge saw. This way if I knew I could get a useable measurement, even if I had the gauge angled wrong part of the time.

The gauge proved itself to be well within the accuracy range when I compared it to a few other more expensive handheld gauges I have access to. What's considered "well within" to me? The greatest difference I saw was just shy of 3°. That's excellent, especially when the price tag of around $40 is considered!

The 2007 racing season is just around the corner, and you had better believe that the O?Donnell Racing TGX1 is going to be in my pitbox. It'll work perfectly to replace the small handheld gauge I normally carry around for quick tuning adjustments. Also, with the fact that it has a built-in stopwatch, that?ll be one less item I need to carry around with me as well.

Out of all the small handheld gauges I've used, the TGX1 is definitely my favorite now. It's a solid tool in its own right, but the little details such as the rubber grips on the sides and the backlit display seal the deal. If you're in need of an infrared temperature gauge, you can't go wrong with the O'Donnell TGX1!