IRIS iRacing

Article

sween · May 6 13m read

#Embedded Python #Monitoring #Python #InterSystems IRIS

Hello IRIS Fans and Welcome to IRIS iRacing!

Here were going to take 3 laps of your time and demonstrate how I wired up my Racing SIM to IRIS for "As Real Time as It Gets" Metrics reporting. I missed the window for the contest, which happens quite often, but I still ended up 3rd I think in the demo race in the video below.

Technical Salad

Below are the technical ingredients for this demonstration for a salad you can post on Instragram.

Python iRacing SDK ( https://github.com/kutu/pyirsdk/tree/master )
InterSystems IRIS Community / Python Interop
Prometheus
Grafana
Custom Metric Class

User.iRacing.cls

/// Boogity, Boogity, Boogity
Class User.iRacing Extends %SYS.Monitor.SAM.Abstract
{

Parameter PRODUCT = "iracing";
/// Collect metrics from the specified sensors
Method GetSensors() As %Status
{
   do ..SetSensor("speed",..GetSpeed())
   do ..SetSensor("rpm",..GetRPM())
   do ..SetSensor("brake",..GetBrake())
   do ..SetSensor("gear",..GetGear())
   return $$$OK
}

ClassMethod GetSpeed() As %Library.String [ Language = python ]
{
    import irsdk
    import random
    ir = irsdk.IRSDK()
    def get_speed():
        speed="0"
        try:
            bleh = ir.startup()
            ir.freeze_var_buffer_latest()
            speed = str(ir['Speed'])
        except Exception as e:
            #print("An error occurred:", str(e))
            speed = "5" #random.randint(0, 1)
        return speed
    return get_speed()
}

ClassMethod GetRPM() As %Library.String [ Language = python ]
{
    import irsdk
    import random

    def get_rpm():
        rpm="0"
        ir = irsdk.IRSDK()
        try:
            ir.startup()
            ir.freeze_var_buffer_latest()
            rpm = str(ir['RPM'])
        except Exception as e:
            #print("An error occurred:", str(e))
            rpm = "2000" #random.randint(0, 1)
        return rpm
    return get_rpm()
}

ClassMethod GetBrake() As %Library.String [ Language = python ]
{
    import irsdk
    import random

    def get_brake():
        brake="0"
        ir = irsdk.IRSDK()
        try:
            ir.startup()
            ir.freeze_var_buffer_latest()
            brake = str(ir['Brake'])
        except Exception as e:
            #print("An error occurred:", str(e))
            brake = "0" #random.randint(0, 1)
        return brake
    return get_brake()
}

ClassMethod GetGear() As %Library.String [ Language = python ]
{
    import irsdk
    import random

    def get_gear():
        gear="0"
        ir = irsdk.IRSDK()
        try:
            ir.startup()
            ir.freeze_var_buffer_latest()
            gear = str(ir['Gear'])
        except Exception as e:
            #print("An error occurred:", str(e))
            gear = "0" #random.randint(0, 1)
        return gear
    return get_gear()
}
}

Dont forget to do a:

set tSC = ##class(SYS.Monitor.SAM.Config).AddApplicationClass("User.iRacing", "USER")

Then you should see your new metrics on the /api/monitor/metrics endpoint.

Notable here is my python setup on Windows:

cpf

[config]
LibPath=
MaxServerConn=1
MaxServers=2
Path=
PythonPath=c:\Python\Python313\python.exe
PythonRuntimeLibrary=C:\Python\Python313\python313.dll
PythonRuntimeLibraryVersion=3.13
UUIDv1RandomMac=0
bbsiz=-1
console=,

iris_site.py

def set_site_path(platform_name):
    sys.path = sys.path + __sitegetsitepackages(['C:\\Python\Python313'])    
    sys.path = sys.path + ["C:\\Python\Python313\\Lib"]

Racing SIM

Below is the SIM specifications, complete with Driver.

Haptics Buttkicker ( https://thebuttkicker.com/products/buttkicker-gamer-plus )
Wheel Fanatec ( https://www.fanatec.com/us/en/p/sim-racing-bundles/r2r_csl_dd_qr2_wrc_5nm_us/csl-dd-qr2-ready2race-wrc-bundle-5nm-us )
NVIDIA 4080 ( https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/graphics-cards/40-series/rtx-4080-family/ )
Rig Dardo ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DMNGF8X9?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1 )
Triples ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B398KZWJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1 )
Driver @Ron.Sweeney, 1st year competing, ARCA series, drives a number 64 Ford ( https://s100.iracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ARCA_25_Manual_V1.pdf ), mostly ovals.

Gluing it all together, we have a rolling SIM emitting, scraping and serving up iRacing metrics suitable for real time display.

As Real Time as It Gets

The excuse I made for myself to derive some real value of sorts out of this was I have always wanted to be as agressive as possible with data reporting from the source to the exporter, clear through the Prometheus Scrape and the eventual dashboard. The python sdk is wicked fast, as it reads from a memory mapped file while in session, and the other components can be configured to be agressive, but just are not by default and took some edits and daemon reloads.

In order to make this work, I found the following tweaks for necessary:

grafani.ini

min_refresh_interval = 1s

prometheus.yml
1s scrape

  - job_name: 'iracing'     # Override the global default and scrape targets from this job every 5 seconds.
    scrape_interval: 1s
    scrape_timeout: 1s     # metrics_path defaults to '/metrics'
    # scheme defaults to 'http'.
    static_configs:
      - targets: ['192.168.1.193:52773']
    metrics_path: '/api/monitor/metrics'

Dashboard

Newly added refresh rate can be added, and "Refresh Live Dashboards" should be enabled.

At rest it doesnt look like much, as its designed to be real time, but a screenshot is in order to see the 5 panels.

Grafana Dash

{
  "annotations": {
    "list": [
      {
        "builtIn": 1,
        "datasource": {
          "type": "grafana",
          "uid": "-- Grafana --"
        },
        "enable": true,
        "hide": true,
        "iconColor": "rgba(0, 211, 255, 1)",
        "name": "Annotations & Alerts",
        "type": "dashboard"
      }
    ]
  },
  "editable": true,
  "fiscalYearStartMonth": 0,
  "graphTooltip": 0,
  "id": 1,
  "links": [],
  "liveNow": true,
  "panels": [
    {
      "datasource": {
        "type": "prometheus",
        "uid": "fekvb739xgqo0c"
      },
      "fieldConfig": {
        "defaults": {
          "decimals": 0,
          "fieldMinMax": false,
          "mappings": [],
          "thresholds": {
            "mode": "absolute",
            "steps": [
              {
                "color": "green"
              },
              {
                "color": "red",
                "value": 160
              }
            ]
          },
          "unit": "none"
        },
        "overrides": []
      },
      "gridPos": {
        "h": 15,
        "w": 15,
        "x": 0,
        "y": 0
      },
      "id": 1,
      "options": {
        "allowNeedleCrossLimits": true,
        "animateNeedleValueTransition": true,
        "animateNeedleValueTransitionSpeed": 800,
        "edgeWidth": 0.05,
        "gaugeRadius": 0,
        "innerColor": "#000000",
        "markerEndEnabled": false,
        "markerEndShape": "arrow",
        "markerStartEnabled": false,
        "markerStartShape": "circle",
        "maxNeedleAngle": 320,
        "maxTickAngle": 300,
        "maxValue": 200,
        "minValue": 0,
        "needleColor": "orange",
        "needleCrossLimitDegrees": 10,
        "needleLengthNeg": 0,
        "needleTickGap": 0.05,
        "needleWidth": 5,
        "operatorName": "last",
        "outerEdgeColor": "#0099cc",
        "padding": 0.05,
        "pivotColor": "#999999",
        "pivotRadius": 0.1,
        "showThresholdBandLowerRange": true,
        "showThresholdBandMiddleRange": true,
        "showThresholdBandOnGauge": true,
        "showThresholdBandUpperRange": true,
        "showThresholdStateOnBackground": false,
        "showThresholdStateOnValue": false,
        "tickEdgeGap": 0.05,
        "tickFont": "Inter",
        "tickLabelColor": "text",
        "tickLabelFontSize": 10,
        "tickLengthMaj": 0.15,
        "tickLengthMin": 0.05,
        "tickMajorColor": "#0099CC",
        "tickMapConfig": {
          "tickMaps": []
        },
        "tickMinorColor": "#000000",
        "tickSpacingMajor": 10,
        "tickSpacingMinor": 1,
        "tickWidthMajor": 5,
        "tickWidthMinor": 1,
        "ticknessGaugeBasis": 200,
        "unitsLabelColor": "#1690c4",
        "valueFont": "Inter",
        "valueFontSize": 60,
        "valueYOffset": 0,
        "zeroNeedleAngle": 40,
        "zeroTickAngle": 60
      },
      "pluginVersion": "2.0.1",
      "targets": [
        {
          "datasource": {
            "type": "prometheus",
            "uid": "fekvb739xgqo0c"
          },
          "disableTextWrap": false,
          "editorMode": "builder",
          "expr": "iracing_speed{job=\"iracing\"}",
          "fullMetaSearch": false,
          "includeNullMetadata": true,
          "legendFormat": "__auto",
          "range": true,
          "refId": "A",
          "useBackend": false
        }
      ],
      "title": "IRIS iRacing",
      "transparent": true,
      "type": "briangann-gauge-panel"
    },
    {
      "datasource": {
        "type": "prometheus",
        "uid": "fekvb739xgqo0c"
      },
      "fieldConfig": {
        "defaults": {
          "color": {
            "mode": "thresholds"
          },
          "mappings": [],
          "thresholds": {
            "mode": "absolute",
            "steps": [
              {
                "color": "green"
              },
              {
                "color": "red",
                "value": 5000
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "overrides": []
      },
      "gridPos": {
        "h": 8,
        "w": 9,
        "x": 15,
        "y": 0
      },
      "id": 3,
      "options": {
        "displayMode": "gradient",
        "legend": {
          "calcs": [],
          "displayMode": "list",
          "placement": "bottom",
          "showLegend": false
        },
        "maxVizHeight": 300,
        "minVizHeight": 16,
        "minVizWidth": 8,
        "namePlacement": "auto",
        "orientation": "auto",
        "reduceOptions": {
          "calcs": [
            "lastNotNull"
          ],
          "fields": "",
          "values": false
        },
        "showUnfilled": true,
        "sizing": "auto",
        "valueMode": "color"
      },
      "pluginVersion": "11.6.1",
      "targets": [
        {
          "disableTextWrap": false,
          "editorMode": "builder",
          "expr": "iracing_rpm",
          "fullMetaSearch": false,
          "includeNullMetadata": true,
          "legendFormat": "__auto",
          "range": true,
          "refId": "A",
          "useBackend": false
        }
      ],
      "title": "IRIS iRacing RPM",
      "transparent": true,
      "type": "bargauge"
    },
    {
      "datasource": {
        "type": "prometheus",
        "uid": "fekvb739xgqo0c"
      },
      "fieldConfig": {
        "defaults": {
          "color": {
            "mode": "thresholds"
          },
          "mappings": [
            {
              "options": {
                "0": {
                  "color": "dark-green",
                  "index": 0,
                  "text": "Open"
                },
                "1": {
                  "color": "dark-red",
                  "index": 1,
                  "text": "Brake"
                }
              },
              "type": "value"
            }
          ],
          "max": 1,
          "min": 0,
          "thresholds": {
            "mode": "absolute",
            "steps": [
              {
                "color": "green"
              },
              {
                "color": "red",
                "value": 1
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "overrides": []
      },
      "gridPos": {
        "h": 7,
        "w": 6,
        "x": 15,
        "y": 8
      },
      "id": 4,
      "options": {
        "colorMode": "background_solid",
        "graphMode": "area",
        "justifyMode": "auto",
        "orientation": "auto",
        "percentChangeColorMode": "standard",
        "reduceOptions": {
          "calcs": [
            "lastNotNull"
          ],
          "fields": "",
          "values": false
        },
        "showPercentChange": false,
        "textMode": "auto",
        "wideLayout": true
      },
      "pluginVersion": "11.6.1",
      "targets": [
        {
          "disableTextWrap": false,
          "editorMode": "builder",
          "expr": "iracing_brake",
          "fullMetaSearch": false,
          "includeNullMetadata": true,
          "legendFormat": "__auto",
          "range": true,
          "refId": "A",
          "useBackend": false
        }
      ],
      "title": "IRIS iRacing Brake",
      "transparent": true,
      "type": "stat"
    },
    {
      "datasource": {
        "type": "prometheus",
        "uid": "fekvb739xgqo0c"
      },
      "fieldConfig": {
        "defaults": {
          "color": {
            "mode": "thresholds"
          },
          "mappings": [],
          "thresholds": {
            "mode": "absolute",
            "steps": [
              {
                "color": "green"
              },
              {
                "color": "red",
                "value": 80
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "overrides": []
      },
      "gridPos": {
        "h": 7,
        "w": 3,
        "x": 21,
        "y": 8
      },
      "id": 5,
      "options": {
        "colorMode": "value",
        "graphMode": "area",
        "justifyMode": "auto",
        "orientation": "auto",
        "percentChangeColorMode": "standard",
        "reduceOptions": {
          "calcs": [
            "lastNotNull"
          ],
          "fields": "",
          "values": false
        },
        "showPercentChange": false,
        "textMode": "auto",
        "wideLayout": true
      },
      "pluginVersion": "11.6.1",
      "targets": [
        {
          "disableTextWrap": false,
          "editorMode": "builder",
          "expr": "iracing_gear",
          "fullMetaSearch": false,
          "includeNullMetadata": true,
          "legendFormat": "__auto",
          "range": true,
          "refId": "A",
          "useBackend": false
        }
      ],
      "title": "IRIS iRacing Gear",
      "transparent": true,
      "type": "stat"
    },
    {
      "datasource": {
        "type": "prometheus",
        "uid": "fekvb739xgqo0c"
      },
      "fieldConfig": {
        "defaults": {
          "color": {
            "mode": "continuous-YlBl"
          },
          "custom": {
            "axisBorderShow": false,
            "axisCenteredZero": false,
            "axisColorMode": "text",
            "axisLabel": "",
            "axisPlacement": "auto",
            "barAlignment": 0,
            "barWidthFactor": 0.6,
            "drawStyle": "line",
            "fillOpacity": 41,
            "gradientMode": "none",
            "hideFrom": {
              "legend": false,
              "tooltip": false,
              "viz": false
            },
            "insertNulls": false,
            "lineInterpolation": "linear",
            "lineWidth": 7,
            "pointSize": 17,
            "scaleDistribution": {
              "log": 2,
              "type": "log"
            },
            "showPoints": "auto",
            "spanNulls": false,
            "stacking": {
              "group": "A",
              "mode": "none"
            },
            "thresholdsStyle": {
              "mode": "off"
            }
          },
          "mappings": [],
          "thresholds": {
            "mode": "absolute",
            "steps": [
              {
                "color": "green"
              },
              {
                "color": "red",
                "value": 80
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "overrides": []
      },
      "gridPos": {
        "h": 6,
        "w": 24,
        "x": 0,
        "y": 15
      },
      "id": 2,
      "options": {
        "legend": {
          "calcs": [],
          "displayMode": "list",
          "placement": "bottom",
          "showLegend": true
        },
        "tooltip": {
          "hideZeros": false,
          "mode": "single",
          "sort": "none"
        }
      },
      "pluginVersion": "11.6.1",
      "targets": [
        {
          "adhocFilters": [],
          "datasource": {
            "type": "prometheus",
            "uid": "fekvb739xgqo0c"
          },
          "expr": "avg(iracing_speed{} )",
          "fromExploreMetrics": true,
          "interval": "",
          "refId": "A"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Speed",
      "transparent": true,
      "type": "timeseries"
    }
  ],
  "preload": true,
  "refresh": "auto",
  "schemaVersion": 41,
  "tags": [],
  "templating": {
    "list": []
  },
  "time": {
    "from": "now-5m",
    "to": "now"
  },
  "timepicker": {
    "refresh_intervals": [
      "1s",
      "5s",
      "10s",
      "30s",
      "1m",
      "5m",
      "15m",
      "30m",
      "1h",
      "2h",
      "1d"
    ]
  },
  "timezone": "browser",
  "title": "IRIS iRacing",
  "uid": "bekx20ifgrl6oe",
  "version": 33
}

Demo

The video shows us putting the Dashboard and scraping to work in a quick 3 lap shootout at Darlington Motor Speedway.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rTE-Mk05yAQ
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🏆 This is considered an InterSystems Best Practice