| For those who have not heard about Raceceiver radios, they
are compact scanners that are being used by many tracks and sanctioning
bodies to increase safety and speed up communication during an event.
The drivers unit receives the transmissions from race control related to
cautions, lineups, etc. providing for a safer and faster event. Starting
with the 2006 season, ALL Future Stars and Junior PRO Division racers will
be required to have a Raceceiver for all MMRA Touring and Grand National
events. Here are some FAQ's about Raceceivers and the new policy.
1. Why is MMRA doing this?
First and foremost - safety. During the 2005 season there were two
scary incidents with our Future Stars racers that could easily have been
prevented if Raceceivers were being used. These units are very
inexpensive and we believe they will provide a much greater level of safety
for our kids than in the past.
2. How do they work?
All cars in the event have raceceivers tuned to channel 0. Up in
the tower, race control has a transmitting radio and can talk to all the
drivers simultaneously. As such, race control can immediately warn all
drivers of a caution, quickly re-line cars up for a restart, warn of cars
coming into the pit, notify racers of an approaching time limit on the
event, or of other conditions that wouldn't be obvious to the drivers.
3. How much do they cost?
The regular retail price for a basic unit is $99.00 and $169.00 for one
with upgraded earpieces. They can be purchased from
www.raceceiver.com from race supply
stores, or from Baby Grands. Baby Grands has offered to provide a
discount for all MMRA members, and they will be available at the MMRA Awards
Banquet.
4. Do I have to buy one if I only plan to run the East or West
Grand National race?
No - MMRA has contracted with Baby Grands to have Raceceiver units
available for rental for only $10 per event. You can just rent one if
you only plan to run one race and your local track does not require them.
5. Who else is using these Raceceivers?
They are mandatory for the thousands of Legends and Bandolero cars around
the country. Also, 50+ local tracks around the country require
Raceceivers.
6. Do they have any other use?
Yes - you can use them whenever you go to major auto races to listen in
to your favorite driver. For example,
click here to download the
frequency list for the Nextel Cup Series.
Also, spotters in the Open and PRO Divisions can purchase a Raceceiver
which will help create a connection between race control and the drivers for
lineup purposes. This will help these divisions speed up their show
even if not every team has a Raceceiver.
7. I already have a scanner I have been using - can I continue
to use that instead?
Yes - although it is your responsibility to have it locked on the correct
frequency.
8. Can Future Stars continue to use regular radios?
No - according to the 2005 MMRA rulebook, radios were only to be used to
warn of cautions and to help with lineups under yellow flag conditions.
These functions are now going to be handled by the Raceceivers.
9. So are my radios worthless?
No - first, if you have custom made earpieces, you can continue to use
them with your Raceceiver. Also, when you progress up to the PRO
Division, you can go back to using your regular radios.
10. Where do I mount the Raceceiver?
For best results, MMRA recommends using velcro (use
industrial with two "hook" sides for max strength) to attach the
Raceceiver to your helmet as shown below. The unit must be visible,
and it is best to keep it attached to the driver so there are no cords to
worry about when the driver exits the car.
11. What types of problems have come up for folks using
Raceceivers?
Number one problem - dead batteries. Raceceivers use a single small
AAA battery which lasts about 4 hours. As such, if the driver never
turns off the unit and runs practice from early in the day, the battery
won't work come that night's race. The best idea is to get a box of
AAA alkaline batteries at a discount store (get a good brand name like
Energizer or Duracell) and keep them in your race
trailer. Then, get in the habit of replacing the battery just before racetime. It will only cost about 33 cents to do this, and will solve
95% of the problems you may have.
12. What do they look like?
There are several photos on the instruction page on the Raceceiver
website. Click here
to visit that page.
13. How can I learn more about them?
Raceceiver will have on-site technical support at our 2006 Speedweeks
events to help everyone get started at the first event. Also, lots of
information is available on the
www.raceceiver.com website.
|
