Driver Alert System.

[HYDRO21Z]

One of the reasons I made the trip to Atlanta was to present an idea to the
various category chairman, and Safety Committee with regards to a Driver
Alert System that I had made.
The loss of Brandt Hilsen hit me hard, and I wanted to find something that
might prevent an accident like his from happening again.
What I presented at the Nat. Meeting was a signal strobe light system that
uses 4 50watt rotating beacons in the four colors of our current flags.
The top light is Red below that is Blue, then Clear (white), then Green.
These lights have a visibility of over a mile, and when rotating will find a person's eyes quicker than a driver having to remember to find the flags.
My opinion as a driver is that with all that I have to focus on during race
conditions if there is a device that will alert me of something happening on the racecourse sooner than finding the flags on my own I will be safer.
The ideal situation is a set of these lights at each end of the racecourse and one set on the judges stand. A three way effort to alert drivers of what is
going on.
The response at the Meeting was overwhelming by all categories, and I am busy refineing the Prototype that I showed there.
I plan to have the first light system finished in the next two weeks and a
Photo to debut here on Hydroracer.
I want to thank everyone for their encouragement for the idea, but especially
I want to thank John and Ed Runne for thier support and assistance in making this idea a reality.
Dennis Burke 21Z

[Abbott Racing]

great idea, keep us all posted. I had toyed with the idea of flares like they used in the inboards to stop a race up here, but cost, laws etc..... led me to drop the idea. I like the strobe light idea though.

[Bob Dunlap]

Dennis has a great idea with this, it was demonstrated with a 12 volt battery at the meeting and everybody loved it. It should be a great addition for every club. Dennis is going to let us use it at Ocoee, hopefully we can have 3 of them, one for the judges stand and one for each turn boat. It uses the typical strobe light like emergency vehicles and should really catch your eye.

[888race]

Can't Wait

I Am Really Looking Forward To Seeing It . Also Dennis Do You Have Plans Drawn Up And What Do You Think The Cost For Each One Would Be
Paul

[Composite Specialties]

Strobe Lights

This system has been used in the unlimiteds for quite some time. Back in the 90's, the title series was looking into using these for the capsule boats but it never was tested, hope it works for you, there is always the radio option.

[topgunracer11-z]

Good Idea

Dennis that is a great idea anything that helps the saftey of our sport is greatly appreciated!!! By the way if you need any help getting races in N.C I've always been good at manual labor just look me up.

[HYDRO21Z]

Yes and No

I Am Really Looking Forward To Seeing It . Also Dennis Do You Have Plans Drawn Up And What Do You Think The Cost For Each One Would Be
Paul

I have a very rough drawing that I used to build the one I demonstrated
in Atlanta, but it is not suitable or legible enough to keep me from being
ashamed of showing it. I am putting together a color brochure once I finish
the first light built like I want it.
As far as a cost..... I want to get farther along before I commit to a
price. The one I took to Atlanta was rough and all the pipe was galvanized.
The ones I plan to make will be of Aluminum and alot lighter.
I am working to get the strobes direct, and the wiring harnesses in bulk.
Let's just wait and see. I am working very hard to get them as low priced
as possible.
The next improvement already in the works is a transmitter & receiver that will alow the Referee to remotely activate each of the lights from the
judges stand, as well as the manual switches in the boats.
OPC has requested the remote option, and there are already other projects
in the works for the Inboards.
I will try to keep everyone updated here as progress is made.
I look forward to the first Race test results.
Thanks
Dennis 21Z

[Bill Huson]

Wow!

Dennis, you've got the plan. We had talked about strobes on the digital clock so drivers could find the elusive black clock, but that was just for count down to the start. Your idea of remote/manual activated strobe arrays in both turns and the judges stand is fantastic.

[Moon child]

Plans and Drawings

I think you have a great idea. If you need a hand with any of the drawings I would be happy to assist. I have a pretty good handle on autocad and would be able to make up some pretty nice drawings if you need them. I look forward to seeing the end result.
Dave W. Young
95-N
DWYoung95@aol.com

[Phantom13]

Awesome idea! Here's something I'll just throw out: expand to include LED's in the Cokpit connected to the same system. I don't know the specifics involved, but it seems like you could have a small reciever box that would connect to the same frequency as the Strobe system and it would light the coresponding color LED visible to the driver in the cockpit as well. This could be a self contained unit that just needs to be mounted on the dash.

[HYDRO21Z]

Another good idea!

Awesome idea! Here's something I'll just throw out: expand to include LED's in the Cokpit connected to the same system. I don't know the specifics involved, but it seems like you could have a small reciever box that would connect to the same frequency as the Strobe system and it would light the coresponding color LED visible to the driver in the cockpit as well. This could be a self contained unit that just needs to be mounted on the dash.

This idea of the dash mount alert lights was proposed by a member of the
inboard category some years ago, or so I was told at the meeting last week.
If I remember correctly It was never adopted due the price at the time.
I plan on looking into this as I have the name of the inboard driver who did
the work and made the proposal. Maybe as time has passed the cost has
fallen?
The only question I have is will it work for my category? I race kneeldown
I just wonder if I would see it on my dash due to its proximity to my line of sight.
Anyway I will still pursue the idea.
Thanks,
Dennis 21Z

[Bill Huson]

Yes, cost could be an issue . . .

At least in our low dollar racing catagory. I don't think visability on the dash would be a problem. Many boats run small digital count-down timers to match the digital start clock count-down. And a few have GPS systems on the dash. Drivers have demostrated they can glance at readout on the dash, so I believe the simple go no-go light system would be easy to read: white light - last lap, blue light - heads up, problem on the course, red light -STOP RACING!

The device would need to be fairly small and drownproof, since we have been known to get wet. And affordable. That may be the problem since you're dealing with a radio system that isn't in mass production.

[Mark 72@E]

Let The Dash Mount Idea Evolve

Let the idea of the dash mount device evolve. My two cents:

Make the dash mount device removable and portable. Think of a fishfinder/depthfinder on a pleasure boat. The bracket is permanently mounted but the electronic device is removable.

So you really only need 12 devices at a race site to try the idea. Ok, since heats end and start back-to-back with sometimes only seconds apart 24 devices would be more realistic.

Allow those drivers who want to buy the device do so. For those who do not wish to purchase the device they would only need to purchase the bracket which would be available for sale at the race site. I would think the bracket could be produced and sold for $10 to $20.

The race committee would provide and loan the 24 devices. Isn't this what is done with the "J" propellers now? The race committee provides them and "loans" them to the "J" racers?

So to get this idea off the ground to test it, you really only need three sets (east coast, mid west, and west coast) of 24 devices for a total of 72 devices. It would be the responsibility of the race committee to arrange delivery (hand carry or ship) of the devices to the next scheduled race in their area.

Test the idea for one year (but don't make it mandatory) then bring it to the membership for a vote as a permanent safety feature.

If the dash device works as anticipated we may never know how well they worked to prevent a tragedy because boats would never even get close to a driver in the water or a stalled boat on the course.

At the very least, at the end of a year drivers should be able to report that they were alerted to dangerous situations >>>sooner<<< because of the dash device.

[Jason Diamond]

Simplify the dash light idea.

I love the idea of color coded lights on the clock and in the turns. I have raced open cockpit outboards for years, and recently have switched to OPC. I think that if the dash light idea was to be pursued, it should be a single red light for all racers to stop racing and or return to pits. This would eliminate drivers that are a lap down getting the same signals as the leaders, and make less things for the driver to have to watch the dash for.

Jason Diamond

[Abbott Racing]

I beleive there is a dash light system used by the DIRT stock car association. When the yellow flag comes out, and the yellow lights are lit on the track a yellow light also illuminates on the dashboard.

As for the strobes I have connections if you need prices etc..........