ATTN: PRO Drivers

[shadowracerwoo]

Brat Child

C'mon Kristi....you've got to know which one "Brat Child is" :~)

LOL...
Shadowracerwoo

[shadowracerwoo]

Proposal Confusion

Actually, I think what confused Amy is the fact that in the Proposal it states that capsules, or reinforced cockpit boats, are the only boats that will be allowed to use the radios if the proposal is approved.....yet, in the "reason" for the proposal, it states that the approved proposal would allow for non-reinforced cock-pit boat drivers to "choose" whether to have radio communication or not. The proposal and reason contradict each other. She just wanted to be sure her vote of disapproval went for the "Proposal" and NOT for the "Reason".

Sherry

[sesailer]

Safety

I am a big proponent of safety and this is not about capsule vs. non capsule in fact it has nothing to do with the capsules. I am not as convinced as some of you that the radios have made us any safer in the open cockpit boats I am still out on that one. We have excellent safety rules and when followed they work very well when they are not followed we all know what can happen. It is **** near impossible to regulate stupidity!
Keep the dialogue going.

Kristi

Kristi:

Could the serious accident been prevented with Debra a few years back when she was stalled in the course and hit by someone looking in a different direction. An extra set of eyes in that situation alone could/would have prevented it...I could go on with more examples if it would help to convince someone of the importance of communication to help the safety of this sport.

Like I said - If there is a problem, let's fix that. Let's not take away something that, if used correctly, can be a great thing!

[BratChild]

Don't feel bad about the symantics (wording) I was confused the whole meeting when Steve Greaves kept referring to the capsules as reinforced cockpits.....guess I am not smarter than a 5th grader!!!
I left that open take your best shot

Kristi

Ok, well at least I'm not the only one


I think radios are a good way to insure the safety of the drivers. Sure, radios can be used for reasons such as chopping, but the driver is the one with the steering wheel in his (OR HER) hand. Boat racing is a hobby, and we all have to do the best we can to keep each other safe. Chopping, bearing away ( ) and all that good stuff are easy ways to hurt others, especially when the speed increases. We have to be safe and respect one another enough to keep each other to keep everyone safe. Racing, as much as I hate to say it for us, is not our jobs. We don't get payed for doing it. It's something we do for fun to enjoy ourselves. Let's just be safe.

BRATCHILD
(aka Amy )

[Dave M]

Good Debate

At least the whole division will know how the majorty feels on the subject when the votes are tallied. Which ever way it goes, it will be good to see it done.

Personally, I have never used a radio, but would like to try one in an open cockpit.

For monitoring purposes, could one rig up an inexspensive recording device to record all radio transmissions and if there is someone complaining that the radio was used you could review the conversation and determine ? Also, are there any rules that could be enforced in place that would allow a penalty to be levied upon spotter and driver who did the wrong ? Might be opening a can of worms there, sorry.

Dave
350CCH

[nicf14]

I have read a lot of comments from people that are just ignorant on this subject. People that are just crying like little babies because they got beat by someone with radios, get over it. If we all agree with your thinking then we should ban all new motors and new props also. If we don’t ban them now, then next year when you get beat again we will have to make new rules so you have a better chance to win.

I am a spotter for my drivers, and I have NEVER told a driver to cut someone off or to turn right to keep from getting passed. I spend as much time, if not more time looking in front of the driver as I do looking behind them. The only information that I give is where other boats are in relation to my driver. For example, a stalled boat on the inside in turn two, clear inside, and ten boat links back outside. If this is information that you as a driver would not want to have, then I would not want to be on the same race course with you. I have witnessed many accidents that with the use of a radio could have been avoided. Accidents in witch many people have been serious injured and even killed. If you can put aside your selfish agenda, maybe you will see the true benefits of using radios.

Ps: I will stand anywhere that you want me to! I have nothing to hide.

[RICK BIRD]

Ps: I will stand anywhere that you want me to! I have nothing to hide.[/QUOTE]

WELL I WAS CHECKING MY MAIL AND I HAVE NOT GOT ANYTHING ON THIS. SO HOW MANY OF US HAVE NOT GOT THE PAPERS WE NEED TO VOTE AS I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THIS AS I THINK RADIOS ARE FOR THE SAFTEY OF ALL.AND AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE I WOULD WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE TALKING IN MY EAR SO I CAN STAY FOCUSN'T ON THE RACE. THANKS JUST MY 2 CENTS

[kws]

I should probably just keep my mouth shut as i am not in PRO ...but i can't make myself do that. IF everything is looked at as THEY MIGHT CHEAT! then why do you even race? I would rather get beaten by someone that might be using unfair knowledge, than ran over by someone that that is not ALLOWED to have the input that can save me. And i would feel even worse if it was me that ran over someone ONLY because i was not allowed to have someone tell me that on the other side of the spray my FRIEND is in the water my 2 cents

[nicf14]

Great post KWS!

[Kristi Ellison]

I think some of you have missed the point of those opposed. They are not concerned about being beat by a radio. They are also concerned about safety. Ask Davis Augustine about being pushed into the weeds in Constantine or Chris eating the pier in Omaha. The incidents of bearing away seem to rise with radios as those opposed see it. They are concerned as you all are and that is why this has been debated so much. If you think this is about people crying about being beat please re read some of the posts. I still remain neutral.
Sue.....was not anywhere around racing so I do not have but second hand knowledge on Debra's accident. It is not me you have to convince.....
NEXT!!

Kristi

[sesailer]

Safety

How about the incident at the Nationals in the CAPSULE class last year? That was as unsafe as I have ever seen! Doug Hall was pushed to the rocks! If we are concerned about the SAFETY with the use of radios, this is NOT a capsule/non-capsule issue so why are using that as the deciding factor?

I keep saying, if there is a problem FIX IT!

Kristi - Debra was dead in the water before a race even began. She was run over by someone not paying attention to where he were going. One of those accidents that people saw coming but no one could do anything about. This could have been prevented with communication to the driver.

[Mike Schmidt]

Another view.....

For what ever it is worth.....

Three large, well funded teams have used radio comunications for "defensive" moves on the race course. Used correctly, radio comunication is a good thing, but these teams have used it to make their rigs very "wide" at times.

One very large, very well funded team would still be racing if they were not using the radios. (my opinion)

I had a real good race going with a guy last year. I kind of snuck up on his inside going into the last turn, only to have him drown my butt big time. Could not figure out how he saw me, he never looked ???? As I got out of my boat in the pits, his spotter comes walking by me laughing and asking if I got wet enough....... (fact)

I voted NO.

Michael D-1

[Kristi Ellison]

Sue

It sounds to me like you are advocating radios for everyone? If you are all saying it is a safety issue for some why not all? It is not me you have to convince it is those on the fence and those who are opposed to using them at all. As far as I am concerned if you want them fine....we need to find a cost effective way to use them for safety only!

Kristi

[sesailer]

Mike.....At least....

At least I got you, and many others, wearing the neck restraints! I believe 100% in safety, and whatever and whenever I feel there is room for improvement, I WILL voice my opinion!

Hope to see you at Inverness!

[f8andbethere]

Radios do not change the overlap rule

If someone chops you it does not matter if he or she is using a radio or not -- a chop is a chop. Get the officials to make the call and toss the person. If the behavior is repeated beach them for a couple of weeks to see if that helps their hearing.

Radios are used in many other classes racing (outside of the PROS and boat racing) and it really seems to me that this should be left up to the choice of the driver.

f/8