ATTN: PRO Drivers

[Lights]

confused on proposal

So clear this proposal up for me please. If I vote no can I use one in a non-capsule boat or not? This proposed rule is worded tricky.

Mark

[Jerry Davids]

Being pretty new to the Pro Division, I got a chance to use the radios for the first time this past weekend. For a driver that is going 200ft per second and in some cases faster, I found them to be very useful. When we have 12 boats on the water at the same time there it a lot happening. My spotter was able to tell me the time and to be another set of eyes. I wish we could us them in all catagores. If the Kids could us them we may save a lot of time watching them getting on plane (or not), Just don't give the Head Set to Dad !!! The Kid's spotter could be a big help.

Jerry

[14-H]

Radios or Not

I'm personally in favor of spotters and radios. I'm pretty sure it was the radio that caused Michael Waltrip to spin out the #8 at Daytona this year. Had that not happened, he might'a won. Whew!

[spud62w]

Radios = Safety

I'm the guy on the shore with a radio. I tell my driver at times how to drive. I tell him when a faster boat is coming and to move to the outside. If there is a crash I tell him that there is a red flag and to stop. I also tell him where the boat is. I'M NOT THE DRIVER HE IS! If you never have used any radois try it, I know you won't change your driving at all because of it. Just my .02

[YankeeRacing]

Quote>>>>>spud62w: I'm the guy on the shore with a radio. I tell my driver at times how to drive......<<<<<

I am just curious...
According to the above statement, does the insurance company require that the spotter be a paid racing member? Wouldn't this be a necessity due to liability claims?

Connie

[hydroplay]

Jerry Davids:

Wow you're fast. 200 ft/sec? Let me see 60 mph=88 ft/sec so 200 ft/sec = 136 mph. On the race course? And there are some going faster than that?


Only the "professional" guys could make a big deal about radios. The same rule applies to Stock and MOD and you don't hear any giant hassles from them. In OPC, they are virtually a necessity. I voted against it to keep the present rule and allow radios for everyone. If you want to use one, go ahead, if you are afraid you can't process anymore info, don't.

[benf27]

So clear this proposal up for me please. If I vote no can I use one in a non-capsule boat or not? This proposed rule is worded tricky.

Mark

If you vote no you CAN use a radio in an open cockpit.

[Lights]

Thanks Ben.

[Kristi Ellison]

Amy

Reinforced cockpits are how the capsules are referred to in the rule book and that is why the rule proposal is written with the wording it is.

My take if you want to keep them vote to keep them. If you feel they are more hurtful than helpful vote to get rid of them. Either way if you did not vote don't think you have a right to complain whichever way it turns out.

For those of you wondering why this is being brought back up.....there have numerous complaints from many drivers about driving against radios. We, the Commission discussed this for a long time as to how to better control the communications on the radios. Every solution required money and more manpower...both of which are scarce at best right now. We unanimously felt the drivers should have the final say since this has become such a hot issue over the past couple of years on both sides.
If the radios do stay we are commited to find a better way to monitor and keep the race course as fair as we can. If the radios stay we did propose and pass a rule that the spotter must be a member of APBA and must attend the drivers meeting. The driver will be held accountable to make sure the scorers know who their spotter is just like a deck rider.


This is your chance to be heard so make it loud!!

Kristi

[F-111]

Safety

My feeling is that if you think the radios are being used for devious means such as chopping, bearing away, etc. chances are that driver is going to do that whether they have a radio or not. So what's the difference? This is supposed to be a safety issue after all, and anything that improves that i'm for.

If this is the worst of our problems in PRO, then we're doing fine. Leave the sh*t slinging to everyone else! Hey, how bout that height rule?!

Jon Eldredge

[sesailer]

Amy

If the radios do stay we are commited to find a better way to monitor and keep the race course as fair as we can. If the radios stay we did propose and pass a rule that the spotter must be a member of APBA and must attend the drivers meeting. The driver will be held accountable to make sure the scorers know who their spotter is just like a deck rider.


This is your chance to be heard so make it loud!!

Kristi

Kristi:

We have problems with monitoring the capsule boat spotters. Radios are here to stay (with capsules) so let's commit to find a better way for all boats! I honestly do not believe this is a capsule/non-capsule issue. To me, it's for the safety of the sport. If we can communicate just once and prevent an accident, or worse, a lost life, isn't it worth it?

I'll volunteer to be on the committee to find a fair way to work this out.

[BratChild]

Thanks, Kristi. I was just confused on the basics, because the rule had reinforced cockpit being both open and closed cockpits.

The spotter is there to help the driver. I can think of two accidents off hand where if the drivers would have had radios, both would probably still be here today. The closest definition I could find for "spotter" is

One who is responsible for watching and guarding a performer during practice to prevent injury, as in gymnastics or weightlifting.

In the case of boat racing, the spotter is responsible for watching and guarding the driver during a race to prevent accidents. The driver drives the boat, not the spotter. I personally have used a radio in KPRO, and as silly as that may seem, it helped me a lot, especially as I was getting used to my new neck restraint. I was nervous to go out without being able to turn my head and see what was around me, and my spotter did a good job helping me be safe and avoid any accidents.

Ryan, there are some unbelievable drivers in the PRO category. I've watched Rich Krier and Mike Thirlby go into a turn and be inches away from each other, knowing that one won't hit the other or cut him off. It's a thing of respect that is so great when achieved.


That's all for now.

[Lights]

If this is the worst of our problems in PRO, then we're doing fine. Leave the sh*t slinging to everyone else! Hey, how bout that height rule?!

Jon Eldredge

Thanks Jon, You made me laugh. I needed that bad today.

Mark

[Kristi Ellison]

This is a volitile issue and I am glad it has sparked a discussion. As we discuss this I am very interested in hearing ideas for better control. Frankly the other catagories that mandate radios are not without issues. They still have problems with spotters on the dock yelling" cut him off!!". I personally don't care either way I don't use a radio nor does anyone in my trailer. I have driven against them and it does infuriate the hell out of me I move they move and I have witnessed it on more than one occasion from the beach.
One of the issues Chris pointed out is also fair to bring up and that is making the bearing away and overlap calls. No one wants to throw out their buddy and have to explain away up and down the beach the rest of the weekend. Maybe a few guys getting thrown out for violating those rules and this would have been in check, I don't know.
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 Ellison]

Brat Child ( Amy or Wendy??)

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