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It would be cool if the AMA would provide the in-helmet comms, but I personally believe pigs will fly before the AMA does anything to elevate the sport.
For what it's worth, even in the NFL, where they have limited coms with one player on each side of the football, they shut the headset off as soon as the QB breaks the huddle. I think coms are good for practice and training sessions, especially at places with plenty of traffic but without flaggers, but in an actual race it seems like it could cause as many problems as it's supposed to help.
DC
Racer X
I know we both have seen some overzealous parents say some crazy things to their kids, and to think of them saying that into an ear piece is just scary.
That's reality
I have seen mini dads reduce their kids to tears because they didn't jump something. I have heard parents say HORRIBLE things to their kids at LL's and other Am Nationals.
Seen it at local and national level.
Even famous names you know
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Not that anyone cares, but I ride and race a dirt bike to get away the noise and clutter of the world. No way I bring it into my helmet with me.
Asking for a friend (and his kid).
DC
Racer X
There is no need to electronic communication. What we have here is an over-reaction to a minor incident (welcome to the internet). Sometimes riders make mistakes. mistakes are good because without them you have a dull sport, they make the sport interesting. It provides drama and intrigue. It's all everyone is talking about right now. It FUELS the sport.
I know a couple of person who uses them and they work great.
The most important thing is to let the rider establish boundaries:
- where on the track is the mechanic allowed to talk
- what information they want to hear and how to communicate it in a quick and precise way
At some tracks the mechanic area is not the best place to receive the information, the communication system allows to choose where you want to receive the information that is usually on the pitboard.
Also some riders are more open to receive more information while racing, while others needs to be more in their ''zone'' and just receive the basics like position and gap behind them, and some don't want to use it at all. It's not for everyone.
I think the best way to test it would be where it can only be used as they come by the mechanics area.
Also remember this (and this is no slight to the Deegans) but not everyone's dad/mom/mechanic is a former professional racer--Deegan, Vohland, Vialle, Ferry, Everts, Pichon, etc.--and I personally worry that the inherit advantage of having a seasoned voice on the other end of the radio would be an advantage.
Use them at an open ride day or practice sessions, for safety and instruction if you want, but leave them out of competition. We already have enough to worry about with remote mapping adjustments, drug testing, fuel, tear downs, electronic timing and scoring issues, etc... Policing radio communications doesn't sound easy.
DC
Racer X
"You sure? Ok."
"Perfect, now stand on his bike"
"dafuq, Dad?"
"I said stand on his bike, and hit his kill switch"
Let me know what you guys decide here, off to Indy.
DC
Racer X
Pit Row
Sometimes I wonder if you really understand what you've got. You literally have what is probably the highest level of motorsport competition in the world. Way beyond F1 and all the other headline series (bar maybe MotoGP) and you want to soften it up with radio comms?
Until any of you have driven at 100+mph going four wide into turn one at COTA- you have no room to talk about distractions, what is required for concentration, or whether or not comms work. (I have and believe me, the intensity is pretty much at or above the same level as any MX race I've raced.)
So we don't look at it because you're worried about
A. distractions
B. Cost to Privateers
C. Mini Dads yelling at their kids.
(There are ways to control all these perceived end-of-the-world negatives.)
How can you possibly draw any conclusions without testing the idea first? Oh yeah - we jump to conclusions without data and those anecdotal conclusions become fact. (Thanks FACEBAG/ TWITTER/ ALL SOCIAL MEDIA.)
Solution: Develop guidelines and then test. (I'm sure most riders would opt out because they're worried about people talking in their ear at the wrong time yet they've never tried it.) At the pro level - if you can't afford $250 in radios, how the hell can you justify racing. If comms are part of racing and makes the racing safer - which is does - it's like having an approved helmet or using approved fuel. It's the cost of doing business.
God forbid we try to make improvements to MX/SX. The reason our sport isn't growing is because we're so locked into not changing. Meanwhile the rest of the racing world is adapting and changing without us. (Please see Flat Track Racing)
I say we test it out. I for one think it would improve safety because you're not relying on the racer to see a flag (Red/ Yellow/ Blue or otherwise). Race control TELLS you to slow down, not jump, etc or you're penalized, black flagged, or something else. Will it solve the problem of lap traffic. Nope but it will help and it will make racing SAFER!!!
From a spectator perspective, being able to hear comms between mechanic and rider would be a great way to add value to the viewing audience.
Google - Kimi Raikkonen radio comms and then imagine Philthy Phil over the radio. Ratings GOLD.
As far as policing if NASCAR can do it SX could too...all coms are monitored by a few officials and all coms are recorded for review if there is an infraction so they identify who did the infraction.
*half of Vital
Maybe this would’ve helped.
“Hey goofball, pick up your bike and race”
I left it in the gearbag this weekend at the races though. He asked why and i just told him on raceday it's time for him to apply what we practiced on his own.
Post a reply to: Time for this in our sport.