Posts
3689
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Winter Park, FL
US
Edited Date/Time
7/16/2014 7:30pm
I was talking with a buddy today and he kind of kicked me back into gear about this Flagging Light.
I manufacture LED Lights in an overseas factory. I retrofit them here with rechargeable batteries so production companies can provide custom colors of light at events without having to use extension cords. It eliminates the need for ordering custom power from hotels, and it is safer for guests because of no extension cords or tripping hazards.
Recently, there is a new product that will allow me to control the color of these lights wirelessly as well. ANY color you want. No control cables! I can transmit up to 1/2 mile - easily.
Currently, as in right now, I can build these mobile flagging stands (that can be pre-charged) and placed at strategic points on the track. The batteries will last approx. 10-12 hours, possibly 16 hours depending on a few variables. I can run an unlimited amount of nodes from one control area. They could go as high as 12 feet - maybe as high as 20'. They weigh about 15 lbs., so if a rider hit one, the light would buckle and minimal rider injury would be sustained.
These lights could be used as a starter light as well from the same controller. They could also be used as traffic control after the race is over.
I know you are going to ask.....I estimate the cost to be under $800 each. Possibly much lower. MUCH Lower depending on the requirements.
Thoughts Please? My first ad would be on Vital.
I manufacture LED Lights in an overseas factory. I retrofit them here with rechargeable batteries so production companies can provide custom colors of light at events without having to use extension cords. It eliminates the need for ordering custom power from hotels, and it is safer for guests because of no extension cords or tripping hazards.
Recently, there is a new product that will allow me to control the color of these lights wirelessly as well. ANY color you want. No control cables! I can transmit up to 1/2 mile - easily.
Currently, as in right now, I can build these mobile flagging stands (that can be pre-charged) and placed at strategic points on the track. The batteries will last approx. 10-12 hours, possibly 16 hours depending on a few variables. I can run an unlimited amount of nodes from one control area. They could go as high as 12 feet - maybe as high as 20'. They weigh about 15 lbs., so if a rider hit one, the light would buckle and minimal rider injury would be sustained.
These lights could be used as a starter light as well from the same controller. They could also be used as traffic control after the race is over.
I know you are going to ask.....I estimate the cost to be under $800 each. Possibly much lower. MUCH Lower depending on the requirements.
Thoughts Please? My first ad would be on Vital.
Personally, I HATED them. It was completely different then having a guy move out and wave a flag.
At the San Diego Sx that year I was on a 125cc and was jumping off the step on step off before the triple. For you that have ridden 125cc SX you know that this was the point of no return as you were grabbing third gear and praying to god you didn't miss as shift as you were going up the face of the triple.
Well as I jumped off and was committed this red light gets flicked on. Had I tried to stop I would have faced the triple at that point I was committed. I tripled safely and continued the race.
When I pulled off Duke Finch was waiting for me and told me I was going to be DQ'd after finishing 11th (which was a huge accomplishment for me). I begged and pleaded. I didn't get dq'd because he understood the point of no return I was arguing as far as committing to the jump. However he did threaten to take my pro license If it happened again and didn't stop. Thankfully they did away with them (not sure if they are back). There was nothing worse than stressing on making a triple and keeping an eye out for that stupid light.
If you had this implemented you would have to have a judge at each light to watch and make a subjective call from the outside wether riders had time to react in each situation.
Honestly, lights are on the outside of the track and are really hard to see, you need that sudden distraction a flagger gives you when moving onto the track and a waving flag IMO.
Times have changed though and maybe it is a better answer. it isn't like it used to be where committing to an obstacle (like a triple) isn;t as "do or die" as it was back in the 125 2-stroke days.
I also think that it is important to have the green light on at all times when not on caution. That way you know where the light is in case of a caution. As with all changes in life, there will be adjustments.
The Shop
If you can just stay away from the small box style strobe light that is on the face of the jumps off to the side, it may be something to have!
the green light is a good idea too, so you can get used to seeing the light.
The thing with racing is you are so concentrated on sections and racing and breathing that you need that " BAM!" to break that concentration and make you aware. You can't be looking for something or you will be losing time. you need the disruption in concentration to "snap you out of it" so to speak.
I think lighting can be the answer....... I just didn't like the way it was then.
I would love to see the change, especially with the advancements you are talking about.
The trick is get them within your field of vision.....right next to the track. They can also be mounted to an existing structure and removed at night....there really is no limit to the creative places.
They are on temporary aluminum structures.... It's going to hurt to hit one, but not like a wooden tower.
Anybody familiar with their setup, my buddy has told me about it, never been there myself.
There is no stepping on toes....there is no such thing, that I know of, as of today. Maybe tomorrow....not today.
It is nice to have something out there on practice days when there are no flaggers, especially over blind jumps, so I would like to see more tracks have something like that.
I know with lights you would still be dependant on a person flipping a switch.
Definitly worth looking into
A light cannot replace the enthusiasm a flagger shows in a bad situation. We all know the difference between a flagger waving "cautiously" and a flagger waving "vigorously"
A light cannot divert or signal on-coming riders to one side of the track to avoid the incident
A light cannot look you in the eye to make sure you see and comprehend
and lastly, a light is only as good as the operator flipping the switches
IMO, a light used IN CONJUNCTION WITH a human flagger would be optimum
I personally think that it is a better solution than having flaggers that don't really know what they are doing out there. I just think for it to work you would definitey have to have somebody that knows what they are doing in control of them and they would have to have a yellow or medic flag with them for times when needed
Like by someone in the tower who can have a wide overview of the track
BTW, if done in conjunction with a human flagger, have it beep or click so it can get the attention of the flagger (in the event they miss something)
If you can get it going, I can think of a few promoters who would be interested. Keep us posted. And thanks for beinng proactive.
DC
MX Sports
Pit Row
Lights will never be as effective as a flagger, we all know that.
But the thing is most practice tracks don't have flaggers at all so it would be a plus to have lights instead of NOTHING!
I don't think it should be used during a race without flaggers but for practice days, I'll take it.
they told us at the time NO. Then the next winter wala, SX had yellow lights.
Whats nice about this idea and would work. You can keep the flagger out of harms way, AND you dont have to build a "flagger stand" which is simply another obstacle by the track which in the wrong circumstance is something a rider will hit. (hay baled or not) that flagger stand won't move.
light setups for places that run practice tracks or currently run practice's with no flaggers could add remote cameras to these spots to a central location. It may seem far fetched but something is better then nothing.
lights are great idea. wireless is the best part of if all.
For example, here's your yellow flag:
There are 4 towers spread around the track that spotters use to activate the lights, but any light can also be run from any other tower, or from the centrally located scoring tower.
Tim, other tracks in this state have looked into doing something like our track here has. If you want contact info for some of those folks, get in touch and I'll pass it on.
These have worked great, and I've never heard a negative comment about the things. Because the spotter is up and "central" to his area of responsibility, there seems to be less risk of the flagger getting caught up in watching what he shouldn't be and then missing the crash.
If you'd like Jake and I could meet up with you sometime and see how it works with someone colorblind.
I can mount a 360 degree power strobe on the top of the unit...
I'll build a quick proto today on some of those ideas.
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