Amateur Radio and Performance Rally By Kristopher Marciniak – KI6IUC Presented to SOARA

What is performance rally? Rally Racing - Stage Rally - Pro Rally Production based cars. Driver and Co-Driver. (Navigator) Closed public and private roads. (Special Stage) Cars leave once a minute and are timed. Between the start and finish cars are flat out. Competitors transit between stages with local traffic. Overnight breaks and service stops.

How is it different then Baja? The stage is closed to traffic and there and no alternate routes. Side roads are blocked. Amateur radio operators or licensed GMRS only. Crews often do not have radios and rely on the ham radio net to relay messages to crew and service. Service is usually in a central location. A two day rally has an overnight break and will usually only be 100 – 160 stage miles. (around 300 total miles) Rally is held all over the world on many different road surfaces. Dirt, gravel, ice, snow, tarmac, etc.

The cars

Rally cars Production based. Must be 1000 units. Most classes restrict original engine configuration. Street legal. Car is registered and insured. Suspension upgraded. Rally tires on upgraded rims.

Rally cars Roll cage, seats and 5 point harness. Driver and co-driver wear nomex and a helmet. Safety equipment: Fire extinguishers, first aid kit, warning triangles, spill kit, shovel, etc. OK and RED CROSS signs.

The co-drivers job Create a movement plan for the crew. Read route book and stage notes. Stay up all night marking the stage notes. Handle the timecard and time controls. Keep track of the odometer on transits. Make sure the driver doesn’t get lost. Make a note of class competitors times. Keep the service crew on time. File protests or inquiries to the stewards. Be sure the driver stays focused and consistent.

The drivers job Drive

What happens on a stage? 7:00AM Banner tape, signs and controls are setup. 8:00AM Course opening is run with the “00” car. 8:45AM “0” car passes. Course is declared “hot”. 9:15AM First car starts. (example car #5) 9:17AM Block 1 reports to net control car #5 has passed their location. Continues to report cars as they pass. 10:10AM Last car passes block 1. 10:25AM Course closing is run with the “sweep” trucks. 11:00AM Workers move to another stage or setup for another run down this stage.

How many workers? Three volunteers and a stage captain per timing control. Two controls per stage. Start and finish. Average of four radio locations per stage. Block 1-4. Mobile radio station for timing and scoring. Team of EMTs. Usually one ambulance. Mobile radio for course opening “000”, “00” and “0” car. Mobile radio for course closing and “sweep.” Net control, radio station at service, etc. Rally Master, radio station at headquarters, etc. Usually 60 – 70 hams!

The amateur radio operators job Communications. Be aware! Physically block side access roads. Respond in the event of an emergency. Document cars that pass your location. Advise non-rally traffic. Relay messages: Rally, crew, service, etc. Keep in contact with communications captain. Help keep the rally on time.

How do we take care of each other? COMPETITOR ENCOUNTERS ACCIDENT Competitor determines if there is an injury and if the team needs medical assistance. Competitor gives assistance as best they can while ensuring that the next rally car coming upon them will be safely stopped using the triangles and red cross. Next car on the scene is sent to the next available radio location on the stage. Subsequently arriving cars will be parked such that the EMT and county rescue crews will have room to drive past to get to the accident.

How do we take care of each other? COMPETITOR REPORTS INJURY ACCIDENT - to the next blockage radio or finish radio. Details passed on to the comm captain. Net Control will need as many of these details as possible if required to call Dispatcher. Nature of accident (first hand facts only- no conjecture) Type and severity of injuries, number injured (names not to be transmitted) Location of accident, with mileage if possible from stage start (from routebook)

How do we take care of each other? STAGE IS STOPPED EMERGENCY CREW SENT IN Communications Captain, Rally Master, or Safety Steward makes decision to stop the stage and send EMTs and ham to accident Net Control ALERT COUNTY DISPATCHER. They should inform the Dispatcher of the UTM coordinates for the incident if possible, and the frequency that the rally will be using during rescue operations.

What equipment will I need? Just to start: 2 Meter VHF mobile with magnet mount antenna. The manual for your equipment. Extra fuses, electrical tape, pen, notebook. Vehicle in good condition, full tank of gas, spare tire. Two flashlights with good batteries. The essentials – first aid, bug spray, sunscreen, and TP. Bring gear for ALL types of weather. Cooler with water, snacks, and lunch.

What equipment will I need? Nice to haves: Dual band VHF/UHF mobile with antenna options. Hand held radio with extra batteries. GPS reporting unit, APRS tracker. Extra antennas, wire, power-pole hookups, etc. 4X4 Vehicle with capable tow strap / chain. EZ-Up with table and chairs. Large cooler with lots of water and Gatorade. Camera.

As an amateur radio operator… You get to see what most don’t - Rally cars at speed! Help keep track of cars and keep us safe. Remote locations and beautiful scenery. Utilize your skills and that new mobile rig. Overcome communications challenges. Relay messages to crew, service, and headquarters. Drive on some of the best roads in the country. Lots of different ways to help. You are a highly prized commodity!

Ham radio in rally cars! Able to monitor the rally. “What’s the hold up?” Able to transmit first hand information in an emergency. Able to talk to licensed crew on a different frequency. Able to volunteer when not competing. Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS). Cell phones are useless in most rural rally areas. Satellite phones are not in a grassroots racing budget. New hams!

Using APRS in rally cars.

Receive uses basic equipment - scanner, laptop. Volunteer crew is not required to be licensed. Crew can “watch the rally” happen. Fans can “watch the rally” on findU. Radio net can take advantage of cars equipped with trackers. Specialized messages can be sent with a switch. -Rally On! -Pick us up at this location!

AGWTracker & Packet Engine Setup with sound card. Works with web maps. Google Maps Virtual Earth Create your own maps. Create warning areas.

Where are rallies around here? Gorman Ridge, CA – August 18 th Quartzsite, AZ – September 8 th Prescott, AZ – October 5-6 th Laughlin, NV – November 9-11 th Schedule -

How do I get involved? Sites listed in glossary of terms

Acknowledgements KD6UZM – Alvin Brown (CRS) N2ZKX – Rich Otis (Rally New York) N3TOY – James Gorr (Seed 9 Rally) N6OQQ – Paula Gibeault (CRS) The California Rally Series

Questions and Answers Thank you SOARA!