I. Communications protocol

1. All voice communications should be held to a minimum. Always take a breath prior to speaking over the radio or the intercom network. Keep the microphone close to your mouth and talk in a normal tone of voice. Make sure you have the microphone keyed prior to starting your transmission. When you call Race Control, identify your station and flag status. Example: AControl, this is five, stationary yellow.@ Wait for Race Control to respond. If no response after a few seconds give same call again. When Race Control responds, AGo ahead, five@ Give your incident information to Race Control. AFive is stationary yellow for slow roller, number one-zero.@

2. If you are transmitting information about a downed rider, after Race Control has responded give the information concerning the incident in this manner: Rider is up/down, rider=s left or rider=s right, on track or off track, entrance, apex, exit or midway between five and six.

3. If you have an emergency, announce your call in this manner: AControl, emergency, this is three, waving yellow.@ AGo ahead three.@ AI have two riders down on track.@ Control may ask if the track is blocked. Your response might be, AYes, stop this race.@ (Do not ask for a red flag.) Control may ask for additional information or may make the announcement over the network, ARED FLAG, RED FLAG, RED FLAG.@ If your first call does not evoke a response from Race Control, try again. Someone else may have tried to call at the same time, or may have transmitted over your call. Control may be on another line instructing the ambulance to stand up for a possible dispatch, or conferring with another official.

J. Radio operations and communications

These radios are of the highest quality simplex radio available, They can be used with or without a headset and are equipped with a push-to-talk button. We recommend the headset for hands-free operation as well as hearing. Vintage motorcycles may be loud. Simplex radios allow telecommunication in only one direction at a time. The radio will not transmit and receive at the same time. Always listen prior to transmitting, to prevent you from Awalking@ or Astepping@ on another corner worker=s transmission. Transmitting while another corner worker or official is talking, will garble both messages for everyone and waste valuable time.

There are two channels on these radios. Radios and the channel selection will be issued at the conclusion of the morning corner worker meeting.

If you have a radio problem (i.e., you cannot receive or transmit), it is probably a loose connection of the headset or a low battery. First, be sure the headset plug is pushed in tightly and test. If this does not correct the problem, we will get another radio or battery to you as soon as possible.

During inclement weather a small plastic bag will be provided to protect the radio from moisture. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Some tracks have built-in communication systems set up at the stations. These may be referred to as hard-lines, intercom or the network. Operating procedures for all communications equipment will be reviewed at the morning corner worker meetings.

When communicating on the radio, always remember to identify your turn number and flag status. Example: ARace Control, this is three, green,@ or, ARace Control, this is three, waving yellow.@ Race Control will answer back and tell you, AGo ahead, three.@ You will then tell Race Control of the situation at your station. Race Control will answer incoming calls according to safety priority. If you identify your station as green, Race Control may not respond to you immediately. Please be patient, wait a minute and call again. If you identify your flag status as debris or waving yellow Race Control will respond as soon as possible.

Pay close attention to the flag status of adjacent turns. When you hear the turn immediately down track from you go waving yellow, respond by displaying a stationary yellow. When the radio traffic is clear announce your turn number followed by the word copy, as in AThree, copy,@ or, AThree, stationary yellow.@

Keep all communications to a minimum; only transmit or request essential information while riders are on track. This keeps the network available for emergency communications and conserves battery power.

Sometimes the excitement of an incident can cause an adrenalin rush in the corner worker as well as the rider. No matter how serious the incident, take a deep breath, key your microphone and calmly identify your station and situation. If you yell into the microphone your message will not be understood and valuable time lost. While using the headset, keep the microphone close to your mouth and always talk in a normal tone of voice.

A high-priority call on the radio is the request for an ambulance. When calling for an ambulance, you are probably displaying a waving yellow flag. Announce your call, saying, ARace Control, this is three, waving yellow. I need an ambulance, copy.@ Race Control will answer your call immediately. If your call is not answered within a few seconds, repeat the call.

K. Terminology

1. PADDOCK IN. Refers to the designated paddock entrance from the hot pit or race surface.

2. PADDOCK OUT. Refers to the designated paddock access to the hot pit or pre-grid.

3. PIT IN. Designated entrance to the hot pit from track side. (Pit in is the competitors= designated exit from the track, leading to the hot pit.)

4. PIT OUT. Designated riders= entrance to the track from hot pit or pre-grid.

5. MX, MOTO or MOTOCROSS. All refer to the off-track excursion experienced by riders after leaving the racing surface unexpectedly; may or may not be intentional. This journey may be just off the edge of the surface or across the infield. If the rider continues riding and reenters the racetrack, it is referred to as a MX or motocross. This incident should only be reported to Race Control if the reentry is unsafe or the competitor gains position at reentry.

6. RIDE OFF. Rider intentionally exits race surface. Rider is allowed to reenter safely.

7. RIDER DOWN. Rider has crashed and is on the ground or pavement.

8. RIDER UP. Crashed rider has returned to his feet and is mobile.

9. SLOW ROLLER. Refers to a rider with mechanical problems moving at a very slow pace. It is customary to display a stationary yellow flag from station to station as the rider progresses around the course.

10. MECHANICAL. Rider stops on or adjacent to the race surface. Usually caused by problem with the bike. Check for leaking fluids on the race surface, motion or assist rider to move off race surface to a safe location. Ask rider if he needs the crash truck to pick him up after completion of the race or practice session.

11. RIDER RIGHT/RIDER LEFT. Use the terms rider=s right or rider=s left to describe the incident location. Using these terms to identify which side of the track an event has occurred on will expedite the dispatch of emergency vehicles when necessary. Refrain from using the terms inside or outside, right or left, infield or outfield. Example: ARace Control, this is three, waving yellow.@ Race Control responds, AGo ahead, three.@ You will report, ARider down, rider=s right.@

12. REENTERED SAFELY/UNSAFELY. These terms describe a rider who is reentering the race surface after experiencing mechanical problems or a ride-off . It is considered safe if he does not interfere with riders still in the event and on the race surface. If a rider=s reentry causes another rider to drastically change his riding line, to stop abruptly or crash, it is considered unsafe. An unsafe reentry should be reported to Race Control; include the rider numbers involved.

13. STOP THE RACE. This request is used only in extreme conditions, in the event that the race surface is blocked, due to down riders, oil, debris, etc. Do not use the term RED or RED FLAG. Example: Call Race Control, AThis is turn three. I have track blockage. Stop the race, stop the race.@ Race Control may ask you to describe your situation, or announce, ARed flag, all stations, red flag.@

14. NUMBER PLATE(S) In addition to the above terms, you will often be asked to identify a rider by the number plates at the front or side of the bike. Number plates will be white or yellow with black numbers; a few use red numbers on white plates. Use single digits when transmitting the numbers. Example: AOne-seven-three.@ Do not say, AOne-seventy-three.@ Ignore the numbers on competitors= leathers, as they may not be the same.

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