This was my office for the Tour of Tassie all week as Race Radio... There is way more to this supposedly simple job than i ever imagined. Effecively you are the eyes on the front of the race for the team cars and the race Convoy. Calling the days race Profile, conducting the teams roll call, issuing the time gaps and race status, warning the convoy of sharp corners and upcoming hazards, calling out team names and rider numbers requesting service and punctures or mechanicals all in a clear and concise manner..... Its a no nonsense comms channel as i was advised by the chief comm who is the race Boss. Its supposed to be a one way Race Radio to convoy communication but then you have Broadcasters who want the Sprint and KOM results as soon as they happen, and team cars whose managers seem to forget whose in the break and call in to ask for rider number confirmation after the break has been going for at least an hour!!! But the best call in came from Mr Henk Vogels who is DS for Drapac Professional Racing, after calling the rider numbers for the breakaway riders in stage 4 i went thru the teams represented, Jayco VIS, Charter Mason, Subaru racing and i said Drapac Porsche!!! Now i know Porsche has not been a sponsor for quite some years but hey it just came out wrong no harm its a closed channel!!! NOT Moments later this rather stern announcement came over the radio channel Porsche have not been involved with Drapac Professional Racing for a long time end of transmission..... Ooh youve just been radio slapped by Henk Vogels says the driver!!! Its all good after the stage Henk and i hugged it out he loved the call from the driver though... The best call of the week came from the Chief Commissaire who after 20 minutes of radio communication issues... 2 battery changes 1 radio change whilst leaning out of the rear window as neutral spares handed me a radio and then a car radio changeover all whilst writing the time gaps down! I had stopped making announcements after all no one could hear us!!! The Chief Commissaire turns to the back seat sees my despondent panicked look and says so youve just given up then? Pure Gold!!! So now you have a small insight into the life of a Volunteer for CA. P.S the direction labels were placed there after a couple of turn call stuff ups!! With apologies for the Lengthy nature of this post
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:39:32 +0000
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