Tarmac Navigation

[No Crust Racing]

I'm keen to dabble in tarmac rallies and hill climbs in the future and the missus is keen to be my Nav.

The question then becomes, how did the seasoned Nav's among you get started?

Is there a standard system for calling corners? I've done plenty of reading and watched plenty of footage and the systems seem to vary as to whether it's a scale of 1-5 or 1-10 and whether 1 is the tightest turn or 5/10 etc.

I'm thinking we might have a bit of play run at DECA this weekend but I imagine it's not going to be easy without some sort of intercom system, what are other people using that doesn't require special helmets?

Cheers

Dan

[nismoman]

"special" helmets aren't required as such. A terraphone system can be fitted to most helmets, but of course the car needs to have the intercom system installed also. They are available from shops like revolution racegear.

Without the intercom system however, a strong voice and hand signals come in handy!!

The type of system for calling corners varies as they suit different people. It's really a personal choice. I have used the 1 to 6 system in the past and it seems very popular. We used vandenburg pace notes and a sample of them can be found here:

http://www.vandenbergmotorsport.com/upload...ample_notes.pdf

You should find the sample helpful in explaining the different kinds of calls and what all the shorthand symbols mean.

[No Crust Racing]

Great thanks for that. What other types of systems are commonly used? Is there any sort of widely adopted system?

[No Crust Racing]

Had a look at that link, that seems to make a lot of sense to me straight of the bat which is a good sign. It looks like there's some things missing though, granted it's only a sample.

I might try and dig up a more comprehensive set of pace notes.

Cheers

[Snowman]

There are no right or wrong way to do pace notes. I have personally used 1-6 and 1-10 notes in my short stint just to see what I prefer. I know a guy who uses 1-3 notes!

It's what ever you are comfortable with.

And then on top of the "corner" and "distance" notes you can add other things as well. Some people put braking or turning markers into their notes as well as the standard Care, Caution, Danger markers. It's obviously easier to start off simple and build the amount of data you want called as you - and your nav - gain experience. For example I'm at a point now where I will add extra caution style notes - but I don't yet add any go faster type notes (aka changing a basic call of 5R to a Flat Out 5R if you think it should be taken full throttle)

But for example in Targa Rookie I just purchased a set of those Vandenberg 1-6 Notes and for the most part drove soley with those un-altered. And I personally think for anyone starting out buying a set of pre-done notes - which can be purchased for pretty much all of the major events - is the easiest way to learn the ropes. There are several options available to you in both 1-6 and 1-10 notes.

Also - when I first started out I was using the Blue Ant bluetooth intercom headsets. They worked a treat and stick onto any helmet - you just needed to remember to charge them every night and turn them off between stages.

http://www.mmsport.com.au/products/1222/Interphone-Motorbike

[No Crust Racing]

Thanks Snowy, what does a set of those notes set you back if you don't mind me asking? I might pick your brain a bit more at DECA too.

EDIT: I love how that saying makes me sound like a Zombie...

Edited August 11, 2010 by ActionDan

[Snowman]

Costs depend on the event and if you are a first time buyer or a repeat buyer.

But for example - here is the price list of the "Official" Octogon / Targa notes supplier - http://rallynotes.com.au/course_notes/ew/6/1386/1/271.pdf

Others can be had for cheaper (Vandenbergs) - but there is less data in their notes. So its a personal preference thing.

[No Crust Racing]

Great thanks.

I can' imagine too many people would be able to do adequate recce for something like Targa Tas unless you're local but it might be a bit different for sprint and hillclimb events.

Edited August 11, 2010 by ActionDan

[No Crust Racing]

Just looked at that headset, seems pricey when two of those would be just under $500 and a Terraphone club amp and two headsets would be under $400 from Revolution. They are wireless though but wit the Terra you can output the audio to your vid cam as well.

Edited August 11, 2010 by ActionDan

[No Crust Racing]

Anybody tried these?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-BT-Interphone-BLU...=item255c979359

[warps]

I used a Graytronics intercom in my last car (which I sold with the car). It can be run off a 9V battery (which is what we did - just threw a new battery in for every event) or can be connected to the car's 12V power via the supplied power cable. The quality is fantastic ( better than terror phones) and they're cheap - I think mine was under $200 complete, though I'll have to check that. The mic boom attaches to the helmet with an allen bolt clamp, rather than dodgy double sided tape that falls off. The sound quality was so good I could hear all of the rattles in the car through my nav's microphone - had never experienced that with a terror phone before.

I know some people who have used blue tooth intercoms, which is good for communicating to the driver when the Nav's at the control table and the car's still waiting to enter control. DOn't know if tarmac rallies use the same system so can't say whether you'll have the same advantages.

Of course you can buy Stilo or Peltor intercoms / helmets with sound cancelling technology, but I think the price might be a bit steep for your budget.

[No Crust Racing]

Thanks for the tip

[Marlin]

i have a spare Stilo WRC amp (the bit that goes in the car that you plug your headset into and this version has input for the camera microphone) lying around somewhere........

[No Crust Racing]

You should give it away to someone who know who might need it..

[Marlin]

It's out of a famous car, so it's gotta be worth, ahhh, a million dollars!?

[No Crust Racing]

$20?

[Marlin]

Twenty dollars sounds like a bargain!

Where did you find one for that much?

[No Crust Racing]

lol good call

[warps]

Just checked through some history, and looks like the Graytronics was closer to $360, rather then the $200 I remembered. Still, good price for something that is a league above the Terratrip stuff. (Note the headsets are compatibnle with Terratrip, so if your nav has terratrip headset, then they can still nav with the Graytronics intercom, and vice versa.

[No Crust Racing]

current clubman terraphone and two full face helmet headsets would be 380 and will output to video cam, that's just through revolution I haven't looked anywhere else. How is the Graytronics a league above? What else does it do.