Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

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

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/332588-tarmac-navigation/
Share on other sites

  • Replies 52
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

"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.

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

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

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 by ActionDan

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.

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 by ActionDan

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 by ActionDan

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.

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.

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.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Thanks for all the replies fellas. Gonna finish putting it back together and see how it handles the set up. If it starts pinging it’ll be parked.
    • Well, I can recommend the partial AV system translation CD I ordered from Car Audio Workshop in NZ. Whilst it didn't address the date issue, it has conveniently translated on-screen menu items into English, and now allows the GPS-received time to be offset in hours rather than minutes, so I can display Eastern Australian time accurately ( and bump it by another hour when daylight savings starts ).
    • Yuh, if it's 45°C outside, my car is driving in it.
    • I'd be curious to hear more. Otherwise, have you driven a modern x-trail? I wonder how it compares. Here in Australia they are/were popular for rentals and fleet vehicles. I have been in some and my impression was they are bad. But, this may have been very different in the 2000s at a good trim level. Twenty years is plenty of time to make the model worse. I do very much agree with the 2 silver cars in the garage approach. But, not driving because it's too hot would not leave a lot of time in the year for many Australians. I don't think you need to worry too much unless the car has actual issues with overheating. 
    • Back again. I returned to Japan in Jul/Aug to spend time with the car on my birthday and remind myself what all the sacrifice and compromise is for. It happened to line up with the monthly morning meet in Okutama, which I have been wanting to go to for a long time. It's a unique event at a unique spot with really rare, interesting, and quirky cars. It's where all the oldheads and OGs gather. The nighttime scene at DKF certainly has its place and should be experienced if you're into cars, but there's too much bad attention and negativity around it now. IMO the better time is Sunday morning at DKF or Okutama; it's more chill and relaxed. I'm glad I was finally able to go, but not sure it's worth the drive from all the way from Nagoya immediately the day before, unless I was already staying in Tokyo for the days right before the meet, because you have to wake up quite early to make it in time. Funnily enough though I didn't drive the car all that much this trip because it was just too damn hot. While there were zero issues and running temps were nominal and the A/C was strong, RBs already run crazy hot as it is. Sure, it took it all like a champ but something about driving these cars in the ridiculous heat/humidity bothers me and makes me feel like I'm asking too much of it. I'm just me being weird and treating the car like a living thing with feelings; I'm mechanically sympathetic to a fault. Instead I was mainly driving something else around - a KX4(silver) 2001 X-Trail GT, that I acquired in May. There's a few different flavors to choose from with Xs, but visually it's the Nissan version of the Honda CR-V. Mechanically it's a whole different story as this, being the top-trim GT, has an SR20VET mated to a four-speed auto and full-time AWD! It was a very affordable buy in exceptional condition inside and out, with very low mileage...only 48k kms. Most likely it was owned by an older person who kept it garaged and well-maintained, so I'm really happy with how it all worked out. It literally needs zero attention at the moment, albeit except for some minor visual touch-ups. I wanted something quirky, interesting, and practical and for sure it handily delivers on all three of those aspects. I was immediately able to utilize the cargo and passenger capacity to its full extent. It's a lot of fun to drive and is quite punchy through 1st and 2nd. It's very unassuming -in the twisty bits it's a lot more composed than one would think at a glance- and it'll be even better once I get better tires on it(yes, it's an SUV but still a little boat-y for my liking). So...now I have two golden-era Nissans in silver. One sports car and one that does everything else; the perfect two-car solution I think👍 The rest of the trip...I was able to turn my stressed brain off and enjoy it, although I didn't quite get to do as much as I thought. I did some interesting things, met some interesting people, and happened into some interesting situations however, that's all for another post though only if people really want to know. Project-wise, I went back to Mine's again to discuss more plans and am hoping to wrap that up real soon; keep watching this space if that interests you. Additionally, while working in the tormenting sweatbox that is the warehouse, I was able to organize most of the myriad of parts that my friend is storing for me along with the cars, and the 34 has a nice little spot carved out for it: And since it can get so stupid hot in there, that made it all the more easy -after I was standing there looking at the car and said 'f**k it'- to finally remove all the damn gauges that have mostly been an eyesore all this time. Huzzah. The heat basically makes the adhesive backing on the gauge mounts more pliable to work with, so it was far less stressful getting this done. I didn't fully clean it up or chase the wiring though; that will happen once I have the car in closer possession. Another major reason to remove all that stuff is to give people less reasons to get in my car and steal s**t while it's being exported/imported when/if the time comes, which leads us to my next point... ...and that is even though it's time in Japan is technically almost up since it's a November car and the X would be coming in March, I'm still not entirely sure where my life and career is headed; I don't really know what the future looks like and where I'm going to end up. I feel there's a great deal of uncertainty with me and as a result of that, it feels like I'm at a crossroads moreso now than any point in my life thus far and there are some choices I need to make. Yes, I've had some years to consider things and prepare myself, however too much has happened in that time to maintain confidence and everything feels so up in the air; tenuous one might say. Simply put, there's just too much nonsense going on right now from multiple vectors. Admittedly, I'm struggling to stay in the game and keep my eyes on the prize. So much so in fact, that very recently I came the closest I ever have before to calling it quits outright; selling everything and moving on and not looking back. The astute among you will pick up on key subtext within this paragraph. In the meantime I've still managed to slowly acquire some final bits for the car, but it feels nice knowing there's not much left to get and I'm almost across that finish line; I have almost everything I'll ever want for my interpretation and expression on what it is I think an R34 should be. 'til later.
×
×
  • Create New...