ALBERTA RACE CAR WORKERS' ASSOCIATION

CORNER COMMUNICATIONS MANUAL

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Motor racing can be dangerous. There are two easy-to-understand and remember principles that, when followed, will add to your personal safety.

These are standards and procedures for the communication between Corner Seniors and Race Control. They are intended as a guideline to provide consistency in the words and style used to communicate information.

When these communications guidelines are followed, Race Control and all Corners will more fully understand what is happening around the track.

Use of these standards and procedures will assist all Corners and Race Control to provide response promptly when any Corner has an incident that requires response, such as in displaying pre-warning flags at other Corners.

Race Control, at the top of the tower, controls the race track, everyone and everything on it. Nothing happens without the knowledge and permission of Race Control. Race Control, however, is not just the person whose voice you hear over the radio. It is composed of the Chief Communicator (whose voice you hear), the Clerk of the Course and his assistant, the Senior Course Marshal and his assistant. With permission granted from Race Control you may also hear Race Stewards, and the owners of Race City Motorsport Park.

Race Control cannot see the whole track from the tower. The Corner Post personnel are our eyes. Race Control Can see some of what happens, in some areas, but only AFTER it has happened. You are the ones who have seen the beginning, what happened, and the result. You must tell us what is happening on the track. because we can't assess the situation without your input, you will be backed up in any decision you make. OVER-REACT, don't' UNDER-REACT! If you say you need help, you'll get it. If it is determined later that help was not required, that's okay. If help was needed and wasn't called for until too late, that's not okay. As long as you follow the instructions of your Senior, you will be backed up by Race Control, the Chief Course Marshal, the Clerk of the course, and even the Track Owner!

Most of the corners cannot hear all the other corners. That's okay, as long as each corner can hear Race Control and Race Control can hear each corner.

If any marshal leaves the station (calls of nature exempted) Race Control needs to be advised.

If three or four corners have reported the same item (i.e.: Car one-zero is leaking oil), it is not necessary for you to report this as well, unless you are specifically asked to do so.

Please keep your personal opinions about the drivers, their driving skills and their medical conditions to yourselves AT ALL TIMES. DO NOT AIR ANY MEDICAL INFORMATION AT ANY TIME.

The Corner Post Communicators are the "mouth piece" and the ears of the Corner Senior. Your Senior must be kept advised as to what is happening.

You are a radio announcer in the sense that you must keep your Corner Senior and fellow workers informed and up to date with what is happening around the track. They may be cheering for someone who doesn't pass by anymore and would like to know he has left the track rather than fear he has crashed somewhere! However, over the radio, if you have nothing to day, don't say anything!

The radio that you are issued is valued at approximately $1,500.00 each. Take care of it. If it is broken, report it. Please keep them dry.

All Seniors are trained in the correct use of the radio. If you must leave your post for any reason, turn your radio over to your Senior.

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The Corner Post Communicator is responsible for all communications between the Corner post/station and Race Control. They are responsible for writing everything in the corner log book. They act as an observer at the station. They are responsible for collecting all written reports for incidents which are requested to be written up and for gathering information from everyone at the corner that witnessed any part of the incident. They report to the Corner Senior.

The Chief Communicator is responsible for all communications on the track, both between the Corner Posts and the Clerk of the Course during the running of events and between all the back-up services required to run the track. She records all incidents on a daily log. She liases between Safety vehicles and the corner posts to efficiently handle any incidents. She reports to the Clerk of the course and the Chief Course Marshall.

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The management and control of a race requires that all information relating to inappropriate conduct of cars be reported through the Corner Senior to Race Control by way of the Corner Post Communicator.

The type of information required to be reported by the Corner Post Communicators to the Race Control is:

1. Flag Status
2. Corner identification
3. Nature of incident
4. Which side of track
5. Upstream or downstream from post
6. Status of track
7. Identity of car(s) involved
8. Status of drivers
9. Situation updates
10. Final report

When calling in numbers to Control:

If you ever have trouble reading a car number, check with the Corner Senior that the numbers are being displayed properly. If they are not, report that you are having difficulty reading the numbers on the car. There are regulations as to the size and placement of the numbers on the cars and at the beginning of the season, there may be some adjustments to be made. The Race Control will request Tech to inspect the car.

When reporting anything to Race Control, the first call from the Corner should give the Corner number and the flag status. Everytime you key your mike, repeat what Corner your are. As soon as you release your mike, any corner can then speak and Control has no way of knowing if there is a new corner interrupting or if it is the same corner continuing their report. Open communications with:

"Corner Ten to Control, No Flag"

THIS IS IMPERATIVE. Should you not give your flag status, response to your incident will be delayed while Race Control requests your flag status.

"Race Control to Corner Ten - You flag status?"

This does not invite you to relay your incident. Simply and only report your flag status. Race Control will then determine if they can take your incident report.

"Corner Ten to Control - On Waving Yellow (or NO FLAG, etc.)"

Race Control will then advise: "Control to Corner Ten - Hold" or Control to Corner Ten - Go ahead." DO NOT REPORT YOUR INCIDENT UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE GO AHEAD.

All other turns will remain silent until Control has completed the communication with the reporting Corner, UNLESS they have an ALERT. Give a quick and brief description of your situation.

"Corner Ten to Control on waving yellow. Care one-three, red, off track, driver's left, driver OK, require flat tow at end of session, cancel yellow."

"Corner Ten to Control on waving yellow. Car one-nine black, off track beside our bunker, wait one for status."

"Corner Ten to Control on waving yellow. We have car two-seven, orange, against wall driver's left, car three-six, in our tire wall, driver's right, both drivers still in cars, assistance need now. We are upgrading to double waved yellow status. Car five-four stopped on track, driver out and OK, request turn nine display double waving yellow and turn eight display waving yellow."

The responsibility of your corner if from approximately halfway from the last corner to approximately halfway to the next corner. Your yellow flagger flags from your corner right to the next corner. Your back-up flagger flags from the previous corner up to your corner. You can call in anything that happens from the previous corner to the next corner, but use your best judgment as to who can see the incident best and make the best report. May times you start the call, but the cars end up beside the next corner, so pass the call on:

"Corner Ten to Control on Waving Yellow"

"Race Control to Corner Ten Go Ahead"

"Corner Ten to Control on Waving Yellow, car one-five spun and hit car six one. Car six one off track, drivers left, can't determine driver status, passing call to Corner Eleven."

As you can see by the above reports, all situations were deemed a Waved Yellow call, yet the severity of each was much different.

The important thing here is that the incident be reported. If the corner you feel is responsible for the call does not report, you report it. We would rather have it reported twice or a problem with who should have reported it after the report was made than have no one report it!

The reasons for the flag status in your initial contact with Control is Corner Three may have had a spin and car is well off the track. There is no need for any assistance at this time, but they need to report the incident. The call would be "Corner three to Control, NO FLAG". At the same time, Corner Six has a car that has spun and is sitting partially on the track in a dangerous position. The corner personnel may be required to enter the track to assist this incident. The call would be "Corner Six to Control, WAVING YELLOW". At the same time, Corner Ten has two cars that collided in the straight-away chute and are blocking the track completely. They require big assistance, NOW. The call would be "Corner Ten to Control, ALERT."

Race Control has three incidents in different locations and must determine which incident has priority, without knowing anything about each incident other than one has NO FLAG, one is on WAVING YELLOW and one is an ALERT. Corner three cannot even hear Corner Ten on the radio and sometimes Corner Six can't either. None of the corners can see each other and they cannot determine the seriousness of the incidents. YOU MUST ALLOW RACE CONTROL TO DETERMINE. Priorities are: ALERT, Waving Yellow, Solid/Held/Stationary Yellow, Waving White, No Flag.

Race Control will respond: "Hold three, Hold Six, Control to all Corners, Corner Ten has an ALERT, Go ahead Ten."

Upon the announcement FROM RACE CONTROL of an ALERT, all Corners must retain radio silence until the ALERT is canceled FROM RACE CONTROL, unless their incident upgrades to an ALERT as well.

At the conclusion of the ALERT, Race Control will respond: 'Control to all corners, ALERT canceled, hold Three, Go ahead Corner Six."

Six will now request whatever assistance they require for the incident, if they still require it. If not, they will simply give their report.

Corner Three will now be asked for their report.

At the conclusion of all this, Race Control will then ask all corners if there are any other delayed reports, delayed to the radio silence imposed during the ALERT.

The only other time radio silence is mandatory is from the announcement at the beginning of each race by Race Control, we have a CLEAR TRACK. From that time until the end of the first completed racing lap, the potential for an ALERT is so great that radio silence is imposed. At the end of the first lap, Race Control will announce: "Attention all corners, the first racing lap has been completed. Are there any delayed reports?" At that time, starting with Corner 1, all corners will wait a second or two and then report anything that may have occurred, in sequence.

Once you have received permission from Race Control to report your incident, give it quickly, briefly and clearly by giving the car number(s), the driver(s) status, the assistance needed, if any, or what was done by the marshals.

"Corner Ten to Control NO FLAG"

"Control to Corner Ten, Go Ahead"

"Corner Ten to Control, Car one-three, red, off track, driver's left, driver OK, require FLAT/LIFT tow end of session."

• Corner waited for "Go Ahead" from Race Control
• Off track means all 4 tires and vehicle is completely clear of the track
• Driver's left is very important in giving directions to safety vehicles
• Driver OK. Absolutely necessary. If you don't know, state- Driver's status unknown, wait one.
  The driver's status is one of paramount importance. Injured drivers will be discussed in the next section.

Provide the information on the car number, the nature of the problem, spraying liquids, smoking, loose components, etc. as briefly as possible. If you don't know what it is, simply report that the car is spilling fluid or something is loose. Other corners can assist in determining what it is. If you report that he is spraying oil all over, he may be black flagged and forced to go into pit lane only to find it was dirty water! He has been penalized with no recourse based on your report.

Report slow moving racing cars ONLY if they are in the way of other cars running at speed.

Report as soon as possible when a car takes a rough ride (Car one-zero 4 wheels off and on and continued) or when a car spins (Car one-zero spun on track and continued). It is frequent for the car that went 4 off and on or spun to stall upon re-entering or regaining the track, so make sure you advise that he has continued.

A spin or off-track excursion may seen insignificant by itself, but if a driver is pursuing the same erratic course elsewhere the Clerk or Steward may want to have the driver black flagged for a discussion.

Advise whether or not the marshals are responding to the car. Advise status of driver and whether or not a Tow is required.

Any body contact must be reported whether contacting part of the track, a team mate, or another racing car. Report the type and severity of the contact and the driver condition(s) as soon as they can be determined. Report updates of the situation, if necessary. Advise if the cars continue.

Cars that do not have their driver windows open, window nets fastened, helmets on AT ALL TIMES ON THE TRACK, etc. If you aren't sure, say so.

Incidents that may have a flag displayed but the report can be held momentarily would include:

Advise the car number, where he is located, the driver status, why he may have stopped, and whether or not the marshals are responding to the car. Advise as soon as is known whether a Safety unit or tow truck is required.

Emergency vehicles are not usually sent out on the track unless there is a full course yellow, but should there be one, it must be flagged appropriately and reported as it proceeds around the track.

Examples of an ALERT would be:

• Multiple cars involved in incident
• Hard impact with another car
• Car upside down
• Car(s) blocking track completely
• Car visibly on fire (not brake or tire smoke)
• People injured
• Facility problem (major debris on track)

Report your ALERT by:

Communicator: "Corner Ten to Control, we have an ALERT

Control: "Attention all Corners, we have an ALERT. Go ahead Ten"

The Pit In Corner (usually Corner Nine) is to report ANY car that leaves the track during timing sessions and racing sessions, except at the end of the track session when the checkered flag has been displayed.

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Each morning as you arrive, you will receive a radio. You must sign for this radio and are responsible for it until you return it AND SIGN OUT. Should you leave for the day and turn the radio over to someone else, you must report to Race Control who you are and who you are giving the radio to. Then proceed to the Tower for a brief meeting regarding the set up for the day.

After the meeting, when you leave the Tower, turn your radio on. After a short time, Race Control will call all corners asking for a corner check, in sequence, starting with Corner 1. This check is to determine that your Corner personnel are ready and you have all your equipment. Reply:

"Corner One to Control, Green and Ready"

"Corner Two to Control, we are missing brooms"

The next Corner should then check in and continue in sequence. DO NOT WAIT FOR CONTROL RESPONSE at this time.

"Corner Three to Control, we have mud on the track"

etc.

this check should take no more than minutes. After the special services have been checked, Race Control will call each corner that made a report, in turn, asking for more information, if required, or an up date on the status of the corner.

"Race Control to Corner Two, how may brooms do you need?"

"Corner Two to Race Control, we require 3 brooms."

"Race Control to Corner Two, they are on the way. Race Control to Corner Three, how long until you corner is ready?"

"Corner Three to Race Control, 5 minutes"

etc.

A "Green & Ready" course means that the race track surface in both directions within visual sight of the Corner Communicator IS CLEAR OF ALL VEHICLES, PEOPLE AND DEBRIS and that all Corner marshals ARE IN POSITION. This means that if you have workers out on the track, YOU ARE NOT GREEN & READY! if there is a pace car or other service vehicle on the track, YOU ARE NOT GREEN & READY!

A "Green & Ready" course check procedure will be made by Race Control approximately 3 minutes prior to the start of each on track activity. It should take no more than 1 minute. Be ready for it.

"Race Control to all Corners, we are about 3 minutes until GT qualifying. Green and Ready course check, starting with Corner One."

"Corner One, Green & Ready!"

"Corner Two, Green & Ready!"

etc.

When a corner does not have a Green & Ready course, Race Control will stop the Green & Ready Course check and the Corner should respond:

"Corner three, Not Clear"

"Corner Three, we have marshals sweeping the track, we require 2 minutes:

Race Control can decide to continue the Green & Ready Course check and come back to Corner Three at the end. It is not up to you to decide if your marshals on the track can be finished and back in before the cars are released onto the track. Report the facts as they are when the check is in progress.

At the end of this Green & Ready Course check, RADIO SILENCE will be observed by all Corners and support services until the track is under GREEN FLAG condition and a full racing lap has been completed, except in the case of an ALERT, or if a change should occur at a Corner that would cancel the Green & Ready condition before the Green Flag.

When requesting assistance, if you require a tow truck, please state whether you require a FLAT tow or a LIFT tow. This is particularly important with the F1600's. If you request assistance, specify what assistance you require, i.e. rescue truck, safety truck, tow truck, ambulance. If you are in an ALERT situation and do not specify, EVERYTHING will be sent!

Again, OVER REACT, ask for everything and we can send it back when we find it isn't needed.

During a race, the Race Steward may request that the Clerk of the Course "BLACK FLAG" car one-zero. Control will request that the Starter and Corner Eight display the Black Flag for Car one-zero. Both the Starter and Corner Eight will prepare their notice board with the car number and get the flag ready while the Communicator confirms the flag requested and the car number.

"Race Control to Start & Corner Eight, please Black Flag car one-zero."

"Start to Control, Confirm Black Flag on car one-zero."

"Corner Eight to Control, confirming Black Flag car one-zero"

Corners Six, Seven, Nine, Ten will now watch for car one-zero as it passes their corner, they will simply report:

"Car one-zero through Corner Six, first of three cars"

"Car one-zero through Corner Seven, second of four cars"

"Corner Eight to Control, car one-zero did not acknowledge Black Flag"

"Car one-zero through Corner Nine all alone"

"Car one-zero through Corner Ten second of two cars"

"Start to Control, Car one-zero acknowledged Black Flag"

"Control to Start and Corner Eight, cancel Black Flag"

"Start to Control, confirm cancel Black Flag"

"Corner Eight to Control, confirming cancel Black Flag"

There are a few other flags which only the Starter displays and Corners Nine and Ten are to watch and report as the car to receive the flag passes through their corners. The Bermuda Triangle and Checkered Flag are two of them.

Written report forms are in your communications folder. They are required whenever there is body contact resulting in body damage to either car. They are required whenever requested by Control. In preparing a written report, ask each marshal on your corner if they saw anything pertaining to the incident. Listen to their report and enter it. If there are differing views of the facts, more than one incident report can be written. Draw the cars involved, and indicate the car numbers, onto the race track diagram provided on your report form, which directional arrows as to which way each car was going. Give as complete a report as possible, including whether there was fault involved. Make sure your Corner number is indicated, the time of day of the incident, the race number if you know it, and the names and addresses of all witnesses reporting, including yours.

Each passing violation requires a written notation made in your Corner log. The report is to reflect what was reported verbally to Race Control on the radio. A full written report may be requested at a later time.

If all marshals agree about the facts of a passing violation, they will all sign the written report.

Passing violations can be critical in determining the final outcome of a race. It is imperative that a report is factually correct and submitted in a timely manner, when requested.