Alright... something SERIOUSLY needs to be done about all this "3rd call" BS that's going on (at least with the MW region.)
The racers b*tched about it at MAM at the Sunday morning riders meeting. Nothing was done. Thinking maybe it was a MAM thing, we dealt with it.
Today at BHF - SAME DEAL.
Waiting for Expert GTU to start. 3rd call was given, what, FIVE TIMES? The announcer is calling out "THIRD CALL.. THIRD AND FINAL CALL... YOU SHOULD BE HEADING DOWN TO PIT-ON RIGHT NOW!!!" Meanwhile, the race prior to this hadn't even FINISHED yet... riders were still racing down the front straight!!!
I counted OVER TEN MINUTES passed between the first time the announcer called out 3rd call, and the time the 5 board was actually raised. And it's not like he mistakenly called for third call - over that 10+ minute period, he must've made "3rd call" at least 5 times.
I don't know what the intent is... if you're trying to speed the schedule up by getting all the racers down early... but we're NOT BUYING IT. You pull this crap, and now you've got racers, sitting in leather suits, on a hot bike, on a hot sunny day, waiting around for freakin TEN MINTUES+ to go on the track. Tires get cold, riders get fatigued and dehydrated.
Please, PLEASE... don't call 3rd call anymore until you MEAN IT!
Agreed. They starting NOTICEABLY pulling this at the last BHF. I was really frustrated, and sweaty, sitting there for a while.
At the next BHF, I won't have a fan anymore, and I don't want my bike roasting, or having to get shut down while I roast because they called third call really early.
hey guys i am a corner worker and the reason he gives 3rd call like that is cause he dont no if we have need for a crash truck. Another reason is us corner workers might need a little break to use the bathroom. And maybe if u guys are going to complain about it u should possibly talk to kevin elliot even though he says things that are wrong. I personally think that kevin shouldnt be the big guy in charge and that the rule book dont really mean anything cause kevin elliot already broke it enough this year
Crash truck? So if you do need one, why does he still call it REAL early? If you DON'T, then he shoudl call it on time. If he called it on time, and then had to call again because of the crash truck, that's one thing, but what's happening now is not like that.
Last year if you heard 3rd call, you'd better get your butt to pit out. (the way it should be) This year its a good signal to plug your tire warmers in and put your leathers on. >:(
What your saying pitbtch makes no sense. What does you getting a drink break or a crash truck got to do with an announcer giving a 3rd call on a radio. If he knows cornerworkers are getting a break or a crash truck goes, then he can make 3rd call accordingly. You have no argument. Here in the MA and SE the announcer will tell you in advance if a break or truck in out and hold 2nd call. Then he gives 3rd call appropriatly. :P
QuoteWhat your saying pitbtch makes no sense. What does you getting a drink break or a crash truck got to do with an announcer giving a 3rd call on a radio. If he knows cornerworkers are getting a break or a crash truck goes, then he can make 3rd call accordingly. You have no argument. Here in the MA and SE the announcer will tell you in advance if a break or truck in out and hold 2nd call. Then he gives 3rd call appropriatly. :P
exactly.
I'm a cornerworker and racer and that crash truck thing was total BS....
The CCS rule book gives guide lines on when the 1, 2, & 3rd call should be made.
If there is a brake , or bike pick up needed its a corrdinated effort. the calls are delayed not repeated over and over. ( mid alt ( summt point))
uummmm............... ::) most of the time.
Not to complain, but this last weekend at Summit found a couple of us waiting on the hot pit while the crash truck went and did it's thing.
For the most part the announcer does a real good job of communicating to the riders and letting us know if the CW's (God bless 'em) need some water or if the ambulance is out picking someone up.
It's all about communication and if you have told hold at second call because someone has been abusive to their toys, then let the riders know.
If you do the calls correctly and somebody gets to the grid late and misses their race. They've got nobody to blame but themselves.
My $.02
Yes, I understand there may be delays when the crash truck is still out. Earlier this year, they would announce it, "Looks like the crash truck is still out there, gonna be a few minute delay..." and they would consequently delay 3rd call.
At MAM, they were calling 3rd call, and the crash truck was still ON IT'S WAY to the crash.
Yesterday, and again today, was similar BS. 3rd call no longer means "You'd better get your arse to the pre-grid." Now it means "You should think about taking that last drink of water, and start to put your leathers on." It's f-ing ridiculous.
Now, fortunately for US, we were parked such that we had a little system going. One person stands where they can see the 5 board come out... when it does, they signal to the rest of us.. and THEN the warmers come off, the bike is started, and off the rider goes. Those that were not pitted where the 5 board was viewable, got stuck sitting in pre-grid for 10-15 minutes. At one point today, it was so bad, that riders LEFT pre-grid and went BACK to their pits, because they were waiting so long.
CCS, you really need to get on the ball with this crap...
There was a new announcer at MAM and a new one at BHF. When Grif announces, it's not bad because he at least keeps and eye on what's going on and listens to the radio.
Race 10 today..... No first call, two second calls and then a third call. No information as to what was going on... We were concerned that we were going to miss the race because all bikes were off the track. They did not announce any calls until I went up the the grid marshal and asked what was going on.
Dawn :-/
That's ok ... one time at Summit they were calling 3rd call for the 125GP race ... and the grid wasn't posted yet.
We were all sitting on our bikes up by where they post the grids contemplating if the whole two-stroke thing had confused them, and they wanted us all to line up on the front row MX style ::)
- Roach
Or how about them giving first call at the end of the riders meeting sunday and some of us were pitted back by turn 3a. Then hear 3rd call right as I got the bike off the stand. Get up to pit out and theres only 2 bikes there. THen have to WAIT because some racers were still getting suited up. Geesh give us 10 minutes AFTER the riders meeting before 1st call.
I am amazed that this surprises anyone. Looks like nothing has changed.
A basic course in organizational skills would go far.
They explained how the calls are made at the riders meeting, and they haven't changed from last year.
At the 1/2 way point of the race, they announce 1st call. At the white flag shown for the LEADER, they announce 2nd call. When the checkered flag flies for the LEADER, they make 3rd call...
When 3rd call is made at BHF, you STILL have a grid full of racers who need to cross the checkered, and then make a cool-down lap. At a minimum, you're looking around 4 minutes from the time 3rd call is made to a 5 board. Most often times, it's around 8 minutes.
An easy way to deal with this is to stay within sight of pit out, and leave when the 5 board goes up. However this is pretty risky.
Another way is to watch for ALL riders to come past on their cool down lap. Once they clear the track, the 5 board can go within a minute or two.
All of this changes when the crash truck has to go pick people up, but the way that calls are made has not changed in the last two years at least. What changes and varies is the amount of time from clearing the track of race A to a green track for race B...
for one what is a rule book? This year a rule book dont mean nothing considering that there is so many people breaking it anyway. And for another i do have an argument about the calls. Alot of the racers are arguing about when there made and they are actually the ones that have never worked corners or annouced anything. I just have one thing to really say and thats without us cornerworkers u racers wouldnt be racing
Quotefor one what is a rule book? This year a rule book dont mean nothing considering that there is so many people breaking it anyway. And for another i do have an argument about the calls. Alot of the racers are arguing about when there made and they are actually the ones that have never worked corners or annouced anything. I just have one thing to really say and thats without us cornerworkers u racers wouldnt be racing
Yeah? and with out all of the racers there would be no need for corner workers. What is your point. ::)
QuotePosted by: JeF4y Posted on: Jul 21st, 2003, 7:16am
They explained how the calls are made at the riders meeting, and they haven't changed from last year.
At the 1/2 way point of the race, they announce 1st call. At the white flag shown for the LEADER, they announce 2nd call. When the checkered flag flies for the LEADER, they make 3rd call...
When 3rd call is made at BHF, you STILL have a grid full of racers who need to cross the checkered, and then make a cool-down lap. At a minimum, you're looking around 4 minutes from the time 3rd call is made to a 5 board. Most often times, it's around 8 minutes.
An easy way to deal with this is to stay within sight of pit out, and leave when the 5 board goes up. However this is pretty risky.
Another way is to watch for ALL riders to come past on their cool down lap. Once they clear the track, the 5 board can go within a minute or two.
All of this changes when the crash truck has to go pick people up, but the way that calls are made has not changed in the last two years at least. What changes and varies is the amount of time from clearing the track of race A to a green track for race B...
Jeff is correct, this is the proper procedure for CCS across the country. Some tracks have different pit in/pit out arrangements that make the delay a little longer than other facilities, but being familiar with the facilities quirks can save you that extra 2-3 waiting in the sun.
What we cannot control is riders crashing on the cool down lap, nor riders crashing on the last lap. Sometimes this is where the delay comes from, if the bike and rider are in an impact area, we must clear them before the start of a new event.
Our announcers have been instructed not to give multiple third calls, (two is max, just so we aren't accused of "crying wolf" by repeating it several times) but they are allowed to go back to "second call and holding" whenever they are informed of a delay by race control after third call has been made. No it is not an exact science, but it is the best we can do.
When things are going right, we require a minimum of one minute from the third call to 5 board so if you are at your pit you know you have at least that much time to put your helmet on and get rolling towards pre-grid. At Blackhawk, if there are no problems or back to back riders, as soon as the last bike turns into the paddock they should be releasing the next race. This would be a minimum of 3 minutes after the checkered flag. (Blackhawk is unusual because pit out is at the begining of the pit lane, and pit in is at the end of pit lane, and you cannot mix the two groups safely.
So I believe Jeff's suggestion of being ready as the last of the field comes in a Blackhawk would be the most prudent course of action.
I will ask the race directors to keep an "ear" out for this to make sure the announcers and control are working togther as they should.
Good Luck, and thanks to everyone who made Blackhawk a good safe event this weekend.
QuoteJeff is correct, this is the proper procedure for CCS across the country. Some tracks have different pit in/pit out arrangements that make the delay a little longer than other facilities, but being familiar with the facilities quirks can save you that extra 2-3 waiting in the sun.
What we cannot control is riders crashing on the cool down lap, nor riders crashing on the last lap. Sometimes this is where the delay comes from, if the bike and rider are in an impact area, we must clear them before the start of a new event.
Our announcers have been instructed not to give multiple third calls, (two is max, just so we aren't accused of "crying wolf" by repeating it several times) but they are allowed to go back to "second call and holding" whenever they are informed of a delay by race control after third call has been made. No it is not an exact science, but it is the best we can do.
When things are going right, we require a minimum of one minute from the third call to 5 board so if you are at your pit you know you have at least that much time to put your helmet on and get rolling towards pre-grid. At Blackhawk, if there are no problems or back to back riders, as soon as the last bike turns into the paddock they should be releasing the next race. This would be a minimum of 3 minutes after the checkered flag. (Blackhawk is unusual because pit out is at the begining of the pit lane, and pit in is at the end of pit lane, and you cannot mix the two groups safely.
So I believe Jeff's suggestion of being ready as the last of the field comes in a Blackhawk would be the most prudent course of action.
I will ask the race directors to keep an "ear" out for this to make sure the announcers and control are working togther as they should.
Good Luck, and thanks to everyone who made Blackhawk a good safe event this weekend.
I can understand fluke occurrences. Somebody crashes on the cooldown, a corner worker decides after 3rd call is given that he needs to hit the bathroom, whatever. But this was happening before EVERY RACE. And I know there were several instances where I counted 5-6 "3rd calls". It's just a little frustrating.. the last several weekends we've been treating 3rd call like a 1st call, and we still stand around...