A request for the DRC crew

Dan Bennett · 09-25-2011, 01:07 PM

I see none of the DRC crew has responded yet. I may be stepping in where I don't need to since I'm not working any races this year.

Yes, the Pro sessions have weather info. FastNews owns a couple of weather stations that get hauled to each national event with the rest of their equipment, whether NHRA or IHRA. The hardware needed fills a large footlocker and a smaller case. That's why you'll usually see weather listed on every class that gets to the point that the coverage is side by side at a national event.

On the non-national events, the reporter brings his own stuff. The computer, sometimes an extra monitor, the interface to the clocks, and whatever else is needed like power supplies and extension cables. Most do not own a weather station due to the cost.

In addition, there is some question as to which station needs to be used. Some of the handhelds take a LONG time to stabilize, and a reporter working solo doesn't have that time. I've seen some that would change 20% everytime the button was pushed. I firmly believe that bad weather numbers are worse than no numbers at all.

Even at the friendliest tracks, I'm not sure how many people would leave a $400 instrument laying outside, unattended. So you're faced with getting decent readings from something that's been in a very different enviroment when you dash outside between classes or during an oildown.

Regardless of how it may look from the outside, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of profit in FastNews after all the travel and lodging expenses are paid. I have no idea of the real numbers, but I'd say it's certainly not enough to provide 8 or 10 weather stations.

09-25-2011, 01:07 PM	#1
Dan Bennett Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 439 Likes: 852 Liked 595 Times in 136 Posts	Re: A request for the DRC crew I see none of the DRC crew has responded yet. I may be stepping in where I don't need to since I'm not working any races this year. Yes, the Pro sessions have weather info. FastNews owns a couple of weather stations that get hauled to each national event with the rest of their equipment, whether NHRA or IHRA. The hardware needed fills a large footlocker and a smaller case. That's why you'll usually see weather listed on every class that gets to the point that the coverage is side by side at a national event. On the non-national events, the reporter brings his own stuff. The computer, sometimes an extra monitor, the interface to the clocks, and whatever else is needed like power supplies and extension cables. Most do not own a weather station due to the cost. In addition, there is some question as to which station needs to be used. Some of the handhelds take a LONG time to stabilize, and a reporter working solo doesn't have that time. I've seen some that would change 20% everytime the button was pushed. I firmly believe that bad weather numbers are worse than no numbers at all. Even at the friendliest tracks, I'm not sure how many people would leave a $400 instrument laying outside, unattended. So you're faced with getting decent readings from something that's been in a very different enviroment when you dash outside between classes or during an oildown. Regardless of how it may look from the outside, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of profit in FastNews after all the travel and lodging expenses are paid. I have no idea of the real numbers, but I'd say it's certainly not enough to provide 8 or 10 weather stations.