Radio Access: To Be Or Not To Be?
By Bob Ellis
There has been much talk about race team communications during races and who should be listening, especially after Kurt Busch had his blow up with his car owner Roger Penske during last week’s race.
It seems that the garage area has advocates in favour of limiting access to team communicaions during races and then there are those who feel the fans should have access to what is being said over the radios during a race.
NASCAR’s view on this topic is clear; anyone can listen to what you are talking about so you better watch what you say.
I agree with NASCAR on this one, fans should have access to what is being said over the airways. It adds a whole new dimension into the sport, one that makes NASCAR more unique than any other sport out there. No where do you here in real time the actual conversations that goes on within a team during the course of the game/event. The closest thing you get are edited sound bites from special microphones hidden within a chosen player’s equipment and that is it.
Giving fans the access to listen in on team communications gives them insight into team strategy, keeps them up-to-date with events happening on the race track that they can’t see or missed (no luxery of replay) which allows them to watch the race better.
If drivers like Kurt Busch don’t like it then “oh well” for them.
I understand that emotions run high during the course of a race, but if you don’t keep them in check it doesn’t matter who is listening because it’ll effect you on the track and with the TV reporters in the pits the average race fan will find out about it later as people talk about it. So who cares.
I personally don’t mind the conversations that go on over the radio, even if it consists of more ‘colourful’ language from time to time. I’ve been at football games sitting halfway up the stadium and have heard the players swearing at each other, so its nothing new here.
I’ll leave the debate here for now, but rest assured there’s a business angle for NASCAR having radio communications available to fans but they are currently selling this debate as if they are looking out for the best interests of the average fan.
What’s your say?
