SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/485293
IMPROVING THE SAFETY FACTOR T he SCORE Baja 1000 is considered by many to be the world's most challenging and dangerous off-road endurance test. In 1962, the very first official timed run of the Baja Peninsula was done by Honda motorcyclist Dave Ekins, followed by two journalists in an airplane who used telegraph offices at the Mexican border and La Paz to record the historic journey. Although communication and tracking methods have changed since then, the risks, unexpected dangers and hazards associated with running the Baja 1000 have not. Fortunately for today competitors, GPS and Satellite tracking technology has literally come to the rescue of the SCORE off- road racing community. With GPS tracking powered by SPOT Satellite Messenger services, fans and sponsors have been able to track the progress of SCORE competitors racing in remote locations. This technology also enables users to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of cellular phone or wireless coverage. This lifesaving communication technology is especially valuable in the middle of the desert, where other communication systems typically fail. SCORE GPS SYSTEMS IN PLACE SCORE has employed a two component system from SPOT LLC for tracking, logging and regulating SCORE Baja racers since 2008. The SPOT Satellite Messenger uses a combination of a GPS satellite network and the SPOT network to determine a racer's location, and transmit that information to friends, family or emergency services. The SPOT Messenger is rugged enough to handle the pounding of SCORE off- road racing while providing added safety of reliable satellite messaging. The team at Volocore has also been busy developing a new safety messaging and tracking system that allows support crews, and race organizers to know what's going on with any racer and their particular vehicle. The Volocore system is actually composed of two systems; a cloud-based command center that can be operated anywhere in the world using a multitude of end-points, and a new purpose-built rugged mobile unit which will be used as end-points in race and safety vehicles. The Volocore system uses accelerometers in conjunction with radio and satellite technologies like SPOT to transmit crash and dangerous situation metrics back to the right people. When a crash occurs, the vehicle's position and crash data can be transmitted to passing vehicles as well as a central location via satellite to determine the location and severity of the crash. THE TECHNOLOGY OF BY TAYLOR VLAHOS PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MANUFACTURERS SAFETY 072 SCORE JOURNAL