HAM RADIO OPERATOR INSTRUCTIONS
START POSITION
Locate your vehicle at or near the ATC (red clock) sign, in view of the stage START (Red start flag) control sign
Test your radio to insure that you can communicate with your relay Ham or your Finish Ham from your position.
When the Advance Vehicle enters the stage, announce it down the line. Make sure each Ham operator copies your announcement.
When the pace vehicle enters the stage, announce it down the line, again confirming that each operator copies.
As each competitor car starts the stage, announce the car number and time of start. CONFIRM COPY
When the SWEEP vehicle enters the stage, announce it down the line. Confirm reception by all Hams on stage
Keep a log of competitor car numbers, start times, checkmarks when each car has passed midpoints, and a checkmark when each car completes the stage. (You will get that info on the air.
If a competitor passes a mid-point Ham out of order, immediately contact your stage captain, inform him, and wait for instructions. When finish Ham notifies you of the reason, follow instructions given by the stage captain. Should the stage captain deem it necessary to stop the stage, he will tell you. That information needs to be passed down the line immediately.
Once the Sweep vehicle has cleared the STOP CONTROL, you're done until 1 hour before the start of your next stage.
MID-POINT HAM
Follow the stage captain into the stage and drive to your designated location.
Test your radio to insure that you can communicate with your Start Ham or your Finish Ham from your position.
Confirm announcements from start regarding advance vehicle, pace, competitors and Sweep. If required, forward all information down the line as needed.
Keep a log of competitor car numbers, start times (approximate), a checkmark when each car passes your location, and a checkmark when each car completes the stage.
Notify start and finish when a car passes your location.
If a competitor car is out of order, notify both start and finish immediately so appropriate steps can be taken.
Once the Sweep vehicle has cleared the STOP CONTROL, you're done until 1 hour before the start of your next stage.
FINISH HAM
Position your vehicle at or near the STOP control sign, in full view of all cars at finish/stop control.
Test your radio to insure that you can communicate with your Start Ham and/or your Midpoint Ham.
Confirm receipt of communications from start and midpoint Hams.
Notify midpoint and/or Start as EACH CAR finishes.
Keep a log of competitor car numbers, start times (approximate), a checkmark when each car passes midpoint positions, and finish times (approximate.)
If a competitor car finishes out of order, notify the Stop Control crew to hold the vehicle at Stop until information is obtained regarding the missing vehicles(s). Then radio that information IMMEDIATELY to Start so appropriate steps can be taken.
Once the LAST COMPETITOR car finishes the stage, get the STOP CONTROL LOG from the finish crew and report scores/times, by car number and time, to the scoring committee. Return the log to the finish crew, who will turn it over to the Sweep.
Once the Sweep vehicle has cleared the STOP CONTROL, you're done until 1 hour before the start of your next stage.