Cornwall & Devon Land Rover Club. The Club Mag spring 2014 | Page 16

MSA Safety and Medical Rally Radio Group - by Guy Cashmore
Stage rallies and hill rallies that typically run in forests and remote areas have difficulties with communications - mobile phones and hand held radios often don't
work in these locations, potentially leaving marshals and other officials without
communications back to rally control.
To get around this problem, rally organisers use strategically placed radio cars
along the rally route, these cars have high power two way radio sets fitted that are
able to communicate back to rally control through forests and hilly terrain. In the
event of an incident, marshals on the ground use these cars as communication
posts.
The radios use an exclusive MSA licenced frequency which C&D has not previously had a licence for, however the MSA has just agreed that a licence is to be
issued, allowing C&D members to become rally radio operators.
Rally radio operators get to drive the rally stages, park up on the stage somewhere with a good view and watch all the action from a warm dry car! The radio
work is normally not burdensome, mostly just a case of keep listening, however
radio operating standards are high and a strict protocol needs to be followed, previous radio experience is not essential but experience from another radio activity
is a very good idea.
Members of the group will need to buy their own radio and aerial, these will cost
from about £125 and the annual licence fee is £7 (£14 first year).
If anyone is interested in joining the group or wants further information, please
contact me, my contact details are on the back page. Guy.