Richard Petty Driving Experience and Racing Electronics Announce Partnership: Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE) has entered in to a marketing and operational partnership with North Carolina-based Racing Electronics. Racing Electronics, the leader in two-way communications for race teams, tracks, fans, and sanctioning bodies worldwide, offers reliable, industry-tested equipment providing their top of the line services to an extensive client base within the NASCAR industry. For RPDE in particular, the use of radio communication between crew members is an essential element in the safe execution of Ride and Drive programs. The partnership with Racing Electronics gives the team at RPDE access to superior technology in in-car radio communication, as well as technical support from the industry leader.
“Richard Petty is an icon in the sport, and to be involved with RPDE is an honor and invaluable asset to our company,” said Bruce Silver, President of Racing Electronics. “Racing Electronics has become the leader in two-way communications by providing fans with the experience of listening to their favorite driver’s at the track as well as providing communication equipment to race teams.”
As part of the program, Racing Electronics will become the exclusive provider of all two-way communications equipment for RPDE track crews and RPDE will feature Racing Electronics on a majority of the 120-plus stock cars in their fleet – though both parties will work closely throughout the season to leverage the partnership in other areas, as well. “We are looking forward to a long term partnership that benefits both our companies and the thousands of fans who participate in RPDE,” said Silver.(RPDE)(7-9-2011)

Racing Electronics Adds HANS to Product & Service Lineup: Racing Electronics announced the addition of HANS Performance Products to its industry-leading list of products and service. “Becoming a full-line HANS dealer will allow us to truly be a one-stop-shop for the competitor,” said Kevin Hughes, Director of Motorsports Services for Racing Electronics. “We pride ourselves in providing industry-leading customer sales and service. We will now be able to provide factory-trained HANS sales and service to all of our customers, regardless of series or style of racing.” For more information on Racing Electronics, please call the showroom toll-free at 1-800-272-7111 and visit them on the web at www.racingelectronics.com.(NCMA)(1-24-2011)

Sprint FanView may go away or change: The NASCAR Sprint FanView handsets may have worked their last race. The contract between Sprint, ISC, NASCAR and Kangaroo.tv to provide the handsets is up at the end of the year, and it’s unclear if the parties will renew or extend it. The agreement, which was announced in 2006, allowed the parties to provide $49.99 rentals of a hand-held scanner that included video, audio and data capabilities. The deal initially was signed so that Sprint (then Nextel) could provide advanced technology to fans at the track. But as cell phone technology has developed and allowed Sprint to turn phones into scanners, there is less of a need for the FanView system, said Tim Considine, Sprint’s director of sports marketing. “The fan experience with FanView may change next year,” he said, “but our belief and hope is it will be around for years to come. It just may be a different device.” Sprint is considering everything from exclusively providing a FanView-style experience on phones to partnering with another company that offers similar in-venue technology. There have been discussions with FanVision, the handheld company owned by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross. The FanView handsets were used by only a single-digit percentage of fans attending races. Considine said that fans who bought a FanView device in the past four years will still be able to use it at tracks in 2011, but it is unlikely the device will be rented at tracks. “We hope to bring a more enhanced device and technology (to tracks),” Considine said. “It will be a better experience for fans.”(SceneDaily)(11-30-2010)

Congrats: to Gregory Lang of Davidson, NC who clinched the Charlotte Motor Speedway Legends Car Summer Shoot Out Semi-Pro championship recently. Gregory is the son of Bruce Silver, owner of Racing Electronics located in Concord, NC. Silver/Racing Electronics is a long time supporter/advertisier/friend of jayski.com.(8-24-2010)

Racing Electronics becomes the Official Radio Communications Supplier for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: Fresh off announcing their new role as the Official Radio Communications Provider for the Indy Racing League earlier this week, Racing Electronics [longtome Jayski.com sponsor] has also announced that they have entered into a multi-year agreement with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to become the Official Radio Communications Supplier of IMS, the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, Indianapolis GP and all other racing events held the historic Indiana racing facility. The partnership between Racing Electronics and Indianapolis Motor Speedway brings together the leader in professional racing products worldwide and the most recognizable racing facility in the world. RE’s Team Services personnel will be in attendance for the most prestigious racing events in the world held annually at “The Brickyard,” including the Indianapolis 500 IZOD IndyCar Series event and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Brickyard 400. RE’s fan sales and rental units will also be available at the track for fans to rent or purchase communications products such as scanners, headsets and other two-way communications materials. Racing Electronics manufactures and supplies a complete line of race communication products and accessories and has been serving the professional drivers and pit crews, as well as the race fan, for more than 20 years. In addition to its worldwide headquarters and full showroom in Concord, North Carolina, In addition to being the Official Radio Communications Provider for the Indy Racing League, Racing Electronics has mobile offices at all NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events, along with all NHRA races and short-track events throughout the United States,(Racing Electronics)(3-16-2010)

Racing Electronics Introduces Ear Molds: Racing Electronics announced at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, FL, the grand opening of the company’s in-house custom ear mold laboratory. Previously, R.E. relied on an outside vendor to make custom ear molds, but now, they have the capability to do all custom molding for its customers in-house at the company’s world headquarters in Concord, NC. “By bringing this process in-house, Racing Electronics is able to offer a better value to the customer,” said Bruce Silver, Owner of Racing Electronics. “We are now capable of a one-day turnaround and the ability to provide more of a custom-fitting mold that will increase the quality of the audio signal to the customer.” Being able to fit and produce a customer’s molds at one time and in one location increases the quality and reduces the turnaround time to the customer. Racing Electronics’ newly designed custom molds feature better fit, softer material and a more robust service life. Racing Electronics’ head ear mold lab technician, Rick Germain, has completed extensive training and has been busy completing the lab at RE’s headquarters. Racers attending the PRI trade show in Orlando, FL this weekend can visit Racing Electronics for more information on the custom ear molds or any of their extensive line of communications products. RE is located at booth 1601. Racing Electronics manufactures and supplies a complete line of race communication products and accessories and has been serving the professional drivers and pit crews, as well as the race fan, for more than 20 years.(51 Sports)(12-11-2009)

NASCAR no plans on keeping radio chatter from fans: Radio transmissions between drivers, owners, spotters and crew chiefs will continue to be available to NASCAR, media and fans. Flak over a torrid exchange between #2-Kurt Busch and car owner Roger Penske last Sunday at Martinsville -- in which Busch called his owner "dude" -- evoked a familiar refrain on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. "The radio, I always thought, has been a team tool that should be utilized just by the teams," Busch said. "We don't get to hear what the coach says to his offensive and defensive coordinators in the NFL. I don't think that we get to hear what they do in baseball when they call to the bullpen. You don't get to hear what they say in the huddle, and what they say in the huddle is pretty animated. Roger and I are on the same page. Martinsville is behind us." That may be, but NASCAR isn't about to budge when it comes to keeping the airwaves open.
"The more access we can give the fans, that's a part of what made NASCAR what it is, the accessibility of the drivers," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president of corporate communications. "In my opinion, drivers -- even in the heat of battle -- need to be able to control their emotions. They're driving a racecar around at 200 miles an hour with a bunch of other people. NASCAR needs to be able to hear what's going on with the teams during a race, and we've extended that to the fans."(Sporting News)(4-5-2009)

Fanview: get many questions about Sprint Fanview. I know very little about it, see Racing Electronics - Fanview and/or sprintfanview.com for more info.(2-22-2009)