I have been scanning on the racetracks for almost 25 years. Long before programmable portable scanners, my first scanning setup consisted of a big old Bearcat 250 mobile scanner hooked up to a huge 12-volt flashlight battery. The whole setup must have weighed 10lbs and I had to lug it around in a large camera bag! I guarantee you I was the only guy in the stands of The Milwaukee Mile listening to those USAC stock cars go round and round in 1980! Things have changed a bit since then.
It is estimated that there may be more than 10% of the fans at a typical NASCAR event “scanner-equipped.” Race track scanning has become so popular that it has expanded far beyond NASCAR’s super race tracks to dirt tracks, drag strips, and even Saturday nights at local short tracks. I’ve compiled a collection of hints and tips to help you get the most out of your racing scanning experience. If you have others to add, please send them to me so we can share them with others. Enjoy!
Why bring a scanner to the races? What can I hear?
Once you have experienced a race with a scanner, you will be hooked forever. Scanning in races adds that extra “dimension” or layer to the experience. You will be able to listen to conversations between the driver, his crew and the observers. You will hear the race officials and security teams. You’ll even be able to monitor the action “behind the scenes” of television and radio broadcast crews. IMPORTANT! One thing you might want to keep in mind regarding listening to race communications, it’s not necessarily for kids! Emotions can run high during the racing action and quite often the language can get a bit “colorful” to put it mildly. You may want to consider this if you are easily offended by harsh language. What kind of equipment do I need in racing? The two main elements of a running scan setup are the scanner itself and a noise-reducing headset.
First – The scanner. What kind of scanner will you need? It really depends on your needs or your budget. Just about any handheld scanner will work at the races. They are available with as few as 10 or as many as 5,000 channels! As for price, expect to spend as little as $75 to over $400. The most popular frequency ranges are 150 – 174 megahertz and 450 – 470 megahertz. There is some, but not much racing activity in the 800 megahertz band. Popular “racing” scanners are the Uniden Sportcat 200 and 230, the Racing Electronics RE-2000, and the Radio Shack Pro 99. A couple of features that are really nice are the alpha screens, which allow you to program the driver’s name instead. frequency only and CTCSS or tone function, which allows you to program a certain tone code on a channel to help reduce interference.
The second thing you will need is a good quality noise reducing headset. Racing is LOUD! A headset will not only help protect your hearing, but it will also help you hear your scanner more clearly. They are available in various styles to suit your personal preferences. You can also get the small foam in-ear devices similar to those worn by drivers. Some other accessories you might consider are a “racing” or spike antenna, which will help reduce local interference, a leg strap to help keep your scanner secure while you watch the race, and a headphone splitter or “headset” unit. Boostaroo” so you can bring a second earphone for your friend to listen too. Don’t forget the extra batteries! Nothing worse than running out of “juice” in the middle of the race. Where can I buy a race scan setup? You can purchase a complete setup as close as your local Radio Shack store. Some specialized providers that sell racing scanning equipment are Racing Electronics and Racing Radios.
If you’re still not sure you’re ready to buy a setup, most of these providers also offer rentals. These providers have trailers that offer teams at most major races.
OK, I have my scanner and headphones, now where do I find the frequencies?
While you can find information for free on the Internet, most of it is outdated, incomplete, or just plain wrong. I highly recommend purchasing updated information from one of the above providers. It’s worth the few dollars it costs. They have information on national series like NASCAR, IRL and Champ Car. Most of the newer scanners are computer programmable. You can even take them to the provider’s trailer at the tarmac and get the latest frequencies loaded right into your radio while you wait.
The new Uniden SC230 scanner comes with the frequencies for Nextel Cup, Busch Grand National, Craftsman Trucks, Champ Car and IRL already programmed! For regional series, your options are more limited. For fans of the Midwest, we have created the Midwest Racing Frequencies website. Contains information for local tracks as well as regional touring series such as ASA Late Models, Big 8 Series, and MidAm Limited Late Models. Information on the Midwest Racing Frequencies website can be found at; www.midwestracingfrequencies.com
hints on the track
1 – Do everything you can before leaving home. If you can get frequency information before the race, you’ll save a lot of time by pre-programming your scanner before you hit the track. Don’t forget extra batteries, paper and pencil to take notes, and sunscreen. Packing a plastic bag to put your scanner in in case of a sudden rain is also a nice addition.
2 – Programming advice. A popular trick is to program the frequencies so that the channel number is the same as the car number. For example, I would program Mark Martin, Car #6 on channel 6 of his scanner. That way, during the race, if you want to quickly switch to a particular car, you can manually switch to that channel. With newer scanners with alpha screens, it’s much easier to keep track of who’s who.
3 – Don’t try to hear everything! In a great race, there is too much going on. Choose the leaders or your favorites and block everything else. It also helps to have race control on your scouting list. In the big races, you can also listen to the TV and radio broadcasts (MRN broadcasts on 454,000 Mhz). Some tracks will rebroadcast the track’s PA on a scanner frequency or low power FM radio station. However, these transmissions will “block” your scanner, since they transmit continuously. You’ll have to manually lock and change them if you want to listen.
4 – Get to the track early. If there is a provider that sells racing frequencies there, this will give you a good chance of checking it out or programming your scanner for you. Buy a souvenir program. They’ll have the lineups so you know who to listen to.
5 – Practice and qualifying are a good time to check frequencies. Taking notes now will help you during the race. Hear spotters and crew chiefs talking to drivers. You may be able to say “who’s who” when passing or pitting.
6 – When the drivers get into their cars before the race it is a good time to listen to the radio checks. Pace lapses and caution periods are also the time when radio traffic increases.
7 – If you are using the search mode on your scanner to try to find new frequencies, limit your search to smaller ranges at a time. The 450 to 470 Mhz range will cover almost all race communications. Some race officials will use frequencies in the 150 – 174 Mhz range. Even if you already have an accurate list, you can usually find some new stuff using the search function.
8 – Take good notes!
Using your scanner really adds a new dimension to the “racing experience” and on top of that, it’s just plain FUN! As you can see, scanning races can seem like a challenge at first. The more you do it, the better. I’ll get to work. I have gone to a race with almost no data and by using these techniques I have found over 90% of the field by the time the race is over.
Happy scanning and see you at the races!
By Scott W. Lowry Editor, Midwest Racing Frequencies