Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Not a fan of the virtual flag man but the non virtual arm sticking out of the TV box was interesting. Rumor has it that Lincoln had to unplug the score board to power the virtual flag man. Where will the next level of racing take us next?

Do racers watch the flagman?

I've never paid a ton of attention to the flag man, but seeing the flag man waving the checkered coming to my first win was the greatest sight I've ever seen in racing.  

Racers who win a lot might not miss it.  I feel sorry for the guys who rarely win or winning their first.  It just won't be the same.

Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's

i'm kinda confused about this...I watched the ice breaker on Flo and i am sure that i seen someone in the flagman tower waving flags...Is no flagman supposed to start later or am i cornfused

Lincoln is also using a Flagman for the first few shows to make sure the racers get used to the new system, and to make sure all the kinks are worked out.

They have a big monitor fastened to the flag stand for the audience. It looks stupid.  Was the guy going union?  I suppose safety might be a little concern but frankly it seems dumb to change it.  If I was the flag person I would wear a helmet and fire retardant clothing. 

There have been flagmen in the flagstand injured at sprint car races over the years. Ours wear firesuits and helmets. Maybe this is being pushed by insurance companies?

Being safe is good.  I suspect if insurance was the concern they would share it and other tracks would have issues. 

Maybe. Or maybe it's an insurance thing that's specific to one customer.

Maybe but I doubt it considering all of the other tracks around including the big half miles. Lincoln's owners are trying to take race tracks to a new level because it's what everyone asked for and needs. I had to question why they boarded up the windows in the mens jumbo outhouse, but maybe they'll put up eight video monitors in the boarded up holes so we can watch while whizzing! I won't mind the closed in stench as long as I can watch the race!

Has anyone asked them why? 

Yes.   That question and many more are addressed in the following news article.

https://www.floracing.com/articles/12212416-an-inside-look-at-lincoln-speedways-virtual-flagging-system

Link to Article

Speaking of checkered flags... what do the sprint car drivers at Lincoln see at the end of the race, or on the white flag lap for that matter. Im watching on Flo now and I can't figure it out. Anyone know?

From my seat before the flag stand. The drivers see the virtual flagman waving the sticks with 2 laps to go, same with 1 lap to go, then they see the checkered. They are still using a human flagman in the stand though. Not a fan of the video screen flagging unit. I like seeing a passionate human flagman performing their skills.

Thank you for your answer. I didn't realize the drivers could see the video screen as well. From the Flo streaming broadcast, it looked like the video screen was only visible to the fans in the stands. Thanks again for explaining

I think it's a separate video board that shows the same animation as the one facing the stands.

Signature here.

Yes, it is a separate smaller video screen mounted on the flagstand facing the drivers coming off of turn four. It might measure 3X5 feet.