Oh, you know you want one. That slab of rugged yellow and blackness, complete with chunky antenna and oversized keys has been calling your name ever since you spotted it for rent last year. Well, after last season's successful run of
FanView rentals, Nascar and Nextel are selling the handheld race-day scanner outright for $370 online or $415 trackside, though you'll still need to fork over $10 for a race-weekend activation whenever you want to actually use it to keep track of those big, hairy, American winning machines. Features still include live video and audio from the race, along with real-time data and stats, and audio replay for catching those little "
that just happened" moments. You also can peep in-car cameras from up to seven drivers, or just stick it in the bed of your truck to improve traction. Rentals are still available for $50 a day and $70 per weekend.
posted February 8th 2007 9:25PM
I hope they make the keys big enough for the drunk rednecks.
"or just stick it in the bed of your truck to improve traction"
its just like those little screen-things from Phantom Menace during the podrace!
Those brilliant NASCAR marketers, in their pursuit of weaning even more revenue out of their fanbase, have created a system that makes a dull left-fest potentially interesting to watch. Imagine if this were applied, say with helmet-cams, to the NFL or the NHL? Please license this tech!
I keep thinking these things probably are using plain old 802.11, and when trackside i could take my laptop and hijack a signal for free. Mind you one would have to figure out the codec used, but that shouldn't take long. I figure they just serve up a bunch of streams and these things just 'tune' into whatever one you select.
This thing might actually be useful for the average race fan if there were some way to use it at home (ie: via nascar.com's Pitcommand service). Otherwise, the costs associated with attending a NASCAR event make purchasing this device impractical.
You've got to remember, most NASCAR fans are not worried about what spending is or is not practical.
Why fork over the $$$ to physically be at a NASCAR race and then buy this so you can watch the same thing you'd see on TV on a tiny screen?
BTW, has anyone here ever been to a NASCAR race? It's amazing! When the first lap starts you'd be surprised how many rednecks are standing in their seats, holding their cell phone with the mic side pointed to the track so ol' Jim-Bob on the line can hear how fast them cars be goin! Get 'er dun!
"or just stick it in the bed of your truck to improve traction."
Now, now, be nice.