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INTER COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE
                                                                               FILE                DATE
                                                                               CODE                           28, 1970
     TO - NAME                           DEPT.                       DIVISION                PLANT/OFFICE
                H. Bader, Jr.                S&M Engineering                 Space                   Huntsville
                                         dept. circuit                DIVISION               PLANT/OFFICE
          - NAME
                W. P. Wright             Racing Test Operations              Space                   Huntsville

     SUBJECT:
                Trip Report to Riverside, California, 14 - 18 January 1970






                        The writer and Mr. H. R. Killen traveled to Riverside, California, to install and
                checkout a 2-way radio in a race caro Mr0 J. Purdy arrived Friday night, 16 January,
                to checkout the Mobile Control Center Computer and provide assistance in operating the
                computerized race scoring system during the Permatex 200 race Saturday and the Motor
                Trend 500 Sunday. Mr0 Do H. Carroll arrived Friday to assist in pre-race activities,
                scoring and drive the Mobile Control Center back to Huntsville.

                        Wednesday morning, 14 January 1970, the radio system was installed in Dan
                Gurney's car being prepared by Petty Enterprises o Mr. Lee Petty again expressed a
                desire to have radios in each of his two race cars and indicated he would try to help us
                obtain funding for the necessary equipment, Rain began and continued all day Wednesday
                so only a static vehicle test could be performed,


                        Thursday Dan Gurney practiced briefly with the helmet radio on but asked that
                we remove the unit for qualification Thursday afternoon due to an already overweight
                vehicle, He complained of excess helmet weight and high center of gravity making it
                awkward, He said however that it did^bother him in the brief practice session and
                indicated to Lee Petty he would race with the unit.

                        Friday it rained all day and the drivers had no chance to practice. The radio
                was re-installed in Dan Gurneys vehicle.

                        Saturday morning prior to the Permatex race a brief practice session of 30 min­
                utes was held. Mr, Gurney arrived 15 minutes late and refused to wear the helmet pre­
                pared with the radio and when pressed by Mr. Petty for a decision decided not to use
                the radio.


                        The system was removed from Mr, Gurney's car and installed in Bobby Allison'
                race car who had used the unit successfully in the Texas 500 race in December. Since
                no helmet had been prepared for Mr. Allison his helmet was modified Saturday night with
                one speaker and the microphone unit from Mr, Gurney's helmet,

                        Sunday morning the radio installation was completed and checked outo Mr,
                Allison tried out the helmet and indicated satisfactory fit of components, Mr, Allison
                used the radio during the race but removed the microphone during a pit stop as it was
                irritating his head due to the constant pressure. He reported reception excellent in the
                car and credited it with saving him from wrecking when his crew chief warned him of
                oil on number one turn from another car's blown engine before the caution flag was dis­
                played.




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