Deaf racer defies odds
Kris Martin, 22, a cochlear implant recipient, has fulfilled his dream of driving a racing car.
"If I can't hear, I can't race," Martin had said, as safety is number one at the track and that only comes through radio communication. But with his implant and the help of an FM receiver developed by Phonak Hearing Systems, he is able to travel safely around a race track at up to 150mph.
Kris begged his parents to let him drive a go-kart when he was three. He said: "Many people have told me I can't race, but I've never said I can't do it myself."
They said if he was still serious when he turned ten, then he could do it. His tenth birthday came around and he was in a go-kart.
Peter Stelmacovich of Phonak said, to the best of his knowledge, Martin is the only race car driver with hearing loss from birth.
"His parents contacted me and presented me with the problem that Kris couldn't communicate with his pit crew. 'Is there anything you can do to help us?' " Stelmacovich said.
Phonak's FM hearing device connects to Kris' cochlear implant and he's able to keep in touch without missing a beat. He says that being born deaf has actually improved his tactile senses and made him a better driver.
Phonak's FM systems used to be used only as tools to help students hear in the classroom. Today, they've evolved and help those with hearing impairments use cell phones, mp3 players, portable DVD players, etc.
Kris likes to say "I was born to become a race car driver." He's raced in a number of series, including open-wheel, but stock cars are now what has captured his passion.
"Racing has allowed me to realise my physical obstacles aren't large obstacles at all."
Comments
how about some details on how they actually solved the problems? Might be of some help to those of us who have similar issues, don't you think?
Posted by: jason swan | May 27, 2009 02:24 AM
It depends on the sanctioning body whether 2-way radio communications is required, optional, or banned.
I'ts .NOT. the communications from the crew chief to the driver that is important: That was done for decades with pit boards, thank you. And, hand signals from the driver to the pits is still used in NASCAR when the driver-to-spotter & crew chief is broken
No, the important communications TO the driver is from the spotter. Brief spotter transmissions are like like "Inside," "Outside," "Pit 2"
[...and a famous one at Richmond was "Inside - Inside - Inside - Oh SHIT!" when Eddie Cheever & Eliseo Salazar wrecked in turn 3 at the 2001 IRL debut at Richmond.
The audio is at
http://home.nikocity.de/goerke/eddie1.mp3
and
http://home.nikocity.de/goerke/eddie2.mp3
But then, being deaf means you won't be interviewed by ABC/ESPN's Jack Arute, either!]
To give you an idea of how important spotter --> Driver communications is, just ask Deborah Renshaw.
Indy Racing League mandates dashboard warning lights that flash simultaneously with the track caution lights issued from Race Control, though. Race Control director Brian Barnhart stands in between the the emergency vehicle dispatcher and the caution light operator, with someone's finger on the button at all times.
But, here's what happened to Paul Dana when he ignored the yellow light during a practice session at Homestead (Click red HQ button on bottom right for high quality):
http://www.youtube.com/v/yTAIpz3KLUM&hl=en&fs=1
And the announcement by Brian Barnhart on ABC broadcast:
http://www.youtube.com/v/OKLXU3QmThw&hl=en&fs=1"
Kris Martin's options are somewhat limited; but short track racing is open to him, as is (almost certainly) The Firestone Indy Light series (part of the IRL), because those cars have telemetry and dashboard/steering wheel caution light signaling.
Dan Schwartz
Cherry Hill, NJ
Your Host of The Telegraph (London) Hearing Blog
Follow @Hi_Dan on Twitter
Posted by: Dan Schwartz | May 27, 2009 11:43 PM
Radio communication between driver and spotter is mandatory,if you cannot hear the spotter then you can not race in any Nascar Late Model series. He is making it safe and letting you know where the other drivers are ect. inside outside ect is very important. timing is everything. Phonak radio system is the FM system that plugs into his Cochlear implant as well as the race radio sytem which allows him to hear his crew and spotter. That is how the problem of communication was solved. Hope this helps
Kim
Posted by: kim | October 30, 2009 06:26 AM
It is useful to try everything in practise anyway and I like that here it's always possible to find something new. :)
Posted by: Angel Turner | February 21, 2010 05:41 PM