The “Weatherman” radio relay has been a lifeline for race and chase teams as well as spectators. They have relied on the relay service for over 40 years in Baja. Started by Bob Steinberger in the 80’s and passed on to son Scott, the team has braved the elements on Mount Diablo, the highest accessible point in Northern Baja to relay critical race information as well coordinate emergencies.
Scott Steinberger, CEO of PCI Race Radios, regrets that SCORE International underestimates the value in continuing this partnership. “We are saddened by SCORE’s decision to end the partnership with the PCI Weatherman Relay service, which has played a vital role in ensuring the safety of off-road racers for decades. Both my late father and I have enjoyed serving the off-road racing community and we wish SCORE and its constituents the best of luck on race day. Staying awake for 40-50 hours on top of a mountain or in an airplane each race is not for the faint of heart. It takes a special kind of stupid to put in this type of work, but the memories, stories, calls from people we were able to help and their families made the effort priceless.”
PCI will continue its trackside services at the SCORE Baja races. SCORE has not yet announced how they will handle relay and communications for Baja racers.