DENVER, CO (Jan 25, 2002) - If anybody would have asked a typical race fan in 1999 just how devastating the next two years of racing would be, there is no way that he would have predicted the string of tragedy that the top level of our sport endured during the 2000, and 2001 racing seasons.  The truth is, over 57% of racing deaths over the past 10 years have occurred on small ovals, taking the lives of 153 hometown heroes.  Sadly, these many local tragedies don't impact safety standards, and development, as forcefully as higher profile losses.

Dave Skeen, a racer from Colorado, is trying to change this trend with an innovative new track warning system called Audible Alert.  During his 20 years in racing Dave has built, repaired, raced, and taught in the racing industry. After seeing countless dangerous secondary accidents and witnessing the near death of Michael Andretti at PIR during a yellow condition, he set out to find a better way to alert drivers to flag conditions. He was determined to provide a non-intrusive and cost effective system that could be used by all levels of racing to reduce accidents before they occur. Invader Technologies, Inc., was created to take the Audible Alert system and get the racing industry to "listen up", literally!

The Audible Alert system is the first ever-sound based track warning system. Using the latest wireless technology with small receivers in each car, an audible alert tone is used to notify every driver of hazardous track conditions at exactly the same time.  The system also sends each driver an audible signal when the track goes green to drastically improve starts and re-starts. The main flagger or track official controls the signals to ensure everyone gets the proper alert each time. "It's like having the same spotter for every driver on the track. Unlike radios, all of the drivers receive the same benefit without any opportunity for abuse or advantage" explains Skeen. The Audible Alert system cannot absorb the energy of an extreme impact with the wall, nor can it save a driver from his worst fear, fire, but rather, the Audible Alert saves the driver in more ways than one.

Think of Audible Alert as preventative maintenance, the ability to stop unnecessary racing accidents from even occurring.  Accidents that occur as a result of hazardous track conditions are the most frustrating for racers. Besides the risk of injury, these accidents also cost them time, money, and ultimately valuable championship points.  It is not uncommon for racing action to be so intense that the track's yellow warning lights, and the yellow flag, go unnoticed.  In some cases, yellow warning lights are in disrepair, or are sparsely placed around the perimeter of the track, making it impossible for a driver to know that trouble is literally just around the corner.

Given that many tracks are relying on the same lighting equipment they did 30 years ago, and the fact that drivers are visually flooded during race conditions, the Audible Alert system is timely, and on target. Audible Alert was put to the test at Colorado National Speedway, a premier NASCAR Weekly track, in the super stock division, where it passed all tests with flying-colors. "To watch and hear the entire field check-up and slow down at the same time after a caution is something I have never witnessed before in all my years of racing." says Skeen.

In 2000 the super stocks were the worst division for accident rates with many large secondary accidents that wiped out many cars. There were several wrecks that occurred during re-starts. Due to the high number of wrecks, about half of their races were called off after finishing only 10-12 laps due to time constraints.

In 2001, using only the Audible Alert System, they were by far the best division with no big secondary wrecks, easily outperforming even the Late Model division that runs radios with multiple spotters. All of the starts and re-starts went very smoothly with no wrecks since everyone was aware of the green at the same time. Almost all of the cars finished every race resulting in the highest car counts at the track. All of the races were completed on time with most 30-lap races done in 30 minutes. As a result the Super Stock division is going to receive more races and laps in 2002.

While the current version in use today is designed for ovals or full course notification for road courses, changes are coming in future versions to make even more improvements. GPS will be added to the receiver units to allow for a localized yellow at every turn on a road course. This will not only improve safety for the drivers, but will also reduce injuries to corner workers. Allowing the corner worker to trigger a caution while situated in a safe location far away from the track action can eliminate the need to expose them to a potential dangerous situation close to the track. This GPS version will also allow for instant car alignment at the exact time a yellow is initiated. This will eliminate the dangerous practice of racing through the yellow or the lengthy time to go back to the previous lap.

With a common sense approach, Skeen and his company Invader Technologies is aggressively marketing the Audible Alert system among the ranks of racetrack promoters and sanctioning bodies.  If they can get the ear of racing's decision makers, they will get the ear of the driver, reducing the cost of racing in more ways than one, and improving the quality of racing for fans.

For more information please visit www.invadertech.com.