I’m a huge fan of all things electronic and mechanical like most guys. A good thing since the Dukes of Flatbush bid for the 2008 Baja 1000 is going to require a truckload of equipment to get us across the finish line safely. A really cool gadget that we’ll employ in the race is a SPOT Satellite Messenger. This is a small portable device, weighing only 7 oz. and measuring 4″ x 3″.

The unit has three primary functions: Check-in, Help and 911. Each command automatically sends your contacts an SMS text message including GPS coordinates, or an email with a link to Google Maps showing your exact location. Check-in lets everyone know that things are OK, help indicates a mechanical issue and 911 a medical emergency.The 911 command leverages a GEOS International Emergency Response Center that notifies the appropriate emergency responders based on your location and personal information – which may include police, our country’s embassy or consulate, or other emergency response or search and rescue teams – as well as notifying your emergency contact person(s) about the receipt of a distress signal.

SPOT also acquires and sends your GPS coordinates to your account every 10 minutes. This information can be ported to Google Maps so everyone with access to the Internet can keep up with our progress. Ideally, we’d be able to port this information to the GPS units in our chase cars. Our good friends at Special AI have expertise in the specialized area of communications so we’ll see what we can sort out. We’ll give updates as we experiment over the coming months.

SPOT: Satellite Messenger

SPOT: How It Works