Carl Blare

It’s one of those lazy rainy fall-like days here in the middle of north america, perfect time to scan the dial.

It’s one of those lazy rainy fall-like days here in the middle of north america, perfect time to scan the dial.

At 1380 AM, a local 5kW sports station, I caught a fish. The station is sending out a string of satellite instructions, one per minute, from MRN Radio Network, with dead air and a tone every 60-seconds. The recorded message keeps saying that motor racing is on a rain hold and will resume at 3 PM.

Now I’m getting a ten minute countdown to whatever will be on the net at 2 PM local time.

The Sunday staff person is probably down the street at Steak and Shake or at a nearby bar. He probably thinks motor racing is on the air. Maybe he’s just asleep in the station lounge.

Or, have the rules relaxed so much that licensed stations don’t need an attendant?

Latest message, “This is MRN Radio. At the tone it will be 4-minutes to airtime.”

I must say, this “mistake” is far more interesting than regular sports programming.

“1-minute to air time.”

“30-seconds to air time.”

“Welcome back to Chicagoland speedway…..it continues to rain….”

NO LOCAL STATION I.D. AT 2 PM.

Now two network guys are giving a detailed coverage of the “off again on again rain.”

The Motor Racing Network has sent it back to the local station for the next hour. Nothing. Nope. No one on duty. Dead air.