NEED SOMETHING TO DO?
by Shannon Murphy
Do you want to meet race car drivers?
Have you wondered where those people who work at car races come from?
Do you think that you can't be involved in racing because you can't afford the car?
One of the cheapest and most fun ways to be involved in racing is to become a crew member or one of the event staff. SCCA volunteers staff their own club races, rallies and solo (autocross) events and many of the professional races around the country for Trans Am, IMSA, IndyCars and Formula One INCLUDING THE GRAND PRIX OF MINNESOTA (in Downtown Minneapolis). Some of the staff positions require that you have a membership in SCCA for insurance purposes, others don't.
Being an SCCA volunteer means you and your guest can get into spectator events for free and enjoy races that are not advertised to the public. You'll meet drivers and officials, attend event parties and see the cars in action up close. As an insider, you'll know when announcers make mistakes and when the drivers stretch the truth about what really happened when they failed to set the track record. What if you don't have the skills we need? Don't worry, we'll train you. Here's what the jobs consist of:
MEET THE DRIVERS!
Are you a "people" person? Working in Registration is your chance to meet drivers, their crew members and the rest of the racing crowd. And you'll have flexible scheduling too! Many Registration people are also crew members or work in other specialties.
Life in the Pits can be exciting! Pit Safety Workers monitor teams and traffic in the "hot" pit area to be sure they are safe at all times, including refueling. This is great for seeing teams perform under pressure and watching the action on the track too!
Grid Workers line up the cars for a race and double-check the drivers' safety gear. They are the last people to wish the drivers good luck before the race. You can feel the energy level rise as it gets closer to race time.
You've always wanted to tell people where to go? Paddock Workers direct traffic in the busiest spot at the track. The Paddock is where the cars are worked on by their crews and where they and their drivers relax for lunch. The camaraderie is great and the flexible schedule gives you time off to watch the action on the track.
SEE THE CARS!
Are the cars safe and legal according to the class rules? Do the drivers have the proper gear? Tech Inspectors are the people who call the shots. Mechanical experience is helpful but not necessary. This is another great area for future racers (and car builders) to learn the ropes.
Do you own a truck or have experience working on a tow truck or tilt-bed? Course Marshals get to go out on the track and tow in disabled cars. It's a good chance for future racers to learn the track layout and a good opportunity to see the cars up close. They also have a chance to watch a lot of racing because they are usually stationed conveniently around the course.
BE ON TV!
Flagging & Communications is the best seat in the house for watching door to door racing! You display flags to the drivers and radio Race Control to let them know track conditions and act as a first responder to cars in trouble on the course. These people, dressed in white, are often the most visible during televised races.
As a child, did you want to be the person who waves the green and checkered flags to start and end the race? You can, by being a Starter. It takes a little work to get there though. The very visible people on the starter's stand usually start as F&C people, pit workers or in other specialties. It takes a good eye and a lot of skill to be here.
Are you an EMT, nurse, doctor or firefighter? Emergency Services people handle everything from crew members with scraped knuckles to driver extraction from damaged race cars and fires. These crews are posted around the track for quick responses to emergencies, which means they get to do a lot of spectating too.
BE "IN THE KNOW"
Are you good with numbers? Timing & Scoring folk call themselves "the good timers" for more than one reason. They are the first to know when a track record has been broken and who qualified for the front row of a race. They work fast and hard to make sure results are accurate and have a lot of fun doing it. Can you do the Macarena with a stopwatch? Come on in!
Our fantastic Race & Rally Chairs and their assistants are always "in the know". They organize the event and make sure it runs smoothly. They do everything from budget planning, giving directions to crew chiefs to escorting drivers to the Winner's Circle. As with Registration, Event Chairs see everybody.
Press Relations people help get information to announcers, write press releases, interview team members and phone race results to the press. If you love to socialize and are good with words and deadlines, this is the position for you!
Com Tech is short for Communications Technology, these easy-going people are responsible for maintenance of the club's radios and "hardline" communications. They listen into conversations all around the course. We also have need for amateur HAM radio operators at some of our events.
Sound Tech monitors the cars to see that they don't exceed the legal decibel limit during practice and races or out they go! This easy but important job can be done from a chair.
WE'LL TRAIN YOU!
Lots of amateur drivers (and some pros) could use a knowledgeable Crew Member or two to help them set up their cars. Many will help train you. Just ask.
You can participate in a Road Rally which consists of following instructions between checkpoints where you are timed, on public roads at legal speeds, as a checkpoint worker or as an entrant (driver or navigator) in any type of automobile.
PRO Rally Workers get to watch cars race down dirt roads. AT NIGHT! There are several different types of rallies, all with staffing needs of HAM radio operators, medical volunteers, course marshals, scorers, control workers and more. As in road racing, training is provided and the fun is guaranteed!
Autocross your own car! Solo events (autocrosses) are staffed by the competitors themselves between their time trials and they will happily take the help of any newcomer wanting to learn the sport! You'll probably be Soloing your own car by your second event, maybe even your first.
ARE YOU AGE 15 TO AGE 26?
Speed Freakz is a program for auto racing enthusiasts on a budget. Call Emily Burton at (612) 529-6821 to learn more about this hot program!
BE AN SCCA VOLUNTEER!
If you would like to join us at the track or on a rally or solo, call Shannon Murphy at (612) 798-3575 right away. Minnesota's racing season is only weeks away!
Copyright 1997, Land O'Lakes Region.
Last revised: March 8, 1997