How To Get Involved In Racing

Shannon Murphy

So you want to go racing but weren't born with a name like Andretti or Unser and you haven't picked a winning lottery ticket yet. Or perhaps you like racing but don't actually want to get behind the wheel of a car without a little more knowledge of the sport. Well, read on. One of the cheapest and most fun ways to get involved in racing is to become a crew member or a part 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. 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 get to 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:

Pit Safety: Life in the Pits can be exciting! 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 track too!

Grid: Line up the cars for a race and double-check the driver's safety gear. You're the last person to wish the drivers good luck before the race. You can feel the energy level rise as it gets closer to race time.

Paddock: You've always wanted to tell people where to go? Direct traffic in the busiest spot at the track. This is where the cars are worked on by their crews and where everybody relaxes for lunch. The camaraderie is great and the relaxed schedule gives you time off to wander around and watch the action on the track.

Flagging & Communications: 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.

Course Marshal: Great for truck owners; you get to go out on the track and tow in disabled cars. A good chance for future racers to learn the track layout.

Emergency Services: Are you an EMT, nurse, doctor or firefighter? These people handle everything from crew members with scraped knuckles to driver extraction from damaged race cars and fires. They also have a good reputation for their water-balloon launching skills.

Timing & Scoring: This group calls themselves the good timers. They are the first to know when a track record has been broken and who qualified for the front row of a race. You can even be under age 16 to work here.

Registration: Are you a people person? Here's your chance to meet drivers, their crew members and the rest of the racing crowd. And flexible scheduling! Many Registration people are crew members or work in other specialities too.

Tech Inspection: Are the cars safe and legal according to the class rules? Do the drivers have the proper gear? These are the people who call the shots. Mechanical experience is helpful but not necessary. This is another great area for future racers to learn the ropes.

Com Tech: Short for Communications Technology, these laid-back people are responsible for maintenance of the club's radios and hardline communications. We also have need for amateur HAM radio operators at some of our events.

Sound Tech: Monitor the cars to see that they don't exceed the required decibel limit. Hey couch potatoes, this job can be done from a chair!

Race/Rally Chair: Are you organized? These fabulous people and their assistants are the folk who plan the event and make sure it runs smoothly. These folks are always in the know. They do everything from budget planning to finding spaghetti servers to phoning race results to the press. As with Registration folk, these people see everybody.

Crew Member: Lots of amateur drivers (and some pros) could use a knowledgeable person to help them set up their cars. Many will help train you. Just ask.

Rally Worker: There are several different types of rallies, all with staffing needs, HAM radio operators, medical volunteers, course marshals, scorers, control workers and more. As in racing, training is provided and the fun is guaranteed! If you like dirt roads, Pro Rally is for you!

Solo Worker/Driver: Solo events (autocrosses) are staffed by the competitors themselves between their time trials but 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!.

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 here now.

Copyright 1999, Land O'Lakes Region.
Last revised: March 5, 1999