Too Many Unsung Heroes, Too Little Recognition

"mikecyc72usa" (mikecyc72usa) 06/12/2014 at 18:02 • Filed to: SVRA, IMS, vintage racing, officiating, SCCA, NASA, course workers

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I hear it all the time: "I want to get into racing but I can't afford it." Ok, what kind of racing? Now if you know you HAVE to be at the track and not some vast parking lot or airfield autocrossing, then listen up, Buttercups. I have the simplest solution ever: become a course/grid/tech worker. Of course this means you have to work, but hey, nothing is ever free. Or volunteer to help a team in need in the pits/paddock if you can. Why? Need you ask?

Simply put, if you want access to places the paying public isn't allowed, then this is your ticket. Without a crew wristband or being an official you won't get this close to the action. Other than the photogs, everyone has a purpose in this shot to keep a car in the race if possible.

Let's start with my angle, which is somehow I became a crew chief for two cars that friends own, both of which are Triumph Spitfires. I also help out on a few other cars when needed. A prerequisite for this is mechanical ability, of which I have some. However, not all of it is wrenching. There are myriad other tasks that need attending to. From lugging gear, to pushing the car around, to managing the driver before sessions, the list goes on. Pretty much lots of small and not so small tasks need to be addressed.

Another integral way to help is in the transport of said race cars. Helping to drive a truck and trailer halfway across the country is a massive help. Yet there are 1000 other things I and other crew members do. Observe.

You see all those people? Sure, some are just spectators, but most are doing something needed. Umbrella holding to keep the sun off the drivers, getting cold water for them, doing last minute checks on the car making sure it's ready to go. Or just being supportive, trying to keep their driver from defeating him/herself in their head. In this instance, I was there to help my friend Dave, as his Porsche 914 lost 1st gear. I was one of a few who would push it to speed so he could take off in 2nd gear.

Sometimes, life is a bit more exciting, especially during enduros. Those require pit stops, driver changes, refueling, etc. That means I get to suit up in a firesuit and all the requisite safety gear. Personally, I love it. Sure, it's hot and uncomfortable, but when the stop goes well, it's a great feeling. Plus, the fashion is awesome. A bonus is the cool wagon full of stuff I get to roll to the pits. Thanks to Robert MacKenzie for this pic.

Now I can hear the comments about not having friends with race cars, etc. Fair enough. This is where not only can you have fun and get close to the action, but you can make a huge difference. It's easy. Become a course worker. Become good enough and it even can become a paying gig. Yet there is so much more to it than that.

We all see the drivers, sometimes the crew, but rarely are the course workers noticed. However, without them, from load in to tech to grid to the pits to corners, we'd be playing Forza instead of actually being at a track. Let's look at some pictoral evidence:

This is a HUGE field, something like 70 cars. There was a line on the left that is rolling out. Notice the Grid Marshal in the white shirt and black pants. How did this not become pandemonium? Because of the Grid Marshals. They told us where to line up, made sure we all fit, and kept control of the always trying to explode chaos. They also answered questions patiently, were always pleasant to deal with, and can never get enough praise in my opinion.

Grid not your bag? Then there's always Tech. Or the pits. Or registration. Or timing and scoring. Or corner work. It's all important, integral, and noble work. It's also many times thankless, tiring, and aggravating, because you have to deal with weather, prima donna drivers, and crew chiefs like me.

In pit lane, we had officials to enforce penalties, or safety concerns. This is a dangerous sport, and they have to walk that line of letting us have fun while being firm about safety and rules. Yet I can guarantee every single one of the officials loves doing it. It shows in their faces, even when tired.

I love being behind the pit wall and being behind the scenes to an extent. I sometimes get some recognition. When I was loading out and about to go back to my hotel, guess what the officials and volunteers were still doing? Yup, gridding cars, standing in the sun, ready to do whatever was needed to keep things moving.

So, next time you feel like you want more out of a race weekend, when you feel like you need to truly be part of the action, ask a worker how to do it. It'll be one of the best questions you asked. Maybe someday you'll be part of a crew as awesome as these guys and gals:

These and many others are why events happen, and this crew was the best I've ever dealt with at any race event in my life. Big thanks to Tara for letting me use this pic. Lastly, even as a spectator, thank the workers. They do it for you.

SirPoopyPants > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 18:34

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Or, get a motorcycle... much cheaper ;)

KartRacer > SirPoopyPants 06/12/2014 at 18:40

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Or get a kart. Cheaper still.

Gamblour > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 18:42

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Agree 100%. For four summers, I drove 98 miles each way to marshal at the Monticello Motor Club and the money I was paid didn't even cover the fuel I used getting to/from the track. I could care less. I made some good friends, met a lot of cool people, and got track time with and without pro drivers riding shotgun. Some of the best summers I ever had. If I didn't have kids and actually had some free time, I'd still be doing it.

mikecyc72usa > Gamblour 06/12/2014 at 18:44

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I have friends who own a place about 15 mins from Lime Rock and they work the big events, and it pays for their summer off each year. But they'd do it for free.

Gamblour > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 18:55

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Absolutely. I would've done it for free as well (shhh! don't tell them!). Just to be a part of a place where I can meet A-listers and see (and sometimes drive) some of the coolest cars on the planet was a real treat for me. The fact I got paid something at all made it that much sweeter.

AvoidTheCones > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 19:23

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I was a Corner Marshal for this event, and you're absolutely right. There is no better way to get closer to the action then to work at an event in some manner. The teams, drivers, and the SVRA put on a great show. It's one thing to see these cars in a museum, but it's absolutely fantastic to see these cars at speed, especially on a track with such history.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 19:26

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I have been a corner worker for about ten years now. When I started, I was planning to take a year off from autocross and thought working as a flagger would be a good way to spend my time away from squashing cones. That was in 2005; since then I have only run two full seasons of autocross (2007 and 2008) and I haven't looked back.

If you wanna get involved in motorsports but can't afford to race, definitely look into volunteering as a worker. It's as close as you can get to the action without suiting up and getting behind the wheel.

mikecyc72usa > AvoidTheCones 06/12/2014 at 19:27

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Thanks for being there, we really appreciate you guys!

G/O Sucks > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 19:33

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I actually went to help a kid who worked for me when he raced at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. I essentially said "you're the boss now/I'll do what's needed" and it was great! I fetched a lot of coffee for tired crew, helped with safety & driver changes (I know fire extinguishers & harnesses), etc.

It was awesome for an unexpected reason: I knew that wheel-to-wheel racing wasn't for me. I love track days, autocross, timed rallies and even a time trial but that's it. W2W is another level of expense, complexity and commitment. But it's great to help out and learn!

Sam > AvoidTheCones 06/12/2014 at 19:38

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Who would I contact or where would I find info about Marshaling at IMS? I've always wanted to work a corner, but the only event I can find sign-ups for is MotoGP and they want previous experience.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 19:41

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You know Toe and Kathy?

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > KartRacer 06/12/2014 at 19:42

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Or Gran Tursimo...cheaper still

mikecyc72usa > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 06/12/2014 at 19:44

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Just met them this past week. Awesome awesome awesome people.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 19:46

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Aren't they honestly the sweetest and most hard working ladies?

They run shit in Grid at Mid Ohio for events. I've worked with them and I've had them work for me as a driver

CarBastard > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 20:15

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Seems like a solution to my constant bitching about motorsport being überfucking expensive here in South America. I'm somehow close to the president of Colombia's motor-racing federation, so I can make it happen now that your post has opened my eyes to the no-brainer that is participating as a marshall/tyre carrier/registrar, etc.

Thanks a bunch for writting this!

mikecyc72usa > G/O Sucks 06/12/2014 at 20:27

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Excellent to hear! I raced lots of wheel to wheel in the 90's, but haven't done any since. I autocross and crew chief. I was able to do it then because a friend had more than enough money to cover my expenses and provide a car. He wanted a team and I was the #1 driver. That morphed into me driving for all sorts of people and trying to make a go at it as a pro. That hit a wall when money was the issue. I may go and renew my licenses, though. It's good to be a backup/enduro co driver when needed.

lolololllal > SirPoopyPants 06/12/2014 at 20:34

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Just because you own a vehicle doesn't mean you can legally race it.

Fuel_of_Satan > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 20:50

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It probably varies from track to track, but corner marshalls are often there on a volunteer basis and they are always looking for more. At least that's what my uncle keeps telling me as he asks me every summer if I want to come work with him on the Arctic Circle Raceway . I'm planning on finally taking him up on that offer this summer and looking forward to it!

Captain_Spadaro > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 21:34

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Le Mons is at Indy?!

Dream Theater of the Absurd > Fuel_of_Satan 06/12/2014 at 22:03

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I mostly do SCCA events in northern California (I'm chief of the flag crew for SCCA-SFR, btw), and it's definitely a struggle to find enough workers for a race weekend. It's particularly hard at Thunderhill since it's so far out of the way for most of us (it's about four hours each way for me; I live in San Jose).

And I'm gonna get a good taste of that next weekend. We're running the first ever event on the new 5-mile course at Thunderhill, and probably the only one SCCA will run on the full course. I have a hard enough time staffing twelve corner stations up there; it's gonna be even worse trying to staff twenty of them!

Fuel_of_Satan > Dream Theater of the Absurd 06/12/2014 at 22:14

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Let's hope some nearby Jalops or Opponauts reads this and gets a Eureka-moment! I'm sure "some idiot with a radio", which basically is what I will be, is much better than no one at all. I'm just there for a track-day event though, not an actual race, but that way I get to see all the crazy homebrews.

AvoidTheCones > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 22:37

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Oh I had a blast! The whole atmosphere felt a little more "relaxed" since we weren't running a televised event. It was great, as always, to work the road course there, but it was truly a special treat to staff the oval. The highlights of the SVRA event for me (not in any particular order):

1) Seeing classic pony cars on the road course was AWESOME. It doesn't get much better then seeing vintage Mustangs and Camaros passing each other in turns 7-11.

2) I have always liked English cars (My dad had a TR3A many years ago) and they certainly had a nice showing. I was taking a sip of water when I saw the Mini with a wind up key. The water about came out my nose, that was hilarious. I've seen the wind up keys, but never on a race track.

For everyone out there, take a look on YouTube for SVRA at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Several drivers were running GoPros.

Unfortunately someone in an open wheel car (I think it was an Indy Lights) got turned around (by another car I believe) going into Turn 6 and smoked the tire wall right at a flag station. The driver and the corner crew were fine. A couple of our guys got a story to tell and a torn shirt to go along with it.

Joneez > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 22:45

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I fully support this post. I'm lucky to be a volunteer in SCRAMP at Laguna Seca. It's an almost completely volunteer non-profit group. SCRAMP doesn't do the flagging/corner worker stuff (that would usually be someone like SCCA or IMSA,) but it takes care of just about everything else. They're an awesome bunch of hardworking people to be at the races with!

Werkz > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 06/12/2014 at 23:13

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or iRacing. Chea... oh, nevermind.

AvoidTheCones > Sam 06/12/2014 at 23:16

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I'd say go ahead and sign up for MotoGP. I heard about it through the Indy Region SCCA, and that's how I got started. They'll send you an email, and probably ask a couple more questions. Let them know that you'd like to work other events at IMS too (IMSA will be coming up at the end of July). USAC is the group that runs the corner workers at IMS. My first ever event was the inaugural Grand Am there. It's a great group of people and you'll make many friends (it's also really easy to get hooked being THAT close to the track).

Once they send you the actual application, you'll need to know your blood type (you can find out by donating). When they ask about your jump suit size it's wise to go up one from your normal shirt size. You'll pay $10 (maybe $25...don't remember for sure) to buy an insurance policy that was good enough my wife was (sarcastically?) asking how she can drive in a race...

I got hooked. I'm looking to do events elsewhere once my schedule eases up a bit. Generally speaking, once it's race day and you're there - bring a ton of sun screen, and a snack or two. They'll provide lunch and water. If you get on the radio the most important thing is to stay calm and remember procedures. Show up on time and listen to the corner chief. Oh, and always be ready to jump out of the way. :D

Me Boosta > mikecyc72usa 06/12/2014 at 23:27

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Ive actually given thought to doing things like this. Ill never be a racer (maybe Karting, but thats it) and would LOVE to get involved in working corners or the grid or something fun within the structure of racing. Do you have any suggestions on where to begin looking? It seems a bit daunting at first trying to figure out where to start from without getting in over your head.

mikecyc72usa > CarBastard 06/13/2014 at 01:04

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That sounds great! I am glad to have given some inspiration. Go try it!

mikecyc72usa > Me Boosta 06/13/2014 at 01:07

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Look up your local SCCA region and send an email. Or contact the nearest track directly. Trust me, they'll love to hear from you, and will get you started. Hardest part is showing up the first time, and don't be afraid to ask questions.