Flagging - Giving It A Try

"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
10/06/2020 at 14:59 • Filed to: Motorsports, IMSA

Through an interesting course of events, I will be working as a corner martial for the first time this weekend. Now, am I starting with a local SCCA event at a local track? Nope. IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday . The big boys. I may also be working the NASCAR Cup race there Sunday.

Has anyone flagged before? Any pro tips? I already have my white outfit and they are doing training Friday.

DISCUSSION (29)

ttyymmnn > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 15:21

Never flagged before, but I have started playing a little Kinja game: Guess the Poster! And I guessed right on this one.

I’m assuming you’ll have a headset and somebody higher up in command will tell you when to deploy your flag? Or is there some autonomy on this based on what you are seeing?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
10/06/2020 at 15:26

There will be experienced folks on each corner in charge. Novice corner workers are never left to their own devices.

ttyymmnn > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
10/06/2020 at 15:27

Right, but I’m still wondering if the call to wave a blue flag or a yellow flag or whatever comes only from race control.

vondon302 > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 15:27

Wow right into deep end. No experience but I've thinking about doing the same but at my local little road track.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 15:29

Awesome!!!

Corner working is the second most fun you can have at the track. It is critically important, and deeply appreciated by drivers.

I worked corners at some SCCA races that I didn’t have the funds to drive back in the day. As for advice, keep your head on a swivel, think before acting or moving out from behind the barriers of the station and listen to the directions of experienced corner workers. They expect novice workers not to know anything in the beginning. They’ll mostly be looking for folks that can follow directions and think before acting.

Corner workers rock!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn
10/06/2020 at 15:38

It will depend on the sanctioning body, but there is a fair amount of autonomy to the corners for exigent circumstances. Blue flags are not nearly as common outside of F1, but they could be deployed by a corner as needed. A standing yellow or a double yellow is probably going to come from race control (along with a green or a red), as is a white flag (wrecker, disabled car or other slow moving vehicle on course). A corner is absolutely empowered to throw a waiving yellow as needed (which will be reported to race control, who will then evaluate if a full course, double yellow is called for) . I want to say they’re empowered to throw the surface condition flag as needed. I don’t recall ever seeing a corner deploy a black flag or a meatball , as those are waived by the starter upon direction from race control .

koawaft1 > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 16:14

First question, do you take bribes?

Second, anyone know a good strategy to profit from this?

barnie > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
10/06/2020 at 16:32

Amen to what you said. Worked west coast with SCCA and a couple other race organizations ‘ 88-92. Learn signals, listen, pay attention - all good advice. You’re helping out, being a part of the racing, b est seat in the house by far, access to the pits, lots of free stuff. Don’t know if they still do box lunch, nightly feast with beer and jackets after so many races. And I made some cool friends while there.

ClassicDatsunDebate > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 16:34

Thank you for your service

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 16:34

Sounds like fun, I’ve course marshaled for autocross before but nothing big time like this. My cousin works for Joe Gibbs, if I was there I’d definitely get the tour.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > barnie
10/06/2020 at 16:38

Every SCCA race I was ever involved with in any way always had lunches and mighty feast with all the beer for workers on Saturday night.

barnie > vondon302
10/06/2020 at 16:45

If you’re going to the track anyway, go flag. Free entry and you’re busy inside the fences all day. Sometimes I got a boring corner but after awhile, I wasn’t the FNG and worked hard so they put me at the good corners. Top of turn 4 at old Sears Point with a fire bottle, or turn 11/pit wall with a blue for NASCAR (my chest hurt for days!) . T urn 5 at old Laguna Sec a, top of the Corkscrew or inside turn 2 for the motorcycles. Even the Petaluma oval was fun - before lights ya stuck your arm out onto the track with a yellow and hoped no one hit ya..

At Petaluma, I became friends with an old guy with a beat up American Stock . Th ing in that class was any other racer could buy the winners engine for $50. This guy was a good driver and a Nobel Laureate in Botany!

barnie > koawaft1
10/06/2020 at 16:55

Sorry, but it’s all volunteer; t ’aint no money in it. Th ey provide food and space to camp and swag. The profit is in being on the front lines where you matter, access to the pits and comradery.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 17:16

I flag, I think everyone pretty much covered it off.

vondon302 > barnie
10/06/2020 at 17:36

Well I know what I’m doing next summer.

Damn you need to write a post on flagging. Sounds like you got some stories to tell.

Thx!

Stef Schrader > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 17:56

Hell yeah! I’ve only done smaller events before, but it’s the best seat in the house. It should be easier if you’re in the stand with someone else, but if it’s just you, paying more attention up-track is generally the easiest way to do it. You know the next station down is probably doing the same, and usually, you can see shenanigans start to go down that way. Also, sunscreen and water. They might be supplying water for you, but definitely remember to throw a tube of sunscreen in your bag before you go and remember to reapply midday-ish. Even shaded stands will roast you if you’re in there all day .

Good luck and enjoy! Flagging’s a blast.

barnie > vondon302
10/06/2020 at 18:03

I have posted a few stories. Walter Rohl in his Audi on a rainy practice a fternoon at Sears Point. 4 rooster tails all around the track solo. I was at the top of the T4 hill and could see most of the track. Flagging with John Stockman, early IBM guy, and his MG-TC. Watching GP1 motorcycles hit the same 2" of pavement every lap at T2 LS. Just the edge of the pavement. They wore the dirt down and started using the asphalt edge and lap times went down. I didn’t say anything about it though some of the riders mentioned it to me when I walked the pits. That pit wall/turn 11 station - I could slap the top of the cars as they accelerated out of T11. The noise and vibration are still with me. Then some of the bad - watching Blackalter die of a heart attack at T7. He pulled his car off track during the attack and by the time corner got to him he was dead. Coyne’s car breaking into 3 pieces and stopping right in front of me on blue at T5 LS. Safety crew there in 8 seconds but he was a mess. Smoke coming out of his helmet . Working T1 at LS and seeing Bubba Shoburt’s crash after his race that ended his career. A GT3 Dime at SP that went into the pond and died for a few minutes until safety got him out and CPRd. Got a box of photos in storage but I doubt they’ll ever get digitized in my lifetime. Those were good times. Most of the time everything is normal. Fast cars, waiting, trying to keep up with who’s leading. trusting your blue to watch your back if you’re yellow, and more waiting for the next session.

NYankee1927 > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 18:22

Part of getting my vintage race license meant flagging for a day. It was an awesome experience .

It is a surprisingly busy job. Between making sure you have the yellow handy, keeping track of lapped cars and making sure no one is about to hit you, time flies pretty fast. People depend on you to get it right, so my only advice is to pay close attention.

f86sabre > ttyymmnn
10/06/2020 at 19:09

Based on what they have sent me this far, basically what ITA said. Local autonomy as needed and they will radio us with the big stuff.

f86sabre > vondon302
10/06/2020 at 19:13

I will post up next week.

f86sabre > barnie
10/06/2020 at 19:15

Sounds like an amazing set of experiences. I’m hopeful that it will be a good experience.

f86sabre > barnie
10/06/2020 at 19:17

It’s sounding like we won’t be doing much mixing due to C19, no lunch, but that’s fine. It will be fun.

vondon302 > barnie
10/06/2020 at 19:18

Damn and wow.

Thx again!

f86sabre > koawaft1
10/06/2020 at 19:22

They did ask for a W9, so there might be a little money involved. I’m not counting on it though.

f86sabre > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/06/2020 at 19:22

I asked if they needed help for Cup. It would be fun to see.

f86sabre > Stef Schrader
10/06/2020 at 19:24

Thanks! Sunblock, rain gear, chair and cooler are all on the list. I’m looking forward to it. A COVID safe way to get some racing fun in. They are racing at Road Atlanta the following weekend, but there isn’t much info on their protection plan.

ttyymmnn > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 19:28

Sounds like fun. And also the best seat in the house.

barnie > f86sabre
10/06/2020 at 19:36

It will if you make it so. Pay attention all day, even when it’s boring (between sessions), listen to the folks that have done this awhile, go to all the classes, even those for other crews. Flagging might not be yer gig as you progress . There are other things to do like Equip ment, Comms and Race Control. Even the big races like IMSA and IndyCar have volunteer folks doing most of the actual work. T heir special Safety and EMT crews are pros but a lot of the guys (and gals) on the trucks are vols. It’s certainly vols who put down the kitty liter and then sweep it up...

Jason Spears > f86sabre
10/07/2020 at 00:38

Have fun and play safe. Take your job seriously, watch your butt, and the backs of your co-workers. I’ve been doing it a couple of years and it’s fantastic.

You’ve already had good advice here. I’ll just add, make sure your ear protection is up to it. The IMSA cars are seriously loud. :)