Posted: October.04.2006 at 8:51pm | IP Logged

Consider this.  Some drivers get tow fund money to go to the runoffs.  How many of them would forgo the runoffs if the tow money was not available?  Bloody few, because it's the runoffs!  What do the workers get for "volunteering" at the runoffs.  End of day 'parties' that are sponsored so national likely doesn't spend a dime, lunch each day, and that is it.  And for that 'privilege' we pay $70-$80 a year.  Then there is the cost of getting to the event and lodging while there.  There is a bundle of contingency money available to drivers which certainly helps defray costs of the week.  And the goodies we get?  T-shirt and program.  Anything else came from various vendors.  And workers continue to support the runoffs because it's the runoffs!

Posted: November.02.2006 at 3:20pm | IP Logged

I'm an old fart (does since 1984 count?) F&C and have been driving since 1994. I'm pretty sure neither group could be much without the other.

Driving, I've scared myself silly trying to keep up with/ pass/ get out the way of other drivers and still have a blast weither I dicing with another A/Sedan driver or a GT-3 car. (there aren't a whole lot of choices in the back of the pack where I spend most of my time)

I've had several class wins in hillclimbs, I've worked several. (I think I've mooned every SEDIV hillclimber the past 4 years at least once)

I've banged on the top of Vince Gill's car and told him he couldn't park in the middle of the track turn 7 Road Atlanta. I had Dorsey nudge me out of the way with his Spec Renault when he was upset about a 2nd place finish. I've argued with Jack Baldwin about parking his car on the edge of the track and then letting go of the tow strap not once, but twice because he didn't want his car drug through the grass. I stared into Michael Schumacher's eyes at the finish of the 2005 F-1 at pit in. I was standing in the middle of the track at the time. He did stop. I chased down a club racer coming out of turn 7 all the way up to 8 with a 20lber when she had a dead engine and fire licking out of the fenderwells. (and yes, we did get her and the fire out with no injury) I've stood in sleeting rain and 100 degree sun. I've woke up in the back of a Pinto Station Wagon with frost on the INSIDE of the windows at the Rd Atlanta Runoffs. (y'all wanna talk cold.) I've drank A LOT of free beer. Ah, the memories.

In almost 25 years, I think I have maybe made $300 racing and maybe $160 working F&C. It isn't about money. It's about having a great time with others who enjoy racing as much as I do.

Well, that and not having to buy a ticket.

I wouldn't trade my corner working buddies, or driving buddies for anything. Y'all are all like family.

Posted: November.02.2006 at 3:24pm | IP Logged

Dave, you are one my heroes.

Kumbayaaah m'lord, Kumbayaaah....

Posted: November.02.2006 at 3:26pm | IP Logged

I still have you a hat.

Posted: November.02.2006 at 3:41pm | IP Logged

I know.  I will get it in 2007 or else.  Can't wait.

Speaking of hats, WTF is that on your head in your avatar?

Posted: November.02.2006 at 4:00pm | IP Logged

It's his horny hat.....

Posted: November.02.2006 at 5:48pm | IP Logged

What Bob said.

It's my Tim the Enchanter hat

Posted: November.08.2006 at 9:33pm | IP Logged

 I have not read all 14 pages but I'll, put my 2 cents in here.

 I have held in the past a national F&C license but have not flagged for several years due to conflicts with driving. I have a national comp license.I have however been a race chairman,paddock marshall,election chairman in my region,been on the competition committee of my region,worked race control,delivered lunches,instructed at drivers schools,etc in the last few years. Does this count as a driver working?

Posted: November.09.2006 at 6:33am | IP Logged

Bob Clark wrote:  I have held in the past a national F&C license but have not flagged for several years due to conflicts with driving. I have a national comp license.I have however been a race chairman,paddock marshall,election chairman in my region,been on the competition committee of my region,worked race control,delivered lunches,instructed at drivers schools,etc in the last few years. Does this count as a driver working?

Absolutly... You set the example. Working doesn't have to mean being out on a on a corner station somewhere, it means doing what is necessary to make the organization work. It just happens we also need workers in all areas, all specialties (including stewards...), but especially for corners thus the focus of the subjects in this thread. 

Thank you for doing what you do.

Posted: December.14.2006 at 3:46pm | IP Logged

I haven't read this in a while so I'm going to respond to some older posts.  Do organizations pay workers.  Yea a lot of them do.  In the last two years I have spent over 500 days working at a race track, Laguna Seca, Infenion (Sears Point), Thunderhill, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Fontana, Willow Springs, Reno-Fernley, Long Beach, and San Jose.  Working on a corner, Grid, Control, Starter and Sound.  Depending on who I was working for pay ranged from $120 a day and hotel to nothing.  Porsche Owers Club paid the big bucks and SCCA paid the nothing.  The one I enjoyed the most was the SCCA races.  They have more races in a weekend and the racing is a lot closer and much more exciting. 

When you start paying workers you get a different type of worker.  Some are there because they like being at the race track and actually know what they are doing, others are there because they get paid and really don't care what is happening on the track and a lot of them are not that good. (a waving yellow for a car 40 ft off track?)

The region I belong to is the San Francisco Region.  We get lunch every day and any three day events we get dinner on Friday night.  Sometimes we get event pins (OK, I haven't figured out what to do with them).  There is always a drawing at lunch, Saturday or Sunday for $50 gas cards or $50 grocery gift cards.  These are paid for by one group, usually the open wheel guys or SRF guys.  If you turn in a receip for gas you can get reimursed for your gas for the weekend.  The money for this comes from drivers entrys.  Check the box and donate any where from a dollar to what ever you want. 

From some one who has worked all kinds of "race days" to just plain track days,  SCCA racing is still the best and most exciting racing. 

As far as drivers working corners, I think it should be up to them.  Some have time and some don't.  Some know how and some don't.  While working T-3 at LS I was it there by myself.  A driver came to my corner because he had about 3 hours between races.  I really did appreciate the help, his choice.

Any why there is my openion.

Posted: December.19.2006 at 9:03pm | IP Logged

I haven't read all 14 pages, but I came up with this promotional idea for the '07 season:

http://www.izzyscustomcages.com/WillWorkForCages.html

In a nutshell, if a potential driver (or anyone else) works a race, they'll get a $$$ discount on a cage installation. My thoughts behind it were to get the potential drivers exposed to the other side of the wall BEFORE they ever get behind the wheel. Get them to see that there's way more that goes on at a race than just the 20x40 paddock spot that they (will) occupy.

My own personal experiance is that whenever I was without a car, I would try to volunteer to help. After blowing my motor (and some other ill timed $$$ events), I started helping with the regions website, joined the race committee and started working T&S.

I'm really surprised more drivers don't "chip in" so to speak. It really is very rewarding to know that you made the weekend a little bit easier on everyone.

Posted: July.01.2009 at 12:18am | IP Logged

>>Carrots are what we need.  Great big carrots.

I am new to the SCCABB forums.  I have been an SCCA member for 3 yrs now.  I am a member of the local Corvette Club here in Reading Pennsylvania, age 59 and still have a desire to do a little "performance driving" from time to time.

Am I willing to help out?
Sure... give me a paper saying what I need to do.

Our Skyline Drive Corvette club takes trips to Watkins Glen and Mid-Ohio once a year to attend an event, where we can ALSO drive our Vettes on the track at an accelerated rate of speed during the breaks, (Faster than on the Highways) but not racing speeds (depending on the track).
This is what got me interested in SCCA enough to become a paying member - even though I don't have a race car - just a very capable street Vette.  There are many others out there with my mindset.

To provide some input to the question of how to obtain more Corner Workers, I would like to suggest doing something nice for your local Corvette clubs, Porsche clubs, etc. by inviting them to take a "parade lap" during intermission.  If they need to sign a damage waiver, I don't think they will have a problem with that.

Half of the Corvette clubs in the USA are members of an organization called NCCC (http://www.corvettesnccc.org/) which endorses some forms of competition already, which also means that the drivers are probably more qualified than those from other types of car clubs.
For me, I visualized SCCA membership as a Step Up.

Does the SCCA encourage or discourage "parade laps" by non-SCCA drivers, even though some may be technically better qualified than some SCCA members attending the event officially?
If the answer is "encouraged, but be cautious when doing so", then all the Regions have potential new SCCA members, Corner Workers, and other positions -- with some additional training.

Through my experience, I would "guesstimate" the average mindset of the average Corvette driver is probably shoulders above any "independent" applicant.  Most of us have "been there, done that" but not "officially".  
There are more than 800 Corvette Clubs in the USA to draw from.  There are more Corvette Clubs than any other car type in the USA.

Barry Zettlemoyer
Reading PA

Posted: July.02.2009 at 12:34pm | IP Logged

Barry Z:  In answer to your question, ( I am speaking as a long time SCCA member and long time corner worker and not representing any SCCA official / policy):  First, Thank you for suggesting ways to get other car clubs involved in SCCA events. I am a senior type with a corvette also so I have something in common with you. Now to get down to some facts: SCCA members receive some medical insurance benefits as part of the club volunteer service and member benefits. That is why track events are restricted to SCCA memberships. Also, if members were to drive their personal cars on track during "cold sessions", SCCA would require corner workers and emergency vehicles to be present for track safety, no matter what the speed restrictions.There is not much if any time to allow for this type of event during a race weekend. Lunch hours are usually shorter than 1 hour on any given day and the officials need that time for a break. At the end of the race day, usually 5pm-6pm, those volunteers need that off time also, and track time costs $$ to extend any time after that. I am not making excuses on why SCCA can not consider this type of extra curricular activity but this has been discussed in the past by many regions. As a corner worker, we all would like to drive as you suggset but it is almost impossible to develop a safe and legal way to do that. However, if other car clubs would like to participate in SCCA racing events, there are avenues to have those people experience corner working w/o scca memberships on a trial basis by temporary meberships at no cost. This provides the medical insurance coverage during those events. " Parade laps" have been done in the past during race weekends for certain groups with SCCA approval on a case by case basis but require some prior planning with track owners and  SCCA officials. I hope that I have shed some light on your suggestion  without sounding like "we can't do it". Thanks again

Jim Lowe SCCA Nat'l F&C lic

Houstion Region SCCA

Posted: July.02.2009 at 7:26pm | IP Logged

Finding the local regional SCCA Road Racing director should be pretty easy, then make your offer.

A lunch time parade putt-around is not that big of a deal in many cases.  If you are already registered as participants, even with the week-end membership, then putting your personal vehicle on the course may be no different than the corner personnel driving to their stations.  But it is proper to be a bit more organized than that.

It never hurts to ask someone.

Posted: July.10.2009 at 11:15am | IP Logged

Barry,

Just got back from out of town and saw your post.  I like your idea and will be doing some checking as to what is available for on track activites during our events at Road Atlanta for other car clubs.  We currently have a PDX, Personal Driving Experience, during Sundy quiet time and we often have track touring on Saturday lunch hour.  I know non-members can sign a waiver and join the track touring.  The PDX provides the SCCA member with a 20 minute session on track for $100, a volunteer worker will only be charged $50.  Volunteers for Atlanta SCCA are currently reimbursed beteew $40 and $60 for expeses over the weekend so the PDX can be offset by those monies.  I don't know if the SCCA weekend license is applicable for the PDX.  Hoever spread over the 4 or 5 events of the year, a SCCA membership and and worker reimbursement isn't much to pay for 4 or 5 20 minute track sessions not to mention the fun of participating in the weekend racing as a volunteer.