Volunteering/Being a corner worker at a Racing event-What's it like?

[hawkeye122]

So, I've been emailing the Volunteer Coordinator for the SCCA San Francisco region, because I really want to be a part of the sport I enjoy spectating (And have no money to get in to)

The local track (Thunderhill Raceway Park) is about an hour and a half's drive from here, Sonoma/Infineon/Sears Point about 3, and Laguna Seca is about 5 or 6 hours. SCCASF handles the volunteers for all three of these tracks


Anyways, I was wondering if anyone could help me understand what to expect when volunteering; or if you've ever volunteered for any sort of race events, share your knowledge/Experience in the thread?

Happy (Nearly) New Year!

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

So, I've been emailing the Volunteer Coordinator for the SCCA San Francisco region, because I really want to be a part of the sport I enjoy spectating (And have no money to get in to)

The local track (Thunderhill Raceway Park) is about an hour and a half's drive from here, Sonoma/Infineon/Sears Point about 3, and Laguna Seca is about 5 or 6 hours. SCCASF handles the volunteers for all three of these tracks


Anyways, I was wondering if anyone could help me understand what to expect when volunteering; or if you've ever volunteered for any sort of race events, share your knowledge/Experience in the thread?

Happy (Nearly) New Year!

Scary, if, for any reason, you have to go on to the course.


When I was autocrossing, we do volunteer marshaling, but it happens to be compulsory, or else your fastest time "vanishes."


Problem is, there was a Mazdaspeed 6, with a rubbish driver, and he knocked down WAY too many cones. I had to run on-course to reposition the cones back in place.. Everything you learn in life says "stay off of the track/road when you know that cars are coming."

There is a small window of time, but, it is small.


Otherwise, the job isn't bad. If the forecast calls for rain, wear your rain stuff. I'm not kidding. There's a lot of standing, and, at a full-racing facility, you'll have to walk on wet/muddy grass at some point.


Oh, and make sure to be ready to wave a flag/fire extinguisher. The drivers' safety relies on your ability to react, and/or hear your radio and do as you're told, quickly.

 

[hawkeye122]

Thanks man. I've always watched F1, corner workers going onto the track and thought "Wow, they must have drawn straws. That looks so stupid" but now it seems I actually signed up to do that.

Apparently after I've done 3 events, I'm eligible to go to Grand Am or ALMS rounds and do it. That sounds awesome.

 

[Submerged]

Well, being a corner worker would require you to wear ear defenders, considering that these racing machines are loud!

I assume that so long you follow the instructions and safety stuff as given by the organisers, you should be ok.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Well, being a corner worker would require you to wear ear defenders, considering that these racing machines are loud!

I assume that so long you follow the instructions and safety stuff as given by the organisers, you should be ok.

💡 Another thing I should do for autocross. Stupid flame-spitting rotary turbo. (wasn't even a rotary, just a Mazda with some bad:censored: headers.

 

[MrWednesday]

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone could help me understand what to expect when volunteering; or if you've ever volunteered for any sort of race events, share your knowledge/Experience in the thread?

I worked at the start/finish line in a ChumpCar race at Harris Hill Road in San Marcos, TX. It's a small-ish track without much corner coverage---aside from me, there were two corner stands and a tower spotter, and they had a lot more action to watch than I did. My job was primarily covering tow vehicles with standing yellows (which also included keeping an eye out for passes under yellow) and black-flagging miscreants as judged by race control. I wasn't in a position where I would have to go near the racing surface.

I did find that it helped me to have driven before I flagged. I had an idea of what drivers could see and what situations they would be in, and used that to try to inform my flagging and calls.

The most unexpectedly challenging aspect of it was holding in my head who had done what when I had something to call in. One of the mental exercises I used to try to keep myself prepared was to recite the numbers of the cars as they went by, to try to commit them to memory. It may have helped, but it wasn't perfect.

I think this goes without saying, but take the job seriously. When you are flagging, the entire field is relying on you to keep them safe, both by communicating to them when there is an unsafe condition on the track and by communicating to race control when there is an unsafe vehicle on the track.

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Well, being a corner worker would require you to wear ear defenders, considering that these racing machines are loud!

I assume that so long you follow the instructions and safety stuff as given by the organisers, you should be ok.

At a major track the corner workers are generally wearing radio headsets anyway.

Actually, I'm right there with the corner workers when I'm shooting, and the noise level isn't generally as bad as you might think it'd be. The only cars I've ever had serious trouble with, like hurts through earplugs level noise, were the vintage Formula Atlantic cars at the Monterey Historics this year. Those are probably earsplitting even with a headset.

I agree that some driving experience really helps. Being able to identify when a car is in trouble is important, and you'll also be putting the passing flag out, so being able to identify when a slow car is holding a fast one up can matter.

 

[MrWednesday]

At a major track the corner workers are generally wearing radio headsets anyway.

I'd expect that to be true at any race run by a serious sanctioning organization, regardless of whether it's a major track. Race control needs to be in constant two-way communication with the corner workers to know when there is an incident on the track and to instruct the workers in the event of a full course yellow or a need to cover a safety vehicle.

As far as the loudness of the cars goes, it will vary depending on both the track and the series rules. Some tracks have specific noise restrictions (e.g. Laguna Seca). Some series have noise restrictions.

 

[Submerged]

With the driving experience, if the corner worker doesn't have any, would it be wise for that corner worker to arrange some seat time next to a driver on the track? I don't mean a racing driver, just a driver who knows the track fairly well and can point out blind spots to the corner worker in situ.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

With the driving experience, if the corner worker doesn't have any, would it be wise for that corner worker to arrange some seat time next to a driver on the track? I don't mean a racing driver, just a driver who knows the track fairly well and can point out blind spots to the corner worker in situ.

The corner worker shouldn't (ideally) have any blind spots. It's the drivers who won't have time to react.


The important thing, is that there are some accidents that happen behind you, when you've already turned to look at the next car coming. Keep your head swiveling. Just make sure you see/hear whichever accident happens, no matter where it is; it is generally possible. Just don't sit on the wrong side of a tree...

 

[magic_town]

You shouldn't have to watch both directions of the track. All real races (not autocross) here they have at least 2 marshals at each point, one watching the cars towards them and one watching the cars away from them.
To get your racing license here you have to do a day of flagging. It's a lot of standing still, and the day I did mine it was 38 degrees. The guys I was with at the flag point do it regularly and they seemed to love it.
Plus you get free entry every race 👍

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

You shouldn't have to watch both directions of the track. All real races (not autocross)...

Autocross + karting. I can attest to the presence of only one corner marshal per station, since I only came close to running only one corner marshal over when the tie rod broke on my kart. P.S., thanks, brakes, for another job well done! Even on wet grass, I somehow managed not to hit the guy. Seeing him running was funny enough though. I'm just really glad my brakes were still working...

 

[magic_town]

Autocross + karting. I can attest to the presence of only one corner marshal per station, since I only came close to running only one corner marshal over when the tie rod broke on my kart. P.S., thanks, brakes, for another job well done! Even on wet grass, I somehow managed not to hit the guy. Seeing him running was funny enough though. I'm just really glad my brakes were still working...

I've flagged at my kart races as well, and yes there is only one per flag point. But I was talking about circuit racing with cars, and there is no way that it's only done with one person

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

I've flagged at my kart races as well, and yes there is only one per flag point. But I was talking about circuit racing with cars, and there is no way that it's only done with one person

I was just pointing it out there. Yes, two flag workers per station, but that's it, really; it only happens at circuit racing with full-sized cars.


Autocross/go-karts tend to run much smaller track with smaller fields of view, lower speeds, and fewer "blind zones."

 

[Liquid]

BBC F1 did a feature on marshalling.

 

[Matej]

Time for a New year thread bump!

This was the only relevant thread I could find, so it seemed better to post it here than open a new one.

I recently finished article describing my experience being a rally marshal. I tried to focus on the timeline, not much on particular technicalities. It is a bit too long but I think it has a potential to encourage someone to start volunteering. It's a fun activity, though I wish I could take part in other aspects of the organization, not just marshaling. Maybe I'll get a chance on the new WRC Croatia season scheduled this spring.