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HOW DO
I BECOME AN SCCA RACE OFFICIAL?
It's easy
to get started. Check the specialties described below
and pick one at which you'd like to try your hand.
Check the Contacts Page for the name and number
of the chief of that specialty and call to let him
or her know you like you'd like to work as an official.
S/he will arrange for training for you at the next
race event. (If a specialty does not have a chief,
contact the Assistant R.E. - Race.)
All it takes
to get started is to join the SCCA and sign up for
a Regional (Novice) License. A Regional License is
a sort of learning permit that allows you to participate
in SCCA Club Racing events. As you gain knowledge
and experience, you may wish to make the effort to
upgrade to a Divisional License. A Divisional License
allows you to participate in almost any club event
or professional road race. The pinnacle of licensing
is the National License. This license is reserved
for the ‘expert’ officials and carries
with it a significant burden of responsibility and
leadership.
RACE
OFFICIAL DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTACTS
•
Flagging & Communication
• Starters
•
Pit & Paddock
• Grid
•
Timing & Scoring
• Scrutineering
•
Registration
•
Sound Control
• Stewards
•
Course Marshals
FLAGGING & COMMUNICATION
These are
the folks dressed in white, trackside at each turn.
They use flags to inform drivers of track conditions,
operate a race control radio net, and handle first
response to incidents on track.
STARTERS
Starters
handle the flags in the tower. They’re responsible
for starting races, tracking progress and throwing
the checkered flag at the finish.
PIT &
PADDOCK
The pit
marshals control action in pit lane, serve as traffic
cops during practice, qualifying, and race, and insure
that conditions in the pits are safe, taking care
of matters such as fire control. The paddock
marshall monitors activities in the paddock to ensure
vehicles are legally parked, that race and non-race
vehicles are driven safely, and watches for potential
safety hazards in and around the garges.
GRID
Grid marshals
place the cars in proper order for races and performs
traffic control as cars are released to the track.
They check driver safety gear and that cars permitted
on track have passed inspection.
TIMING
& SCORING
Timing &
Scoring is one of the most challenging of specialties,
responsible for determining lap times and track position.
You have to actually see the T&S workers in action
to realize all that they do tracking a race in progress.
SCRUTINEERING (Tech)
Tech inspectors
check cars for safety and rules compliance and ensure
drivers’ gear is in good condition. They manage
impound, and verify that the top finishing cars are
in legal racing condition.
REGISTRATION
Registrars
sign everybody in and ensure racers have paid their
entry fees. If you like working with people, this
may be for you. You may work here in the morning and
elsewhere in the afternoon.
SOUND
CONTROL
Sound control
is a little known but necessary specialty. Sound Control
monitors all sessions on the track and assists cars
that may violate rules governing sound levels.
STEWARDS
Some highly
experienced participants become stewards. Operating
Stewards are responsible for overall management of
a race. Stewards of the Meeting are responsible for
judicial aspects of the event such as handling protests.
COURSE
MARSHALS
Course Marshals
maintain and deliver equipment to the corners and
provide equipment and course support as needed during
an event.
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here
exists in motorsports an elite group of individuals whose
sole purpose in life is to reside and flourish on the edge
and in the rarefied air above and beyond what others would
consider possible. An uncanny desire for self sacrifice, commitment
and professionalism drives them to the pursuit of perfection.
You won’t see them on the cover of Time Magazine, and
you won’t find them doing interviews. Amidst all of
the pageantry, engine noise and media madness that is racing,
they work as silently as possible in the background so the
event passes smoothly, safely and successfully. This is the
way of a true warrior. This is the way of SOuthWest DIVision’s
own Texas Turn Marshals & Racer Chasers.
What makes the TTM&RC special
is their incredible commitment to racing. They don’t
merely turn and burn as race workers, officials and track
safety personnel... they live it. It is not uncommon to
have rubbed elbows and shared stories with them at a SOWDIV
event last week, and then see them on TV working a Barber
Dodge race in Miami FL this week. Next week, they could
be in Toronto Canada doing a Trans-Am race, Watkins Glen
NY for a Winston Cup race, or Long Beach CA for a CART race.
They make their own time and pay their own way to work races
all over North America. Their terms are simple: learn, improve
and educate - by passing on that knowledge of coordinating
and managing the plethora of SCCA race worker specialties
to the race workers back home.
