Corner Worker - Getting Started

[VroomGrrl]

Hellew!

I'm new to the sport, and newer to SCCA. I joined NASA over the summer & worked their events at Barber & RA in pit & grid. LOVED IT. Looks like SCCA is where most of the experienced corner workers get their training & clearly SCCA is where most events turn for their corner workers. Are there any training classes offered, or is it baptism by fire? And speaking of fire, I'd love to find some training that includes fire safety. Don't see anything on the website, and "flagging & communications" has no contact listed. Where does a noob go to get started?

Thanks!

[FVee90]

Vroom - I sure that guys like Chuck and several others will respond soon as well. There is the baptism by fire but in SCCA you are placed with experienced workers at the road race level. There is talk of what is called a Crash and Burn School which will include working with a fire extinguisher and the different flags needed to work a road race - a crash and burn school is being discussed in the North Alabama area but also at Barber and/or Nashville SS. I am hoping there will be one somewhere at the beginning of 2009 that Alabama Region, Tennessee Valley Region, Chattanooga Region, etc can all attend. If nothing else I know the ARRC at Road Atlanta will need workers on nov. 7, 8, and 9.
I for one appreciate your volunteering to work road races - without you'all we would just have car shows.

[JohnW8]

I can't wait to meet this woman. She drives a 911 and wants to volunteer for
Flaggin' n Communicatin'. Outstanding! Welcome.

I too, would like to attend some kind of training session for "what to do if so and so happens..."

[TouringBubble]

I'm in for that training if it happens as well. Maybe Chuck and Evan could hold something informally? I plan to help out at the next Barber event.

[VroomGrrl]

Thanks all for your replies!

I started out as a track worker with totally selfish motives - I wanted to learn my way around the sport, and be near all the VROOM - cars & drivers, etc., maybe hitch a few ride-alongs, that kind of thing - until I got my own car & was ready to get out & drive. Well I showed up to my first NASA event in June (Barber) wearing long pants and VOILA! A pit & grid worker was born!

At my second NASA event (Road Atlanta) I was working the outside pit lane & we were shorthanded. A car came into pit and I did a double take - flames coming from underneath. Neither driver nor crew apparently knew they were on fire. And I was like a deer in headlights! It was all I could do to holler "FIRE" to the car/crew, call it in on the radio & grab for a fire extinguisher. Thank God the guy working behind me saw what was happening about the same time - as he ran by me toward the fire I tossed him my extinguisher & I stayed back to do traffic control while he dealt with the car & flames. In hindsight, I really hated the feeling of uncertainty, and worried that my moment of hesitation could have really had disastrous consequences. I don't want to feel unprepared like that ever again if I can help it! So I will be all over that crash & burn training.

How about over in the Atlanta area? If they have something going on can we get in on their training?

[VroomGrrl]

I can't wait to meet this woman. She drives a 911 and wants to volunteer for
Flaggin' n Communicatin'. Outstanding! Welcome.

I too, would like to attend some kind of training session for "what to do if so and so happens..."

Thank you for the warm welcome! I guess I have not driven you crazy with questions and rambly newbie emails yet (HELLO EVAN!). I guess we will meet on Saturday morning at TGPR?

[FVee90]

The story I have heard thru the super secret RE meetings is that the Georgia laws make it more difficult and a lot of red tape to get a fire-type training in that state.
Hopefully we will hear something that can be held at Barber, Nashville SS, and/or the Scottsboro area.
See y'all at TGPR

[chuck schultz]

The pro flaggers at Barber have had training sessions, the last couple years, including some hands-on practice with an extinguisher on a fire. Perhaps the club could ask if SCCA volunteers could also participate in the training, which would probably take place very early next season. This year, it was mid-February.

NASA Southeast is also trying to get some kind of training going, but that program is in its infancy. For now, it's OJT with an experienced worker, AFAIK.

[VroomGrrl]

The pro flaggers at Barber have had training sessions, the last couple years, including some hands-on practice with an extinguisher on a fire. Perhaps the club could ask if SCCA volunteers could also participate in the training, which would probably take place very early next season. This year, it was mid-February.

NASA Southeast is also trying to get some kind of training going, but that program is in its infancy. For now, it's OJT with an experienced worker, AFAIK.

Hey Chuck - thanks! I have a contact at Barber I will see what I can find out about their training. And I'll see what's up with NASA-SE, too.

Hey it was great to see you at Petit Le Mans - I was hanging out in the worker tent Thurs. night to see a friend of mine in from Denver whom I'd not seen in ELEVEN years. Thursday was the only night I could get over there, and of course, that was the one night of the week with night qualifying! So the visit was very short, but great all the same. I know yall busted your butts that week. I hope you get lots of satisfaction from knowing you contributed to a spectacular week of racing!

[EWaugh]

I'll see if I can work something out with Faynisha.