Anyone here a race official? I am interested but don't know the requirments, if any. Is it hard and is there somewhere i could learn all the rules? Basically I would love to get my membership paid by working plus it should be fun, right!?

 

send an email to my buddy Bert @ cbertrs@iwon.com he is the Texas region RE race or something like that. We appreciate the help!!

 

Thanks for the quick reply. Are you one? How do you like it?

 

No I don't officiate now. When I quit racing I will. I'm involved in Club Racing right now. Go to scca.org for more info. Our local site is texasscca.org.
I would like to work at a corner station one of these days, that seems like a lot of fun.

 

Corner working can be a blast if it's your bag. If it's not, there's still plenty of other specialties that need help. I've done a lot of the different specialties, and when you add my parents there's nothing at a race we haven't done.

Personally, I started working grid when I was 12. Not quite OK by "the good book" (in this case the GCR), but I'd been around the racetrack since I was little and the grid lady needed help. I've done stuff in Timing & Scoring (mostly taping... which is keeping track of running order), helped in tech, been a hot pit marshall (first time at a pro race when I was 5, no joke), a course marshall (for IMSA at TWS as well as a bunch of club races) and most recently I took on the job of race chairman for the event at TWS a few weeks ago. Finding a job that suits your interests is the best thing you can do, and really the only way to find out is try a bunch of different specialties. The only one I've done that I didn't particularly enjoy is hot pits, but if you can get a group of people you enjoy being around it can be a blast, too (that advice is from experience, BTW ).

 

Thanks, Yeah i emailed bert and he said,
When he mention licences, does he mean drivers licences or racing? I live near Houston, so do i register with region 32 in houston or does it matter?

 

The main thing you need is a desire to be out there!!! Everything else is a technicality. They will train you and get you going on the fly. I have worked CVAR (vintage cars) events for about 10 years. They are also a blast. I have worked in almost every area as well from Race Control to the Start Stand. You will never get to be that close to the racing in any other setting. You are more than welcome to come out to CVAR and work for those events as well. We are always happy to have more volunteers. There is a little different mindset than SCCA but it is still racing and you get to see many historically significant cars race. We have had just about every kind of car you can imagine come and run with us (Indy cars, Cup cars, Can Am cars, etc). CVAR does not charge a membership fee to workers and workers are paid $50 a day (to help defray from your costs). The newest rule in CVAR, is that every driver must come out and work corners one day a year. It makes them appreciate what we do that much more. Most of the drivers truely appreciate what we do for them but many have no idea what goes on behind the scenes (so to speak).

My biggest beef with working SCCA events has been the fact that (let me get this right) you want me to pay a membership fee on top of the gear I have bought, my gas, a hotel room, my time off of work, etc., etc. to come volunteer for you to be able to race. Don't get me wrong, being a part of SCCA is not a bad thing. You have the oppurtunity to work professional events and be around cars that you would not normally get to be that close to. From what I was told at the Champ car practice session for Forsythe Racing, they (SCCA) are working on making it a little more "user friendly" for workers to come volunteer. At least is has supposedly been part of the Houston Regional Officer meeting discussions. Give the 90 day trial a go and find out where you like to be most.

 

Can you be a driver and a worker? For free membership, do you have to be at every event or minimum number? With 7 events, I could make it to dallas events and college station, but Ok, i am not sure.

 

Yes you can do both. For instance Bert is licensed to do both. Once you an SCCA member you specialize. You can get a racing license, and/or officials license, and further specialize in grid, or timing and scoring, etc. I agree with Davids post, SCCA needs to make it user friendly, something more than free meals.

The divisional website that covers all of the texas regions is http://www.sowdivscca.org/
that will have all events in the state listed.

 

Thanks for all your help guys, it really help me choose. I really became interested when free membership poped up. being a student and working i really could not afford these things till now, but if i volunteer and learn, one day after i graduate i will be able to race and howfully in my 7.

Here is the last question i promise: there is a southwest site, a texas site, and a houston site. I notice the dues for the houston and texas divisions are different 15 and 20 dollars. Does it matter which one I register with or are they all the same. Save five bucks for SCCA

Thanks again for all your help guys I sure will be joining both SCCA & CVAR I just love this stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It doesn't really matter, but whatever region you choose gets your dues. Your membership check actually goes to National, then the regions get a cut of that.

The diagram of Texas is on the SCCA website at http://www.scca.com/Inside/Index.asp?Reference=swdiv


Now, putting my Race Chair hat on, I hope you can make it to the race at TWS Memorial Day Weekend! More details will be coming down the pike shortly, but one thing I can gurantee is that it will be a GOOD TIME!

 

Hey Chris, have you heard anything else about the dues and pay for workers? I think it was James R. (spec miatas) that I talked to at the Champ car practice session.

s0jan, if you are interested in coming out to a CVAR event, here are a couple of sites for you to check out. They have the dates etc. for all the events along with some background on the group. You can work as many or as few of the events as you please.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/cvar_general/

http://www.corinthianvintagerace.com/

Come on out, we'll definitely put you to work. We have several SCCA workers that come out and work the events. In fact, you have a good chance of being paired with a SCCA worker. I think the next events that are closest to you are May 19-21 at MSR Cresson and Sept. 8-10 at TWS. I know for a fact that they could use workers at the next event which is a 4 day event at Hallet (in OK) Mar 30- Apr 2. If you decide you want to travel to this event let me know and I will give you the information of who to contact etc.

 

Beyond that it's a problem, no I don't know anything. I was recently appointed as representative by my region to the SWDiv Race Officials Committee, but there hasn't been much going on within the committee, or else they're not including me in the discussions!

As far as how the SRO points work (SRO is SWDiv Race Official), you work a day, you get a point. The "points" are little business cards, which you redeem for stuff. I wish you could redeem for a membership after the fact, but I guess the idea is with the 90-day temp membership you can get enough points to buy the membership...

If anybody's got any criticisms about getting involved or anything like that, I'd appreciate an email/PM. I'm not in charge, but I know the right bells to ring to get stuff done after 15 years in the club.