Nick is right on with the reminder to thank the workers who make it possible
for us to race. But is a wave enough?
I was first a licensed "Crash and Burn" Road Atlanta corner worker (every
race at RA for the first 7 years). I am now a "vintage racer". I have
enjoyed both immensely. My motivation then was to be a part of the
excitement and to be close to the action. I gave freely of my time both at
the track and in training for my responsibilities. I was rewarded by just
being there. A beer party was frosting. My true mission was to meet the
Mark Donohues and Bob Tulliuses and Harvey Templetons and maybe learn how to
live the life they were leading or at least learn from it.
As a vintage racer I am concerned that we have lost the ability to give the
current crop of workers adequate incentive. When vintage racing burst upon
the scene workers were easy to enlist. Then there were more "top notch
cars". The drivers were relatively safe and safety worker demands were
light. Workers were even invited to the driver's parties (imagine that).
Recently though the bloom is off the lily. There is not much to excite the
workers. Same old no-name drivers and cars you have seen enough times to
where keen interest is lost. And you don't have to look far to see that the
driving is not as safe as it once was.
The Hysterics have no problem with workers....the quality of the cars and
the occasional famous name brings them back time after time. But what of
VARA, SVRA, HSR, VSCDA and the other groups that have less of a luster.
What should they be offering the workers to get their skills to the track?
More and more the incentive is only cash to their club or association. That
is a diminishing return for both, since the club keeps the cash and
excitement is a better motivator.
Watkins Glen, with a new worker association underbidding a long established
association, may just be the tip of the iceberg. SVRA walked into a
significantly different situation in 1999 than 1998. The quantity and
quality of workers was noticeably insufficient.
What ideas are out there, in this largely quiet group of vintage racers,
which will motivate the workers to come to our events in numbers large
enough to make them safe in that respect?
Pat Ryan
SVRA member since 1988
>>>Subject: Re: the time I blew off tech
>>>In a message dated 10/05/1999 9:25:01 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
nick@cs.unc.edu writes:
<<
I am sure that tech inspectors have very few stories to tell about
the drivers they deal with - none of whom are clueless or the least
bit conceited. Oh no, surely not :-) :-)
In truth, I think we all greatly appreciate the volunteers who make it
possible for us to go play in traffic - the tech inspectors,
corner workers, timing & scoring, etc. Don't forget to wave on your
cool down lap and to thank them whenever you can.
Remember the corner worker motto, "No Wave, No Save."
Best Regards & Have Fun,
Nick England >>
Well said Nick, I've patiently read all the tales about how dumb tech people
are - no doubt written by those of us who would never think of volunteering
to help out.
Tech, corner workers, club officers are not a sub species - they make our
sport possible.
Don Queen
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