| Want to know how you can watch racing for | | | | racing is relatively easy, it can be the same |
| free? Its easy! Simply VOLUNTEER to become | | | | for hooking up with a local race team.As |
| a race official or race team member! The | | | | everyone knows how expensive even local-level |
| first step to take is to decide whether you | | | | racing can be, most team members at this |
| want to work on the race officiating side or | | | | stage are volunteers anyway. They are |
| help out with a race team. Next, it's just a | | | | usually family members or friends who like |
| matter of a little research, make a few phone | | | | racing and want to help out. If you don't |
| calls or head out to the local track and then | | | | currently know anyone on a race team, it |
| volunteer your time and services. Let's | | | | might take you a little more effort. But it |
| start first with becoming a race | | | | really won't be that difficult, especially if |
| official.Working The RacesAs you can imagine | | | | you have a positive attitude and lots of |
| there's a lot of behind-the-scenes action | | | | enthusiasm (some mechanical skills won't hurt |
| taking place to put on and orchestrate a | | | | either).Your first step is essentially going |
| successful and, most importantly, a safe | | | | to be heading out to whatever type of local |
| race. As such, every time there is a race, | | | | racing track you'd like to be involved with, |
| armies of people are needed to help out with | | | | get a pit pass and then mingle around with |
| all the various responsibilities. Corner | | | | some of the drivers and crews. Find someone |
| workers, starters, pit marshals, tech | | | | that is pleasant and you enjoy talking with |
| inspectors, race stewards, timers and | | | | and then simply volunteer to help out their |
| registration officials are just a few of the | | | | race team in any way you can. What starts |
| needed positions at each race.On the | | | | out as simply cleaning off the car after each |
| grassroots level of racing, where there is | | | | race may turn into working as a pit crew, |
| usually racing activity going on most any | | | | mechanic, or other team member down the |
| weekend, local tracks and sanctioning bodies | | | | road.The great thing about this arrangement |
| can always use a motivated volunteer who | | | | is that normally there are no real strict |
| wants to help out. That's where you can step | | | | commitments from either party. If you can't |
| in.So what do you do? Just call or talk with | | | | make a few races during the season, then it's |
| someone at your local track, racing club or | | | | usually no big deal. Also, if at some point |
| racing association and let them know you want | | | | you find another team you would rather work |
| to volunteer to become a race official. | | | | with, then you're not bound with the kind of |
| Since they are primarily a volunteer force, | | | | contract issues like a paid team member might |
| the organization should be readily set-up to | | | | be.If you've got the time and love being |
| accept new "blood" and move you through some | | | | around race cars and supporting a local |
| training to get you up and running.If you | | | | racing team, then this is a great way to |
| have a definite preference about what type of | | | | go.Start Your Focal LocalSo you may have |
| position you'd like to volunteer for, let | | | | noticed a recurring theme throughout this |
| them know when you call. The organization or | | | | article - THINK LOCAL. Your local track is |
| club will probably have a designated person | | | | the heartbeat of grassroots racing in America |
| for you to get in touch with who handles that | | | | and abroad. Whether you are going to be a |
| particular specialty. Once you've hooked up | | | | racer, race official or race team member, |
| with the right person, they should arrange | | | | start local. Support your local track, |
| training for you at the next race or event.If | | | | racing association and teams and whatever |
| you are working with a group like the Sports | | | | type of racing you are looking to get |
| Car Club of America (SCCA), you'll actually | | | | involved with.This is where it all starts. |
| get a license that allows you to participate | | | | Become a "pro" at whatever you do on the |
| in SCCA evidence. The SCCA has a great | | | | local level. A strong grassroots racing |
| program for getting interested folks involved | | | | platform will produce the drivers, crew |
| in becoming race officials.Other | | | | chiefs, mechanics, etc... who will rise to |
| organizations, like a local karting club may | | | | the upper echelons of racing and thus |
| be less formal, but that doesn't mean the | | | | perpetuate and grow a strong healthy |
| safety aspect is any less. Remember, as a | | | | sport.Why is all this important? Because |
| race official, safety of the racers, crews | | | | racing is important. It's one of the |
| and spectators is your primary concern. And | | | | greatest activities a family can get involved |
| in return for your services, you get "better | | | | with whether on the grassroots level or |
| than front row seats" to great racing action, | | | | beyond. Also it is one of the most widely |
| as well as the pride in having contributed to | | | | watched and sponsored sports in the world. |
| a well-run, safe, and professional racing | | | | As such, racing is a valuable component of |
| event.Race Team MemberYou have seen them on | | | | our economy. But probably most importantly |
| TV - the pit crews jumping over the wall to | | | | is that for the true racers and race fans, |
| change tires and refuel, the crew chiefs on | | | | there is no substitute! So let's keep it |
| the radio, or the guys in front of computers | | | | alive and support the sport of racing we love |
| monitoring the telemetry coming off the race | | | | and let's Go Racing Now!Larry Lenamon II |
| car. The road to becoming a paid member of a | | | | |
| NASCAR, Formula 1, IRL, or CART team is | | | | Your online resource for getting started in |
| reserved for the relative few who make the | | | | racing, racing sponsorship, alternatives to |
| long-term commitment, meet the right people | | | | racing sponsorship, racing schools, racing |
| and keep after it. However, just like | | | | skills and more. |
| becoming a race official for grassroots | | | | |