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