Working the Event

Because SFR is entirely a volunteer organization, we rely on you, the drivers, to help make the event run. Below is a quick run down of the different worker positions, what they do, and some tips and tricks for working course. If any of the positions are of interest reach out on the Facebook Group or to anyone at registration the next event!

Worker Positions

• Event Chair

  • The Event Chair is there to make sure the event runs smoothly. You’re the “taskmaster” for the weekend making sure the event runs smoothly, and helping to direct workers to help cover any gaps. We are always in need of event chairs, and if you’ve never chaired an event before we will pair you with an experienced chair so your first time goes smoothly.

• Course Designer

  • Ever thought “man, it really would be fun to have a 15 cone slalom?” Well now’s your chance! The course designer is responsible for designing the course, and then working with the Safety Stewards to ensure what they have designed meets all the safety standards. While not the best role for someone brand new to autocross, you don’t need 20 years of autocross before you can design your first course. Reach out to one of the course designers at any event and ask about what it takes.

• Safety Steward

  • Our Safety Stewards are one of the most important positions at the event, making sure everyone gets to have a fun day with cars, and gets home in one piece. This is one of the few roles that requires actual certification (go figure), but if you have interest reach out to one of the Safety Stewards or Event Chair, and they can talk you through the process of getting certified.

• Setup

  • Course Setup
    • Ever thought “picking up cones in the 100 degree heat sounds awful, I wish I could get my work assignment out of the way at 7am when it’s nice and cool”? Well then setup might be for you! Setup workers arrive before the event starts, and help the course designer place and chalk the course. It’s a fantastic way to get intimate with the course before you even run, and is usually about the same time commitment as a course worker role.
  • Waiver
    • Want to beat that heat, and say “Hello” to every person that comes through the gate? Morning Waiver might just be for you!

• Timing Trailer

  • Trailer workers are responsible for running all the equipment inside the trailer. Entering in each car as they are about to run, marking cones the course workers radio in, and ensuring every car is getting an accurate time. Experienced trailer workers are always in hot demand. If you’re ok with the fast pace that the trailer can be from time to time (you’re a racecar driver right!?) then reach out to a Chair, and we can help find you a shadow role at the next event to learn the equipment there before jumping in first hand.
  • Announcer
    • Got a degree in Yappology (and can keep it mostly PG)? Think you might have a budding career as a motorsports commentator? Be an announcer and narrate the action.
  • Time Keeper
    • Keep an eye on the timer and timing system to make sure times are being recorded properly. Identify and fix any issues that might come up to keep the event running smoothly.
  • Cone Counter
    • Assign cones, DNFs, and reruns for drivers into the timing system as Course Captains call in cars and penalties on the radio.
  • Car Queuer
    • Queue up cars in the timing system. Enter in each car number and class as they line up to the start

• Grid

  • Send cars up to the starting line and let drivers know when it’s their turn to run

• Starter

  • Wave the green flag and safely release cars onto the course. Help to maintain a safe “overlap” of 20-30 seconds between cars so that course workers have enough time to reset downed cones while keeping the event running efficiently.

• Time Slips

  • Write down the times (and penalties) as drivers finish their runs and hand them their time slip.

• Novice Coach

  • Our Novice Coaches are there to help you driver faster, but also to make sure you know what you are doing off the course at your first few events as well. While being a quick driver helps, the biggest requirement is being willing to help someone new navigate the event, and be a mentor to help answer questions.

• Course Workers

  • Radio/Corner Captain
    • We usually try to have one experienced person at each worker station who mans the radio and red flag. They are there to make sure each corner is safe for both the drivers and the workers, as well as make sure penalties are called in correctly.
  • Course Worker
    • The majority of workers will end up working course. Laid out in further detail below, your job is to pick up cones, tell the Corner Captain when to call in penalties, and most important of all stay safe. If you ever see a car coming, don’t worry about picking up cones. The car will get a re-run.

Working Course

Corner Captains

Corner Captains are responsible for calling in penalties, managing the red flag, and helping other less experienced workers at that station. Beyond radio calls, the biggest role a corner captain plays in helping reccomend where newer workers should position themselves, as well as being on the look out for any red flag situations.

Radio Calling

Format for calling into the trailer is: “Station Number” “Penalty Type” on Car “Car Number” “Car Class”.

eg. Station 1, Plus 1 on Car 24 DS

Red Flagging

• Keep flag bunched up and to your side. Don’t roll it up or else you won’t be able to get it out and wave fast enough.
• When you use it, make yourself visible and wave it rapidly. Don’t stand in front of the car but make sure you’re somewhere the driver can see you.
• When should I wave it?
  • If a car spun and can’t get moving while another car is closing in on it.
  • There’s a course worker who isn’t paying attention and could receive injury.
  • A car gets lost and heads the reverse direction on course.
  • Something is going horribly wrong with car like leaking oil or broken exhaust hangers.
  • If you think someone is going to get hurt somehow, wave the flag. Better safe than sorry.
• Do NOT red flag if the course is broken and there’s a car coming. If the car comes to a stop and points, he/she will get a re-run.
• If you get red flagged, stop and wait for the course workers to tell you to go. Then finish the course at 60% pace. You’ll get a rerun.

Working Course

The main goal here to to replace hit cones back in the boxes they are marked in, as well as signal to the corner captain if a cone is a penalty or not.

The correct way to fix cones is: Run, replace, run! You’ll want to make sure that you are keeping an eye on upcoming cars, so try to position yourself so frequently hit cones don’t result in you running with you back to the cars. Remember if can’t get a cone in time, don’t go for it! The car will get a re-run, and you’ll have a chance to replace the cone before the next car.

Hitting Cones

A cone will result in a penalty if:

• A standing cone is knocked over.
• A standing cone is hit, remains standing but no part of the cone is touching any part of the box.

A cone will NOT result in a penalty if:

• A standing cone is hit, and some part of the cone still is touching the outline of the box it was in.
• A pointer cone (a cone already on its side) is hit.

DNFs

A DNF occurs when a driver skips part of the course. The most common occurrences for this is missing a slalom cone, driving on the wrong side of a pointer cone, or driving outside the bounds of the course. However, if the driver ever circles back, and reenters the course at or before the place they went off, the run is NOT a DNF.