Autocross Worker Role Information

Unless otherwise specified, work roles are assigned during the event itself. For some roles including morning work roles, the event organizers will reach out to you before the event to confirm you can perform the role’s functions – please check your email. If you do not hear from the organizers, assume that you’ll be assigned a work role at the event. 

Please contact the event organizers if you have a health condition that prevents you from working a specific role – we will try to the best of our ability to accommodate you. 

Event Work Roles:

Most attendees will be assigned to one of these work roles during the event. The details of this will be covered in the driver meeting, a worker chief will assign attendees their work roles when it is their turn to work a heat. 

Course – Multiple Volunteers Per Heat; most attendees will perform this function, there are typically 4-6 corners

  • Corner Captain – 1 per corner
    • Holds the red flag and radio at each corner
    • Responsible for red flagging cars and calling cone hits or DNFs into the timing team via the radio
    • The specifics of this role will be covered in the driver meeting at the event
  • Corner Worker – 2-5 per corner
    • Responsible for picking up and resetting cones after a car contacts them
    • The specifics of this role will be covered in the driver meeting at the event

Starter – 1 Volunteer Per Heat

  • Safely release cars onto the course
  • Maintain a safe overlap of 20-30 seconds between cars and ensure corner workers have enough time to reset the course

Grid – Multiple Volunteers Per Heat

  • Send cars to the starting line and let drivers know when it’s their turn to run
  • Manage cars in the grid lines to keep pathways clear for traffic flow
  • Manage re-run vehicles to ensure smooth flow of traffic and event operation

Timing Trailer Team – 1 Volunteer Per Role Per Heat

  • An experienced timing and scoring volunteer usually overseas the entire timing team 
  • Radio
    • Operate the timing radio, listen for cone and DNF calls from the corner captains
  • Timing and Scoring
    • Manually record timing data to ensure timing records are correct
    • Record cone hits and DNFs called into the radio operator by the corner captains
  • Computer
    • Enter the car information into the timing computer as they drive up to the line
    • Ensure that timing is running correctly
  • Audit
    • Crosscheck timing and scoring with the computer results for each run to audit and correct timing in real time

Waivers – 1-2 Volunteers Per Heat

  • Have individuals entering the site sign the waiver and distribute wristbands
  • You must be a full-time SCCA member to work waivers, weekend members cannot perform this function

Announcer – 1 Volunteer Per Heat

  • Comment on cars coming up to the line and finishing the course
    • You will need to announce times and cone penalties for drivers as they come off course
  • Narrate the action – certified yappers and wannabe podcasters welcome (keep it PG)

Photographer – 1 Volunteer Per Heat

  • You will be notified ahead of the event if selected for this work role, please check your email
  • Bring your DSLR and take action photos of all cars during a heat
  • This work role allows you to get out on course to get better pictures than you would from spectating but you’ll need to share them after the event
    • Your work may be featured in year end awards and other slide shows for the year end banquets

Sound – (Site Dependent) 1 Volunteer Per Heat

  • Record sound measurements from a measuring device as cars are on course
  • Alert the sound chief if cars are in violation of the sound requirements

Clean Up – site dependent

  • Help clean up the site at the end of the event
  • Events typically run as late as 5pm-6pm depending on the site and if we do fun runs, expect to be at the event all day if you volunteer for this role
    • You will be contacted ahead of the event for this role, please check your email

Safety Steward

  • This is a licensed position, if you are interested in learning more please reach out to the DRSCCA Autocross Director

Morning Work Roles:

Be on site at 7AM. All volunteers will be allowed to check-in at registration and tech their cars regardless of stated times for these items to be completed. The benefit of working in the morning is not having to work during the event. You will be contacted prior to the event if you are selected for a morning work role – please check your email. Everyone needs to perform their roles for the event to run – please do not show up at 7AM expecting to work a morning role if you are not selected ahead of time, you will be required to work a shift during the event anyways.

Set Up – 3-5 Volunteers – it is critical you show up at 7AM for this role

  • Set up the cones on course following the course designer’s direction
  • Set up the timing system following the timing and scoring chief’s direction
  • Follow setup direction to set up the generators, PA system, and other items (may be site dependent)
  • Because this role is critical, you will be contacted ahead of time to do set up
    • Sometimes, setup can be the day before an event (depending on the site) – you will need to work the day before but will not have to work at the event itself

Registration – 3-4 Volunteers

  • This is a morning work role only, you will work with the registration chief who oversees the process
  • Run the check-in table:
    • Check-in attendees on MotorsportReg
    • Check-in attendees in the Axeware Timing System
    • Check helmet QR / bar codes and distribute scanner codes to those who need it

Tech – 3-4 Volunteers

  • This is a morning work role only, you will work with the tech chief who oversees the process
  • Perform tech inspection of cars, verify:
    • Battery is secured
    • Brakes are functional
    • No excessive leaks
    • Wheel bearings are OK, wheels are tight and suspension is OK
    • Ensure that non-OEM restraints (4/5/6-point harnesses, etc) comply with guidelines
  • Verify that class letters and numbers are on the car correctly
  • Verify that helmets meet requirements

Waivers – Morning – 1-3 Volunteers between 7AM-10AM

  • Have attendees sign the waiver form or confirm they have completed the online speed waiver or have an annual waiver
  • Provide wrist bands to attendees after they have completed or provided their waiver information
  • You must be a full-time SCCA member to work waivers, weekend members cannot perform this function

Interested in Volunteering for a Chief Role?

Not only do chiefs get worker points which can be redeemed to pay for event entry in the future, they get to help shape the Detroit Region autocross program. Volunteering is a rewarding experience and a great way to meet like-minded people. If you’re interested in a volunteer role helping to organize and run events, please contact the DRSCCA Autocross Director, the Registrar for a specific event, or the Event Chair for a specific event. This contact information is provided on the event sign up page in MotorsportReg or can be found here.