Here's a message from Lisa Diamond - SF-SCCA:

Hi Friends – The SCCA has not had luck in recruiting in recent years. It is my job to change that.. Can you help me?

IT takes about 200 volunteers to run each of our races during the season at the three tracks. ( Thill, Laguna, Infineon

You do not have to commit to any number of weekends up front- You can even choose to work only those events at the track nearest to your home. We appreciate each and every motorsports lover that chooses to join us.


AND - the pro events like the ALMS, The Historics and the Prehistorics are also run by SCCA. – WE are the ones that keep the drivers safe…We are the flaggers, the emergency crew, the tow truck, fire crew, and announcers- for the more timid, we also have a social crew and race admin as well as timing and scoring – all indoor heated jobs..


Our Training Day this year is February 20 At Infineon from 8:30 to 3pm. I would love it if you could attend the day with me to find out more about the different specialties of the SCCA and if you would like to get involved. We get to put out a car fire and perhaps help someone who cannot self-extricate!

Let me know if you would like me to save a spot for you. You can also go to our website, www.sfrscca.org to find the calendar for the year, as well as more details on the specialties and the volunteer program itself. Please forward to someone who might be interested, I need to fill a lot of spots. Thank you for your help and hope to see you at the track!


Lisa Diamond
Volunteer Recruiter/Coordinator
SFR Sports Car Club of America
530-934-5588 X 106 OR
1-888-995-7222

 

They really got to get a program that rewards points for volunteering that could be exchanged for Auto-X fees, Membership fees, PDX fees (actually more PDX days) or Merchandise otherwise they are gonna continue to have plenty of paying racers and not enough free volunteers to run the race.

 

If we lose volunteers, we have to face the fact of increased entry fees, or way fewer events. If the fees increase only those that can afford them will be able to drive. As it stood for the past 30 years that I know of, we have had a balance. I am in favor of giving volunteers "perks" as you mention. They are dedicated, passionate individuals that get up at un-Godly hours to get out to the track to make sure we have a safe place to run. They work long hours and are always there. If only a few of us would step up and volunteer, we would help keep "club" racing and "club" events possible.

 

On the flip side, increased fees means less participants, and decreased revenue for them. I don't think it would hurt to give volunteers some perks such as free track days, membership, merchandise, etc. As you already mentioned Pooper, volunteers go way beyond the call of duty - it's pretty much a thankless job, and people only do it b/c of a love of the sport, but that can only hold for so long.

 

kreative,

As I said, I am in favor of giving Volunteers "perks" as mentioned. They deserve it. It would not cost SCCA anything more. It could result in some potential lost revenue, yet that's a small price to pay for a dedicated work force that always shows up. I have thought about becoming a volunter and just may do so. I have shied away because I always thought you needed to make every event. But that is not the case. If SCCA would offer perks depending on the number of events worked, they may bring in more volunteers. Some volunteers choose not to drive, but that sure enjoy merchandise. I am all for keeping the tracks open and fees as low as possible.