Pat:
This is an excellent topic for a new thread "worker appreciation". We
have been struggling with this issue for some years now in Florida
Region SCCA. The Vintage group has done a number of things to attempt
to show our appreciation. We donate items to be given away at the
worker/driver party (Saturday night after the track is cold), donate
money to help sponsor the party or acquire worker safety items and even
paid the membership dues for a number of the workers. It still doesn't
seem like it's enough though.
I'd really like to hear ideas from other drivers and workers on this
subject so let's start a separate thread and see what we come up with!
Thanks!
*8o)
John A. Rollins, Vintage Race Coordinator
Florida Region, SCCA
PSR wrote:
>
> Nick is right on with the reminder to thank the workers who make it possible
> for us to race. But is a wave enough?
>
> I was first a licensed "Crash and Burn" Road Atlanta corner worker (every
> race at RA for the first 7 years). I am now a "vintage racer". I have
> enjoyed both immensely. My motivation then was to be a part of the
> excitement and to be close to the action. I gave freely of my time both at
> the track and in training for my responsibilities. I was rewarded by just
> being there. A beer party was frosting. My true mission was to meet the
> Mark Donohues and Bob Tulliuses and Harvey Templetons and maybe learn how to
> live the life they were leading or at least learn from it.
>
> As a vintage racer I am concerned that we have lost the ability to give the
> current crop of workers adequate incentive. When vintage racing burst upon
> the scene workers were easy to enlist. Then there were more "top notch
> cars". The drivers were relatively safe and safety worker demands were
> light. Workers were even invited to the driver's parties (imagine that).
>
> Recently though the bloom is off the lily. There is not much to excite the
> workers. Same old no-name drivers and cars you have seen enough times to
> where keen interest is lost. And you don't have to look far to see that the
> driving is not as safe as it once was.
>
> The Hysterics have no problem with workers....the quality of the cars and
> the occasional famous name brings them back time after time. But what of
> VARA, SVRA, HSR, VSCDA and the other groups that have less of a luster.
> What should they be offering the workers to get their skills to the track?
> More and more the incentive is only cash to their club or association. That
> is a diminishing return for both, since the club keeps the cash and
> excitement is a better motivator.
>
> Watkins Glen, with a new worker association underbidding a long established
> association, may just be the tip of the iceberg. SVRA walked into a
> significantly different situation in 1999 than 1998. The quantity and
> quality of workers was noticeably insufficient.
>
> What ideas are out there, in this largely quiet group of vintage racers,
> which will motivate the workers to come to our events in numbers large
> enough to make them safe in that respect?
>
> Pat Ryan
> SVRA member since 1988
>
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