Autocross Worker Assignment Descriptions

Announcer

Skills: Good speaker, outgoing personality, comedian
Degree of difficulty: Easy

You’ll communicate with the entire event via the PA system. Duties include announcing the next driver, providing colorful commentary about the cars/drivers on course, telling jokes appropriate for prime-time, reiterating cone counts, and announcing run times for cars finishing up. This is a fun job that puts you right in the middle of the trailer activities.

Computer Input

Skills: good concentration, hearing, and ability to keep track of lots of numbers
Degree of difficulty:  Moderate to Difficult

You’ll work with the scoring dude to enter data into the laptop computer during the runs. The two of you have the sole responsibility for accurate recording of people’s times and penalties. This job requires concentration and there is very little down time while working this position, if any at all. If there are no events that stop the course, you will not get a break.

Course Worker

Skills: Anyone, but narcoleptics. Ability to run and pay attention.
Degree of difficulty: Easy, sorta

You’ll be responsible for the safety of all people, cars, and cones while working on course. When cones are punted, you’ll run like the wind and reposition them. You’ll keep track of downed cones in play and communicate the counts to the comms person at the trailer. In the event of a spin or other on-course event that may jeopardize safety of a worker or vehicle, you’ll flag the car on course to stop. Safety of yourself and others around you is your number one priority. Though we give this job to newbies because running sucks, it is one of the most important worker positions, so take it seriously.

Driver Coach

Skills: Experienced autocrosser, driving instructor, or thrill seeker.
Degree of difficulty: Challenging

You’ll put your life in the hands of an inexperienced autocrosser and ride along giving tips on how they can improve their driving and ultimately their run times. Your #1 priority is safety. This is a very rewarding role, especially with brand new autocrossers because you’ll help them realize their true potential 40-50 seconds at a time. Prior training as a coach or instructor is necessary and we offer this training to all new coaches.

Pre-Grid

Skills: Good at the shell game, ability to read run stickers
Degree of difficulty: Easy

You’ll manage the pre-grid and send the appropriate car at the appropriate time. During the first session of each run group you’ll verify the number printed on the window sticker matches the number affixed to the vehicle you’re sending. This is a fun and social position since you have direct contact with each driver.

Scoring

Skills: good concentration, hearing, and ability to keep track of lots of numbers, good penmanship
Degree of difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

As the scoring person you’ll keep a handwritten log of every person’s run times and cone counts for the entire run group. This job requires concentration and there is very little down time while working this position, if any at all. If there are no events that stop the course, you will not get a break.

Scrutineer

Skills: Be 65 or older, or bribe a coordinator
Degree of difficulty: easy, depending

You’ll stand at the sidelines and scrutinize anything and everything based on your wisdom and experience.

Starter

Skills: Bubbly personality, acrobat or gymnast preferred
Degree of difficulty: Easy

This is a fun and social position since you have direct contact with each driver. It is your job to send the next car out on course after determining it’s safe to do so. Bonus points for your creative flag waving abilities. Provide encouragement to drivers as they ready for their run.

Timeslips

Skills: Good hearing, concentration, penmanship
Degree of difficulty: Easy

Also known as the “timeslip hand’er-outter-person”, this is a fun and social position because you have direct contact with each driver. You’ll stand at the end of the course near the timer display and write each person’s run time (and cone count) on a small sticky note and hand to them at the end of their run. This job requires concentration and listening as the display may not present the information you’ll write down and you’ll need to listen to the announcer and possibly contact the comms person via radio to get the information.

Trailer Communications Manager

Skills: Good concentration and hearing
Degree of difficulty:  Moderate

This position involves monitoring radio communications between course workers, pre-grid, and trailer workers. You’ll conduct a radio check and confirm all workers are present at their stations and that pre-grid is ready to send the first car. During the runs you’ll monitor communications from the course workers and confirm cone counts, DNFs, and other events that may occur on course.

Course Worker Manager (NEW FOR 2015)

Skills: Situational awareness, military training or similar
Degree of difficulty:  Moderate

This position involves monitoring all actions of course workers while you roam around the course during hot sessions. You’ll assist newbie course workers with training to be safe and stay on top of their game while working on course. You’ll help out when needed and you’ll make sure course workers are doing the best job they can. And, you’ll carry a bullhorn – how cool is that?