Call for Rally Workers

[Jvimpty]

Hey again,

I came and gave a presentation last semester to some of you all, and wanted to follow up on that meeting. (this semester I will bring the video camera so we can watch some in-car footage) :!:

There are several Rally Events that are releatively close to JMU (5-6 hours) these are:

STPR in June, Pennsylvania (Rally America Event)

Sandblast Rally in February South Carolina, NASA event

Rally West Viriginia, around Elkins Area June, NASA Event

Cherokee Trail Int'l Rally, End of March? near Chattanooga/Clevleand TN

All four of these are events that I am planning on attending either competing at. We are always looking for "volunteer" workers to attend these events adn help them run smoothly.

Workers typically get the best spectating spots on stages, ussually at intersections, tricky spots, starts and finishes....etc.
Workers always get free stuff (t-shirts, lunches, etc....)and the best seat in the house to see the action....

I will be travelling to Sno*Drift on January 25th...after that I will be working at Sandblast Rally in SC Februaruy 24th-25th...I know that they could use additional worker/volunteers this year as they have added stages to the rally.

I am will be giving a short presentation with more details at the first meeting of this semester that I can get to......I would like to see if there is much interest in learing more details about how a rally runs, what workers do at events...and see who would be interested in travelling to some of these events to work/spectate.

email me if you have interest, and I hope to see you all at your first meeting.

Jeremy

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[D_Eclipse9916]

if you work, do you get at least discount on driving? I am thinking of odoing one of these events later in the year....although I am worried about my ground clearance...

[Sijray21]

i'm curious, what days would a volunteer be needed (sat/sun) ? what training and what tasks will be expected. I'm interested.

[Jvimpty]

Rally workers vary in levels of experience so as for what you are expected to do it varies....

Most workers are needed to man intersections to prevent public traffic from entering closed stage roads...this can mean you are driven in by a course opening car (ussually very exciting drive in ) you are dropped off/stationed where you are suppose to be.

The stages are often run several times throughout the day, so at your location you are guaranteed to see all the cars run by at least once if not 2-6 times. At Sandblast several road sections are used during 3+ stages that are run twice daily.

Workers ussually get free event tee shirts, food, beverage, and post event festivities...

Other workers will run start and finish controls...at an arrival control you check cars in(minor paperwork/timekeeping, and you get to talk to drivers/ co-drivers), they proceed (100 yards or so) to the start control where a timer verifies the start time adn counts each car down to the start minute...

At each event you would typically arrive the night before the stages (friday) and have a workers meeting, learn your job for the next day....and then work the rally, go to the awards party and you are done.

AS I mentioned before you end up getting the best spectator spots that are not ussually open to joe public.....no serious training, if you are a HAM liscensed radio worker...you could get to ride in a course opening car all day (first cars down the closed stage often at close to race speeds hock: ), or a sweep vehicle....(pulling crashed rally cars out of the woods :twisted: )

I am happy to set up a time to meet with a group of interested volunteers that want to go to some events. We can go over the basics of how a rally works....etc....

Jeremy

As for discounted race fees, that is up to the organizers. (the organizers that put on Cherokee Trails rally also put on a tarmac rally later in the year in TN...)

PS if you have a car prepped for rally ground clearance hopefully isn't an issue :?

[Feersty]

Any hotel room perks?

[Dave]

I'd be interested, but my work schedule at this time is a major conflict. I really only get 1 day off every 2 weeks, so that pretty much kills my options. Do you live in Harrisonburg or closeby? That might make travel arrangements a little easier for all of us.

[CaptainHenreh]

I'd like to at least help with the Rally WV...I'll pop you an email.

[Jvimpty]

Sorry delayed response. I was out of town in Michigan for S*D and then catching back up with school.

I am in H-burg, so transportation and carpooling is an option for those interested.

No hotel perks that I know of, I ussually camp...or crash with friends unless I am co-driving.

Leaving in two weeks from yesterday for 100AW Rally in Missouri...it is a 850+ mile drive....

Sandblast is the 17-18th in SC (4.5 hours away) and I will be heading there to work/spectate if folks are interested...email me.

Jeremy
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