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Message text written by INTERNET:Smokerbros@aol.com
"They'll gladly train more people, too. I was pretty amazed at the lack of
roadrace workers...
Charlie"
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The "lack" relates to many, many factors, IMHO.
1) Many past race workers developed a thought they are second class
citizens. Only in recent years has SF Region begun an aggressive worker
appreciation program. At most after-race social gatherings, where most race
workers finally have a chance to get together, rare is the appearance of
any racing drivers to share the weekend's experience.
2) Even most of the region's Board of Directors don't show up.
Their collective sense of "noblese oblige" is rather poor. But then there
have been a few BoD members who only show up at races when they happen to
be driving, otherwise they stay home.
3) This past weekend I counted five of the seven BoD members on
hand. This represents a major step forward.
4) Then there's the schedule. Some race workers, notably Emergency,
find they are committed to over 24 two-day weekends as the region trades
race working for race dates. Doubt if you'll see any licensed racer working
a pro race so he can drive in his club race the following weekend. (Ian
Cook is the ONLY guy I've ever seen do it. That's one.)
5) The policy has been to require any Chief of Specialty to show up
for EVERY two-day race weekend the region commits to. This policy does not
extend to the entire BoD, obviously. Thus a chief cannot take a weekend off
and delegate authority while the BoD does it as a matter of routine.
6) The attitude of one particular pro race sanctioning body toward
race workers is appalling, to the point they ordered porta potties removed
from some Laguna Seca turns because they wouldn't look good on TV. And then
they required everybody start at 7:30 a.m. each day, no lunch break, and
the day finally ended 5 ish. OSHA wouldn't allow this kind of stuff. And
neither would any labor union worthy of its name.
That should give a few clues on what needs to be done to revive the
region's race worker program. A key problem will be when the next worker
crop finds out some other race sanctioning bodies PAY MONEY for their
services.
--John Kelly
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