[Linds]

First thing to do - decide where you want to volunteer.

Race Registration: registering racers for races, taking money.

Worker Lunches: serving lunch to the workers.

Flagging and Communications (corner): displaying flags to alert racers of track conditions, communicating with other corners and race control about track conditions.


When you get to the front gate the staff there will have you sign the appropriate forms and give you the credentials you need.

If you want to work race registration, contact Kim Mattson (CRAKim on here) or e-mail her at racereg@cra-mn.com

If you want to help out with worker lunches or corner work, contact the worker liaison at workerliaison@cra-mn.com

If you want to work on a corner, show up at the meeting in the morning.
Friday - Worker Meeting is at 9am - Long Course: on the patio behind the tower, Short Course: at the band stand by track entrance
Sat & Sun - Worker Meeting is at 8am - Long Course: Racers Lounge, Short Course: at the band stand by track entrance

If you miss the worker meeting, please go to Race Control to get your corner assignment. It's best to do this rather than just pick a corner - that way the Chiefs can assign you where you're needed the most.


What to Bring
You will definitely need the following to work corners at BIR:

White clothes: White for visibility. Avoid red, orange, yellow and black clothes on the corner, because these are flag colors. Prepare for all temperatures, so bring layers of clothes. Long pants are required on the corner, but t-shirts are just fine. Open toed shoes are not allowed on the corner.

A hat: To protect from the sun. There is a shelter of sorts at all corners, but shade is limited. Hats that cover the ears are recommended, and if they also cover your neck it's a real plus. Avoid flag colors, as well as very large hats that fly off in the wind or when running.

Work gloves: If you go across track, you may come in contact with hot or sharp bike parts. Motorcycle, garden, or non-plastic winter gloves are fine.

Rain gear: These folks race in all weather except tornadoes and electrical storms. Honest, we raced in the snow one year. Avoid flag colors if possible.

Sun block: We spend so much time outside, you will inevitably need a sun block with an elevated SPF (unless you're genetically unable to burn).

Sun glasses: You can get real tired real fast if it's bright out.

Food or money for food: We serve you lunch for free, and sometimes we'll have a dinner feed, but you're on your own for breakfasts and most dinners.

Money for beer: A required ingredient for a successful workers' campfire on Friday and Saturday nights. All types of liquor are also approved. Please be aware that other recreational drugs will get you thrown off the track.

What ELSE to Bring
A motorcycle (or pit bike): All corner workers may ride their bikes on the track to their corner after the morning meeting and lunch. See it from the racers' perspective. Helmet required.

A cooler: The envy of every corner worker is the gal or guy who has cold drinks, fresh fruit, and ice right there on the corner on a hot day. The club DOES provide water during the day.

A camera: This is kind of iffy. You can get some great pictures of the racing, but you may damage your camera if you have to throw it away to run across the track. Good shots or videos will be solicited for showing at the club's end-of-year banquet.

A loud whistle: Helps to get peoples' attention. Especially effective in restaurants.

Tick repellent: Why risk Lyme's disease?

Camping gear: Useful only if camping. Tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, mattress pump, towels, grill etc. If your camping and have a big enough tent, it's been highly recommend to bring a cot - it's a lot less hassle than an air mattress and doesn't deflate on you.

Firewood: A necessary ingredient for a good workers campfire (go figure). Or bring $$$ to buy some when in Brainerd.

Squirt guns: Can be murder on a cold night, but delightful when it's hot. Super Soakers will mark you as dangerous. For hot days, bring a spray bottle for misting water on the back of your neck - it really cools you down!


See the CRA website for more information. See you at the track!

This post has been edited by Linds: 28 June 2010 - 08:44 PM

[sk8phreak88]

Thank you very much linds! That answers all my questions! See you fools in august!

[Physicker]

Linds, on Jul 25 2009, 09:56 AM, said:

First thing to do - decide where you want to volunteer.

Front Gate: signing in workers and racers, giving appropriate credentials, taking money for camping, taking money from racers for gate fees, garage stalls, etc.

Race Registration: registering racers for races, taking money.

Worker Lunches: serving lunch to the workers.

Flagging and Communications (corner): displaying flags to alert racers of track conditions, communicating with other corners and race control about track conditions.


When you get to the front gate the staff there will have you sign the appropriate forms and give you the credentials you need.

If you want to work the front gate, watch for the sign up to be posted in the track section and add your name to a shift.

If you want to work race registration, contact Kim Mattson (CRAKim on here) or e-mail her at racereg@cra-mn.com

If you want to help out with worker lunches, contact Kathie Lanigan (kklracing on here).

If you want to work on a corner, show up at the meeting in the morning.
Friday - Worker Meeting is at 9am - Long Course: on the patio behind the tower, Short Course: at the band stand by track entrance
Sat & Sun - Worker Meeting is at 8am - Long Course: Racers Lounge, Short Course: at the band stand by track entrance

If you miss the worker meeting, please go to Race Control to get your corner assignment. It's best to do this rather than just pick a corner - that way the Chiefs can assign you where you're needed the most.


What to Bring
You will definitely need the following to work corners at BIR:

White clothes: White for visibility. Avoid red, orange, yellow and black clothes on the corner, because these are flag colors. Prepare for all temperatures, so bring layers of clothes. Long pants are required on the corner, but t-shirts are just fine. Sandals are also a bad idea on the corner.

A hat: To protect from the sun. There is a shelter of sorts at all corners, but shade is limited. Hats that cover the ears are recommended, and if they also cover your neck it’s a real plus. Avoid flag colors, as well as very large hats that fly off in the wind or when running.

Work gloves: If you go across track, you may come in contact with hot or sharp bike parts. Motorcycle, garden, or non-plastic winter gloves are fine.

Rain gear: These folks race in all weather except tornados and electrical storms. Honest, we raced in the snow one year. Avoid flag colors if possible.

Sun block: We spend so much time outside, you will inevitably need a sun block with an elevated SPF (unless you’re genetically unable to burn).

Sun glasses: You can get real tired real fast if it’s bright out.

Money for food: We serve you lunch for free, and sometimes we’ll have a dinner feed, but you’re on your own for breakfasts and most dinners.

Money for beer: A required ingredient for a successful workers’ campfire on Friday and Saturday nights. All types of liquor are also approved. Please be aware that other recreational drugs will get you thrown off the track.

What ELSE to Bring
A motorcycle: All corner workers may ride their bikes on the track to their corner after the morning meeting and lunch. See it from the racers’ perspective. Helmet required.

A cooler: The envy of every corner worker is the gal or guy who has cold drinks, fresh fruit, and ice right there on the corner on a hot day. The club DOES provide drinks and ice during the day, but how much Gatorade can you stand?

A camera: This is kind of iffy. You can get some great pictures of the racing, but you may damage your camera if you have to throw it away to run across the track. Good shots or videos will be solicited for showing at the club’s end-of-year banquet.

A loud whistle: Helps to get people’s attention. Especially effective in restaurants.

Tick repellant: Why risk Lyme’s disease?

Camping gear: Useful only if camping. Tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, mattress pump, towels, etc. Cooking gear not needed unless you’re REALLY cheap.

Firewood: A necessary ingredient for a good workers’ campfire (go figure). Or bring $$$ to buy some when in Brainerd.

Squirt guns: Can be murder on a cold night, but delightful when it’s hot. Super Soakers will mark you as dangerous. For hot days, bring a spray bottle for misting water on the back of your neck - it really cools you down!

All really good info,

I thought I had heard that Open toed shoes are not allowed for workers, and not just a bad idea.

If your camping and have a big enough tent, I highly recomend a cot it's a lot less hassel than an air matress and doesn't deflate on you. (of course they can be difficult to pack if your on a motorcycle)

[Linds]

Good catch - I just coped and pasted some of that stuff from old threads. I edited the first post. If anyone has anything helpful to add, post up or PM me and I'll add it to the first post also.

[henks]

Hopefully I'll be needing to come back to this thread next summer.

[Tolz]

did they send out the preferred corner email yet for august?

[Physicker]

Tolz, on Aug 13 2009, 04:49 PM, said:

did they send out the preferred corner email yet for august?

Got the E-mail this morning.

[Krunk Fu]

alex will be up there in a few days sounds like a blast. gonna have to try this next year.

[sk8phreak88]

Soo.. the Woman and I are headed up for the july races this year. Do we still get ahold of Katie for volunteering or?

[Beckett]

sk8phreak88, on 13 June 2010 - 11:44 PM, said:

Soo.. the Woman and I are headed up for the july races this year. Do we still get ahold of Katie for volunteering or?

No, see the contacts page @ www.cra-mn.com and e-mail the worker liaison - Mark Fisk.

[ripperd]

Good thread to have back active. A few things could be updated (ie front gate) but very good info none-the-less! I had a good time working T10 yesterday.

[Linds]

Ah yes, things have changed. I'll update the first post sometime this week with the new information.

[sk8phreak88]

Thank you much guys! and again "I'll see you fools at the track!"

[Linds]

first post edited with updated information