Working Course

[Reijo]

Nothing to it right?  Wrong!   
 
1.  When you arrive on-course, be sure you are familiar with the area that your station is covering.  Also talk to adjacent stations so you are all aware and working together and not calling in double cones.  For larger events the cones will have numbers for them on the course maps.  Be familiar/memorize the cone numbers of the ones that are most likely to get hit.  At larger events these cone hits are noted and posted during the run groups.  This way the drivers may check the boards to see if they hit any cones and which ones they hit.  Then they are better able to adjust their driving so they do not hit those cones on the next run.

2.  First thing you should do is walk your portion of the course and check to see that all the cones are in-place properly.  Inspect everyone and especially the key cones!

3.  Know the down-and-out rule.  There is no penalty for hitting lay-down or pointer cones.  2 seconds penalty for each upright cone hit/knocked over or moved out of boxes.

4.  Never sit down while cars are running.  If a piece comes off a car (wheel, tire, body piece, etc.), or a car loses control due to driver error or mechanical failure, you will not be able to get out of the way in time.  Be on your feet and never turn your back to a car.  Also remember the next car is coming soon.

5.  Watch behind the cars since that is where you will notice a cone wiggle, move or fall/be displaced.

6.  No video cameras, still cameras, or cell phones.  See item 4 above.  It is like distracted driving.  By the time something happens, it will be too late to get out of the day and you will risk a collision with a car or a piece thereof.

7.  Camera/video people need to have spotters.  Ensure they have one.  Otherwise they are not allowed on-course.  They can shoot from the pit/grid area or outside the bounds of the property.  And even out there it is a good idea to have a spotter.  Looking through a lens is a narrow field and distorts the vision.

8.  Keep spectators away from the course.

9.  Any debris you see in your area (pieces of car, wire, garbage, paper blowing around), please pick up and bring to the pits after your shift to the timing vehicle or other place where a garbage bin/bag will be hung.

10.  Do not huddle in groups.  For a section of the course where you are working, figure out which cones are the most likely to be hit.  There should be at least 1 person standing near that cone (s) with extra cones so that they can quickly re-place that cone, either with a new one, or stand up/move the original cone if it is hit or dragged away.  IF you do not stand near those cones, you will have further to run.  Be lazy!  Stand nearby so you don't have to run far!  And as a bonus to everyone, when cars are coming quickly, the cones will be in-place when they arrive and the event will not be delayed by re-runs.

11.  A driver may request a re-run if a cone is down or not in-place.  Even if a cone is 1" or less outside the box, they are allowed to get a re-run.  Yes, some people notice because they are looking to use that 1"!!!   

12.  A driver requests a re-run by slowing, or ideally, stops and points to a cone out of place.  A corner station worker should acknowledge the driver's signal which will allow the driver to move on.

13.  When a driver stops for an out-of-place cone, and it is acknowledged, he should continue through the rest of the course but briskly (about 80%!), in order to not delay the event.  The car behind may be coming up quickly and can catch them if they do not hurry along!  No putzing!  The corner workers should signal them on or motion to hurry up if a car is catching the slow car on-course.

14.  Red flags:  If there is a spin/stall on-course and the car is not able to get going before the next car arrives.  This is a bit of a judgment call and can be difficult to determine some times.  But basically give the spun car the most time possible to get under way before throwing a red flag.

15.  Wear a safety vest.  The most dangerous thing we do in autox is work the course. 

16.  If you can't get to a cone fast enough before the next car, leave it.  They will get a re-run if they notice.  Acknowledge the driver if they point it out, then replace the cone as quickly as you can.  Running is good!  It is also good for exercise! 

17.    Other tips?  Please add!