Policies and Procedures Manual: Driver's Meeting

DRIVER'S MEETING GUIDELINES

The Drivers Meeting should be conducted by the Event Chairman or the Assistant Event Chairman prior to the beginning of the first timed run on the track (close Registration and Tech for the meeting). At a minimum, the following subjects should be discussed:

  1. "Welcome participants and guests..."

  2. Introduce self ("Event Chairman" and "Protest Chairman", as applicable)

  3. Name of event and event sponsors

  4. Mention site owners and thank them for the use of the site

    1. Primary contact: ___________________________

    2. Emergency: _____________________________________

    3. Other? _____________________________________

  5. Introduce the Event Officials and their responsibilities (ask novices to remain after the meeting for a course walk-thru with the Driving Instructor):

    1. Safety Steward: __________________________________

    2. Area Coordinator: ________________________________

    3. Driving Instructor: ______________________________

    4. Course Marshall: _________________________________

  6. Safety issues:

    1. No alcohol or controlled substance use during the event.

    2. Unsportsman-like conduct will not be tolerated.

    3. Discuss speed in the paddock area, spectator areas, and off-limit areas. Stress that NO ONE SHOULD EVER TURN THEIR BACK TO A MOVING VEHICLE.

    4. Discuss potential course hazards (slopes and dips, sandy areas, etc).

    5. Discuss the use of the RED course worker flag.

    6. Ask the Safety Steward for any additional comments.

  7. Describe the responsibility of corner workers unless the Course Marshall has previously agreed to handle:

    1. Describe the worker procedure to be employed and the affects of not appearing for your work assignment.

    2. One radio at each work station (including one for Staging & one for Grid) and one at Timing & Scoring. The event chairman should also be carrying a radio.

    3. Radios to be used for the following reasons:

      1. Course unsafe (stalled vehicle, worker on course, etc).

      2. RED flag (and when the driver gets a rerun).

      3. Downed pylons - Report station, car number and class (pylon displacement rules and two-second penalties).

      4. DNF/Off-Course - Report station, car number and class (DNF and off-course definitions; if a car is red-flagged, it should proceed directly to the nearest safe area off of the course -- do not complete the lap).

    4. Workers should report the above conditions and continue reporting until acknowledged by Timing & Scoring -- sometimes T&S will be so busy they may miss the radio call.

    5. At certain events, the course workers must record the number of pylons, DNF, or Off-Course on scoring clipboards (car number and class) and bring radios and clipboards to timing and scoring between runs. This is primarily for Divisional and National events.

  8. Discuss potential driver issues, such as number of laps, staging instructions, fun runs (if possible), etc.

  9. Discuss order of running (run groups, by class, by car number).

  10. Explain rain contingency plan if it looks like rain.

  11. Impound procedures, if applicable.

  12. Noise enforcement, if applicable.

  13. Lot clean-up plea (allow workers to signup for cleanup in addition to course working).

  14. Coming event announcements.

  15. Post-event party (if any).

  16. Ask if there are any novices or first time autocrossers. Have novices remain after the drivers meeting to meet with Driving Instructor for additional instruction, unless other arrangements have been made for novice instruction.

  17. Answer any further questions.

  18. End Meeting.