Rallying in America wouldn’t exist without the help of hundreds of volunteers who help make events run smoothly and safely. Closing down public roads and orchestrating a competition involving sixty-plus teams of cars and crews is no easy task. However, being a volunteer is the ultimate experience for a rally fan. You’ll be a part of the rally and meet all the drivers and crews. Best of all, the volunteers get as close to the action as the drivers do!
To sign up for a volunteer position please go to the event’s official webpage and find the volunteer link. You can find the event’s official webpage through Rally America’s event page.
Also check rally event webpages for more detailed volunteer worker opportunities as the rally date approaches.
WORKER DESCRIPTIONS
The following is a brief overview of the various types of volunteers needed at Rally America events. Every volunteer is greatly appreciated by the drivers and the crews and they will certainly let you know it.
RALLY COMMUNICATIONS – LICENSED HAM RADIO OPERATORS
The primary job of rally communications is to provide a “safety net” for the rally. There are many people involved and it takes precise teamwork. The biggest task includes communications between stage start and stage finish and keeping communications open between rally officials.
MEDICAL
Volunteers qualified to provide Basic Life Support services are at the start of every stage, and all spectator areas. There are ambulances and back-up support at several locations. Proof of certification, medical kit and car are all usually necessary, but each event has specific needs.
COURSE and SPECTATOR MARSHALS
The largest number of workers at a rally are out in the forests working on individual stages in the route. A “stage crew” is a group of 10 to 20 volunteers who are fully responsible for setting up and ensuring the safety of a section of road to be used as a stage in the rally. Many stage crews will handle several stages throughout the rally. Experienced stage captains and co-captains coordinate the work of each group. Workers time cars in, count down and start the rally cars, as well as handle the finish control and timing. Crew members will also block all intersecting roads to prevent non-rally traffic from interacting with competing cars, all the while managing the crowds at the spectator areas.