Working Them Corners: Track Marshalling with MotoAmerica at NJMP

Trying to look professional

Earlier this year, MotoAmerica had posted an application for those who wanted to help volunteer as a worker for all rounds of the newly formed MotoAmerica race series. Despite the fact that I never get chosen for stuff like that, I decided submitted an application request and forgot about it completely as the season went on.  As luck would have it, I received an e-mail from David Hawley, the MotoAmerica Track Marshal Volunteer Coordinator.  I was chosen to work as a track marshal or more commonly known around here as a corner worker.  To say that I was excited was an understatement.  Not only would I get a chance to have a different perspective on the racing experience, but I was there to help the organization in its first year.

The One Love Roadracing Team preparing for the weekend

I headed down the night before the first practice day and arrived just a little bit ahead of the storm.  One of my teammates on the One Love Roadracing Team, Adrian Hackett, was racing so I pitted with them and helped where I could.  Things were hectic under the canopy as they were making a few last minute adjustments and fitting new bodywork for the big weekend.  After a bit of helping to set up and a few drinks, I turned in early as I wasn't sure what to expect in the morning.

Despite heavy rain at times, there was still a decent turnout

I awoke the next day to a heavy layer of moisture that had permeated over the entire track. Despite the weather, the paddock was abuzz with nervous energy.  Friday was practice day and most of the racers were running around making sure they were prepared for the day.  I hurriedly grabbed a cup of coffee and headed over to the morning corner workers' meeting at seven o' clock behind the General Store, a hangar which had been made into a retail store as well as housing a few reception halls.  As the corner workers shuffled together, the coordinator for this event gave us our assignments as well as a few pointers on how to be an effective corner worker.  Instructions included the meanings of different flags as well as how we were to never turn our backs to the track and to never grab a rider who went down and instead to only allow the rider to hold onto us for assistance.  I was assigned as a recovery corner worker at the exit of the chicane which basically meant I was supposed to pick up bikes and clean up the corner in the event of a crash.  Luckily, I was assigned a veteran corner worker as a partner who gave me plenty of additional tips.

There was only one crash in the corner I was working, but it was quite the eye opening experience.  When I'm doing a track day or racing, I'm usually in the pits or trying to get back to the pits and only get an inkling as to what's going on out at the track.  Being there as the crash truck pulled up and working with the other track marshals was quite the sight to behold.  The bike that crashed had damaged its clutch master cylinder, bent both rims and was stuck in fourth gear so we couldn't simply roll it onto the trailer.  Without missing a beat, the worker who had first hopped out of the crash truck grabbed some straps and arranged them in a way so that the four of us could pick the bike up and shove it into the trailer chock.  The bike was loaded and the track was swept and cleaned with amazing efficiency and speed.  Most of the rest of the weekend was fairly uneventful at my station so I had a chance to enjoy watching my friends battle it out with the professionals.  My friends asked me whether I would do it again.  I suppose I would if I didn't have a stake in the race, but next year I plan to work as pit crew for Adrian Hackett.  It was definitely a positive experience and I enjoyed myself immensely.