Getting The Job Done
| 22 March 2016 |
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I think there are many kart racers who don't appreciate - or simply don't understand - the amount of effort that is applied by a bunch of volunteers to run race meetings.
The following was posted on Facebook by the Perth-based Dirt Trackers Kart Club. The message is clear regardless of what type of karting you do. Every kart racer should read this.
MW
***PERSPECTIVE***
Yesterday was the biggest meeting DTKC has conducted since the 2013 WA Title - we were only about 20 karts short of that number, and that was a two day meeting!
We got through 78 races on the day, in a little under 8 hours. Quite simply, this can only be achieved when like minded people with common goals come together for the good of the sport.
CONSIDER THIS:
The canteen folks started at about 6am. They didn't finish until after the last race (so about 5.30). The officials (stewards, flaggies, grids, tower staff, track maintenance folks and other helpers) had to be at the Officials brief at 8am. They didn't finish until the last race either, and then there was the paperwork to do after that, so some didn't finish until 6pm.
One person who'd done duties all day was walking around in the dark picking up rubbish out of the pits so that it doesn't blow into our neighbours yards! The Exec put in countless hours in the lead up discussing a raft of time saving ideas to try and make 5 races a reality on the day.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
A band of people gave up between 9 and 12 hours (excluding travel time and lead up prep time) to VOLUNTEER for the club so that 200 odd entries could go racing. When you consider the average person gets PAID to work an 8 hour day, it starts to put into perspective just what clubs can achieve when everyone works to a common goal.
The flaggies had a 3-race break to have their lunch, so that we could save 20 minutes not having a lunch break. The track staff juggled food with machinery, the tower staff ate between races so you got lapscored, the stewards rotated one at a time for lunch etc etc. These people have sacrificed a day out of their lives, away from their families and other interests, so the rest of us could go racing. Might be worth keeping that in mind next time you roll through the gates at a race meeting - food for thought if nothing else :)
If you are interested in helping to share the load at your club, get in touch with any of the Exec (contact details are on website) or private message the Facebook page - no matter how small you think your contribution might be, it WILL make a difference to the overall running of the club.
We are happy to help anyone learn the ropes of any aspect of the club, so if you have been shying away from helping because you think you don't know what to do, just let us know so we can pair you up with a mentor to help you along the journey!
Dirt Trackers Kart Club
www.dtkc.com.au
