I have to agree with Ben on several of is points. I
too remember when it wasn't a requirement to belong to
SCCA in order to work (volunteer) a race. And, I
fought joining for several years, until SCCA made it
mandatory. For me to HAVE to pay $75/yr to volunteer
my time I think is absurd and I do think that this fee
has kept a lot of people from joining us. Fortunately
I have not had to use the insurance that SCCA has, but
I have not heard anything good about it. First of all
it is a secondary provider only, my personal insurance
pays first and the bulk of any injury.
The membership fee that I have paid for the past 20
years has not given me much in the way of "customer
service" from the club. I have had to do battle with
the bureaucracy for years over licensing. 37 years
out on corners seem to mean little to them unless I've
worked a minimum number of day the preceding season.
This year they did seem to use some common sense.
Working non-SCCA events don't count towards experience
either.
The other costs of volunteering have also greatly
increased. The mere drive from central KY to central
OH has now reached around $50 a trip. Room rates at
local motels aren't cheap either, especially for major
races. Although I do get to camp for most events.
Just the minimum to keep a license now is $75 to SCCA
and $200 to the fuel companies. Not everyone can
afford to do this.
I like motorsports and it doesn't matter to me who is
sanctioning it. I had a great time with the Porsche
Club races. The motorcycles are a lot of fun for me,
NASA seems to be an up and coming sanctioning body,
the Karts are a ball, and the Vintage guys bring back
a lot of fond memories of what racing used to be like.
I don't know what the real answer is to the lack of
people coming out to volunteer their time to "work" a
race, but the SCCA fees and related costs certainly
have to have some bearing on it.

Lee



--- ben schneider <benjschneider2@...> wrote:

> No Bob,
>
> I appreciate your response.
>
> I remember the day when Lake Erie members were not
> required to have SCCA club membership, and there
> was
> more respect for the organization. I agree with you
> that there is a lack of respect for us today, and
> corner workers are fewer, and seem to be taken for
> granted. I remember, at one time, that during most
> races, there was a "TIME OFF" position in the
> rotation
> for personal needs. Now if there is little track
> clean up, we are on duty from one race into the next
> with little pause.
>
> Now there is $3.50 fuel, and an ever increasing cost
> just to exist. Maybe it is just a personal problem
> and everyone else's income have kept up with these
> increasing cost. Mine has not. My communities mean
> income has been dropping abut $1000 a year for the
> last six years, down to about $25,800 last year.
> Running a service related business, chasing less
> disposable income, I have been have a tough time
> covering just the necessity costs, and yet these
> costs
> keep increasing. I have no personal, disposable
> income anymore, and can not justify paying $75 more
> to
> work just four club races at Mid-Ohio.
>
> The insurance that is supposed to come with
> membership? Having tried to get reimbursed for
> medical cost, from an injury sustained at a SCCA
> National Club event, was fruitless. After repeated
> tries, I gave up. I consider the medical coverage
> useless. I believe the insurance which we purchase
> is
> more in the way of liability insurance for the club;
> not its membership.
>
> If it takes Club membership to volunteer, I am
> going
> to have to work a NON club race like Cleveland, so
> they will pay my dues. I remember working at
> Mid-Ohio
> during the Cleveland race last year, and Lake Erie
> was
> again, very short handed that weekend. Most were
> working Cleveland. Being loyal to the Club has its
> draw backs!
>
> Ben
>
>
>
>
>
>
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