PPG CUP cars corner — this is where the turnworkers spend the weekend.

Volunteers Key to race

By Marc Rovner
Contributing Writer

MUCH of the Vancouver Molson
Indy’s success can be attributed to an
army of volunteers in attendance each
Labour Day weekend.

The Motorsport Emergency Turnworker
Association (META) is a key volunteer organi-
zation during race weekend.

A Vancouver based non-profit group, META
provides more than 300 trained people for tim-
ing and scoring, flagging, emergency response
and pre-grid organization.

In essence META handles anything that hap-
pens on the track. Members are readily identi-
fied by their white outfits. .

Members participate in Indy, Formula 1 and
club racing events around the world and boast
an impressive safety record.

“Safety of both the drivers and the workers is
our number one concern, Each year we review
our procedures in an ongoing search for the
safest operation possible,” said META president
Anne Peters.

META’s work begins early in the week with
the cutting of emergency access holes in the

chain link fencing surrounding the track ‘ol-
lowed by a check of site lines for the proposed
flagging stations. On race weekend the days
begin with morning meetings at 6:30 a.m. to
review the schedule and specific safety proce-
dures. Then it’s out to the assigned turns to set
out the fire extinguishers, brooms and shovels,

" grease sweep and check in on the communica-

tions network, Each turn is worked by a team
with a two-way radio cannection to race control
above the pit lane.

“We are among the first to arrive on site and
the last to go home,” said Peters. “Yet it’s
unlikely you will ever see anything but a beam-
ing smile on the faces of the workers. They real-
ly love it.”

The club formed more than 20 years ago to
promote safety at motor racing cvents, particu-

y in the Pacific Northwest. The club offers a
worker training program which teaches new-
comers what they need to know about the basics
of marshalling or corner working. Members also
enjoy an active social network, with fun rallies,
trips to Skagit Speedway and Evergreen
Speedway in Washington State, and are involved
with various charity activities, including the
Variety Club Telethon.

Monthly meetings are open. Call 581-7189.

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