Off-road Ambassadors idea

[Stone Crawler]

We are knee deep in our final Logistics plans for KOH this year. Double checking every detail. over the weekend we identified a potential way to improve the spectator areas of KOH that I think could be a universal tool for all forms of off-road racing.

Below is the details. Discuss, Improve , Execute.

Thanks
Jeff Knoll


Off-road racing Ambassadors.

Are you a more than dedicated Off-road racing fan? Are you a racer that does not get to race every time but rarely misses a race? In light of the Ca 200 more volunteers than ever are needed to make sure racing continues on public lands. KOH this year has a staff of over 100 volunteers and an addition contracted staff of about 50 for LEO, security and EMS. Looking over our logistical plan last night we have identified an additional need. Off-road Ambassadors.

We believe it would be very helpful to all forms of Off-road racing if we had a program where spectators with experience could help educate as a Peer rather than as a security officer. The guys that have the radio, the frequency, the knowledge of what’s going on, but don’t want to work at a check point or road crossing all day. People who don’t mind walking up to a group and explaining that they need to move back, or tell them that they are putting a child at risk. The kind of people are required that can operate a race radio, and don’t mind calling the race officials if security, LEO, or EMS is needed if a situation starts to arise.

Race promoters can’t be everywhere at all times. We all know how many people it will take to continue racing, what we don’t currently know is how many people it will take to keep spectators off the race course. It may not be the answer to future problems but it is a start. If you plan on attending the Griffin King of the Hammers race and have a race radio. You are a candidate, Peer pressure is the biggest advantage we have at making sure The BLM lets us continue racing with spectators. I personally would hate to see the desert completely closed to recreation during a race in Johnson Valley like BITD races.

Are you willing to help? All we need is your name and a commitment to promote responsible use of our desert. The ability to report to our race operations the general spectator conditions of a given area. For KOH we have identified 3 major spectator areas. 3 limited spectator areas, and a couple additional trails and areas that are off limits to spectators. Would you like to watch the race in an area that is off limits?
Big Brother? Maybe, but it’s an idea that will help us shape the future of how we manage off-road racing events and worth a shot. Will you participate in the proactive attempt to continue racing on public lands, or react to the closure?

Please contact our Volunteer logistic coordinator Shaun Bootsma if you would like to be an Ambassador to our sport. [email protected] Please include Off-road Ambassador in the subject line of your email.

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[Kartman]

I like the idea.

[Rory]

X2, this is a GREAT idea.......needed at ALL off road races. Myself and a few others tried it at the RATR race and most people (when asked nicely) moved back. Kudos.

[EMS702]

Great idea. Safety always good. Positive peer pressure.

[Tom_Willis]

I have found that when encountering spectators that need to lurn the rules the best thing to do is photograph them, their trash, their proximity to the course and their license plate

[dan200]

Myself and a few others tried it at the RATR race and most people (when asked nicely) moved back. Kudos.

I was one of them. We did recovery and when we werent yanking a stuck/stranded vehicle we were policing the infield and moving people back. Since the CA 200 I have worked as a PIT Captain for SNORE and found it to be a pleasant experience mostly.

I have found that when encountering spectators that need to lurn the rules the best thing to do is photograph them, their trash, their proximity to the course and their license plate

I wish we had taken some photos of the outside of turn 2 at RATR just so we could shame the idiots who stood there till we got them to move.

[Stone Crawler]

Based on the very sad news about MORE that was recently posted I fear this may all be too little too late.

We are still going to try our best with what we have to work with. I can not tell you how many flaming hoops we have been jumping through. I imagine MORE has been jumping in the same manner.

[Tom_Willis]

I wish we had taken some photos of the outside of turn 2 at RATR just so we could shame the idiots who stood there till we got them to move.

We all need to do this. Years ago, working a roadcrossing at the north end of the SCORE Primm course I saw this little kid standing up on a hill behind the pits with who I assumed was his parent. Lots of dust out there, but out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw him throw a rock at a passing car. Rather than make a mistake, I asked two other people to watch this kid when the next cars passed. He did it a second and third time, while we watched, under the "supervision" of a parent. The forth car passed, and as soon as he did it, we all threw rocks at him and his idiot parent. Peer pressure is good, but a public stoning is better.

[Kartman]

We all need to do this. Years ago, working a roadcrossing at the north end of the SCORE Primm course I saw this little kid standing up on a hill behind the pits with who I assumed was his parent. Lots of dust out there, but out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw him throw a rock at a passing car. Rather than make a mistake, I asked two other people to watch this kid when the next cars passed. He did it a second and third time, while we watched, under the "supervision" of a parent. The forth car passed, and as soon as he did it, we all threw rocks at him and his idiot parent. Peer pressure is good, but a public stoning is better.

hahahaha nice. The goons usually take pics of idiocy when we see it.

[Stone Crawler]

If you would like to help out at KOH we have a volunteer dinner, raffle, and meeting the Thursday night before the FRIDAY race. A few things happen at this meeting. Any last minute changes to staff are made, questions answered, and holes filled. Another couple things also happen. The volunteers receive a dinner of the best damn tacos north of Baja, the race teams come and take pictures with them and give out team swag, the Volunteers receive a special Volunteer only KOH shirt, they receive a discount for KOH Merchandise, and they all get one raffle ticket for the volunteer only raffle. Thats how we keep them coming back because they work hard on a race course for 14 hours. Race teams coming into the raffle and giving things away goes a long way. Its awesome to see the race teams thank them for the hard work.

Now I can't promise the shirt as we have already placed the order for the more than 130 volunteers, but if you sign up to volunteer at our race in any capacity you get to hang out with the cool kids in the volunteer meeting.

Maybe if this Ambasador program can gain some traction a smart off-road business would be willing to make sure the Ambassadors all had the same kind of T-shirt, jacket, Safety Vest, or Hat with the right company logo on it.

Crazy talk?

Your 3 W's can be answered by contacting Shaun Bootsma or hit our site, ultra4racing.com