Okay so today I wanted to finally try getting into local racing events. Been watching motorsports forever, right? Figured why not get paid to stand trackside instead of just buying tickets.
The Dumb Search Phase
First thing I did was just google “track marshal jobs near me” like an idiot. Got flooded with sketchy third-party sites asking for sign-ups. One page showed a listing that turned out to be from 2021… wasted twenty minutes filling their stupid form before realizing.
Switching Tactics
Decided to go direct instead:
- Checked actual racetrack sites – scrolled through the “Employment” crumbs hidden in their footers
- Hit up SCCA/NASA chapter pages – found PDF volunteer forms buried under event calendars
- Messaged local karting leagues on social media – actually got replies!
Pro tip: search ” corner worker” instead of jobs. Sounds cooler anyway.
The Reality Check
Mostly unpaid volunteer gigs at first. Had to sign waivers that basically said “if you get hit by debris, lol oh well”. Did a mandatory safety workshop – spent three hours learning hand signals until my arms cramped. Instructor kept yelling “FLAGGING IS NOT WAVING!”
Got my first slot at a club race through the karting connection. Showed up at 5:30AM to find:
- Rain pouring down
- Some dude handing me orange overalls two sizes too big
- Radio that kept cutting out
Stood in mud for eight hours flagging lawnmower engines basically. Free lunch was cold hot dogs. Honestly? Best Saturday in months. Got asked back for actual sports car events after that. Still mostly volunteer but sometimes they throw gas money at you.
Weirdest part? Nobody cares about resume stuff. They just wanna know if you’ll show up sober and not wander onto the track. Made more friends doing this than any app download ever.
