THIS IS A CALL OUT to drivers who would like the best work assignment at a DE weekend — the tower.
Few drivers know that the tower is a work assignment and what that duty entails. This article is an overview of how the tower contributes to the success of a DE weekend.
My introduction to the tower came by chance. I was working on the grid when I heard John Adam in the tower request a white run group driver to report to the tower to cover for a no-show driver. I volunteered, enjoyed the duty and have worked in the tower since.
The tower is manned by a white, black and red group driver. Nine drivers are required for the weekend, four white, four black, the red driver works the whole event. As with the other worker assignments it is a half-day duty. Drivers leave the tower 10 minutes prior to their run group and return when the run is completed. For the most part there are two drivers on duty but the 2022 run group scheduling had a period where the white group driver was flying solo for a short period while the other two were going to or returning from the track.
Also working in the tower is the coordinator of the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park marshalling service staff. On his radio frequency he is in contact with the 14 marshallers that man the stations around the track, the ambulance and the tow truck. These people are controlled by him.
We have a radio frequency that is used by the UCR track team. Each of the following individuals has a personal radio, including: Dave Osborne, Attitude, Chief Instructor, Doctor, Grid Captain and the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park marshalling service marshals working staging and pit out. We control the staging and pit-out marshallers to get the cars onto and off the track.
Generally, the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Marshalling Coordinator working in the tower wears a headset due to the large number of people working his frequency. UCR radio traffic is rather light so our radio talk is broadcast on a speaker.
Our view from the tower is limited to turn 9, 10 and the front straight so generally the first indication of an incident on track is hearing the coordinator questioning the reporting marshaller on his radio to clarify what has happened. By listening to this conversation the UCR tower people can get an idea what the incident is prior to being briefed by the coordinator when he has time to do so.
If the incident is a black-flag event we advise Attitude he has an incoming. Once we have been briefed by the Coordinator and are confident that the information is valid we will brief attitude why the driver has been black flagged.
If we hear there has been an impact we advise the UCR response team that there has been an impact and where. Again, once we have information that is helpful to the response team we pass that to them while they are in transit to the scene. Once they reach the incident we wait for them to update us on when they think the track will be cleared and when we can start operations again.
When the schedule is disrupted it is our job to make the plan to get back onto a revised schedule. Decisions need to be made and this is where the tower workers are exposed to the pressures of the assignment. Many factors are considered because each situation is different. Options used include; is there enough time to black flag the run, bring them back to pit out and send them out again when the track is clear, is an early lunch sensible or will shortening the remaining run times for each group equitably suffice.
When things are going well the job is easy, when there are incidents our fellow drivers are counting on us to get the show back on the track as efficiently as possible.
Due to COVID-19 there were no tower workers for two years and no new drivers were trained for the assignment. There is a need to replenish the ranks and I am looking for a few white and black run group drivers who would like a more interesting and demanding work assignment in air conditioned and heated comfort.
On average, drivers told me it took three tower assignments before they felt comfortable with the responsibilities of the job. With this in mind, I would ask that you plan to attend three or more DE weekends in 2023 prior to expressing an interest in working the tower.
If you would like more information or to express a desire to work in the tower, please contact me. </>
By Rob Martin
