Looking for crew-SCCA Nat'l EP RX7

I'm located near Gettysburg, Pa. and am running SCCA Nationals in a 2nd gen RX7. Looking for anyone interested in crewing at the track. I'll be going to VIR, Nelson Ledges, Beaver Run, Watkins Glen, NJMP, and Pocono. Maybe Lime Rock also and definitely the Runoffs at Road America. This is a serious national effort (3rd in NEDIV the past 3 years). Looking to get a divisional championship this year. Trying to do everything at the track by myself is getting old and, to get to the next level, I'll need some trackside help. Anyone interested can call me @ 717-337-2193 evenings after 7PM. Yes, I have GRM stickers on the car!

How much of the tab are you willing to pick up for crew members?

The reason I ask is I did this for a while and a weekend away from home can easily cost $1000. Heck hotel costs were close to $400 per room (3 nights). Then there is food, fuel etc. Don't get me wrong I loved being on the crew. there is nothing like being in the thick of it. But after a while It just seemed like the $$$$$ expended was not worth it. Especially since I was not driving the car. Do this 4-5x a year and I was looking at some serious $$$$$. Heck two weekends equaled the cost of two weeks for the family at the lake in NH.

I really miss going to all those events I have some great friends at many of the tracks but my bank account is much happier now.

Ditto - people will be interested if you're picking up the tab (I crew occasionally at enduro events for a freind's race team when they're running at Summit, and they pay for everything except my gas to get there), but otherwise, honestly, crewing is hard work without the payoff of actually driving! Especially if you're doing multiple events.

When I crew at vintage events I leave my wallet home and the owner's pay for everything and pay me to do it. Of course that's part of my job, the only downside is not seeing much of the great events I'm at. The only race action I see is when I'm at the wall recording lap times.

I have a class A motorhome, so travel and accomodations are covered, as well as food. I would like someone close enough so leaving from my home would not be a problem. My budget really wouldn't cover someone traveling independently unless you have a real economical car. Any help between races would be appreciated, however I am used to doing this by myself. I have been racing since 1970 and had a shop for many years building and preparing racecars so I am very well equipped and other than actual machine work do all my own fabrication and prep. If anyone is interested, either give me a call or email me @ Don49@aol.com with your # and I will call you. Thanks, Don Walsh

Proof positive that crew members are the unsung heroes of auto racing!!!!

Edit: Flagers then Crew members is probably the proper order.

When I crewed for an IMSA team, most expenses were covered. I drove the hauler, so transport was not an issue. Entry fees were always covered. Paid for some food, sometimes I brought food and cooked for the team. It's amazing how appreciated that was. Cheap burgers on a grill made me famous. Remember one year at Mosport, team owner said he was going to bring back dinner for five of us- a medium pizza and 2 liter coke. That did not go over well. We did place well at the race, so we got a real meal after he got his prize money.

I'll sweeten the deal by having some crew shirts made up and include laundering them each event. I would also consider paying for your SCCA memebership if you don't already belong.

I'll help out at VIR and NJMP events if I'm free. Have Koni Challenge crew experience, SCCA member.

Speed, Email me your contact info and I'll give you a shout. Don49@aol.com

I am definitely not the best mechanic out there, but I could prolly give you some help if you make it to RA. I do all my own crewing for my spec miata, but I really am not racing SCCA this year, lol nor am I good enough to make the run offs I live about 2 hours from there, and always go watch anyway. I normally just drive my street miata to the track each day I want to be there. I race mostly with midwest council. I did have an scca National license for 2 years, but let it lapse, kinda had to make some budget cuts ;) And I just enjoyed mwcscc a bit better. Guess what Im saying, is i know my way around the race course scene, can change a wheel, help you with strapping in etc. I flagged for many years, took my skippy at RA. and am now a licensed instructor with council/ not green, but not really a top wrench, if you catch my drift. Good friend of mine used to run an rx7, now he doesnt run too much. He shows up all the time to help folks out, bet he could give you some great advice on a 7, if you wanted it.

Willy, Barring a disaster, I will be at the Runoffs again this year and could definitely use the help. This year in the rain and on slicks, I was able to go from 33rd to 18th. I have high hopes for this year and certainly should qualify better. I was busy reducing the world supply of RX7 axles this year, but am pretty sure I have resolved that problem. Email me your contact info. Thanks, Don

In reply to Don49:

sent

Anyone else? Car is ready except for corner weighting, which will be done ( I have scales) prior to first race. Right now it looks like the Double National at VIR April 16-17-18 followed by Nelson Ledges May 29-30, NJMP June 5-6, Watkins Glen July 10-11, Beaver Run July 31- August 1, Pocono August 14-15, Runoffs at Road America September 20-26. As stated before, I am most interested in help at the track, but help in the shop at home would be great also.

I was having fuel pick up problems and had gone back to the paddock just before Tom crashed. I was actually on my way to talk to him after the session when I found out about the crash. Speaking to a friend who was paddocked with Tom, it appears he had a medical incident and was unconscious prior to the crash. One of the fellows in the group was actually passed by Tom going into turn 5 and said he appeared to be slumped over as he came by at a speed way too fast to make the turn. From all reports he went straght off into the gravel and got launched into the armco.

For Nelson and BeaveRun I recommend talking to Mark Connolly, Scott Lear knows him. Mark runs a bunch of GTL, IT and Prod cars and one of his teammates Dave has a ITS RX-7. Mark is also co comp chair for the Steel Cities Region and his shop is only 30 mins from BeaveRun.

Email him: mark (at) mcbautosport (dot) com and tell him Sean sent you there.

Sorry Don, I deleted that post, thinking it wasnt appropriate, didnt mean to make you look silly.

For others, I just asked Don how Close he was to Tom

No problem, it wouldn't be the first time I looked silly!!

Emailed you...

Andrew