Every event needs a team of organisers and there are many different roles available from Clerk of the Course to Secretary. Now you can't just jump in at the top straight away, but if this is what you’re aiming for, get in touch. We have an established and successful shadowing programme in place which will allow you to learn all you need to know from working alongside an experienced official. If organising is what you want to do, get in touch and tell us what you fancy and what disciplines you are particularly interested in and we’ll put you in touch with the right person.
Full details of all roles can be found in the Blue Book (an Motorsport UK publication with rules and regulations for motorsport).
A brief overview of some of the roles available are:
Clerk of the Course
The Clerk of the Course has overall responsibility for the general conduct and control of an event in accordance with the regulations, programme and organising permit. The Clerk’s duties commence at the opening date for receiving entries and conclude once the results have been finalised, any protest time has expired, all protests and appeals have been dealt with, and any post-event inspections of vehicles or components have been completed and reported on. The Motorsport UK may require certain Clerks of the Course to be licensed Officials, for example for stage rallies and sprints.
Secretary
The Secretary of the Meeting is responsible for the organisation of the meeting in terms of all materials and notices required and other important items, such as booking portaloos if required! Their responsibilities also include all paperwork prior to the event, acceptance of entries, competitors’ signing-on sheets and licence examinations, as well as the submission of items required under D.26.4 to the Motorsport UK after the event – these are items such as route books, a list of starters, results etc.
Chief Marshal
The Chief Marshal is responsible for recruiting enough marshals and radio crews to ensure an event can run safely. The Chief Marshal will work with other officials, e.g. the Clerk of the Course, to ensure all marshal posts and roles are adequately covered in advance to run an event. The Chief Marshal’s responsibilities will also include the signing on of all marshals, the supervision and briefing of marshals for all activities and allocation of day-to-day marshalling duties.
Chief Scrutineer
Scrutineers are technical officials who are appointed and licensed annually by the Motorsport UK from people holding the relevant Motorsport UK appointments (except for National B or Clubman non-speed competitions where this requirement only applies if specifically imposed on the Motorsport UK organising permit). Scrutineers are responsible for checking the mechanical state of vehicles both in regard to compliance with all regulations and in the interests of safety. There must be a Chief Scrutineer present at all events and not less than one scrutineer for every 45 vehicles entered for the event. More information on how to become a scrutineer can be found here.
Timekeeper
Timekeepers and Handicappers are appointed and licensed annually by the Motorsport UK from people holding the relevant annual Motorsport UK appointments (except for National B or Clubman non-speed competitions when this requirement only applies if specifically imposed on the Motorsport UK organising permit). Timekeeping is clearly a crucial part of competition, and people who wish to be timekeepers will go through a training programme and have an appointed experienced mentor. More information on how to become a timekeeper can be found here.