Greg Cantwell

OWP 2001

Paper #2

302 Blue

Many things must come together simultaneously for a road race to take place. On Memorial Day, 2001, the races at Spokane Raceway Park required the efforts of racers and volunteers alike. Turn workers are a unique group that is absolutely vital to any competition. They man turn stations and advise drivers of dangers on the track through a variety of colored flags. Strictly out of a love for racing, these men and women sometimes drive long distances to participate in events. They bring their own unique sense of humor, but when it is time to work, they are all-business. Through the use of radios, they keep track of the cars on the track and refer to each one by number and color. 302 Blue is a 1999Honda Civic Si running in E Production.

It's early holiday Monday evening and the event for Race Group 2 is about to start. The cars come around the final turn on the formation lap lined up two-by-two and slowly move toward the starter's stand. If the starter likes the way the field is aligned, he will wave the green flag and the race will start. 302 Blue is in the middle of the group, with ten cars ahead, and ten cars behind. The starter likes what he sees and cars scramble for position and roar down the front straight. Four cars make it by 302 Blue on the first lap. Within a couple of laps, he passes two of them back.

"Check Point Five- standing yellow-96 multi- off track. Back on- no flag," a turn worker radios to race control as a green and yellow Rabbit has a little trouble keeping up.

The race goes on and cars swap positions on every lap. "Check Point Six- debris flag." One of the rabbits rammed into the back of the MR2 and 302 Blue continues through the glass at speed. The turn worker keeps the flag out for a couple of laps, then puts it away knowing that by now, everyone on track is aware of the problem.

The race is nearing its thirty-minute time limit and has been going relatively smoothly. "Check Point One- waving yellow- 302 Blue spin- standing yellow- 302 Blue off-course." Silence. "Check Point One- white flag [slow-moving vehicle]- 302 Blue back on course." The noise builds. "Check Point One- no flag."

Three-quarters of a lap later, the winner of the race crosses the finish line with 302 Blue behind- now one lap down and in fourteenth place. As the sun begins to touch the horizon, race control comes over the radio, "Great work everybody. See you all at the next event." The workers and racers pack up, head home, and the track returns to its solitary slumber.