Volunteering for Oregon Trail Rally provides some of the most rewarding experiences fans can get without getting behind the wheel of the rally cars themselves. And without volunteers offering their time and service, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to rally at all!

See all the opportunities you can have on stage as a volunteer. If you are new to rally, don’t worry, you will have a team captain that will give you all the training and gear you need to do your job.

Stage Captain

When you’re volunteering on stage, this is the person that gets everyone in place and ready to do their jobs. After you’ve volunteered for a few years, and you are ready for some more responsibility you can learn how to be a Stage Captain! This is one of the most rewarding positions on stage that a volunteer can have. It’s the job with all the power!

ATC (Arrival Time Control)

Cars pull up, you can chat for a few minutes, and write down some simple times. You’re also assisting with keeping competitors under control, ie.. in line, and moving along.

Start

Cars arrive at the start line 1 at a time, and regularly leave on 1 minute intervals. One person verifies the team’s time card, and another person will do a countdown for the car to begin their rally! It’s also of great importance to check safety measures in the car; checking belts are tight, and head and neck restraints are secure. Great practices!!

Road Marshall

Road Marshals are very important. They secure sideroads and prevent any traffic from entering. Marshals are spread through-out the stages.

Spectator Controls

Spectator marshals are simply crowd control. There are multiple marshals at these locations, regularly staffed by a small team. Keeping the crowd under control and practicing safety for the crowd and competitors.

Flying Finish

Cars come flying by you at full speed and you record, and relay their times to the finish control. Typically 1 person will man a radio and the time log, while another will be handling the timing equipment.

Stop Control

Finish control is where the cars come to a controlled and complete stop and receive their stage times. You record the finish time relayed from Flying Finish, keeping your own time log, as well as writing down the times for the competitors on their time cards. Another great way to have a moment with the teams. And congratulate them on a well done stage!

Communications

Rally events have massive amounts of communication going all the time to keep things running smoothly. If you have a HAM Radio License you can help with the communications needed at every part of the rally.

Service

In between stages the teams come in to Service to work on their cars, take a quick break, and then get back out to the racing. Working in service you will help cars find their spot, answer questions, and communicate with the service crews.

Course Set Up

Before we go out and race there is plenty of work to do to get those roads ready. If you want to spend some time in the woods before the rally and see how we get it all set up, you can come help out! This is usually done in the week before the rally.