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Feedback & Features |
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| Workamping at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca... What a Kick!!! |
| by Gary & Betty Thomas |
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For several years we volunteered with Monterey County Parks at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, a position we found thanks to Workamper News. Then we were given the opportunity to be the first live-on volunteers for SCRAMP (Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula) at the raceway, which is located on the grounds of Laguna Seca Recreation Area.
 We jumped at the chance, and even assisted in construction of our site, which overlooks the Start/Finish line. Our first order of business was to choose and build a site. The site was leveled, water, electric and sewer utilities were installed, and we moved our fifth-wheel into place. Next, we designed and built a deck on the sloping site. Gary did most of the building, with the design and “gofer” assistance of Betty and our grandson, Jorden. We were set!
During race events, we were the envy of the race crowds! “How did you manage to get this great site?” was a common question as we sat on our deck watching the races. And “Do you ever get to drive on the track?” (Yes, we did, as you can see in the photo of us with the pace car at turn 7.)
Our duties included overseeing the newly-constructed hospitality suites and race team garages. In addition, Gary also undertook a Monterey County volunteer project of refurbishing the turn boxes. We benefitted from this project, since we utilize the turn boxes when we work as Turn Marshals.
It was one of those “Workamper dream positions,” and we left with some sadness. However, we had developed a huge case of “itchy hitch” and were ready to get back on the road! In our 11th year of full-time RVing, we still feel the pull of the road.
Since leaving Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in June, we have
traveled more than 5,000 miles, touring our country on what our daughter-in-law calls an “Americana Extravaganza!” We enjoy receiving the daily e-mailed Workamper Hotline, even when we’re not looking for a position. And, we look forward to reading other Workampers’ experiences when Workamper News arrives with our mail.
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| Workamping at Talladega Superspeedway |
| by Debbie Robus |
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 If you love fast cars and big crowds then Workamping at Talladega Superspeedway, about an hour east of Birmingham, Alabama, may be for you! This sprawling 2000-acre complex becomes home to some 170,000 people for 3-10 days twice a year. Each April, and again in the fall, NASCAR race fans flock to Talladega for several days of racing and camaraderie. As many as 40,000 fans stay on-site over-night in a wide variety of tents, buses and RVs.
Talladega’s complex is unique among racing venues, with some 1000 acres dedicated to parking areas for campers. While almost all camping is dry camping — and much of it free — a few of the high-rent areas boast water hookups and some even have electricity. Allison Motorhome Avenue located on the back straightaway provides full hookup service, plus a fantastic view of the track for up to ten people – with packages starting at $1525!
Another interesting feature of Talladega is the close proximity of the local airport. Corporate jets and a variety of other aircraft — many piloted by NASCAR drivers and owners — come and go overhead throughout race week, with peak activity the day of the big race. The air show is an event in itself, lasting well into the evening after the Cup race on Sunday.
Greg and I arrived on Wednesday afternoon, prior to last falls’ race weekend, and we were directed to “Workamper Row,” a section of the “family park area” located approximately 100 yards outside Turn 1 of the Speedway. We found a nice, level, shady spot alongside the rigs of other Workampers, and settled in for the week. Almost immediately, we were surrounded by 5 or 6 friendly Workampers, who recognized the Workamper News decal on our motorhome.
 “We know you!” they announced... “We’ve been watching for you - we knew you were coming, because you told us in the last issue!” Jim and Dixie Buck, of Ottumwa, Iowa; Leon and Joann Hydle of LaBlanc, Louisiana; and George & Stella Snelson from Cherokee Village, Arkansas; along with Dick and Verda Bland, from Livingston, Texas, greeted us warmly and gave us plenty of advice about how to get acclimated to Talladega. Most of these folks had been on site for few days already, and they knew the lay of the land, what shower house had the most hot water, the best way to get around the massive complex, and where the best “freebies” were! They made us feel welcome and comfortable, with hugs, handshakes, and lots of smiles.
With the first work shifts set to begin early Thursday morning, the Workampers were relaxed and eager to visit. We got acquainted with the Bucks and Hydles, meeting their dogs, and learning about their summer Workamping together at a campground in North Carolina. We also visited with the Snelsons and their cat, Sam, named in honor of Sam Walton, since she was acquired at a Wal-Mart parking lot. The Snelsons started and ended their 2003 Workamper experience at Talladega, sandwiched around their second summer at a Wisconsin campground. After our visits we took a long walk, getting our bearings, finding the shower houses and dump station, and watching the steady streams of incoming campers as they wound their way to their favorite parking spots.
 Patrick Barfield, Manager of Gate Operations and Guest Services, for Talladega’s Superspeedway, is hoping to build a solid program for Workampers - one that we hope will catch on at other NASCAR speedways throughout the U.S., creating a core group of Workampers who travel from track to track performing similar duties. At Talladega, he recruits Workampers primarily to work entrance gates, take tickets, and check in campers. On Thursday morning, Patrick took time out of his busy schedule to give us the grand tour. At 2.66 miles, this is the longest (and fastest) track on the NASCAR schedule, so we welcomed his offer to drive us around the huge complex. He showed us the newly - developed camping areas that are part of an expansion program, and he pointed out the “family areas,” designed to be a little quieter than the areas for those who come to party.We saw an impressive number of security officers, some of whom stay on - site in their own RVs, and from what we saw, they were able to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. As we toured the area, we asked Patrick why he utilized Workampers. “They are so reliable,” he said. “They come before you ask them to be here, and they do what they are supposed to do.” He added that the track also utilizes a lot of college students and local organizations, and it’s not always certain that these groups will all show up as scheduled. He stressed that Workampers have consistently provided reliable help.
 Later that evening we visited with Workampers Mitch and Betty Kendrick, of Albany, Georgia, while they greeted a steady stream of campers arriving from all across the country. They started working at Talladega last April, by managing the entrance to an overnight parking area sponsored by Coleman Camping. Now, they work the night shift at the entrance to 3 different reserved parking areas. Their 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift is spent less than 100 feet from the parking spot for their own motorhome. A Bill Elliott fan for several years, Mitch gave up on him “when he switched to Dodge,” and now he favors Kurt Busch. Betty says that this nighttime shift is “great for us, as we can rest during the morning, and then head to the races in the afternoon!” With so much responsibility in this one area, the Kendricks are assisted by local deputies who patrol on 4-wheelers, and they have a lighted tent canopy for registrations, a nearby fire pit for warmth, and additional Workampers to assist them when it’s really busy. “Some nights it’s cold,” Betty notes, “but it’s always fun.” She says she prefers the busier nights to the slow ones early in the week. She also pointed out a fellow Workamper whose shift ended at 7. “It’s now nearly 8, and she is still here - she’s having too much fun to leave!” Workampers at Talladega are a fairly new concept. Dick and Verda Bland are Talladega veterans, having worked three races. They both said they enjoyed the people - and their “plum” assignment near the entrance to the track’s Hospitality Suites. They check in guests, caterers, and some celebrities. “We saw Miss America and Dale Earnhart, Jr.,” Dick noted. “And Verda was able to see her favorite driver, Rickey Craven.” Verda was happy to report that they are sometimes treated to “goodies” from the caterers, who dropped off samples such as breakfast biscuits one morning as they entered the gates, and even lemon chicken and asparagus during a previous race. However, we noted that not all Workampers were lucky enough to receive these culinary perks. The Blands were just in the right place at the right time. While both Dick and Verda said they enjoyed the people very much, they were quick to point out that the 10 to 12-hour shift, standing in the sun on the concrete, was very tiring. At a previous race, Dick had operated one of the courtesy carts transporting physically challenged fans, and he liked that better. Fellow Workamper, Chuck Houseman, a 23-year veteran of working at Daytona International Speedway in Florida, along with his wife Arlene, were recruited to help with the Talladega race. Serving as a gate supervisor, Chuck was in charge of several entrances, including the one worked by the Blands, and he made sure his charges had plenty of breaks and cold drinks, as temperatures on Thursday and Friday approached 90 degrees with high humidity.
 Other Workampers did not have it as good, working at gates where thousands of race fans enter the Speedway. They stubbed race tickets and checked bags. There are restrictions on coolers, both in size and material - no hard-sided coolers or glass containers. Workampers must check each bag as they take tickets, and fans who have trekked a long way with a cooler that doesn’t meet the criteria can become pretty unhappy when told they can’t bring it in to the facility. Unfortunately, a few Workampers chose to leave early, complaining that their supervisor failed to provide them with breaks, and that there was confusion about gate procedures. From what we could surmise, the incident was isolated and a result of miscommunication with their immediate supervisor. As with any event of this size, one should always be prepared for a few glitches. Getting 170,000 people safely in and out of a speedway is hard work, but when it was all over, we sensed a tremendous feeling of accomplishment among the staff. Patrick is working to establish a top-notch Workamper program. For the first time at this race, he grouped most of the Workampers together in an area near Turn 1. In 2004, he is planning to provide shuttle service to their assigned work-stations in addition to $6.75 per hour. As time goes by, he hopes to add more amenities. Patrick said he would eventually like to have between 300 and 400 Workampers at each event. As with any Workamping position, there are pros and cons to working at Talladega and other motorsports venues. The Workampers’ reliability and level-headedness can help keep problems to a minimum, which is why Talladega, and other racing venues seek more of them. They believe that utilizing Workampers can provide them with the ticket to a smoother ride for future races, and we agree wholeheartedly. If you are up for a totally new experience, give it a try!
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Workamping at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway...
A True-life Racing Adventure |
| by Debbie Robus |
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 Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!... and head for a Workamping adventure like no other at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 each Memorial Day weekend.
As many of you may or may not know, Greg and I have spent the better part of 15 years in our offices at the "international" headquarters of Workamper News in Heber Springs, Arkansas, churning out issues of our magazine every 2 months, and telling you about great adventures from coast to coast.
We have dreamed of someday purchasing an RV ourselves and hitting the road, at least for short-term adventures of our own, while leaving our able assistants, Bill Allbright and John Robus, to "man" the office and staying in touch via telephone and the Internet. When Katrina Black, Coordinator at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), invited us to visit during this year’s Indy 500, we realized this was the opportunity of a lifetime. Since Greg is an avid motorsports fan, and he has been talking about "dragging" me to at least ONE race, I thought perhaps the Grand-daddy of all races would be the perfect introduction.
Actually, Greg and I first experienced the flavor of racing when we were dating, some 30 years ago, so I guess you could say that racing is "in our blood," to a degree, also. At any rate, we figured that, of all the neat opportunities we tell you folks about 6 times a year, someday Workamping at a racing venue would be high on our list, and we suspected Indy might be very near the top of the list. So, we set out for Indianapolis, to see for ourselves just how this might work.
Workampers are becoming a vital part of the landscape during the weeks leading up to the Indy 500, as well as the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in August, and the Formula One race in September. Handling duties ranging from parking campers to selling tickets, Workampers are embracing a world of new experiences at IMS, and IMS is embracing Workampers.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway began recruiting Workampers in 1999. According to Katrina Black, Peggy Swalls, Vice President of Administration, came to me and said, "We need help!" She turned to Workamper News, and the motorsports page on workamper.com for assistance. Several Workampers answered the call, including Mel and Jane Hunter, and Butch and Marty Bland, all of Columbus, Indiana; Sheila and Ken Bailey, of Leesburg, Florida; Fred and Gloria Hartman, of Logansport, Indiana, Dave and Carol Seibert, of Rogers, Arkansas; full-timers Louis and Lora Desandre, Tim and Sherry Smith of Temple, Georgia, and Dan and Sue Moynahan, of California. For the 86th running of the Indy 500 on May 26, 2002, Katrina estimates that 43 Workampers were on staff – and she could use more!
The one thing that all of the Workampers we spoke with will agree on is that Workamping at Indy is fun, and they love experiencing the people. To a person, all agreed that the IMS staff is fantastic to work for, and treats them very well. Most, if not all, said that they found the Formula One race to be their favorite, because of the international flavor and the diverse and interesting crowd.
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| Part of the Workamper Crew at IMS, (L to R): Mel & Jane Hunter, Butch & Marty Bland, and Sheila & Ken Bailey. |
With a crowd of some 250,000, it is the smallest of the three races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indy 500, with over 400,000 people in attendance, ranks as the largest single-day event in the world. And believe me, that is a LOT of people, requiring a lot of services — which is where Workampers come in!
We had met Ken and Sheila Bailey, who homebase in Florida, last January, when they represented IMS at the Workamper Job Fair in Tampa. Our first stop was at their gate, where they greet and park visitors and campers. Ken was dressed in rain gear and knee-high rubber boots this cloudy day, as he was parking campers in a very wet grassy area nearby. Workampers Mel and Jane Hunter and Butch and Marty Bland, all of Columbus, Indiana, arrived shortly by golf cart, fresh from an early morning trash collection in one of the adjacent RV lots. Their ready smiles and enthusiastic recanting of their adventures over the month of May were proof that even trash pickup could be a fun experience in the right atmosphere. Their responsibilities also included directing traffic, selling parking passes, and on race-day, actually collecting tickets and parking visitors. Laughingly, these six happy Workampers refer to themselves as the IMS "test group" and boast of "seniority!"
Of this group, only the Hunters have other Workamping experience, having volunteered for 2 winters at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. They plan to return there this winter. Classifying themselves as "huge NASCAR fans," the Hunters find Indy a perfect fit for themselves. Butch and Marty Bland, new to Workamping, have a background in racing, with Butch running late-models on short tracks in Kentucky and Ohio. They have recently purchased a new Damon Ultrasport, and their first night spent in it was at the Indy track. Both couples hope to do more Workamping in the future, and to return to Indy. "We recommend Indy to all Workampers, but just don’t take our jobs!" they all say.
Citing the great working conditions and the wonderful staff, these Workampers say they enjoy the different crowds at each race. As Butch put it, "You make a lot of friends, you meet a lot of very interesting people, and you have a lot of fun. Each race has its own flavor." The couples raved about how good the IMS program is, providing them with great working conditions, and neat perks, such as a badge which, in addition to its $100 face value, gets them into the garage area and the pit area, and "basically anywhere you want to go, except the golf course!" (There is an 18-hole course situated just outside the track and overlapping for a few holes into the infield.)
Ken and Sheila Bailey only work Indy, preferring short-term assignments such as these 3 annual races, peppered with visits to friends and family in between events. They, too, recommend Indy for other Workampers. As Sheila put it, "A lot of our Workampers are in other departments, and all of those department heads have come to Katrina and thanked her for sharing Workampers with them!"
The Baileys were one of 2 couples we met who didn’t have "racing blood." Ken was a turn-around accountant, taking failing businesses and helping them make a profit. Sheila owned a music store and then sold nursing home insurance, before settling in for 10 years at Disney in costuming, making fur bodies and fur body parts for the characters. They return to Indy each year for the people and the camaraderie with other Workampers.
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Fred & Gloria Hartman visit with Workamper News publisher, Debbie Robus, while parking campers at IMS, just across the street from
the front stretch grandstand. |
Fred and Gloria Hartman, of Logans-port, Indiana, work a pre-paid lot on Georgetown street, adjacent to the main stretch of the race track. Known as the "party lot," this area houses not only RVers who are long-time race attendees, but also some year-round residents. The Hartmans echoed the sentiments of fellow Workampers with regard to working conditions and the fun of meeting the people. In addition to their duties as department heads for this lot, they also take tickets elsewhere within the track, and Fred noted that the hours are flexible, with plenty of time off. They particularly enjoy watching the crowds during Formula One, with a wide variety of international flags evident, and people dressing in the colors of their individual homelands. Since the Hartmans are still caring for Fred’s elderly mother, they have no immediate plans to Workamp other places, but they hope that someday they can be full-timers – always stopping at Indy in the summers, of course! Fred also noted that they often get to rub elbows with celebrities, mentioning that A.J. Foyt’s crew was staying in his lot. Another Workamper mentioned meeting "Little Al" Unser the day before.
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| Workampers Dave & Carol Siebert come from Rogers, Arkansas, just to spend the week of the Indy 500 parking RVers. |
For David and Carol Siebert, of Rogers, Arkansas, Indy is all about the people. They work an RV lot on Georgetown Street, also, and Carol says that people who enjoy racing and meeting people should enjoy working at Indy. Semi-retired and still involved in drag racing themselves, the Sieberts come only for the week of the Indy 500, driving more than 10 hours in their Itasca motorhome, just to spend a few days parking folks prior to the race. They mentioned the passes to the Indy museum and other points of interest to racing fans as perks of the job and reasons for Workampers to consider this venue.
Lora Desandre grew up in Indianapolis, then moved away for 30 years. She and her husband, Louis, have been full-timers for 13 years. With a career as antique dealers, and still "very much involved" in antiquing, the DeSandres have Workamped in several venues for over 10 years, from Connecticut to Virginia to Florida, and points in between. They found the Indy raceway to be a great way to return to Indianapolis and attend the race that Lora missed seeing as a child.
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| Tim and Sherry Smith, and Lora and Louis DeSandre find that meeting prople is one of the biggest perks of Workamping at IMS. |
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Tim and Sherry Smith, the youngest of the Workampers we met, find that Workamping at the races is a way for Tim to satisfy and afford his desire to attend the races, and Sherry enjoys spending time with Tim and traveling. Sherry took vacation time from her job as a software developer for a telephone company to fly to Indianapolis and meet Tim, who drove their Winnebago Adventurer up from Temple, Georgia, earlier. The couple plans to drive home together, incorporating a vacation/visit with family and friends along the way. Tim also Workamps at Talladega Speedway in Alabama, where he has Workamped for 5 races. Both say they love the people, particularly the Formula One crowd. For them, the downside is the long distance from home. The Smiths hope to eventually take longer Workamping trips from time to time, but for now, they are enjoying the short stints at race tracks such as Indy and Talladega, and while Sherry probably won’t make it to the Brickyard 400 in August, they both eagerly agreed they would be returning for Formula One later this year.
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| Workamper Dan Moynahan, of California, directs traffic near the entrance to Gasoline Alley, inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. |
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We were unable to visit with Dan Moynahan, as he was busy working a shift inside the speedway directing traffic. However, his wife, Sue, said that he loves Workamping and Indy, which is why they drove all the way from California for this job. Confessing that Workamping is not personally her "cup of tea," Sue has heartily embraced Workampers, and her stories of evening socials and afternoons spent with fellow RVers who were resting between shifts were evidence that she enjoyed the camaraderie.
Katrina Black provided us with an excellent tour of the facilities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and her familiarity with the Workampers – remembering countless names, faces, home-bases, etc. – gave us every reason to believe what the Workampers said about the great working conditions. As coordinator at IMS for the last 4 years, Katrina was previously involved in volunteer activities at the track during the 6 years her daughter participated as part of a band program. She noted that IMS has utilized Workampers for 3 years this September, and more help is needed.
"We have several different departments with different needs," she stated. "Some may only require 6 to 12 Workampers, where others may need 50+." As is the case in many companies, Katrina cites communication as a difficulty. "I know Workampers need to plan further in the future than most of us schedule," she explains. She added that she felt they might have lost some potential Workampers who signed on during the Job Fair in Tampa last January, because they didn’t get information soon enough to plan for a trip to Indy.
Workampers at IMS are assigned to positions in food and beverage, merchandising, safety, parking, and gate ticket sales. Each department has a different pay scale. Additional perks include a free place to park your RV for dry camping, (water truck and pump-out services are available). Workampers also receive an employee badge that allows them admission to the track for all pre-race events and admission to the infield for the race itself.
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| IMS Coordinator, Katrina Black, visits with Marty Bland and Jane Hunter the day before the Indy 500. |
All Workampers park on IMS grounds. Shaded parking, preferential parking spots, etc., depend on the area in which you are placed, although parking is always close to the track. Work schedules vary. In May, 2 weeks to 1 month may be required. For the Brickyard 400 in August, and the Formula One in September, Workampers should plan to be at the track no later than the Wednesday before each event. Hours vary according to the department, although Katrina says she suspects 8 hours would be the minimum for all departments. For instance, shift length for parking positions will be at least 8 hours. Other department needs vary, such as shift length, whether or not you have to stand during the working period, etc. Katrina notes that, "We are in need of people to work the ‘graveyard’ shift – 11 p.m. to 7 a.m." While Workampers are welcome to come for all 3 races each summer, it is possible to work only one or 2 races, depending on individual schedules and your preference for a particular type of racing, i.e. NASCAR vs. open wheel.
We asked the Workampers for any negative aspects of their jobs at IMS, but none were offered… and gauging from their smiling faces, we’d bet they were being pretty honest. The bottom line is that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is fun – for spectators AND for Workampers. If you’d like to get in on the action, contact Katrina Black at 800-822-4639, or e-mail Kblack@Brickyard.com You can also write to Katrina at 4790 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, IN 46222.
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| NASCAR Road Warriors. . .Working America’s Premier Motorsports Series |
| by Arline Chandler |
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The steady slap of rubber against America’s hard-surfaced interstates marks life’s rhythm for the Kreisher family—Bill and Linda, their son Scott, and daughter-in-law, Denise. Logging more than 35,000 miles in less than a year traveling to major metro areas and smaller rural towns where NASCAR roared to a start, the foursome sells and rents racing scanners for Race-Scan Communications, Inc. Racing scanners are hand-held electronic devices resembling a cordless or cell telephone. With a scanner, headset, and other accessories, fans can listen to comments and conversations of drivers, crew chiefs, spotters, and race officials throughout the event. Provided the race is being carried on radio and TV, spectators can also tune in to broadcasts. Bill Kreisher notes that his family’s schedule is fast-paced and the work is hard. "This is not the Workamper job for everyone," the retired police detective says. "However, there are many jobs related to racing that are even more strenuous. And many that are very laid back and better suited to ‘retirement’ type work."
Both natives of Pennsylvania, Bill and Linda moved with their infant son, Scott, to California in 1973. While Bill built a career with Burbank’s police department, Linda worked in the personnel department of a medical electronics firm in Arleta. Her accounting and office experience comes in handy with paperwork for their job with Race-Scan. After retirement, the Kreishers returned to Pennsylvania to be near extended family. Scott decided to try life in Pennsylvania before making a decision on his future. His wife, Denise, a California native, "…followed her heart." The family expanded a craft business into the wholesale market. They exhibited at trade shows on the East Coast and developed a retail clientele at larger craft shows. Under the name, "My Country Heart," the Kreishers shipped products to 43 states plus Japan, England, Germany and Brazil. "For several years, Linda and I had considered Workamping," Bill says. "We concluded that it was time to stop talking and do it!" By 1999, they reduced the number of craft shows on their schedule. During that summer, they joined Scott and Denise in seasonal positions at a local amusement park.
In December, Bill searched the internet and found the Race-Scan position on the Workamper News Hotline. He and Linda sent off resumés. In less than 24 hours, the couple heard from the company’s owner, Bill Garrett. They traveled to Johnson City, Tennessee, for an interview. "During the first meeting, we were comfortable enough to commit for the 2000 NASCAR season," Bill says. Scott and Denise had been looking into positions involving show-cars or racing promotions. Their January vacation to Disney World coincided with the Indy Racing League (IRL). Bill Garrett met with the younger Kreishers and invited them to try out the IRL race. Afterward, they worked with Bill and Linda on the trailer at Daytona for 12 days. Next, the four Kreishers headed to Las Vegas. Shortly after, Scott and Denise signed on for the remainder of the season.
During most weeks, the Kreishers arrive back at the company’s shop in Tennessee on Monday to load Race-Scan’s trailer with new inventory. They sleep overnight in a local motel, pick up needed supplies, and do laundry. "We arrive at the next race on Wednesday night," Bill says, describing their week’s schedule. "Staging and parking, which can take into the evening depending on the location and number of rigs to situate, happens on Thursday morning." Tracks open for business as early as Thursday afternoon, and no later than Friday morning at 9:00. In the meantime, the Kreishers ready their trailer for sales. Flags and marquees fly. Displays move to the shelves. Computers log on. Saturday’s business day begins at 8:00, while Sunday’s starts an hour earlier. "Depending on our hotel location and local race traffic, we arrive at the track an hour before opening time," Linda states. Although the Kreishers are experienced RVers, their inventory travels in a company trailer pulled by a dually truck. "A vehicle that includes a compact motorhome type living area would allow us greater travel flexibility," Bill says, explaining that lodging with parking for the dually and a 43 foot trailer is difficult to find. He goes on to say that long hauls, such as their three-day trip from Fontana, California, to Richmond, Virginia, would be easier if two people slept while two others drove.
Bill notes that many of their race track customers are first time buyers of scanners and headsets, and require painstaking assistance when making a purchase. "We’ve all worked hard learning about our products and the best methods of teaching someone how to use them," he continues, adding that they also rent equipment. During the races, the Kreishers take an inventory to determine which products are needed for the next event. After the race, rentals must be returned within one hour. Then the setting-up process reverses. Everything is packed away and readied for travel. Sales reports and sales tax totals are tallied. Since trailers park nose to tail, they wait a turn to hook up and pull out. Then they take off to replenish stock in Tennessee or to the next race, whichever their schedule demands.
The common denominator for the Kreishers is the fans. "NASCAR racing is more than a sporting event," Bill says. "Most race tracks host an attendance larger than the Super Bowl. The number of people involved is mind staggering." Whether the event happens in Daytona Beach, Orlando, Las Vegas, and metro areas of Atlanta, Richmond, Los Angeles, and Fort Worth, or in smaller towns like Martinsville, Darlington and Bristol, weather plays a major role. "We drove into a tornado in Fort Worth," Bill relates. "Physically, we were about 10 miles away, but I don’t need to ever be closer." He goes on to describe both rain and snow in Las Vegas. Traveling to their next destination in Atlanta, more snow in Arizona altered their route southward. Mud in Talladega, Alabama, challenged their patience, as well as their clean-up skills. "Regardless of the problems, each event comes together and the show goes on," Bill adds. "For fans and workers alike, when the race starts and the noise level rises to a deafening din, it all seems worth it."
"We’ve made some truly good friends," Bill continues. "When people talk about the NASCAR family, they really mean family. Everyone is helpful and willing to share information that makes traveling easier." Although the Kreishers admit their schedule is exhausting, they have less stress and fewer "jitters" since they are now returning to tracks for the second time. "We’ve all learned a great deal about being on the road full-time," Bill says. "We do enjoy our jobs." However, he emphasizes that their particular work is very different from the typical Workamping situation. "Since we do not travel in an RV, we miss the luxury of our own beds," he says. "And one downside at the tracks is the limited variety in food. With Linda’s grill and a cooker on board, it’s not unusual to smell pork and sauerkraut simmering. She’s made the Race-Scan trailer the place to get food during the races!"
Bill goes on, "Workampers should pay attention to the motorsports opportunities. We have not been to a single track where we would not consider the options advertised in Workamper News. "There are many great and fun positions in NASCAR," he sums up. "The work is hard for several days during the weekend. But the experiences are long remembered."
If you would like to visit with the Kreishers, E-mail them at bkreishe@ptd.net.
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| Flagging Down a New Career |
| by Arline Chandler |
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 Roller skating sweethearts and marriage partners over four decades, Gary and Betty Thomas started RVing back in 1969. Enthusiastic about camping and travel, the couple tried out six rigs from small campers to motorhomes before settling full-time into their 35-foot Komfort fifth-wheel. Two years prior to Betty's 1987 retirement from Pacific Bell, a California phone company, Gary secretly fantasized about living on the road. "It took me until 1991 to work up the courage to reveal to Betty my dream. Surprisingly, she said, 'Why didn't you say? We could have done this sooner!'" To experiment with the lifestyle, the Thomases packed up their Corvette and took a month-long auto trip all over the country.
Quickly, they realized that seeing America takes longer than a month. And living out of a suitcase from motel to motel left them exhausted. "But we knew nothing about full-time living in an RV," Betty adds. The Thomases returned home to seriously plan over the next three years for financial stability and their flight of fancy. Following college and a stint in the U.S. Air Force, Gary had worked specifically in the ready-mix concrete field of the construction trade. While they imagined free-wheeling down the road, he finished up eight years in real estate and mortgage banking. Betty's early retirement pension with medical and dental benefits provided their monetary safety net.
By February 1994, they were set. Betty entered into her journal: "We think we're going to live in our fifth-wheel, travel full-time, and see our country." Describing themselves as "full-timing kids at ages 50 and 51," they traveled for six months as though on a vacation, following only one rule: Avoid interstates. "We like to see the towns," Betty adds. "It may take a little longer, but most of the time we're not in a hurry." "We didn't get bored, yet we knew if this was going to be our lifestyle, we needed to do something productive," Gary adds. While browsing through Trailer Life, he spotted the Workamper News ad. From California, he called the number and a voice on the other end of the line said, "Can I help you?" Gary said. "Where are you?" When editor Debbie Robus answered, "Heber Springs, Arkansas," an astounded Gary replied: "For goodness sakes! That's where I graduated high school!"
When they received their first issue, Gary remembers that it was like the Sears catalog for RVing. They decided they wanted to go to Minnesota, homeplace of Betty's mother, who had a terminal illness. They took her along for the trip, creating good memories of her final days. "We've had ten Workamping assignments. Never had a bad one, never left early, and have always been asked to return. We love it!" Gary states. "We like staying in an area for an extended period of time. Although we do the 'tourist' things, we get the local newspaper and find out where the townspeople eat and what they do." In Santa Fe, Gary and Betty annually meet up with Betty's full-timing brother and sister-in-law, Don and Lee Travis. While catching up on family news, the couples campground host in Rancheros De Santa Fe, a Good Sam park billed as Santa Fe's most scenic. Betty enjoys working in the gift shop and Gary does outside maintenance in the park. Over the past seasons, he has built two camping cabins. Both of them greet campers at the desk and help them check in or buy grocery items from the store.
"At Rancheros De Santa Fe, the emphasis is on helping the camper," Betty explains. "I put together information on the local restaurants, city tours and other attractions." With a laugh, Gary interjects that in the best interest of the campers, they personally patronized 53 restaurants during their last assignment. The Travises have joined the Thomases in Workamping assignments at Island RV in Port Aransas, Texas and at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, which is a Monterey County Park in California. At the County Park in Monterey, Gary and Betty and Don and Lee volunteered in the campground for the past four winters.
 As a side adventure, the two couples were asked to do flagging for sports racing at the Laguna Seca Raceway. "That means we get to wear the white clothes and run the flags," Gary interjects. "Although we didn't know anything about racing, we'll try anything," Betty continues, explaining that their training for the correct way to make calls was mostly "…catch as catch can." She adds that yellow is the flag that sends messages to the racer: Do not pass, slow down, or proceed with caution. Any passes under a yellow flag are reported over the radio to the Course Marshall and could be cause for disciplinary action. Blue flags signal passing. A white flag indicates a slow vehicle or an emergency vehicle is on the course. A black flag calls spin-outs or noise violations and directs drivers to the pits. "A red flag is rarely used," Gary says, picking up the description of proper flags for each incident. "In all, there are about 10 flags but the yellow, blue and white are most common for corner workers. Of course, there's the black and white checkered flag, which is probably the most commonly seen flag and is utilized at the 'start/finish line.'"
 In the 1999 and 2000 season, the Thomases flagged for various organizations, including motorcycles, vintage and sports cars, very fast go-carts, Indy lites, the Skip Barber Racing School, and plain "wannabe" racing clubs. Noting they are called "corner workers" because of the numbered turns where they stand to flag the racing vehicles, Betty describes one weekend of flagging for the Porsche Club at Buttonwillow, which is a race track near Bakersfield,California. "The track at Buttonwillow is very open and flat and the "corners" consist of concrete bunkers surrounded by rubber tires," she says. "You feel the necessity to run for cover when there's an incident at your corner." Indeed, Betty experienced an incident when a car, enveloped in a huge billowing cloud of dust, spun out, and headed straight at her. The car stopped only yards from her "bunker." "On the other hand," she says, "Laguna Seca is a world class road course; hilly and curvy with concrete "K" walls between the flagger and the track. And, of course, the scenery on Monterey Peninsula is awesome." Gary and Betty have been asked to join the National Auto Sport Association (NASA), which they did, and the US Auto Racing Marshals (USARM), which they plan to do. At times, the Workampers trade off with other flaggers to run the sound booth, man fuel pumps, or time laps. Betty admits that flagging is exhausting. Some days, the fog rolls over the Peninsula and the wind grows frigid. She typically layers her clothing. But days when the sky is cobalt blue, the breezes mild, and the only incident requiring a yellow flag is two geese waddling into the racing cars' path make up for all the shivers in a rain shower. "When we talk to people about 'working the corners,' that racing phraseology indicates that we've discovered an exciting new occupation!" she sums up. |
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| On the Road With Show-car Ambassadors |
| by Arline Chandler |
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 "If anybody had ever told me I'd be driving any kind of rig in five or six lanes of traffic, I would have said they were crazy!" states Tom Welborn, a Batesville, Arkansas, native with a 40-year residency in Heber Springs, Arkansas.
Yet smack in the middle of his sixth decade, Tom and his wife, Anna Lee, embarked on an adventuresome retirement career as transport drivers for Bill Davis Racing, pulling the number 22 Winston Cup show car to NASCAR races and scheduled events. In an FL50 Series Freightliner truck, dubbed a "baby Freightliner" by its owner, Bill Davis, the Welborns cruise America's interstates and zip through major cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego, California, the Dallas-Fort Worth complex, and South Bend, Indiana.
Riding on air suspension seats high above highway traffic, Tom sets the cruise control to clip off 500 miles a day in luxury comparable to a four door limousine. Under the hood, a Caterpillar engine powers a seven-speed manual transmission. A spacious back seat doubles as closet space for "working clothes," black slacks and bright pullover shirts personalized with their sponsor's logo, Caterpillar or Siemen's Electric. In a pinch, the seat folds down into a bunk.
"It's our home away from home," Anna Lee states, explaining that she and Tom spend daytime hours side by side in the truck, but sleep in motels. She notes that their trips are sometimes three days, but have been as long as three weeks.
Although Tom spent a working lifetime driving dump and bob trucks, he admits he never towed a 40-foot rig. In reference to a matching trailer big enough to haul the show car, Anna Lee reminds, "Remember what's behind you!"
In February 1999, the Welborns picked up the truck, trailer, and car in High Point, North Carolina, and barely had time to return to Heber Springs, sleep in their own bed, and pack for their assignment at a large annual farm show in Tulare, California. "We actually knew nothing about our roles," Anna Lee says with a laugh.
 Tom agrees that their first event was an eye-opening experience, describing how he pulled the show car into the Caterpillar tent and set to work polishing its hood and sides to a mirrored shine. For the next three days, the Welborns watched the retired racer like a sleeping grandchild.
"We've been surprised at the attention the car draws and the excitement of people who meet us on the parking lot when we pull in," Anna Lee says.
Once the car, truck, and trailer are buffed to a high gloss, Tom and Anna Lee stand around, visit with people, and answer questions such as: "Does this car run? Does it have an engine? How much gas does it hold? Does Ward Burton drive this car? How fast will it go?"
Tom answers most of the questions. "Winston Cup is the top-of-the-line category in stock car racing," he explains to those not grounded in NASCAR. "In NASCAR competition, driver Ward Burton races the number 22 car, which is almost the exact replica of the retired yellow and black "Cat" car."
Once a spectator asked Anna Lee if the show car was naturally aspirated or fuel injected. In her sweet Southern drawl, she replied, "Just a moment and I'll get my husband to answer that for you."
Mostly, the Arkansas lady mills among people in a NASCAR hospitality tent or at a sponsor's dealership. The one question she answers without hesitation is: "Do you drive the race car?"
"Questions typically turn to how we got our 'fun' jobs," Anna Lee continues. "In our case, Tom's sister, Gail, is a partner with her husband in Bill Davis Racing. For several years, she had asked Tom to pull one of their show cars cross-country. The timing of our total retirement in 1999 made it possible.
"The job is fun. Tom had never traveled west of Oklahoma City so we're seeing new country. We've had the opportunity to see some family and friends along the way, visit a museum or two, and go to Palo Duro Canyon in West Texas.
"On Easter Sunday, we were the only ones who drove up to Amarillo's First Baptist Church in a black Freightliner truck!" she goes on. "And the people we're meeting make the whole job worthwhile." Although most of their travels are west of the Mississippi, the Welborns have summer dates at a Caterpillar Logistics Show in Joliet, Illinois. They return home for one day before heading for Mississippi's Gulf Coast.
During the winter months, the couple towed the famous "Cat" car to the 39th Calvacade of Wheels at Notre Dame University in Indiana, an exhibition for Winston Cup racers. Displaying the attention-getting truck and trailer in front of the Joyce Center on campus, the number 22 car drew its share of fans inside at the University's hockey rink. "We didn't have ice on the floor, but it snowed outside," Tom recalls.
After their dates at Notre Dame, Tom and Anna Lee towed the rig to Kansas City and set up to represent Siemen Electric at a trade show in the American Royal Complex. "Most of our dates are in cities," Tom continues. "With directions from a contact person at each event, we have no problems maneuvering through traffic to the site."
"But it's more work than we anticipated," he interjects. With no ebb in enthusiasm, the trim retiree figures up three hours of cleaning and polishing the truck, car, and trailer prior to a show, eight hours straight of talking to people, and driving 1500 hundred miles in three consecutive days.
 As for sleeping late in retirement? The Welborns had to be at one California track at 4:45 a.m. A cold, damp rain ushered in their pre-dawn arrival at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas.
Except at the Texas race, where accommodations are snapped up months in advance, Tom and Anna Lee select their own motels. "Sometimes, we're lucky to find something within 30 miles of a race track or dealership," Tom adds, noting that they have to consider adequate parking for the long rig. "We don't drive into just any Days Inn or McDonalds!"
The racing company arranged for their hotel in Fort Worth and advised the Welborns to pack up and load the car into the trailer after the last invited guest of Caterpillar, Siemens, and Bill Davis left the hospitality tent. Due to an anticipated four-hour wait in traffic, they pulled the rig to their overnight accommodations and watched the Texas Motor Speedway race on television.
Tom says most trips are scheduled well in advance. "There's no pattern to our travel and time at home," he states. "Although we've had only one or two trips to materialize within a few days, we have to be ready. Just because we have a week at home, we can't take off on a vacation."
The former auto parts store manager's connection with trucks and vehicle components throughout his working days facilitate his troubleshooting the mechanisms of their wheeled charges. On one trip to California, Tom discovered the air bags on the back of the big truck would not fill to make unhitching the trailer easier. Scrapping their plans to spend a free afternoon at a mall, the Welborns waited in a Freightline service garage while the mechanics replaced a rod that had worked lose on the highway. Anna Lee curled up in the truck with a book and Tom kicked tires on the big tractors, talked to drivers, and answered questions from some racing fans.
Acknowledging that he could not manage the job without his wife, Tom credits Anna Lee as a full-fledged partner in their newfound adventures. Both have to be relatively fit to clean and polish fingerprints and mud from the vehicles' exteriors. Anna Lee directs when Tom loads and unloads the race car. And just like at home, she does laundry when their travel extends into weeks.
Anna Lee has learned to read road maps and highway signs. She figures distance between cities. "But the best thing about the job is the 24 hours a day, seven days a week we're spending together," she adds, noting that their approach to retirement works only for couples who like each other--a lot.
Despite Tom's admission that climbing in and out the window of the race car requires bending in places where his body protests, he confesses the routine of driving, parking, and exhibiting the racing auto has become easier in the past two months. "After we've been at home a few days, I'm ready to get back on the road," he says, declaring amazement at his newfound confidence for driving in traffic.
At certain events, the Welborns convert a side of the trailer into an instant storefront for the tee-shirts, caps, and other racing mementos sold by Bill Davis Racing. Except for Tom's log book, Anna Lee does all the paper work related to their jobs, including the inventory and sales of the souvenirs.
In their road schedule, the Welborns allow time for the unexpected. But even their best laid plans screeched to a standstill when high winds and a sand storm closed the highway from California to Deming, New Mexico. Along with about 1,000 other tractor-trailer rigs, motorhomes, and automobiles, Tom and Anna Lee waited out the storm at Lordsburg. Just before they nabbed the last motel room in the town, Anna Lee envisioned their first night on the fold-down bunk in the truck's backseat.
Prepared to settle in for up to three days, Tom says, "When we got up the next morning, the streets looked like a ghost town. The highway had opened in the night, and almost everyone had pulled out!"
With a laugh, the Welborns say their adult children--and their almost grown-up grandchildren--envy their free-wheeling retirement job. "A neighbor looked over the rig and called us ambassadors," Anna Lee relates, affirming that they are indeed representing Bill Davis Racing, Caterpillar, and Siemens Electric.
"One of the young men at our church found out what we're doing and said, 'You are my heroes,'" she continues. "Sometimes in the thick of traffic, we feel more like road warriors.
"When I retired as a bank teller, someone asked what we were going to do," Anna Lee recalls. "I answered that I was ready for new challenges, travel, and spending more time with family. Never did I think the travel would involve pulling a race car down the highway!"
Editor's note: As part of our new motorsports program, we are scouting for "show-car" jobs and other similar opportunities. However, as was the case with the Welborns, these jobs are rarely advertised to the general public. If you are interested in motorsports jobs, I suggest you enter the Workamper Referral System (or update your entry) and specify your interest in motorsports on the form. We are in contact with the race teams, and we will pass your resumé on when appropriate. Remember, some of these jobs require a demanding travel schedule. It can be a lot of fun, but it's hard work too. |
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Dear Workamper News,
As a former IMSA car owner and builder, and a new full timer to the RV world, I commend you and your staff for this valuable web site and the manner of it's presentation. Your service to the community of the RV public at large and the motorsports industry deserves every good thing that comes your way.
Best Regards,
J. Huffer • Naples, Florida |
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Dear Fellow Workampers,
We have just come from an enjoyable month of Workamping and wanted to share our experience with you, in hopes that you, too, might find a new way to travel and earn money short-term. Our 5th-wheel is our home a little more than 9 months a year, which are spent traveling and visting friends, relatives and fellow Escapees. We have often thought about Workamping, however most paying positions require spending three to six months in one place. Our preference is to move more often.
 The answer for us came in an issue of Workamper News in an ad for Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). We called immediately and signed up for parking lot duty. And in May, we were at the track working the Indy 500. Our job was to sell tickets, check-in prepaid RV’s and cars, and direct them along the parking routes. While the ad stated that it is dry camping, all of the Workampers had electric, access to water and free honey wagon service. From our RV, we could see the top floor of the famous pagoda at the start-finish line. Other perks included tickets to the museum, a bus ride around the track and general admission tickets to the race. In the parking lots, when the race starts, you are finished with your job, and can go in to see the race.
We also had the opportunity to meet several drivers, watch the cars practice, and go in to the pits and garage area. We also met 1960 Indy 500 winner, Jim Rathmann and stood next to his winning car when they started the Offenhouser engine for a few minutes. This is not part of the Workamping package, but my wife wants me tell you that we were interviewed by the local CBS television station and were on the evening news. Well, 15 seconds of fame is 15 seconds better than none!
This was such an enjoyable experience that we have signed up to work the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in August and the Formula One race in September. We also plan to be back at the Indy 500 in 2002. It is fun, it gets you behind the scenes, camping is free, you earn a little extra money and you will not be bored. We would be happy to answer any questions that we can at ksbailey@pocketmail.com, or you can see the IMS help wanted ad at www.workamper.com/WorkamperNews/TWNMotorsports.cfm
From the Road...
Ken & Sheila Bailey • FL |
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