Tour of the Hilltowns Volunteer Jobs
The Tour of the Hilltowns is a classic New England road race, that has been around almost 25 years. Our club is well known for putting on this race, and participants travel from all over the United States and Canada to race OUR event. The race has always been run 100% by volunteers, which reflects the passion and interest of our club members and entire organization. That said, this large and complex of an event requires 40 or more volunteers. The main reason we need people out on the course and in race vehicles is for safety. The six to eight towns that we negotiate a permit from each year require us to have marshals at certain points on the route – but- even more important, we need volunteers to drive pace cars to clear the road ahead of the race. If we don’t have these assets, the race will be cancelled.
Here are the details of each volunteer job we ask for. Please, consider taking a half day to contribute to the road races in New England, and, helping your favorite club! We will provide detailed information before and on race day for your job.
- Race Course Sweep/Check-
- This is done the day before the race. You drive the course in your own car with a broom, shovel, and/or leaf blower. Look for excessive sand or debris, especially on the corners, and clear it out. Any hazards- get them off the course. We may also ask you to place directional signs. Plan on three to four hours for this task, and bring a lunch and water. Generally there is one other volunteer doing this, so you can work together. This is a great way to preview the course if you are racing.
- Required: your car, your broom, your shovels
- This is done the day before the race. You drive the course in your own car with a broom, shovel, and/or leaf blower. Look for excessive sand or debris, especially on the corners, and clear it out. Any hazards- get them off the course. We may also ask you to place directional signs. Plan on three to four hours for this task, and bring a lunch and water. Generally there is one other volunteer doing this, so you can work together. This is a great way to preview the course if you are racing.
- Parking
- You work with other parking volunteers to direct incoming race participants on where to park at the race venue. This is mostly common-sense on where we tell y0u parking is available, and directing the traffic in and/or out. Plan on two to three hours. This is a job that can be done if you are also racing.
- Required: just you being able to get to the race venue!
- You work with other parking volunteers to direct incoming race participants on where to park at the race venue. This is mostly common-sense on where we tell y0u parking is available, and directing the traffic in and/or out. Plan on two to three hours. This is a job that can be done if you are also racing.
- Registration
- You work with our registration coordinator to check in racers as they arrive and hand them their race bib numbers. This is a great job to meet and talk to participants. You can do this one if you are also racing– just be in touch with us as to what category. Plan on one to two hours.
- Required: just you being able to get to the race venue!
- You work with our registration coordinator to check in racers as they arrive and hand them their race bib numbers. This is a great job to meet and talk to participants. You can do this one if you are also racing– just be in touch with us as to what category. Plan on one to two hours.
- Corner Marshal
- This is one of the most important jobs that makes it a safe race. You will need to drive to an intersection or location on the race course. Once there, you will be equipped with a flag and race radio. Your job is to alert the oncoming racers to a turn or hazard. You will need to shout and wave your flag. You may have to stop oncoming traffic in rare cases, as well as assist with an emergency. Major intersections will have police and you may work with them. This is a great opportunity to watch the entire race and contribute your time to a great club. Plan on up to four hours.
- Required: your must be able to get to the location assigned to you on the course- so you need your car.
- This is one of the most important jobs that makes it a safe race. You will need to drive to an intersection or location on the race course. Once there, you will be equipped with a flag and race radio. Your job is to alert the oncoming racers to a turn or hazard. You will need to shout and wave your flag. You may have to stop oncoming traffic in rare cases, as well as assist with an emergency. Major intersections will have police and you may work with them. This is a great opportunity to watch the entire race and contribute your time to a great club. Plan on up to four hours.
- Pace Car Driver
- This is first or second most important to the safety of the race. We need pace cars in front of the racers to clear the road. This is another job that if not filled, may cancel the race. You will drive your car in the front of the bike race. You will have a radio to be in touch with the officials and other fields. You will need to use your horn at intersections to announce the race is coming through. You will alert oncoming traffic to slow down. Time commitment varies depending on race field- at least three hours.
- Required: you need your own car with a full tank of gas
- This is first or second most important to the safety of the race. We need pace cars in front of the racers to clear the road. This is another job that if not filled, may cancel the race. You will drive your car in the front of the bike race. You will have a radio to be in touch with the officials and other fields. You will need to use your horn at intersections to announce the race is coming through. You will alert oncoming traffic to slow down. Time commitment varies depending on race field- at least three hours.
- Follow Car Driver
- You drive your car behind the race field. You likely will have a USAC official riding with you, and you should follow their instructions. You may be carrying spare wheels with you and may need to stop to offer assistance, or for a medical incident. Time commitment varies depending on race field- at least three hours.
- Required: you need your own car with a full tank of gas
- You drive your car behind the race field. You likely will have a USAC official riding with you, and you should follow their instructions. You may be carrying spare wheels with you and may need to stop to offer assistance, or for a medical incident. Time commitment varies depending on race field- at least three hours.
- Sweep Wagon
- You drive your car on the course behind the last race field. Pick up trash, signs, and any participants that had mishaps and decided to not finish. Plan on at least two hours.
- Required: you need your own car or (preferably) a SUV/Van with a bike rack, and a full tank of gas.
- You drive your car on the course behind the last race field. Pick up trash, signs, and any participants that had mishaps and decided to not finish. Plan on at least two hours.
