Volunteer with SOVREN! Watch classic Porsches, MGs, Alfas, Lolas, and other historic cars right from the paddock! Be part of one of the region’s most beloved racing events.
There’s no event quite like SOVREN Pacific Northwest Historics, where gorgeous classic cars do what they were meant to do: stretch out with the pedal to the floor at Pacific Raceways. The event is a delight for classic car lovers and all kinds of motorsport fans. And here’s more good news: you can be part of it.
SOVREN needs you!
SOVREN (the Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts) needs volunteers for the region’s biggest vintage road race. There are lots of jobs requiring no experience, waiting for fans like you. The jobs include:
- Ticket-takers
- Paddock Crowd Control
- Track Crossing Monitors
- Shuttle Drivers
- Car Corral Check-in/Parking Assistance
All in all, SOVREN needs some 100 volunteers to make the event go smoothly and safely. Minimum age for volunteers is 16, so if you know (or if you are) a car-loving high-schooler, Pacific Raceways is where you need to be during the July 4th weekend. But note that SOVREN volunteers are typically of all ages and backgrounds. You don’t need any motorsport experience.
The cars are the stars
These magnificent machines are fun to see in a museum or car show, but nothing compares with seeing and hearing them on the track, competing in high-level racing.
Mention F1, and you’re talking about Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. In vintage racing, the big stars are Lotus Super 7s, Austin Healy Sprites, Alfa Spyders, E-type Jaguars, 1960s Corvettes, BMW M3s, and other legendary sports cars and open-wheel treasures.
The event includes an all-make car corral with parade laps. Volunteers and spectators can view a truly magnificent array of classic race cars, and also see them on the track. For anyone nostalgic about the halcyon days of racing, it doesn’t get any better than this!
Volunteering has its perks
Volunteers at the event get more than a smile and a pat on the back—they enjoy the run of the paddock, where they can watch the races and chat with the drivers (who love to talk about their cars). The atmosphere at the Historics is unlike most racing events, where drivers and cars are kept at a distance from fans. Spectators and volunteers are free to walk up and get a close-up look at those amazing cars. “During a race weekend, I see ten or fifteen children trying on a race car for size,” says James Buskirk, SOVREN Vice President.
More info on volunteering for SOVREN here.
One 4-hour shift = 3 days of racing excitement
The minimum commitment for volunteering is 4 hours. That’s a morning or afternoon shift on any of the 3 days of the event. Of course, many volunteers like to work full days or even all weekend. But one 4-hour shift gets you free admission for all 3 days of the event. Before and after your shift, volunteers are free to tour the paddock and watch the races.
Extras for volunteers
Volunteers will get a worker’s lunch on days they have a shift. They’ll also go home with a swag bag of souvenirs from the event. In addition, there will be a worker social at the end of the three days, so volunteers can meet others who share their interest in cars and vintage racing, along with drivers and others in the sport.
Warning: vintage racing is addictive
The Historics are a three-day event, but the enthusiasm it generates can last a lifetime. Jeff Kerney, Competition Chair at SOVREN, notes that some volunteers ask to become flaggers at other SOVREN events. “Last year, three volunteers bought cars and are racing this year,” Kerney says. Whether or not you go that far, if you’re new to vintage racing, expect to fall in love with the sport.
Yes, you can race too. Here’s how.
Spectators and volunteers often see the parade of cars and think, “I can do that!” Well, you can, but you need to be a licensed race driver to race vintage cars, or any cars. Fortunately, you’re already in the right place to make it happen. ProFormance Racing School offers courses that will take you from a street driver to a fully-certified race driver.
It all starts with the One-Day High Performance Driving Experience, our famous introduction to the world of sport driving. Then you can move on to sport lapping, and when you feel ready, take our Two-Day Accredited Competition Race Licensing Course, which qualifies you to race with SOVREN and other sports car racing sanctioning bodies. Don’t worry—when you get your license, the Pacific Northwest Historics will be waiting for you!
Email now to volunteer!
Ready for some vintage racing excitement? Want to experience the region’s biggest vintage racing event close-up? Contact Jeff Kerney at ajkerney@comcast.net to volunteer with SOVREN and become part of the action!
Top photo credit: Bill Dolph
