From: jpoller@novell.com (Contents may have settled during Shipping)
Subject: Re: SCCA flagging, whites
Organization: The Electoral Collage
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 15:50:20 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.034846.10599@nntpd.lkg.dec.com> mcculley@racy.zko.dec.com (Bruce McCulley) writes:
 
 ON proper equipment for Flagging
=> 
=> DITTO!
=> 
=> > White shirts - Tshirts are fine. At some pro races you get them. As
=> >	       long as there isn't a lot of yellow on them you're ok.
=> 
=> I'll quibble that anything with short sleeves is *NOT* fine.
=> 
=> At least once or twice, long sleeves have saved me from flash burns or
=> scalds.  Even light cotton (recycled dress shirts) sleeves will protect
=> somewhat from flash burns, not quite so much against steam but even
=> milliseconds may give you the chance to react enough to keep
=> first-degree burns from being second-degree!  (That's the voice of
=> experience speaking, heed it!!!!)

AMEN

=> 
=> Also, avoid synthetic materials.  There's nothing that ruins your
=> day quite like having molten burning polyester stuck to your skin...

AMEN
=> 
=> > 2 pr Gym Shoes - for when 1 pair gets wet
=> 
=> Careful about the gym or tennis shoes, they may not protect your feet as
=> well against some of the really adverse worst case scenarios.  Another
=> alternative to consider would be steel toed work shoes or boots.

I started with tennis shoes, but after having 2 440's and an FA run
over my feet in one day, I went to Sears, and got a steel toed work
boot for $25.  Good investment.

If you are in the NE, or anywhere that is cold and wet, make sure you
use Sno-Pruf or other wax type waterproofer.  Otherwise suffer the
very cold toe syndrome.  Having a spare set of socks to change into at
lunch time is usually nice on wet days (if you don't have Sno-Pruf.)

=> > Rain Suit (top and bottoms) - Kmart $4.97 clear ones work fine. Buy 2
=> 
=> buy more than two.  Consider these consumables, they have a very limited
=> life once first used.  It seems the UV degrades them, or the
=> plasticizers outgas from the vinyl, or something.  Carry several, you'll
=> be popular with less well-equipped station mates.
=> 
Again for the North East, buy one that is an X X X X X LLLL (i.e.,
very damn big).  Use it on top of your down coat.  Makes a big
difference.

=> > GCR'S
=> 
=> aw, come on!  Who's got time to practice law on station?
=> 
=> If you do, you should be a Steward's Helper In Training (referred to by
=> acronym :-).

NEVER ever worry about GCRs.  Leave that to the people with
experience.  You'll be spending to much time worrying about your own
butt to be worrying about the guy on track not having an SCCA Club
Racing Decal.
=> 
=> > Scanner
=> 
=> I believe NER has banned scanners from station, because they were
=> distracting folks from the job at hand.  I am not absolutely certain of
=> this, but I know it was at least discussed as a problem.

WDCR did not, and I believe still allows scanners.  They usually
loan one to a beginner with his team-mate so that the beginner can get
used to the radio chatter (since they will rotate to Comm.)  Note that
this is innefective in SFR and some of the Ohio tracks where they use
land lines.
=> 
=> For the same reason, I am very much against cameras on station.
AMEN

=> 
=> Don't forget sunglasses (not sure if Kevin listed them or not).

Sunglasses, and if you don't normally wear glasses, a pair of safety
glasses.  Invest wisely, for you eyes are precious.  
I can't begin to count the number of times I have been hit in the
glasses by rubber, and rocks.

JLP
=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%=%
Lex Talionis, 'To The Pain'