The Southern Ohio Forest Rally takes place on June , 2025 with additional activities occurring on Wednesday and Thursday. You may volunteer for all three days or just one. Most positions are a full-day commitment, and stage crews will be in the woods all day.
DESCRIPTION OF VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
The following is a brief overview of the various types of volunteers needed at the Southern Ohio Forest Rally. Every volunteer is greatly appreciated by the drivers and the crews and they will certainly let you know it.
Registration – Registration workers sign in competitors and volunteers at rally headquarters starting Thursday afternoon. Registration sessions will be listed in the rally schedule. This is a good job for those with computer and clerical skills, who don’t want to go out in the woods.
Recce – mans a stage start location on Wednesday and Thursday to monitor competitors who will be driving the stages in normal vehicles and editing stage notes. This position requires an early morning start on Wednesday and Thursday.
Hospitality – helps set up and distribute worker box lunches.
Tech inspection (scrutineering) – helps licensed tech inspectors inspect cars for safety and legality. Most cars will be teched on Wednesday and Thursday. *Those who work tech can still work as course worker on Friday and Saturday.
Bannering – Banner crews put up banners and signs along the rally course to indicate which roads are closed for competition. They usually work in pairs and need to be able to read and follow the route book. Bannering takes place on Thursday and Friday.
Service Marshals – Service marshals help set up the service areas early on Friday and Saturday and then stay in service to help competitors and service crews.
Course workers - The largest number of workers at a rally are out in the forests working on individual stages in the route. A "stage crew" is a group of 10 to 20 volunteers who are fully responsible for setting up and ensuring the safety of a section of road to be used as a stage in the rally. Stage crews will handle several stages throughout the rally and be out in the woods from morning through the evening. Experienced stage captains and co-captains coordinate the work of each group.
Course marshal – Course Marshals block all intersecting roads to prevent non-rally traffic from entering the rally route. They are essential for the safety of competitors,
Control worker - Workers time cars in, count down and start the rally cars, as well as handle the finish control and timing. This is a good job if you want to see the cars and crews up close as they start and finish the competitive sections.
Spectator control – Spectator control workers help set up the spectator areas and spectator parking before the rally cars pass through the spectator areas. During competition, they help control spectators and keep them in safe locations.
Radio operator - Licensed Ham Radio Operators provide a "safety net" for the rally. There are many people involved and it takes precise teamwork. The biggest task includes communications between stage start and stage finish and keeping communications open between rally officials. Radio operators need to provide their own radios and usually need a car.
Start Radio - A start radio person will be responsible for communication with the start and with NET control. At times when volunteers are limited you may share the responsibility as Medical Start Radio.
Medical Start Radio - A medical start radio person will be responsible for communicating emergency situations with and to the stationed medical or EMS team assigned to the stage start. You will also need to transit with the EMS/medical team if they transit to an onstage emgency situation to report back to NET control. This will require you to be mobile ready. At times when volunteers are limited you may share the responsibility as Start Radio
Sweep – Sweep crews follow the rally route to assist crews unable to complete the course. Sweep crews should be in four-wheel-drive vehicles equipped to winch rally cars and should be staffed with a ham radio operator.
Medical - Volunteers qualified to provide Basic Life Support services are at the start of every stage, and all spectator areas. There are ambulances and back-up support at several locations. Proof of certification, medical kit, and car are all usually necessary, but each event has specific needs.
For stage workers you should bring the following:
Food, snacks, & something to drink (non-alcoholic)
Waterproof clothing and boots. A jacket or sweatshirt.
Flashlights and extra batteries
Extra power for your mobile devices, you'll have a little downtime
Markers and ballpoint pens – Start and Finish crew will be furnished, but it is good to have extras.
Clipboard with light if you have them
Radio scanner, so you can get the net
Cameras
Gas. Fill your vehicle before leaving
Toilet paper/Kleenex/Baby Wipes
Sunscreen and Bug Spray
Chair
If you have general volunteer questions send us an email, volunteers@southernohioforestrally.com