Univest Grand Prix

Volunteer at the Univest Grand Prix

Celia Cole photo

Please become part of the Sparta Cycling Race Team on Saturday, September 11 for the 2010 UCI road race and Sunday, September 12 for the Univest Criterium of Doylestown.

Volunteers get an inside look at one of North America's top cycling events and help the sport of bicycle racing grow. Volunteers are needed for the Souderton-Franconia-Telford race on Saturday and for Doylestown on Sunday.

The Marshal duty for Saturday's race, now be held entirely on circuits (more info below), is now longer but much more interesting. Marshals have a front-row view and are given a fascinating view of the race as it develops lap after lap. Spectators will ask a marshal who is leading and what is happening in the race. The front seat view of the racing, interaction with the fans and member-for-the-day in the race organization is be a rich and worthwhile experience.

See descriptions of volunteer positions below.

To Volunteer

Please apply to volunteer online.

You can also fill out a volunteer application and return it by fax to 267-517-3550 or mail to Jen King, Penn Foundation, 807 Lawn Avenue P.O. Box 32, Sellersville, PA 18960.

An informational meeting for marshals will be held the week preceding the race at the Penn Foundation at 807 Lawn Avenue, Sellersvile (get directions).

For more information, contact Jen King at the Penn Foundation at tel 215-453-5190.

Volunteer Position Descriptions - Please read carefully Format Changed for 2010!

COURSE MARSHAL
This is a key post in the overall race promotion. Course Marshals serve as aids to the Police and Fire Police in their control of the race course. Course Marshals are assigned intersections on the race course and are provided with race timetables, event t-shirts, and whistles. Course marshals keep the course clear of pedestrians, spectators, cars, etc. Course Marshals help control traffic as the race approaches, asking motorists to wait about the 3 to 5 minutes needed for the race to pass by, and offering suggestions on alternate routes for the motorists to take. Course Marshals are also a PR Ambassador for the race and can suggest people listen in to race action live on WNPV 1440. Course Marshals are a key part of a safe, successful racing event, and Univest Grand Prix couldn't happen without them!

Course Marshal Captains: Course Marshal Captains are Course Marshals who take responsibility for 5-10 intersections and those marshals on race day, ensuring appropriate coverage and communicating with those marshals and with race offices. This is a great way for a volunteer group leader to involve their members!
Saturday Assignments: The Saturday race will now consist of multiple laps of the new the 5.8-mile Souderton-Franconia-Telford circuit from 11:20 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. and then five laps of the 3.8-mile Souderton-Telford circuit from 2:00 p.m. to about 2:45p.m. Course marshal assignment will now be from two to three hours. We will provide lunch (t-shirts and whistles too!)and constant supply of drinks (the circuit makes it easy to load a car with supplies and follow behind the race supplying marshals). We will also look to have reserve marshals so that time on duty can be shared with a second shift of bodies.
The duty is longer but much more interesting as your post will give you a fascinating view of the race as it develops lap after lap. Spectators will ask you who is in the front and what is going on. Your front seat view of the racing, interaction with the fans and member-for-the-day in the race organization will be a rich and worthwhile experience.
Saturday 5.8-mile Racecourse Assignments: Assignments are for the Souderton-Franconia-Telford Circuit of the race, and marshals are needed for the entire length of the circuit between 11:30 a.m. and about 2:00 pm.
Saturday 3.8-mile Racecourse Assignments: Assignments are for the Souderton-Telford Circuit of the race, and marshals are needed on the circuit between 2:00 p.m. and about 2:45 p.m.
Sunday, Doylestown: 10:30am - 2:30pm Assignments are for the 1.4-mile Doylestown criterium and marshals are needed on the racecourse between 11:00 a.m. and about 12:50 p.m.

BANNER SET-UP AND TEAR-DOWN
For the early birds! Get to the Start/Finish (Broad and Main Streets - Rt. 113) area by 5:30am on Race Day in Souderton and help zip-tie the banners up onto the fences. You will be finished by 7:30 or so. Feel free to come back at the end of the race at 3:00 p.m. and tear down, but if you have to choose one, please come for set-up.

Saturday Setup: 5:30am - 7:30am
Saturday Takedown: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Sunday Setup: 7:30am - 10:30am
Sunday Takedown: 1:00pm - 4:00pm

REGISTRATION, CYCLOSPORTIF RIDE
An assignment for the early birds! Cyclo Riders can register on Race Day, and volunteers are needed to help with check-in at the registration table from 5:00 am - 8:00 am.

FEED ZONE, CYCLOSPORTIF RIDE
Help the weekend warriors make it through the challenging Cyclosportif ride and raise funds for Penn Foundation. We have a location on the course for riders to refill their water bottles and get some food. We will set up the zones but ask you to staff them, setting out the supplies and keeping the area tidy, for about a two-hour period (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.)

ANTI-DOPING CHAPERONE
Escort athletes to and from testing area for post-race testing. These volunteers will be asked to attend a brief training the afternoon of the race and then must be present at the finish line to escort racers.

Saturday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm

HOSPITALITY TENT
There are two shifts for volunteers at the Hospitality Tent (9:00 am - noon and noon - 3:00 pm).

Saturday: 9:00am - 12:00pm and 12:00pm - 3:00pm

VOLUNTEER TENT

Souderton Volunteer Tent (7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Doylestown Volunteer Tent ( 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)

Volunteers are provided a complimentary box lunch, and they can pick up their supplies if they haven't already done so. Volunteers can also gather here to socialize before or after their shift. Volunteers here help set up, distribute lunches, and ensure volunteers know where they are supposed to be and when.