Working At The Adelaide 500
I'm sitting on the Gawler Central train heading north. The train has just left Adelaide Railway Station and it will be another 20 minutes before I get home.
My trip is free because I managed to secure work at the Adelaide 500. It's a Supercar race that goes for 4 days. Ticket holders get free transport for the duration of the event.
Before the event, I worked what is known as Bump In, or the setting up before the event up to and including the Tuesday before the event on Thursday.
Tuesday was a shemozzle in which a client was late due to a delayed flight from the Gold Coast, then a delivery driver on his first day completely ruined the client's day by spending 4 hours not delivering the pizza bases he needed stacked in the freezer before the next day. (I went into details on Facebook).
There were plenty of opportunities for my dry ironic sense of humour to manifest itself.
The below image was due to the random placement of the sign outside of our work compound and I imagined the admin staff wanting cocktails at the end of a tough week.
The woman in the photo wasn't visible when I went to take the photo, she just stepped backwards and turned looked at me as I hit the camera button.
I also got to appreciate nature a bit more capturing this photo of a magpie. It's mating season.
As it's an event, there are food vans and places to get alcohol. One of my comedian friends was there working at his brother's yiros van. A yiros is a local version of a kebab.
The price of the yiros is double what you'd pay normally because the event organisers charge vendors ridiculous rental fees.
My job for Thursday, today and the rest of the weekend is at Gate 6 scanning tickets when people enter or exit.
Gate 6
The Sixth Gate
Working on the gate is an interesting experience. It's an easy job for the most part, but it's somewhat monotonous when everything is running smoothly. Thankfully, and frustratingly, some of the scanners didn't like the QR codes the tickets used, or people would have their phone in either dark mode or with the brightness right down or have up to 7 tickets all on the one phone.
Occasionally people would try to smuggle in alcohol, were under the influence of mind altering chemicals or were generally rude but for the most part people just wanted to pass through the gate with a minimum of fuss.
The temperature hit 35.oC or 95oF, which meant there was a danger of heat fatigue, and even though I was under shelter and had access to water, I still struggled. Tempers can also flare.
Seeing people smile when they heard the happy chirp from the scanner, made me smile as well.
There were two helicopters flying overhead every hour or so, and towards the end of the day conversation became impossible under the roar of the F/A-18F Super Hornet periodically breaking the sound barrier as it banked, mid air to follow the track in the afternoon.
I was far enough away from the various cars for the whining drone of their engines to not be an issue, although the backfiring and occasional spin out were a little concerning.
The scanner is easy to use; it looks like a mobile phone only it has a laser barcode / QR code scanner.
(I've enhanced the photo so that the redness is easier to see).
I also got to say hello to a few friends as I scanned their tickets in.
It was a lot of work, and the crowds were relentless, so I'm glad the event is over but I am also grateful to be working again, even if sporadically.
If you're ever in Adelaide, South Australia in late November, consider buying a ticket to the Adelaide 500. Who knows? I might even scan your ticket. ;)
Thank you for reading.
Shaidon
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