San Jac Crash Rescue Team, Inc.
Providing Safety Services To Motorsports Since 1969

Who the heck are those guys in the yellow firesuits?

     The San Jac Crash Rescue Team, Inc. is a non-profit corporation chartered in Texas in 1969 to "Provide Safety Services To Motorsports". We are the only totally self supporting, all volunteer, independent motorsports safety team in the world. All members are volunteers and all service fees earned by the team are used for equipment purchase; maintenance and storage; training of members and other volunteer workers; other team expenses including a monthly newsletter; and team history and archives. Vehicles are privately owned by members and provided on a "per event" basis. No team member has ever been paid to work an event.

But our history goes back a few years further and has its roots in San Jacinto/Houston Region. Steve Zilliox came to racing with a background in Air Force fire and rescue. He first rode with the various fire crews hired to serve our races. He sensed a need for an emergency response team that understood cars and racing and, in 1965, he approached the region board with a proposal to form a emergency response team. While the region did not adopt his plan, a number of the members gave him help and encouragement and a team was formed. Steve recruited some friends and rented equipment and began giving the SCCA races in this area a service that was more directed at the needs of racing emergencies than had been provided previously. They took the name San Jac (never San Jacinto) Crash Rescue Association. In the beginning they wore race worker whites and red ball caps. More and more, they were in attendance at SOWDIV races.

The opening of Texas International Speedway brought change. Summer of 1969 saw new red uniforms and a recruiting effort in anticipation of a busier schedule. The original 8-man crew grew to around 20 by early 1970 and the group incorporated to become the team you know today. In 1971, weekly attendance at Meyer Speedway was added and the team finished the year with the first of four trips to serve the ARRC, newly housed at Road Atlanta. All trips to the ARRC were eventful but that first trip required several difficult rescues and the team was honored with the Martin Tanner Award for its efforts. This was before EMT's or much of the equipment in use now was around. We made some of our equipment including an assortment of backboard devices to assist in rescue from various size cockpits. By 1973, nomex was commonly available and we adopted the yellow uniforms you see today. Membership stabilized in the 25-35 range.

We have always maintained a close tie to San Jacinto/Houston Region and most members have been region members, but we have been able to serve many others. In more than 35 years of service to motorsports, we have proudly provided safety services to many major racing organizations including SCCA Club and Pro Racing, FIA (F1), NASCAR, USAC, IMSA, CVAR, ARCA, AMA, WERA, TROC, NARL, and more; with as many as 3,000 track (man) hours of racing in a year. The team's experience includes Winston Cup, Grand National, CanAm, TransAm, Continental Championship, Indy Cars, Formula One, IMSA, WSC/GT1-2-3, various stock cars, motorcycles, various sports cars including the ARRC (runoffs®), vintage cars (including many when they were new), karts, midgets, sprint cars, modifieds, winged super modifieds, etc.

In other words, if it races, we've been there. Many of our volunteer members have been licensed competition drivers; rally/solo drivers; EMT's, Paramedics, Nurses, and Doctors; and/or race workers/officials in addition to participation with San Jac. In addition to handling racing injuries, we have particular expertise in towing and lifting broken racecars and track surface preparation/maintenance.

Recent years have seen permanent rescue crews at many venues and reduced opportunities for the team to serve, but we continue to be ready to serve when called.