Marshalling

[coppice]

When I marshalled I met both really committed ,enthusiastic and knowledgeable types and ocean going bores who knew nothing about the sport but could drone on for England . Good and bad in both track and stage but a higher knuckle-dragger Bear Grylls wannabes count on stage. Mind you , this was before some marshals chose to drive round in vans proclaiming 'Heroes on Tour'. God give me strength ........

[Munter]

oldbanger said:

Thanks for all the feedback, it's really useful stuff.

So I'll need to go invest in some new walking boots. The ones I've got right now are more like trainers and don't offer much protection. I also noticed somewhere about not wearing synthetics because they might melt under the suit. 8-0

Safety boots not hiking boots. Safety boots offer protection from things like stepping on sharp pointy bits of crashed cars. And steel toe caps for when you accidentally drop an extinguisher on your foot... I got mine from screwfix, where they had a variety of options.

[covboy]

Mr. H said:

When you go to Donington for the first time it can be tricky to find the marshal sign on (if it's still in the centre of the circuit). You need to drive onto the track and turn off on the infield of turn 1. Driving around the track doesn't get old but make sure you don't crash or you'll be famous in race control forever.

I think things have changed. The old Craner Suites on the infield where signing on took place are no more. Not sure where they use now, but instructions should be there in the final paperwork.

[Munter]

covboy said:

Mr. H said:

When you go to Donington for the first time it can be tricky to find the marshal sign on (if it's still in the centre of the circuit). You need to drive onto the track and turn off on the infield of turn 1. Driving around the track doesn't get old but make sure you don't crash or you'll be famous in race control forever.

I think things have changed. The old Craner Suites on the infield where signing on took place are no more. Not sure where they use now, but instructions should be there in the final paperwork.

When I was there a few weeks ago, sign on was above the cafe in the paddock. https://goo.gl/maps/1b9hY2qiLAL2

And the marshals were all parking on the melbourne loop before moving off to posts.

[51mes]

Marshaling is great fun, especially clubby days (as opposed to say touring cars or F1) where there is less "motorsport as a business".

I spent 5 years at Oulton park - track and then specialist in the pits. Moved away and work keeps me from going as much as I'd like, but managed a few hillclimbs this year. Paddock and Assembly are where the junior marshals tend to run (at least at oulton) - as they cannot be on the live track under 18, and they are always on the lookout for responsible adults to help out!

It's the best way to get close to racing - without actually taking part and the early morning starts and the smell of high octane in the morning cannot be beat.

As has been said there are all sorts from teenagers to grandparents from all walks of life - it's a great way to spend time.

S.

[lord summerisle]

Just enjoy the day. You dont need to be a car nut, or know anything about every series that races. But pretty much any meeting other than F1 marshals can freely go into the paddock - most club meetings the paddock is open to everyone.

Dont wear anything red, bright yellow, blue or green (you'll prob be given an orange hi vis tabard to wear on the day) good pair of walking boots as you'll be on your feet a lot of the day, and the ground behind the armco is uneven and filled with rabbit holes, bits of broken cars and bikes and builders rubble. Have food for the day and waterproofs. Daft hats.. they'll come: marshal's get given a lot of baseball hats (ie after a big incident at oulton a few years ago Ginetta gave all the marshals a hat at next days sign on)

There's a lot of jobs to do around a circuit - pretty much everyone involved in running the meeting is a volunteer, not just those in orange.

If you get into it and want to do it more then join the British Marshal's club - the subsidy they have on overalls will cover your annual membership. You'll be welcome at any circuit as a marshal and volunteering for meetings is only an email away. Plus as you gain experience you'll be able to & get invited to marshal overseas (british marshals have been invited to go over to marshals at new F1 circuits to train up the local marshals, plenty go over to marshal at events like the Canadian GP, Le Mans, Nordschleife 24hr...)

[oldbanger]

Munter said:

Safety boots not hiking boots. Safety boots offer protection from things like stepping on sharp pointy bits of crashed cars. And steel toe caps for when you accidentally drop an extinguisher on your foot... I got mine from screwfix, where they had a variety of options.

Thanks Munter, I was thinking steel toe caps might be useful.

[oldbanger]

Thanks for all the replies, I am really looking forward to it - I've booked for the 1st October

[binnerboy]

marshals are definitely the unsung heroes, with out them we don't get top play. Join your local motor club as well. Clubs talk to other clubs and we try to encourage marshalling at other clubs events and are trying to build a bigger community of marshals

I marshalled at one of our sprints before I got into competing. It was a great day out if you are a car nut, no fence between you and the circuit plus a free lunch.

There are marshalling courses laid on at various venues so you can learn about emergencies before having to actually deal with one. If it is your first time you are put on a post with an experienced marshal so you learn whats required on the day.

useful links

http://www.volunteersinmotorsport.co.uk/index.html

https://www.msauk.org/Marshals

our lead marshal Mike is always up for a chat about marshalling details here

http://bristolmc.org.uk/marshals-post/

[lord summerisle]

there was a FIA camera crew buzzing around during this years GP, heres the result.
http://www.formula1.com/en/video/2016/8/Behind_the...

[RyanTank]

rubystone said:

I wonder whether Rallying by its nature attracts the 4x4 response type?

Been a rally marshal for some 11 years now. Never been interested in this 4x4 response malarkey.
I'd say there's a good percentage of marshals both track and rally who have the response dream. I've encountered many a leader proclaiming that I'd not be getting far in stage with my old 2wd Ford Focus or current BMW, and happy to prove them wrong at every point


Couple of things to remember when marshalling (and i'm basing this purely on my Rally experience) -

keep food and drink close by, even if its just a small bottle of water and a little snack

get some thick welder type gloves, some broken car parts can be engine/brake/exhaust parts and WILL be very hot! don't wear rubber wellies, they stick to the hot parts and it gets rather uncomfortable.

waterproof gloves and footwear. even if you just buy waterproofing stuff and use them on your safety boots/gloves. there's no feeling worse than wet hands and feet and a completely dry body

Sunscreen and midge spray. The amount of times I've arrived at stage and done a days duties to leave with a red head, face and neck is not funny anymore Just because its dry and overcast doesn't mean the UV's aren't getting to you

take sweets with you - everyone is nicer when you give them sweets

Most importantly - a crashed driver will be angry and upset, they will likely tell you to go forth and multiply when you offer assistance or need to get them to a safe place while they want to survey the damage. Don't take it personally.

[Oilchange]

Interesting stuff.

[jurbie]

RyanTank said:

Most importantly - a crashed driver will be angry and upset, they will likely tell you to go forth and multiply when you offer assistance or need to get them to a safe place while they want to survey the damage. Don't take it personally.

A good excuse to give this another airing.

James Hunt vs Marshall

[mph1977]

RyanTank said:

<snip>

Most importantly - a crashed driver will be angry and upset, they will likely tell you to go forth and multiply when you offer assistance or need to get them to a safe place while they want to survey the damage. Don't take it personally.

part of the briefing for anyone new to mediccing is you ask 'where does it hurt' not 'are you ok ?' - no one who has crashed /come off is OK, they've lost that race probably broken something on their machine etc etc

in my experience i find bike marshals to be rather more laid back than car marshals, as unfortunately there does seem to be a bit of the committee / boy scout / 4*4 response attitude among some car marshals ...

[Steve H]

oldbanger said:

Thanks for all the replies, I am really looking forward to it - I've booked for the 1st October

I should be racing my 106 in Roadsports that day, thanks for volunteering

[The Angry Gopher]

Thanks for the inspiration! Signed up for the taster day this Sunday.

[zeb]

If it wasn't for marshalls I wouldn't be able to do track days so for that i'm always grateful. I did a fair bit of marshalling in my rallying days and yes, there's always a few of the the little hitler types but on the whole they are just enthusiasts like you and I.

thank you for volunteering and I hope you have a great time.

[Dave Brand]

Just for the record, track day marshals are not volunteers - they are paid by the circuits.

[zeb]

thats fine by me dave !

[binnerboy]

Dave Brand said:

Just for the record, track day marshals are not volunteers - they are paid by the circuits.

This is not the case for sprinting which relies on volunteer marshals. The sprints that Bristol Motor club do the marshals get a free lunch and at Castle coombe free coffee/tea if they can be delivered to the marshal posts

I am not sure about circuit racing as I don't do that.