Race Marshals

[MrRee145]

Having had my first experience as a race marshal at brands yesterday, I would like to have a quick shout out for all marshals out there.. what a fantastic and friendly bunch people you are no matter what the weather is doing. It is now something that I will definitely be pursuing further.

[Ranger 6]

Well done for getting involved - now come and see some real action on the rally stages

[Rex Ironstone]

I've been doing a fair bit of rally and track marshaling for 10 years or so and love it. Most of the fellow marshals are great but I tend to notice it really does attract a fair few muppets who seem to enjoy their self perceived importance. That could just be an Australian or probably actually a Tasmanian thing though.

[Animal]

I applied for a taster day and sent off my form a couple of weeks ago (my nearest track is Silverstone) and have heard nothing

Would love to give it a bash...

[Rude-boy]

OP - Well done! Without the boys and girls in orange there would be no motorsport. Glad to hear you enjoyed it and hope you join the ranks.

Were you at Westfield? Spotted a chap in an orange bib down there.

[Rude-boy]

Animal said:

I applied for a taster day and sent off my form a couple of weeks ago (my nearest track is Silverstone) and have heard nothing

Would love to give it a bash...

Chase them up after the GP if you have had nothing back by then.

I expect that the relevant office is quite busy at the minute with the run up to the GP and the rash of big events on in the last and next month.

[MrRee145]

Rude-boy said:

Were you at Westfield? Spotted a chap in an orange bib down there.

I wasn't I was down at Surtees, there were a lot of us on our taster days yesterday!

[Mutley]

Animal said:

I applied for a taster day and sent off my form a couple of weeks ago (my nearest track is Silverstone) and have heard nothing

Would love to give it a bash...

Who have you applied to? Silverstone itself (if i recall correctly) no longer arranges marshalling itself, that's be down to one of the clubs. As suggested, wait till after the GP, it'll be taking a fair bit of their time organising that, and I'm not sure that taster days aren't on every week. << note, it's been ages since I started, so not sure of the current arrangements.

All I will say, is marshalling is great fun, and you can get involved in what ever side you want to. I do Pit duties, but once you've started, there is no reason not to try all the disciplines, in fact, I'd recomend it. I've worked with lots of people, made brilliant friends through it.

If you want to know more, I would suggest heading over to www.ten-tenths.com/forum/ there is a massive Marshals collective on there, all willing to help and advise.

Edited by Mutley on Monday 25th June 13:44

[Rude-boy]

MrRee145 said:

I wasn't I was down at Surtees, there were a lot of us on our taster days yesterday!

There were a lot of peeps out yesterday!

[Animal]

Mutley said:

Animal said:

I applied for a taster day and sent off my form a couple of weeks ago (my nearest track is Silverstone) and have heard nothing

Would love to give it a bash...

Who have you applied to? Silverstone itself (if i recall correctly) no longer arranges marshalling itself, that's be down to one of the clubs. As suggested, wait till after the GP, it'll be taking a fair bit of their time organising that, and I'm not sure that taster days aren't on every week. << note, it's been ages since I started, so not sure of the current arrangements.

All I will say, is marshalling is great fun, and you can get involved in what ever side you want to. I do Pit duties, but once you've started, there is no reason not to try all the disciplines, in fact, I'd recomend it. I've worked with lots of people, made brilliant friends through it.

If you want to know more, I would suggest heading over to www.ten-tenths.com/forum/ there is a massive Marshals collective on there, all willing to help and advise.

Edited by Mutley on Monday 25th June 13:44

Thanks - I was actually hoping to try something reasonably big like the Silverstone Classic, which I thought would make for good timing! I applied to the competition secretary for South Mids region.

I'll wait until after the GP to see if I hear anything then chase it up. Thanks for the link, I'll have a mooch over this evening!

[MrRee145]

Animal said:

Thanks - I was actually hoping to try something reasonably big like the Silverstone Classic, which I thought would make for good timing! I applied to the competition secretary for South Mids region.

I'll wait until after the GP to see if I hear anything then chase it up. Thanks for the link, I'll have a mooch over this evening!

The other place to go is http://www.marshals.co.uk/ this is the home of the BMMC which is where I applied for my taster day.

[Animal]

Sorry, I should have said: I applied via the website and got an info pack in the post, together with a form to post back.

[Mutley]

Let us know how you get on, and any comments you have. As with all things, ask questions, the marshal showing you round will be highly experienced.

There is nothing stopping anyone from just volunteering for a meeting.

[Animal]

Right, have how received an invitation for a taster day at Silverstone on the 9th of next month (according to Silverstone's calendar this is British F3 and GT champs).

Will post thoughts afterwards!

[Dan_1981]

Is it all coordinated through one main body with regional clubs or are there various routes to follow?

Ie: is http://www.marshals.co.uk/

The best place to get involved from?

[Rude-boy]

Animal said:

Right, have how received an invitation for a taster day at Silverstone on the 9th of next month (according to Silverstone's calendar this is British F3 and GT champs).

Will post thoughts afterwards!

Great!

Not sure how well you know the basics but:-

Make sure you have the right clothing for all 4 seasons.

Make sure that your clothing is not red or yellow or if at all possible any colour close to the main flags. If in doubt orange or black (black flags are only shown on the start/finish straight). I suspect that there will be plenty of advice on the usual forums from those involved rather than those who have a vague idea so check them out.

Make sure you have a ready supply of food and drink. F3/GT days are very busy on track and Lunch breaks disappear in the blink of a damaged barrier.

I have yet to find a marshal who is upset when offered a piece of cake/biscuit - grab a box of mini donuts or similar the night before from ASTescways and offer them round. You are likely to be with a group of people who range from known each other 10 minutes to 25+ years so a great ice breaker

Have fun and do exactly what you are told to do. If by any slim chance you end up with burning car at your feet don't try and add to the number of potential casualties. Let those who have the full training and Nomex do their thing and be ready to pass fresh extinguishers to them and take away dead ones.

Above all stay safe.

[Munter]

Dan_1981 said:

Is it all coordinated through one main body with regional clubs or are there various routes to follow?

Ie: is http://www.marshals.co.uk/

The best place to get involved from?

I did my taster by going through that website. I found it dead easy, and within 2 days I had all the info I needed to turn up on the date I'd selected.

I sent off my membership forms on Sunday

[Mutley]

Animal said:

Right, have how received an invitation for a taster day at Silverstone on the 9th of next month (according to Silverstone's calendar this is British F3 and GT champs).

Will post thoughts afterwards!

Excellent. And possibly I'll be at that meeting in the pits, so will keep an eye out for the tour group

Above all, whichever discipline you decide to stay with (and theres nowt wrong with doing a few meetings in different roles) I stick to two things, stay safe and have fun.

[jds32]

To those who have recently signed up recently I'm in the process of applying myself. On the MSA Marshall registration form in section 2 it asks for registration grade, should I tick the trainee marshall / race marshall box?

Reason I ask is on the marshals website it says the MSA and club form should be sent together.

[Munter]

jds32 said:

To those who have recently signed up recently I'm in the process of applying myself. On the MSA Marshall registration form in section 2 it asks for registration grade, should I tick the trainee marshall / race marshall box?

Reason I ask is on the marshals website it says the MSA and club form should be sent together.

I did. But it's too early to tell if I did the right thing...