Stopping a motor race

[SamHH]

How does stopping a motor race work; who decides to stop it? I'm guessing that in high-profile races where the entire circuit is covered by cameras, the clerk of the course can see what's going on and makes the decision then radios the marshals to wave red flags, yes? What about other races though; do the marshals have to make the decision themselves or do they have to radio the clerk and ask?

Edited by SamHH on Thursday 9th April 13:55

[Ranger 6]

Dependant on the race/rally regulations and hierachy it can vary. I believe there are situations where the stewards can take a decision.

I'm not completely familiar with the roundy roundy stuff, but as a rally stage commander I have the authority to stop the stage for safety reasons, the CoC/Steward/s can do the same with the event for their own reasons.

[crofty1984]

When my race was cancelled at Snetterton (club level) the decision ultimately rests in the hands of the race Steward. Of course, they will be able to listen to advice from the marshall's etc, but the actual decision of "put the reds out" witll be theirs.
The only other time I can think of that MAY be the marshall's decision is if right in front of him there's a massive crash covering the whole track.

[Paul_R]

The decision lies with the clerk of the course.

Following an incident, the marshals or rescue crew (or doctors for that matter) can request a race stop but the order for the red flag to be displayed has to come from race control.

The only time a marshal can stop a session of their own accord is during sprint / hillclimb / speed event when the only flags used are red.

Edited by Paul_R on Thursday 9th April 14:59

[mmm-five]

At a circuit, you will have a Post Chief, Incident Office and any number of Marshals per post (somewhere between 6 and 20 depending on the event).

If something 'BIG' happens then the Post Cheif will radio in to Race Control and inform them of the situation. Race Control then pass down instructions to stop the race.

On a hill-climb or sprint the marshal in control of the post will make the decision there and then as to whether to red flag the run, and this is radioed in and the rest of the marshal posts follow suit, to stop any other cars coming up the track to the incident.

[Le TVR]

Many years ago at Lydden I was marshalling for a club bike meet.
Have to confess that I did actually 'stop' the race by getting crossed flags out following a horrific crash on our corner.
Fortunately the ambulance crew backed me 100% (rider would probably have died in the time to get an 'official' red flag) when I was summoned to see the clerk of the course immediately after..

[entropy]

Le TVR said:

Many years ago at Lydden I was marshalling for a club bike meet.
Have to confess that I did actually 'stop' the race by getting crossed flags out following a horrific crash on our corner.
Fortunately the ambulance crew backed me 100% (rider would probably have died in the time to get an 'official' red flag) when I was summoned to see the clerk of the course immediately after..

So what happened? were you reprimanded or commended?

[Le TVR]

Well lets just say that I was in the middle of a severe bking when the ambulance crew came back and told the clerk to back off...
...so I just got a minor bking instead.

[KJR]

crofty1984 said:

The only other time I can think of that MAY be the marshall's decision is if right in front of him there's a massive crash covering the whole track.

Been there, done that ...

Ginetta G50 crash at Knockhill

Cars off everywhere and in the middle of the track. I put the red out straight away as, if we had waited for a decision from race control, the field would have come round again through an uphill blind corner you see at the start of the video.

[SamHH]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

KJR: the situation in the video is the sort of thing I was thinking of. Obviously in that situation the quicker you stop the racing the better and so it makes sense for marshals to be authorised to do it on their own.

[lord summerisle]

mmm-five said:

At a circuit, you will have a Post Chief, Incident Office and any number of Marshals per post (somewhere between 6 and 20 depending on the event).

unless your at some circuits... where there could be 1 marshal - who acts as Flaggie, incident and Post Chief

[DIW35]

Le TVR said:

Many years ago at Lydden I was marshalling for a club bike meet.
Have to confess that I did actually 'stop' the race by getting crossed flags out following a horrific crash on our corner.
Fortunately the ambulance crew backed me 100% (rider would probably have died in the time to get an 'official' red flag) when I was summoned to see the clerk of the course immediately after..

I used to marshall at Lydden for club bike races many, many years ago too. Which corner were you on?

[Dan Friel]

KJR said:

crofty1984 said:

The only other time I can think of that MAY be the marshall's decision is if right in front of him there's a massive crash covering the whole track.

Been there, done that ...

Ginetta G50 crash at Knockhill

Cars off everywhere and in the middle of the track. I put the red out straight away as, if we had waited for a decision from race control, the field would have come round again through an uphill blind corner you see at the start of the video.

I can't see how an incident on a first lap of any race warrants any track side marshal to make a red flag decision.