Spectator announcement
Discussion
It's becoming a very big ask on the marshals, to the point I think the ACO are going to have to 'pay' them for this year.
Let's face it, as it stands today the ACO are asking "Hey, who wants to pay their own travel and living costs to come and perform a service that carries a not insignificant chance of injury at Le Mans (with no travel insurance as France on your countries 'don't go' list, and either you having to go in to strict quarantine in 1 room in your house/your whole household having to go in to strict quarantine in your home for 14 days when you get back)?".
Let's face it, as it stands today the ACO are asking "Hey, who wants to pay their own travel and living costs to come and perform a service that carries a not insignificant chance of injury at Le Mans (with no travel insurance as France on your countries 'don't go' list, and either you having to go in to strict quarantine in 1 room in your house/your whole household having to go in to strict quarantine in your home for 14 days when you get back)?".
Edited by //j17 on Friday 21st August 13:33
I'd hope the ACO have got tabs on sufficient marshalls to run it. I could possibly get away with spending two weeks "out" when I got home and if they were willing to run an "accelerated marshalling course" would volunteer, although even with a good understanding of general motorsport, have no marshalling experience. I hope however that their relative silence means they've got enough?
I am awaiting a call from a chief marshal on the state of things. He rang the ACO last week and they were very noncommittal it seems so he is awaiting a call back. As a senior citizen he is of course concerned, but can get no definite answer on a number of things. So, when I know, you'll know. Last weeks statistics will be out tomorrow, but on 24/7/2020 there were 218 confirmed cases in the Sarthe and on 18/8/2020 835 new cases. More and more people are wearing their masks in the streets.
JT3K said:
I'd hope the ACO have got tabs on sufficient marshalls to run it. I could possibly get away with spending two weeks "out" when I got home and if they were willing to run an "accelerated marshalling course" would volunteer, although even with a good understanding of general motorsport, have no marshalling experience. I hope however that their relative silence means they've got enough?
The ACO have a limit to the numbers they accept, that process closed weeks ago. Officially anyone that marshals Le Mans only gets confirmation that they are invited about 3 weeks before the event (ie next week). My group are about 99% certain to decline. Unofficially I have made our chief aware of this. This would have been my 24th consecutive 24h as a marshal, so it really hurts me to miss it.I assume the event will go still ahead with lesser numbers than normal on the ground, mitigating with a greater reliance on slow zones and intervention vehicles. No way will they utilise untrained foreigners, non-French marshals have to have FIA recognised credentials.
Output Flange said:
Received my voucher too, and it's only got the grandstand and campsite tickets on, none of the GE tickets I bought...
There was a newsletter sent out today which states vouchers are being sent out in order of when the original tickets were bought. So if other tickets were purchased later, there may be another voucher coming. I did the extra purchase of entrance tickets after the ticket sales were suspended so another voucher may be coming. Though there was a clear, non refundable message with those extra tickets bought after that date, so who knows.
Still think a simple option of making them your 2021 tickets would have been simpler and more helpful.
bodysnatcher said:
The ACO have a limit to the numbers they accept, that process closed weeks ago. Officially anyone that marshals Le Mans only gets confirmation that they are invited about 3 weeks before the event (ie next week). My group are about 99% certain to decline. Unofficially I have made our chief aware of this. This would have been my 24th consecutive 24h as a marshal, so it really hurts me to miss it.
I assume the event will go still ahead with lesser numbers than normal on the ground, mitigating with a greater reliance on slow zones and intervention vehicles. No way will they utilise untrained foreigners, non-French marshals have to have FIA recognised credentials.
It is the same elsewhere. One post I know may now have zero marshals, and what is going on with the other posts I have no idea. I know many marshals who "were" coming, but now are not. Many french marshals are in the danger zone of being over 65, so possibly they will not be coming either. Being invited does not translate in to "they are coming".I assume the event will go still ahead with lesser numbers than normal on the ground, mitigating with a greater reliance on slow zones and intervention vehicles. No way will they utilise untrained foreigners, non-French marshals have to have FIA recognised credentials.
Photo here:-
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/fren...
On another front. a marshal was being interviewed today for TV at Mulsanne bend, wearing his orange overalls etc. An official of the ACO was there and I took the opportunity to have a chat about the event. He told me that all teams were still coming (last week the ACO announced 4 cars short) and that they had plenty of marshals ready in reserve to take the place of those who weren't coming. So there you have it from the horses mouth.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/fren...
On another front. a marshal was being interviewed today for TV at Mulsanne bend, wearing his orange overalls etc. An official of the ACO was there and I took the opportunity to have a chat about the event. He told me that all teams were still coming (last week the ACO announced 4 cars short) and that they had plenty of marshals ready in reserve to take the place of those who weren't coming. So there you have it from the horses mouth.
Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 25th August 17:18
lowdrag said:
Photo here:-
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/fren...
On another front. a marshal was being interviews for TV at Mulsanne bend, wearing his orange overalls etc. An official of the ACO was there and I took the opportunity to have a chat about the event. He told me that all teams were still coming (last week the ACO announced 4 cars short) and that they had plenty of marshals ready in reserve to take the place of those who weren't coming. So there you have it from the horses mouth.
Thank you Sir - I was hoping for something more pleasing to the eye than the backs of some old menhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/fren...
On another front. a marshal was being interviews for TV at Mulsanne bend, wearing his orange overalls etc. An official of the ACO was there and I took the opportunity to have a chat about the event. He told me that all teams were still coming (last week the ACO announced 4 cars short) and that they had plenty of marshals ready in reserve to take the place of those who weren't coming. So there you have it from the horses mouth.
Your news on the marshals for everyone however has just made my day in the biggest way possible - at this rate we could have a race (and I have lost seeing many a race on the Isle of Man TT course just because of a shortage of marshals so I know how serious it is)
lowdrag said:
Photo here:-
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/fren...
On another front. a marshal was being interviewed today for TV at Mulsanne bend, wearing his orange overalls etc. An official of the ACO was there and I took the opportunity to have a chat about the event. He told me that all teams were still coming (last week the ACO announced 4 cars short) and that they had plenty of marshals ready in reserve to take the place of those who weren't coming. So there you have it from the horses mouth.
Let's hope the marshals optimism is better placed than the teams statement, 2 have pulled out today, Carlin and Kessell, but Iron Lynx have put an addition car in, 59 cars left on entry listhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/24/fren...
On another front. a marshal was being interviewed today for TV at Mulsanne bend, wearing his orange overalls etc. An official of the ACO was there and I took the opportunity to have a chat about the event. He told me that all teams were still coming (last week the ACO announced 4 cars short) and that they had plenty of marshals ready in reserve to take the place of those who weren't coming. So there you have it from the horses mouth.
Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 25th August 17:18
LawrieC said:
lowdrag said:
It is the same elsewhere......
I help run a couple of local events, and nearly all of the officials and marshals are over 65, but they're still keen to turn up, and stand there in the rain for a day. I think we only lost one over the winter.Was that before or after Covid? The attitude is far different now. I know they love marshaling, but they have families who are worried and they are dropping out. Frankly, I don't believe a word I hear from the ACO, and that dates back 40 years. As regards marshals, they are a dying breed. Youngsters today don't even know how to drive, have no interest in cars at all, and there is no father to son transfer. My kids don't know how to change a wheel, let alone drive a car with three pedals. It was admitted to me today that the ACO stand in the village set up expressly to try and get new trainee marshals has been a complete failure.
Just as an example of how fluid the ACO are being, media accreditation confirmations were due on the 21st. Then it was 'sometime this week' and now (today) it is postponed to Monday (possibly)
The restrictions on media this year are huge (and I have to say very sensible and correct in the current climate). The ACO will be working right down to the last minute it seems to get the race started. However, I think the French Government may take the decision out of their hands though.
The restrictions on media this year are huge (and I have to say very sensible and correct in the current climate). The ACO will be working right down to the last minute it seems to get the race started. However, I think the French Government may take the decision out of their hands though.
More marshals falling by the wayside it seems. More emails telling me they are not coming from the UK in my inbox this morning. And the level of new cases in France has gone from 514 on 27th July to 6,111 the 27th August. The Sarthe is now one of 21 danger zones in France classified red.
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff