Race/rally Marshall

[Jayyylo]

Good evening,

[I tried a search but of course nothing showed up and I think this is the correct forum section]

I've decided that since I can't afford a racing career I would like to experience the 2nd best view of the track. This weekend I made my first step towards becoming a race marshall and I'm now waiting to go on my first training day

Are any of you lot involved and what advice can you offer a new boy? I'm going to go willing to learn and chip in wherever I'm needed.

I'm very excited for the season to start.

[PabloTheOrange]

Ask as many questions as you need to, the only silly question is the one not asked! We marshals are a friendly bunch after all...

A useful (but dry) read is the MSA's blue book; the rules and regulations for motorsport in the UK. For marshalling and circuit racing, sections G & Q are particularly relevant: http://msauk.org/site/cms/contentviewarticle.asp?a... It'll help you get a grasp as to why some things are done the way they are.

ETA: Wow I fail at editing posts

[MartinDB]

There are a lot of Marshals Here.
Personally, from a track marshal point of view,
Ask the silly questions,
Listen to what you're told,
Know your escape route,
Pay attention to the cars coming towards you, not the ones that have gone passed as they won't kill you if they leave the track,
Wear comfy boots,
Wear warm clothes in enough layers to remove them if required,
Bring food and more than enough to drink.
Take every opportunity to get practical fire training

Where in the country are you?

You don't need to do a training day before you marshal.

[Jayyylo]

I feel extremely out of my depth already in terms of getting organised and understanding the system. I was going to sign up previously but the MSA website made the process seem very confusing so I backed off. Thankfully I discovered the volunteering in motorsport website qhich has been a great help in getting me connected with the right people and giving me a starting point.
I'm based in Nottingham so my main circuit is Donington but there is also Mallory Park.

From the 10 tenths link there seems to be a lot of bhing between clubs and plenty of events for everyone to get involved in.

What made you guys take it up and do you have any worthwhile stories?

[Slickus]

OP, i'm a bike marshal and will be based at Brands in a few weeks time (16th March) for the opening round of the NG road race meeting. Bit different to cars i know, but principles are the same. If you're based near Brands, maybe pop along and see the basics and what goes on. We'll be based at Druids. PM me if you want to meet up for a chat during lunch break!

But for getting started, as mentioned, warm clothing, comfy boots, and common sense. My first time was scary, on thing that happen all day was a knee slider coming loose. Was a blessing in disguise being a quiet day as it meant i learnt the way the club run, learnt the flags and figured out the best places to look and keep an eye out.

You'll get there, and its great fun!

[covboy]

Easiest place to start is probably here


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

Should be able to answer most of your questions.


Donington Park run a dedicated ES (Emergency Services) Marshal team for all their events which may be of some interest to you with your location

Contact details are on the website

[Andetunasi]

As already said above, you don't have to do the training before attending events. You can volunteer for events either by contacting the organising club (BRSCC/BARC etc) or via the BMMC website if you are a member http://www.marshals.co.uk/ . You do not need to be a member of this club to Marshal but you may find the website useful.

Have you registered as a Marshal with the MSA yet?

Ten-Tenths can be a good source of information but like all forums it has lots of bhing and moaning.


I'm based near to Nottingham and mainly Marshal at Donington so happy to try and answer any questions.

[Dave Brand]

Just a couple of points. Firstly, don't worry about registering with the MSA; this needs a club endorsement, so if you join a club they will sort that for you. You don't have to be a member of a club, you just need one to act as your primary club for MSA registration & grading purposes. In reality, joining a club is the best & easiest option. It's worth joining BMMC as it's the only club representing marshals rather than an organising club or circuit - there are benefits such as subsidised overalls & insurance over & above that provided by the MSA.

Secondly, the Blue Book. Read it at your peril - it contains a lot of information, very little of which is relevant to a new marshal. Your training day & subsequent on-post training will give you more than enough information to absorb!

[Jayyylo]

I've seen that through AWS I can get a bit of discount on the BMMC overalls and these will have all the sponsors names too.

Can I use these overalls at all events or do any require plain/unbranded suits? Would I also need to then buy a new set each season if the sponsors change?

Thanks for all the info, I can't wait to get started.

[PabloTheOrange]

Jayyylo said:

I've seen that through AWS I can get a bit of discount on the BMMC overalls and these will have all the sponsors names too.

Can I use these overalls at all events or do any require plain/unbranded suits? Would I also need to then buy a new set each season if the sponsors change?

Thanks for all the info, I can't wait to get started.

I've not found an event where you can't wear them recently; very occasionally (the Grand Prix and I think DTM for example) the organisers will ask you to wear a tabard but that's about it.

[boycieboy]

Very interesting thread - I often wonder about becoming a marshal seeing as I'm only about an hour away from Brands and Goodwood!

Out of interest, does anyone marshal at Le Mans? I'm going again this year and have often wondered about any British marshalls being there or is it just the French clubs?

[Graham]

plenty of international marshals at Le mans at least one post run by brits and another by american marshalls

[bodysnatcher]

Many Brits marshal at Le Mans and once they start it's hard to stop. It'll be my 17th this year.
Start slowly, build up experience & contacts and you'll soon find a whole world of motorsport out there that you can be a part of.

[Jayyylo]

I'm slowly building a picture of how to go about signing up for all of this. I appreciate that some people have said I don't need to join a club or go on training days but as it's my first time I think it's wise to help learn the ropes and provide some stepping stones.

1. Join BMMC
2. Buy overalls from AWS
3. Go on any available training days
4. Sign up to events through the BMMC website

With regards to overalls again, what is the sizing like on these? Do you buy big so that other clothes will comfortable fit under? I know in my work uniform a size small is absolutely massive and totally swamps me so I don't want anything similar from my overalls.

I'm planning on going to the rally marshal training day in Derby on the 24th if any of you will be there.

[Dave Brand]

Jayyylo said:

I'm slowly building a picture of how to go about signing up for all of this. I appreciate that some people have said I don't need to join a club or go on training days but as it's my first time I think it's wise to help learn the ropes and provide some stepping stones.

1. Join BMMC
2. Buy overalls from AWS
3. Go on any available training days
4. Sign up to events through the BMMC website

With regards to overalls again, what is the sizing like on these? Do you buy big so that other clothes will comfortable fit under? I know in my work uniform a size small is absolutely massive and totally swamps me so I don't want anything similar from my overalls.

I'm planning on going to the rally marshal training day in Derby on the 24th if any of you will be there.

I don't think anybody's saying that you don't need to go on training days; what has been said is that you can marshal without having first done a training day. If you haven't already booked a racing track day act quickly - it may already be too late! If you can't get on a training day you will still be able to marshal; when you go on post it's wise to let the IO (Incident officer) or Post Chief know that you haven't done one so that allowances can be made & your training needs recognised (a good IO will ask what experience you have).

On the subject of equipment, I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the most important item you'll need - good waterproofs! You'll be doing ten-hour days (often more at Donington, allegedly!), sometimes without even a decent lunch break, standing out in whatever weather the British climate can throw at you. Boots are also important - make sure they give good ankle support. Overalls should be big enough to give room for several extra layers; circuits can be very bleak places!

[Mutley]

OP, generally a marshals kit bag for every meeting will include waterproofs, boots, hat, suncream.

As said, you may be in for a long day, so make sure you have food with you. While everyone will say go on the bank, there are many other roles, and Donington operates Pits/Startline. Just volunteer for a meeting and see what you'd like to do. Also, don't feel confined to the one role, I know a few who do different jobs dependent on the meeting.

Most importantly, Have Fun

[Jayyylo]

Thanks for all the advice. As soon as I get my BMMC/MSA number through I will sign up for a few events. I'm currently trying to think of how I can qualify for some orange waterproofs through work. They give them to us for free but only if you work on the railways, which I don't.

[MonkeyHanger]

Mutley said:

OP, generally a marshals kit bag for every meeting will include waterproofs, boots, hat, suncream.

And pies.

[marshal_alan]

good kit is a must along with a unbreakable flask for coffee/bovril as on a freezing cold day you will want a hot drink. Plenty of food as i know most of us tend to graze between sessions. take a set of dry clothes and leave them in the car, nothing worse than driving home in wet jeans. wear natural fibers like wool and cotton under your overalls. For knockhill we tend to carry fleece, waterproofs and sunscreen and use them all on the same day lol. a lot of us use anglers' fishing tackle boxes as they carry kit and give you a comfy seat for if you get a break

[rev-erend]

If you don't like thermos flasks, sandwiches and bright orange clothes then marshalling is not for you.