RE: Marshal Training this Month
Monday 10th February 2003
Marshal Training this Month
Get down to Castle Combe if you want to get involved at the heart of motor sport
Discussion
Just do it!
I saw this advertised on Pistonheads last year and went along, and I haven't regretted it for 1 minute.
Marshalling is brilliant fun and I've really enjoyed my first year. The training day is excellent.
The people at Castle Combe are very friendly, so don't be shy, come along.
Phill
I saw this advertised on Pistonheads last year and went along, and I haven't regretted it for 1 minute.
Marshalling is brilliant fun and I've really enjoyed my first year. The training day is excellent.
The people at Castle Combe are very friendly, so don't be shy, come along.
Phill
robp said: Have often thought about it but never got round to it. Is there still a shortage of marshalls then?
Not a shortage as such, but the sport does need more.
Give it a go. There's no commitment on you to marshall after the training day, and no real outlay initially if you do, as they don't expect you to buy a set of flameproof overalls until you've decided that it's definitely for you. Saying that, I got to lunchtime on my first day and was hooked, so bought my overalls then and there!
Remember that race meetings are not the only opportunity to marshal. Sprints & hillclimbs are generally crying out for marshals. Ok so you may not get 30 cars trying to get round one corner together but where else do you get the chance to get right up close to F1 power single seaters, try being on the startline for one of these.
moosehead said: Remember that race meetings are not the only opportunity to marshal. Sprints & hillclimbs are generally crying out for marshals. Ok so you may not get 30 cars trying to get round one corner together but where else do you get the chance to get right up close to F1 power single seaters, try being on the startline for one of these.
Being a landlord, I have difficulty getting away from the business at weekends. Any opportunities mid-week??
Marshalling is excellent fun. Closer to the action than you can possibly get without being in a car. I have been marshalling at our local track for 3 years now. Many perks, including free lunches, good photo oppurtunities, and free rides and good chats from the drivers 
Plenty of pics on my site Pelos Place
Highly Recommended is marshalling!
Plenty of pics on my site Pelos Place
Highly Recommended is marshalling!
Pelo said: Marshalling is excellent fun. Many perks, including free lunches, good photo oppurtunities, and free rides and good chats from the drivers
I was a marshal and observer during the 70s and 80s at Brands, Snetterton, Lydden, Silverstone, Wiscombe Park, Curborough..... and one thing you NEVER EVER did, was to take a camera onto your post!
Would you want to be a driver finding that there are marshals taking snaps when they are supposed to be ready to assist you in the event of an accident?
Call me a spoilsport, but if, as an observer, I found 'my' marshals taking pictures, I would ask them (politely) to decide why they are there, if it is to take photographs, then they should get the other side of the fence.
Perhaps I have misunderstood your meaning (or maybe things are seen differently in N.Z.) I accept there's opportunities for photographs in the paddock before the meeting starts or during the lunch break, but never at the trackside.
>> Edited by wolosp on Tuesday 11th February 12:49
We were told on the training day that cameras and camcorders were not allowed out whilst on post. The reason given (a very logical and reasonable one) was that looking through a viewfinder narrows your field of vision, so it is for your own safety as much as anything.
I quite agree with it - you need about ten pairs of eyes sometimes when you're marshalling, especially when the Formula Fords are playing silly buggers!
The only exception we were told, is if you have been stood down during lunch and there is a demonstration going on on the circuit.
I quite agree with it - you need about ten pairs of eyes sometimes when you're marshalling, especially when the Formula Fords are playing silly buggers!
The only exception we were told, is if you have been stood down during lunch and there is a demonstration going on on the circuit.
wolosp said:
Pelo said: Marshalling is excellent fun. Many perks, including free lunches, good photo oppurtunities, and free rides and good chats from the drivers
I was a marshal and observer during the 70s and 80s at Brands, Snetterton, Lydden, Silverstone, Wiscombe Park, Curborough..... and one thing you NEVER EVER did, was to take a camera onto your post!
Would you want to be a driver finding that there are marshals taking snaps when they are supposed to be ready to assist you in the event of an accident?
Call me a spoilsport, but if, as an observer, I found 'my' marshals taking pictures, I would ask them (politely) to decide why they are there, if it is to take photographs, then they should get the other side of the fence.
Perhaps I have misunderstood your meaning (or maybe things are seen differently in N.Z.) I accept there's opportunities for photographs in the paddock before the meeting starts or during the lunch break, but never at the trackside.
>> Edited by wolosp on Tuesday 11th February 12:49
Yes I am aware of the risk, but I only ever take pictures when there are at least another 2 people on my point, and they know I'm snapping away. I do choose my moments carefully. You should see where the bloody Magazine photographers stand!!!
Most of my shots are in the paddock anyway now, because a Kodak point-n-shoot with 400ASA film does not give the best results from high speed racing, as I discovered after the first session was blurrilly developed!
On track, we have flag marshalls and rescue marshalls.
I am a flaggie, we have no actual 'training', just teaching from experienced members. Whereas the rescue marshalls have full training in how to get people out of cars, fire extinguishing etc.
Any flaggie can get this training, but you need to be at least 18 to do the rescue part, because of the risk involved.
Us flaggies arent allowed to go onto the track and help the rescue guys, so we have in a way less responsibiltiy but can focus more on the job at hand, namely waving frantically trying to get those insane drivers to SLOW DOWN!!!
Until QUEENSTOWN rescue marshalls were non-existent.
The rules are admittedly far more lax in NZ, especially at the Taupo track - a tiny facility run almost entirely by locals, so it isnt quite as strict.
We are tightening up our act constantly though, especially with the massvie upgrades being planned
reviewing this post im not quite sure how close my foot is to my mouth but oh well...
Pelo said: ....but I only ever take pictures when there are at least another 2 people on my point, and they know I'm snapping away. I do choose my moments carefully. You should see where the bloody Magazine photographers stand.........I am a flaggie........so we have in a way less responsibiltiy but can focus more on the job at hand, namely waving frantically trying to get those insane drivers to SLOW DOWN!!!
Not wishing to labour the point Pelo, but as a 'flagie' in the UK a marshal's responsibility is to alert drivers of....
1. Being followed/passed by other drivers (blue flag).
2. An incident has occurred at your post or at the next post (yellow flag).
3. Oil/slippery track (red/yellow flag).
4. Stopped race (red flag) after initial flag is put out at start line.
5. Clear track after yellow at previous post (green flag).
If you are on blue, then you are extremely occupied watching the progress of cars through the field so you don't give a blue flag to the wrong driver!
So given these tasks, I don't see how you can say that you have less responsibility than the incident marshals. BTW - a magazine photographer is there as it is his job...if he's being stupid and standing in a dangerous position, then as a marshal you can ask him to move.
Rant over....I stopped marshalling in the 80s due to family and work commitments, but as a spectator, I know these standards remain in the UK.
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