Volunteering or marshalling

Volunteering or marshalling

Author
Discussion

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Friday 12th January
quotequote all
Hi All
Random question for you all. Has anyone ever volunteered or been a volunteer marshall for the race?
I ask as this year I finally got round to renewing my ACO membership, only to miss the boat on getting entry tickets. I've now been asked if I would be interested in volunteering for the ACO for the year.
I didn't know if anyone else on here would have any experience?

FredericRobinson

3,938 posts

239 months

Friday 12th January
quotequote all
Given the attendance figures and the prices charged nobody should be working at the event without being paid.

I understand the race marshals situation, but if the ACO are asking for voluntary service this won't be to do that job

LM240

4,881 posts

225 months

Friday 12th January
quotequote all
I’ve not seen anything from ACO about voluntary roles. In what capacity is it?

I know there are a lot of UK marshals that participate, but these are accredited marshals who do so within the UK motor racing scene, rather than simply being a volunteer for the 24hrs.

No idea what the ‘reward’ is, but I don’t think it is much, though interested in info if anyone has proper insight?

I have thought it would be interesting and a different way to experience the event. I salute those who do it, as it seems a long and tiring week.

I don’t know what the ACO would expect someone to volunteer for without some sort of incentive.

Aysedasi2

580 posts

24 months

Saturday 13th January
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FredericRobinson said:
Given the attendance figures and the prices charged nobody should be working at the event without being paid.

I understand the race marshals situation, but if the ACO are asking for voluntary service this won't be to do that job
Not necessarily. I've volunteered at Goodwood for several years. I 'marshal' a grandstand at the three days of the Revival. I've done the FOS too. I don't get paid, but I get a packed lunch, I 'work' for the morning and then get each afternoon to watch the racing for free. It depends what the role is and what you get....

Edited by Aysedasi2 on Saturday 13th January 08:39

FredericRobinson

3,938 posts

239 months

Saturday 13th January
quotequote all
Aysedasi2 said:
Not necessarily. I've volunteered at Goodwood for several years. I 'marshal' a grandstand at the three days of the Revival. I've done the FOS too. I don't get paid, but I get a packed lunch, I 'work' for the morning and then get each afternoon to watch the racing for free. It depends what the role is and what you get....

Edited by Aysedasi2 on Saturday 13th January 08:39
That sounds fair enough, it doesn’t seem to be the case at Silverstone or Test matches from what I’ve seen, obviously people are happy to volunteer, but I still think it’s out of order for commercial operations to not pay.

Aysedasi2

580 posts

24 months

Saturday 13th January
quotequote all
If the 'quid pro quo' is good enough (as it is for me and hundreds of others at Goodwood), then it works for both parties. I can even ask for my location at the Revival. I wouldn't volunteer for Le Mans as whatever the volunteering duties were, it would detract from what I want to do each year.

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Monday 15th January
quotequote all
LM240 said:
I’ve not seen anything from ACO about voluntary roles. In what capacity is it?

I know there are a lot of UK marshals that participate, but these are accredited marshals who do so within the UK motor racing scene, rather than simply being a volunteer for the 24hrs.

No idea what the ‘reward’ is, but I don’t think it is much, though interested in info if anyone has proper insight?

I have thought it would be interesting and a different way to experience the event. I salute those who do it, as it seems a long and tiring week.

I don’t know what the ACO would expect someone to volunteer for without some sort of incentive.
I had a phone call on Friday from our guys in our factory in Le Mans who mentions they have asked locals if they would want to be a volunteer / marshall. I don't know too much at the moment and to what capacity it is. I would assume things like ticket checks and the like, but the marshalling has really intrigued me.

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Monday 15th January
quotequote all
Aysedasi2 said:
Not necessarily. I've volunteered at Goodwood for several years. I 'marshal' a grandstand at the three days of the Revival. I've done the FOS too. I don't get paid, but I get a packed lunch, I 'work' for the morning and then get each afternoon to watch the racing for free. It depends what the role is and what you get....

Edited by Aysedasi2 on Saturday 13th January 08:39
This is kind of what I am expecting to be honest.

Aysedasi2

580 posts

24 months

Monday 15th January
quotequote all
scanner102 said:
I had a phone call on Friday from our guys in our factory in Le Mans who mentions they have asked locals if they would want to be a volunteer / marshall. I don't know too much at the moment and to what capacity it is. I would assume things like ticket checks and the like, but the marshalling has really intrigued me.
Well, it's not going to be marshalling, in the 'on track' sense.

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Monday 15th January
quotequote all
Aysedasi2 said:
Well, it's not going to be marshalling, in the 'on track' sense.
I questioned if it's marshalling car parks haha

Aysedasi2

580 posts

24 months

Tuesday 16th January
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scanner102 said:
I questioned if it's marshalling car parks haha
Entirely possible. Brain death stuff. When I first volunteered at Goodwood I was worried that I'd be in a car park all morning but all of my stints have been on 'front-loading' grandstands with a decent view of the action. I'm now of sufficient standing as well that I can ask for the same position each year which means that I work with the same group of guys and gals too, which is really rather nice.

leyorkie

1,682 posts

183 months

Tuesday 16th January
quotequote all
The call goes out every year in the local press for marshals, usually students or unemployed. I’m assuming it’s for parking or crowd control.
Trackside marshals have to attend training days before the event and are trackside from Wednesday, there are some posts managed by British personnel usually down in the woods, I’ve been a “guest “ and it’s quite a camp site some distance from the track. It’s not the kind of set up that allows much viewing of the event, access is by car as it’s a long way to the village passing through many manned gates.
It’s not my idea of à sporting weekend, I prefer to spend the weekend coming and going as I like.

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th January
quotequote all
leyorkie said:
The call goes out every year in the local press for marshals, usually students or unemployed. I’m assuming it’s for parking or crowd control.
Trackside marshals have to attend training days before the event and are trackside from Wednesday, there are some posts managed by British personnel usually down in the woods, I’ve been a “guest “ and it’s quite a camp site some distance from the track. It’s not the kind of set up that allows much viewing of the event, access is by car as it’s a long way to the village passing through many manned gates.
It’s not my idea of à sporting weekend, I prefer to spend the weekend coming and going as I like.
It could well be something to do like that I think as training days have been mentioned. I hope to find out soon, as time is cracking on

Aysedasi2

580 posts

24 months

Wednesday 17th January
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As I suggested, this will almost certainly NOT be trackside marshals. They are far from being volunteer amateurs with a day or two of training!

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Wednesday 29th May
quotequote all
Hi All
Sorry to drag my old thread up again, but finally (yes finally with only days to go), we have had it confirmed as to what I will be doing.
I will be inside the track supporting the marshals with the new recovery telehandlers which we are suppling the ACO for the next three years.
Unfortunately I have missed the opportunity to get any of the machines into the UK after the race (thankyou Brexit...) otherwise I would have cheekily dropped some PH stickers on the machines, so that if they do appear on TV, we will get a bit of an advert for the club biggrin

Anyway, I may well see some of you there and you may well see me whizzing round in a support vehicle with CLAAS written down the side of it.
Buzzing!

FredericRobinson

3,938 posts

239 months

Wednesday 29th May
quotequote all
scanner102 said:
Hi All
Sorry to drag my old thread up again, but finally (yes finally with only days to go), we have had it confirmed as to what I will be doing.
I will be inside the track supporting the marshals with the new recovery telehandlers which we are suppling the ACO for the next three years.
Unfortunately I have missed the opportunity to get any of the machines into the UK after the race (thankyou Brexit...) otherwise I would have cheekily dropped some PH stickers on the machines, so that if they do appear on TV, we will get a bit of an advert for the club biggrin

Anyway, I may well see some of you there and you may well see me whizzing round in a support vehicle with CLAAS written down the side of it.
Buzzing!
Hang on, no more Manitous?

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Thursday 30th May
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FredericRobinson said:
Hang on, no more Manitous?
Nope, all gone.

FredericRobinson

3,938 posts

239 months

Thursday 30th May
quotequote all
scanner102 said:
Nope, all gone.
That's most upsetting, like Spa without the Verviers Depannage trucks

scanner102

Original Poster:

64 posts

140 months

Thursday 30th May
quotequote all
FredericRobinson said:
That's most upsetting, like Spa without the Verviers Depannage trucks
Sorry I don't follow. We already have 22 machines on site for the race. It will be just the same, but with green telehandlers not red ones

Photo from a training session we gave to the marshals

FredericRobinson

3,938 posts

239 months

Thursday 30th May
quotequote all
scanner102 said:
Sorry I don't follow. We already have 22 machines on site for the race. It will be just the same, but with green telehandlers not red ones

Photo from a training session we gave to the marshals
Manitou are synonymous with Le Mans, it won’t be the same without them.

(Don’t take any comments too seriously, I‘m sure it will be a huge thrill for you to be involved)