How did you get into marshalling?

[Tim_]

What were your first experiences of marhslling and what prompted you to start and carry on? Mine was through a few of my mates at uni, I decided to go to Mallory park with them and thanks to a member on here I had an absolutely ace time, even though next to nothing happened on my post.

Incidentally it was my first time to ever see a race or go to a track, it's not that I hadn't made the effort beforehand, it was actually getting to places.

Over to you guys, i'm sure there are a fair few interesting stories!

[bludvl_x19]

This is easy. I saw an advertisment in the local rag asking for volunteers to help at the V8's, and to attend a training day. Wasn't really my thing (v8's) but i went along anyway. Glad I did, Ive met some good people, and had a lot of fun times since.

Mick

[The Fat Clerk]

Stopped racing in 83 after a bit of an accident at Eau Rouge (fractured skull, Coma etc), spent the next couple of years spannering for friends, but they started getting married, having kids etc, so I thought a good way of keeping involved & giving something back to the sport would be to start marshalling which I did in 86. Worked up to X Observer and am now a Clerk of the Course and a MSA Steward.
My wife Elaine started marshalling because she used to support her brother (Steve Taylor) racing, and she got asked to help out in Race Control one day and has never looked back.

[HairyDJ]

wondered about it for years, then spotted a request for help in the CSMA magazine - ended up with the pair of us on the start line at Milbrook for a very long day (in pouring rain) for the WECC.

That led us to rallycross at Lydden, where we were given a fantasic welcome, and given plenty to do, by Ade Dawkins & Chris Bird. This led us to BMMC and the welcomes started to flow .......

I'm back at Milbrook in a week or so and will hopefully understand a bit more this time around - fingers crossed for better weather this year.

[Guinness2702]

http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....2&postcount=21

[numbersix]

I saw a nasty incident years ago and watched The Orange leap into action. Had the overwhelming desire to jump the spectator fencing and help out. I didn't, obviously, but the force was strong. Bumped into a marshal at my campsite, got talking and have never looked back.

[MPA]

My Goldfish died and I needed new company.

Serious for a minute. I was a spectator for years and decided to jump the fence. It just happened without too much thought, seemed like a good idea at the time.

[Tim_]

Originally Posted by Guinness2702

http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....2&postcount=21

Good post, some good points in there too. I didn't have the problem of trying to find overalls and gloves. If a circuit was to provide a small number of overalls, gloves and maybe even boots(?) and it was quite well known which circuits have this then I think people will be more willing to give it a go, partly because it'd be less effort on their part trying to source spare sets of probans

Anyway, back to the topic

[Guinness2702]

Originally Posted by Tim_

I didn't have the problem of trying to find overalls and gloves.

And what's more, my overalls arrived as I was reading this

PS. Thanks!

[marshal_man]

I started through my Dad started in the paddock loved it and then started doing track days had lots of incidents then couldnt wait to get out on the bank.

[NICK ALLISON]

Watched motor racing at Silverstone as a youth,got involved in race car preparation for hill climbs for a bit.Moved to London wanted to stay involved and the rest is history.

[Burnsie]

I remember wanting to be a marshal for quite a while, but like others have said, it wasn't easy to figure out how to go about it! But last August I sent an email to the BMMC N.Ireland chairman, he rang me the next day and the following weekend I was on post with EvilPumpkin and Jennifer_ni. And we all lived happily ever after...

[richrad smith]

I got involved through volunteers in motorsport
after using the contact form on the ViM website and a wait of I think it was about 4-6 weeks I was invited to a SMRC Training day @ knockhill on a rather cold March day. 2 Weeks after that training day I was out on post

[Miss Pebbles]

I saw the stand at Autosport show and picked up the info but didnt do anything about it til the GP that year, got chatting to some marshals on the track after the race and decided to get my ass in gear and do it

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by burnsie

the following weekend I was on post with EvilPumpkin and Jennifer_ni. And we all lived happily ever after...

...and you came back for more?

[Terrible-Tones]

I used to think Marshalling was a full time paid job (don't know why - just assumed I think!!) then last years GP was on telly and Martin Brundle mentioned marshalling and the website to go to (BMMC).

Did just that and have not looked back. Did find it very confusing at first - many different clubs and many different ways of volunteering - but it now makes sense!

At my first meeting (Brooklands at Silverstone - BARC 2007) I was told by the IO (a certain Mr Magnet) that it would be useful to be involved in a big incident inside the training period but that it probably wouldn't happen!

30 seconds later major pile up on the National Straight with MX-5's - two extractions and two very bent cars - hooked ever since!

[Dunc]

After being a season ticket holder for a couple of years I fancied being on the other side of the barrier, me and a friend were approached by a marshal and asked for a few details for a form and have been at most events at Knockhil since and loving it and looking forwar to britcar 24Hr in September

[Alan.F]

Marshalling is something i have wanted to do for years, But didnt have to bottle to find out about it, Then one day towards the end of last season i thought sod it and googled marshalling and came across the BMMC only done 5 meets up to now but i am really enjoying myself. And got to do my first incident last week during the Jedi race at Oulton i was on Old Hall

[Sticker Rub]

I've spectated for years but the wife's never been interested, the kids got older & found "more interesting" things to do so I often ended up going on my own. I came across a comment on a forum that marshals were in short supply & decided to sign up.

I bought my probans, boots gloves etc before my first meeting so I've got to carry on to get value for money out of them

[Bryan Degerlund]

My late father marshalled for BARC in '50s and '60s. I started with BARC at age of 18, but due to other commitments only did single figures attendance each year, mixing flagging and startline/pits.

In 1983 I moved to Dartford, and joined BRSCC as startline marshal, as BRSCC ran most meetings at Brands Hatch in those days. Rapidly rose through ranks to Chief Startline/Starter, also for BHRC and now MSVR. Currently do about 50 -60 days per year, incl. BARC, 750MC and HSCC. Over the years I have had the privilege of marshalling Long Beach, Las Vegas, Dubai and Korea, GPs in Zolder, Spa and Austria, 24-hour races at Le Mans, Nurburgring, Silverstone and Snetterton, club races at Zandvoort and Croix, and most circuits in England plus Knockhill -- I have not yet managed to do a Welsh circuit, but as I got married in Wales I tend to give it a wide berth

Unfortunately, now being an OAP and with the high costs of fuel and accommodation (tents becoming more impractical) I will have to be more selective about "away" days.

Of course there have been "dark days" when I have thought -- what am I doing here? -- but some banter with fellow marshals or some exciting racing have quickly recharged the batteries.

[JEP]

When Donington reopened in 1977 I started spectating there; on one of my visits there was an article in the programme entitled "I'm sorry if I'm standing in front of you" which explained briefly what marshalling was about and how to get involved. I wrote to the contact, Barry Preece as I remember, who sent me some newsletters which contained social and training dates. So joined in October 1977, my first meeting was Donington Post H (11/12 now) for the British F3 round. Drivers included Tiff Needell, N. Mansell, Derek Warwick, Chico Serra, Nelson Piquet, Stefan Johansson, Andrea de Cesaris, Ian Flux, et al. So off to a good start, later that year did the F2, as well as quite a few clubbies, was made very welcome by all and was hooked. Graded at leisure, eventually becoming X-OBS. Unfortunately in 2005 I became disabled and am unable to marshal now, but marshalling colleagues are regularly in touch and I am still able to visit Donington; though the "wrong" side of the wire is not so interesting. Best day this year was being able to help out Team Wilson with the recruiting drive at the Donington BTTC event, good to be involved again. Hopefully in the future, some of our recruits will be able to look back on a long involvement in our hobby and recall the BTCT meeting where it all started for them.

JEP

[Burnsie]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

...and you came back for more?

Absolutley! But I admit that I was a bit bowled-over when I saw three flags - red, yellow and white - being waved at the same time... until then I had thought that flagging was straightforward enough, but now I know otherwise!

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by burnsie

Absolutley! But I admit that I was a bit bowled-over when I saw three flags - red, yellow and white - being waved at the same time... until then I had thought that flagging was straightforward enough, but now I know otherwise!

I can remember being the Observer @ Copse years ago @ an MG Car Club meeting and seeing Tim Perrin do the above @ the Copse In Flag Point.

[ascarracinguk]

i was 16 at the time and was spectating with my mum at redgate at the britis gt meeting when shane bland had his huge accident in the marcos. seeing the marshals go to work with such a scary accident, having to deal with the crowd and still working together and keeping a level head kind of hit home to me and i decided that day i wanted to try and do the same......so i signed up to he cause that same day!

[Whitestar]

I started 20 years ago when a mate took me to Donington for a Touring car race
and as we walked around the circuit we saw a sign (want to be a marshal) signed up that day and did my first day a week later.Coppice out post 19. Learned very quick that day and never looked back. As for ascarracimguk I was the I/O at Redgate for Shanes GT incident .That made my second broken neck of the weekend plus the Heart attack in the public when he hit the wall.