How many of these meetings will be cancelled

[mark ch]

I have just noticed on the motorsport news calender an amazing clash of meetings in one weekend, the question is how many will have to be cancelled due to lack of officals /drivers not just marshals... the meeting line up is as follows

20-Jun-03 Silverstone MGCC
21-Jun-03 Silverstone MGCC Int
21-Jun-03 Snetterton HSCC
21-Jun-03 Oulton Park JCC
21-Jun-03 Castle Combe BRSCC F3/GT
21-Jun-03 Rockingham BARC BTCC
21-Jun-03 Pembrey BARC
21-Jun-03 Silverstone BARC Stowe
21-Jun-03 Lydden Hill SEMSEC
21-Jun-03 Donington Park VSCC Vintage Festival
22-Jun-03 Donington Park VSCC Vintage Festival
22-Jun-03 Silverstone BARC Stowe
22-Jun-03 Cadwell Park BRSCC
22-Jun-03 Pembrey BARC
22-Jun-03 Silverstone MGCC Int
22-Jun-03 Castle Combe BRSCC F3/GT
22-Jun-03 Mallory BRSCC
22-Jun-03 Snetterton HSCC
22-Jun-03 Rockingham BARC BTCC
22-Jun-03 Anglesey Rallycross

BARC/ BRSCC both have 3 meetings on the same days

This isn’t fair on anyone, officals /drivers..... we know some these meeting will have to cancelled so why did the MSA allow it to happen...... Isn’t it about time the MSA took control from the clubs and scheluded events proper

[Piglet]

I don't know about the small meetings, but I think you'll find that the MSA do oversee timetabling of the larger ones.

Not sure exactly where your info came from but the F3/GT meeting at Castle Combe is run by the BRDC not the BRSCC.

[mark ch]

But it's not the small clubs that suffer, thats my point.. The data came from julian floyd's site I changed the BTCC venues missed the organisers.. oops

[Stuart Hill]

there's another meeting as well!!! British Hillclimb round at Loton Park, both days!!!!

[Richard Sneader]

Just to let everyone know the 24hr 2CV meeting at Snetterton in June is not going to be cancled but still require more marshals. If you have the time to spare and are not going over the water then give BARC a ring and volunteer.
Rich.

[Piglet]

I wasn't commenting on who suffers, just that I think that the MSA do have a hand in approving dates.

[sss]

you are just nibbling at the surface,you also need to remember alll the other motorsport events be they run by msa, acu, nora etc etc as many marshal for other organisations,

the biggest problem is down to they are only so many weekends a year and so many venues and so many competitors to get racing in whatever form they choose.

so i dont think its as simple as just getting the msa to organise a season

[ss_collins]

factor in rallies as well as many marshals are dual.

[Woolley]

And I shall be at a sprint at Llandow...

[Cynic]

I can't believe that the organising clubs haven't picked this up. Three or four meetings on the same day is usual, but 9? (just counting the circuit meetings). If the lack of marshals is as bad as some people fear, then this is really going to stretch resources.

[Stephen Green]

Sad as it is to say this, if one of two meetings get cancelled due to lack of officials, it may open one or two peoples eyes. However, I suspect the practice of 'moving people around on the circuit' will happen to make it look as though there are more marshals than there really are.

[b1ackcr0w]

I suspect this is another case that, complain as we might, nothing will change until meetings bite the dust and money is lost.

One question I would ask is that wasn't one of the objectives of setting up BMP to ensure that the top flight British Motorsport events were properly organised, co-ordinated and promoted? Even if the needs of the officials running the meetings aren't enough to shift the wheels commerce - surely the overlapping spectator catchment demographic of Touring cars at the Rock and GT/F3 at Combe on the same days, makes no business sense at all?!

[Stevespurr]

who plans all these meetings i think they should get a new crystal ball. isnt that the weekend for the annual marshalls summer ball on the isle of white?

[neil_davidson2]

Something in a similar vein was mentioned in the "National Racing" forum. Next years Willhire for the Britcars is planned to be 24hours around the Silverstone GP circuit. Obviously manning that is going to be tough enough as it is - but will any organising clubs take that into consideration when planning meetings for the same weekend?

[Bob Pearson]

The real cause of the problem is the MSA's failure to clamp down on the introduction of new formulas. Most of those meetings listed at the top of this thread will involve half full grids, but of course they still need the correct complement of marshals.

[Mike Holmes]

MGCC meeting at Silverstone is their big meeting of the year and will feature over-subscribed grids so if you want to marshall at a meeting with plenty of competitors this is the one to go for!! I agree though that there are too many series now with too few competitors. I raced at Mallory recently where one race had 4 entries and another 7!! I am led to believe that any championship that does not produce an average grid of 15 cars over the year will have it's status revoked, I wait to see but I am not holding my breath as the MSA moves in mysterious ways!

[Stephen Green]

Welcome to Ten-Tenths Mike.

I can recommend the MGCC meeting to anyone who wishes to marshal. Last years meeting at Brands was fantastic with excellent races, full grids and drivers and a club that appreviate marshals. I hope you get more volunteers than you need Mike!

[Richard Sneader]

cadwell Park is looking for marshals for their BRSCC meting on the 18th May as they are a bit thin on the ground.
This is one of the greatest circuits around and if you have never been its worth it.
Give the BRSCC a call and volunteer for it.
Rich.

[Pete Howarth]

Anyone interested in the 18th May at Cadwell Park, can PM me and I will put their names forward.
Nice to see you yesterday Richard
Pete

[scorch]

Back onto praseing the MGCC meeting, they always appreciate marshalls and on the two day event always have a free barbeque and large amounts of old Speckled hen, plus and most important they always have good racing...

BUT back on topic I feel the answer to the question 'how many meetings will be cancelled' I fear will be none...
I don't believe that the MSA steward (or however's responsibility) will ever cancel a meeting on the day due to lack of safety cover.

There have already been a meeting this year with below minimum numbers, eg IO plus one other and only 50% of posts had an observer.

Please somebody prove me wrong?

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by scorch
There have already been a meeting this year with below minimum numbers, eg IO plus one other and only 50% of posts had an observer.

'Minimum' is not, as far as I know, officially defined. The Blue Book just stipulates that an 'adequate number of competent marshals must be on duty throughout the event'.

I've done a lot of meetings where I've been the only incident marshal on post. IOs? A luxury at many circuits!

[b1ackcr0w]

Fair point Mr Brand.

I wondered about this earlier on this year. The only possible improvement I could think of that made any sense was for the MSA to decide for each circuit, what the minimum staffing level was. That way, there would be a more meaningful lower limit, but each circuit would still have their circumstances and circuit problems taken into consideration.

I don't honestly know if that's a good idea or a bad idea.

[Piglet]

Competent is not defined either which throws another spanner into the works!

I think B1ackcr0w is on the right lines with a circuit minimum and I think that this might be done in some shape or form with the track licence. I think it at lease details marshals' posts - anyone know?

[Stephen Green]

I believe the licence shows the number of marshals posts.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by Piglet
Competent is not defined either which throws another spanner into the works!

A very contentious area - I understand that from this year ACU marshals licences will not show specific grades to avoid legal complications in the event of litigation.

I think B1ackcr0w is on the right lines with a circuit minimum and I think that this might be done in some shape or form with the track licence. I think it at lease details marshals' posts - anyone know?

If you want to see minimum levels, just look at how many marshals the circuits employ for track days, etc!