Marshals Camping

[Guinness2702]

Originally Posted by The_Viper

I used to camp, but now I have a caravan - makes drying out easier!! I've marshalled at all the circuits around the UK except Lydden and all except one will let you on site on the Friday.
Oulton Park is the only one where they wouldn't let me on site until after midday on the Friday and, I'm not sure if it's standard practice, everyone had to be off site by 8pm on the Sunday evening. I had intended staying until Monday morning as it's a long haul, but got thrown off - not impressed!!!

I had a caravan for a year, but went back to the tent for last season. Partly due to the caravan being very second hand, but the cost of towing it and running it was really the clincher.

Only been to Oulton for bumper cars a couplathree times, but the instructions have always given you advance warning, when I've been anyway, that you have to be off the campsite on Sunday night.

[Mike Kelly 1]

Originally Posted by The_Viper

Oulton Park is the only one where they wouldn't let me on site until after midday on the Friday and, I'm not sure if it's standard practice, everyone had to be off site by 8pm on the Sunday evening. I had intended staying until Monday morning as it's a long haul, but got thrown off - not impressed!!!

That is standard practice at Oulton Park, has been for as long as I can remember.

[Stack]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly 1

That is standard practice at Oulton Park, has been for as long as I can remember.

Also - bar the BTCC - you get put in with the general (and noisy) public. I did not marshal the Monday of the Gold Cup. After being kept awake half the night by revellers I packed up and went home. I shall never return until there are proper camping facilities for marshals.

I love the Gold Cup and the only plus side to my refusal is that this year it clashes with the WSCC at Silverstone so I wouldn't have been going anyway.

[Tris1976]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly 1

That is standard practice at Oulton Park, has been for as long as I can remember.

One to strike off the list of potential places to add to my marshalling calander this year then. Glad that I read this before applying for any of the events held there, with a minimum of 4 and half hours (and that is with no traffic) home I'd like to have the option to stay uintil Monday.

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by Stack

Also - bar the BTCC - you get put in with the general (and noisy) public. I did not marshal the Monday of the Gold Cup. After being kept awake half the night by revellers I packed up and went home. I shall never return until there are proper camping facilities for marshals.

I love the Gold Cup and the only plus side to my refusal is that this year it clashes with the WSCC at Silverstone so I wouldn't have been going anyway.

Stack, for the bigger events, like BTCC and Im sure the Gold Cup too, we, at Oulton, are put in the top of the 40 acre field away from the main population but shared with Family camping. Seems to suit most.

[Stack]

Originally Posted by Justin Moran

Stack, for the bigger events, like BTCC and Im sure the Gold Cup too, we, at Oulton, are put in the top of the 40 acre field away from the main population but shared with Family camping. Seems to suit most.

The 40 acre field (sounds like Winnie the pooh!!) is NOT used for the Gold Cup, trust me!

[paul leedham]

I'm with Stack on this one, after the experience of the last couple of years having to mix with Joe public I will be else where that week end.

[Stack]

Originally Posted by paul leedham

I'm with Stack on this one, after the experience of the last couple of years having to mix with Joe public I will be else where that week end.

Silverstone and Mallory I presume....

[EvilPumpkin]

Is the Sunday night thing at all negotiable at Oulton? We were really hoping to go this year, but I can't imagine we'd be up for driving back to Holyhead on the Sunday night

[Mark Mitchell]

Originally Posted by EvilPumpkin

Is the Sunday night thing at all negotiable at Oulton? We were really hoping to go this year, but I can't imagine we'd be up for driving back to Holyhead on the Sunday night

Doubt it very much tbh - even the BTCC/BSB peeps have to bugger off on Sunday!

[Mike Kelly 1]

Originally Posted by Tris1976

One to strike off the list of potential places to add to my marshalling calander this year then. Glad that I read this before applying for any of the events held there, with a minimum of 4 and half hours (and that is with no traffic) home I'd like to have the option to stay uintil Monday.

When i travel down to Pembrey i head straight home on the Sunday night. Normally do Pembrey to Preston in just over 4 hours. Funnily enough, when i camp at Pembrey its in with competitors etc. No "marshals camp site" at Pembrey either.

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by EvilPumpkin

Is the Sunday night thing at all negotiable at Oulton? We were really hoping to go this year, but I can't imagine we'd be up for driving back to Holyhead on the Sunday night

Originally Posted by Mark Mitchell

Doubt it very much tbh - even the BTCC/BSB peeps have to bugger off on Sunday!

Looks like Oulton is off the list then, not particularly interested in breaking camp and having to either drive all the way back to HH overnight or find somewhere close to Oulton to arrive at in the evening and pitch up for an overnight.

[EvilPumpkin]

Well worst case, there's a couple of caravan sites near Oulton so we could look into that.

It's just a shame that there are so few circuits with in easy reach of Holyhead. Possibly we could get the UK put on some kind of rotunda so we can rotate it to put whichever port is best for us on the Irish side?

Anyway, sorry, no intent to hijack.

Maybe a list of circuits and camping facilities might be helpful if people want to contribute? I can certainly recommend Anglesey. They've been absolutely brilliant with us, even letting us move the caravan into the shelter of the scrutiny sheds the weekend of the "hurricane".

[Tris1976]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly 1

When i travel down to Pembrey i head straight home on the Sunday night. Normally do Pembrey to Preston in just over 4 hours. Funnily enough, when i camp at Pembrey its in with competitors etc. No "marshals camp site" at Pembrey either.

Mike,

If I didn't live within 25 miniutes of Pembrey and I was in line for camping there, then it too would be another one that probably wouldn't make my travelling list.

Fair play to you that you are OK with a long drive home on a Sunday, but as with everyone else these days I am having to being more choosey about where I go to due to the fuel costs, so the Sunday stay over night has now become a factor for every other circuit that I could travel to.

[BandanaMan]

This year will be my first full year of marshalling and I havn't yet camped at a circuit (unless you count Donnington for Download Festival in 2011 ). For 2012, I intend to start camping over though rather than driving to and from respective circuits every evening and morning costing me a bomb in fuel.

On smaller events after the racing has ended and the cars have been put to bed, what is there to do? Do they tend to keep a bar open to go and have a few drinks, socialise and keep warm until you're ready to turn in or is it a case of bedding down in your tent with a good book and try to keep warm?

[kipper]

Originally Posted by BandanaMan

On smaller events after the racing has ended and the cars have been put to bed, what is there to do? Do they tend to keep a bar open to go and have a few drinks, socialise and keep warm until you're ready to turn in or is it a case of bedding down in your tent with a good book and try to keep warm?

The availability of a bar being open varies from circuit to circuit. For instance, its rarely the case at the likes of Silverstone or Donington, but is generally available at Snetterton or Cadwell. Notwithstanding this, a fair few people take some drinks with them and generally socialise on the camp site/paddock.

[Guinness2702]

Originally Posted by kipper

The availability of a bar being open varies from circuit to circuit. For instance, its rarely the case at the likes of Silverstone or Donington, but is generally available at Snetterton or Cadwell. Notwithstanding this, a fair few people take some drinks with them and generally socialise on the camp site/paddock.

Too right....hell, half the fun of marshalling for me is the craic on the campsite on a Friday/Saturday night.

For the times when there aren't many around, or the weather is such that it's necessary to take shelter, I have a portable DVD player, and sometimes take my laptop, and if you're really looking to pass time, even the little things like going for a shower, cooking, and preparing sandwiches for the next day will keep you occupied and over the course of a season (even assuming you have to buy cooking kit), will save you a few quid too.

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by BandanaMan

On smaller events after the racing has ended and the cars have been put to bed, what is there to do? Do they tend to keep a bar open to go and have a few drinks, socialise and keep warm until you're ready to turn in or is it a case of bedding down in your tent with a good book and try to keep warm?

Well when we camp we have the Ten-Tenths flag up on a pole so people come and say hello, then there's the communal BBQ, and if it's a nice night then there's plenty of sitting around swapping "war stories" and enjoying "cocktails of an evening".

Oooh, I should get a projector and hook it up to the laptop and project crash videos on to the side of the caravan!

[Mike Kelly 1]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Oooh, I should get a projector and hook it up to the laptop and project crash videos on to the side of the caravan!

YES

If you get up to Anglesey then the bar is at the centre of the evenings activitities on the Friday and Saturday nights. (note - the bar has just been taken over by new management who are refurbishing the kitchen prior to re-opening in a few weeks time) You can also kill a few hours in the evening down at the sea as well Wifi is available in the paddock and camping area if you want to connect with world whilst camping.

[BandanaMan]

Thanks for the responses guys, now I know a little more about what to expect. My usualy patch it Snetterton so I'm glad to see that the bar is usually open.

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly 1

YES

If you get up to Anglesey then the bar is at the centre of the evenings activitities on the Friday and Saturday nights. (note - the bar has just been taken over by new management who are refurbishing the kitchen prior to re-opening in a few weeks time) You can also kill a few hours in the evening down at the sea as well Wifi is available in the paddock and camping area if you want to connect with world whilst camping.

Now that's what I call facilities.

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by BandanaMan

Thanks for the responses guys, now I know a little more about what to expect. My usualy patch it Snetterton so I'm glad to see that the bar is usually open.



Now that's what I call facilities.

You better believe it! I've travelled fairly extensively and can say, hand on heart, Anglesey is my favourite UK circuit!