The scanner mega-thread

[Stoowert]

Let me say straight away that I'm a PC, mainly at Brands, but I do wander. However, I very rarely visit Silverstone and I've never been an IO. So no axe to grind. I can understand why some IO's are worried about the use/abuse of scanners. Once S hits the F they are responsible for anyone who goes on the noisy side of the armco. Therefore he/she has to be confident that he can trust their team to perform. Nicetities are out of the window, lives could be at risk. Would you like that on your conscience? Having said that, a bit of give-and-take goes a long way in team building. When I give my morning briefing I underline the fact that your IO is the boss on the other side of the armco. I'm off to Combe tomorrow...with my scanner. I'll ask my IO's opinion (or is that a "Oh Arrrrr" in Wiltshire?

[M Greenslade]

Is it not time for Silverstone to conform to the norm and use the same system and hand the Radio's to the Post Chiefs rather than th I.O's and let them get on with the job in hand rather than the reporting.


This is the very reason, why I won't and never will Observer at Silverstone, stuff them!!!!

Bladders..............

[The Fat Clerk]

I say, bit strong there old boy

[M Greenslade]

I say, bit strong there old boy

Yes I know but that is the truth of it.

Trust that you are well?

Bladders........

[Peter Scillitoe]

Originally Posted by M Greenslade

Is it not time for Silverstone to conform to the norm and use the same system and hand the Radio's to the Post Chiefs rather than th I.O's and let them get on with the job in hand rather than the reporting.


This is the very reason, why I won't and never will Observer at Silverstone, stuff them!!!!

Bladders..............

Me too. I go anywhere, but never Silverstone. I heard things there were changing for the better with the new marshals management team, and I thought well maybe I might change my mind and give the place a try out. Then I saw this and thought................the bad old days are back. I have kept quiet until now, but frankly I am appalled that this thread has been running for a few weeks now, and nobody from Silverstone marshals management and/or individual Silverstone I.O.'s have posted here to clarify the position. Fair play to the MSA, Chris Hobson and the various clubs who have responded quickly to this. I have to assume that 10-Tenths is a "Silverstone IO's" free zone. It is clear from conversations with marshals at this weekend's BTCC who have marshalled at Silverstone this year that the 'no scanner' rule is being applied by some - if not all - Silverstone IO's, i.e this is not a rumour it is fact. How this can be applied if the individual clubs who pay large bucks to hire the circuit are happy at PC's discretion for scanners to be used is an interesting question.

Nuff said for the time being.

[M Greenslade]

Stick to places like Cadwell, Thruxton and Mallory and enjoy being there, that is what I do.............

[M Greenslade]

Sorry, Castle Combe as well!.....

[deadsquirrel]

In this day and age, with such things as 10/10ths - information is easily disseminated and compared. So, what started as a 'have you heard' statement is now confirmed by various sources - certainly the IO on my post at the weekend also stated no scanners were to be used, for various nafarious reasons - legality, MSA etc.

I marshal at many circuits in many marshalling roles, but have never (till now) previously limited myself to certain roles at specific circuits. I will certainly vote with my boots and not work incident at Silverstone if scanners are not permitted - I will still marshal there, but probably flag, where under Post Chief control I'll expect to use my scanner (when not given a flag radio).

I will be interested in a considered response from Silverstone Marshal Team or similar - but am not holding my breath.

I agree with rbs's earlier post - it is for Silverstone to move towards other UK circuits, not the other way around.

[M Greenslade]

And probably, Brands, Oulton, Pembrey, Snetterton, Knockhill and anywhere else I may have forgotten (sorry).

Bladders........

[Steven Humphrey]

Our IO didn't object to scanners this weekend at Silverstone if they were used sensibly. Still seems to be a personal thing with some IOs but needs clarification sooner rather than later.

[FRENCHIE44T]

Originally Posted by Mr Don

I agree that a marshal should not act on the scanner, but they do help on many occasions to be prepared, if you are listening you know the session is about to start. You hear what the last car number is of a session, prior to stepping onto the track or not. You will know when to get back on post after a break. Indeed to be prepared for a red flag or SC.

I agree with you on this. There were times when I was on post at Silverstone this weekend when I was a long way from my IO. If I had not had a scanner I would have been totally up the creek. More than once.

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by deadsquirrel

certainly the IO on my post at the weekend also stated no scanners were to be used, for various nafarious reasons - legality, MSA etc.

Both of which, we have ascertained, are bunk, as the MSA have declared it S.E.P. and the Legality can be easily argued against [see my earlier post]. We need the official line from Silverstone about this - but given how busy they've been lately I think it's fair to give them a bit more time to come up with something.

I may be at next weekend's meeting, so I'll see for myself what's going on.

[Piglet]

OK, as the gloves seem to be off a bit now....I'll throw another firework onto the fire...

It's been suggested to me that one of the real concerns about scanners is that some marshals are posting information about incidents on social networking sites such as facebook. I'm told that along with the dislike of scanners is a dislike of mobile phones because of this.

Now....personally, I don't see the link between scanners and info being posted on facebook, all one is likely to get over a scanner at worst is "Car x in at post x immediate stop requested and a doctor" - no more than is blindingly obvious to a spectator sitting nearby and/or to the commentator when the red flag comes out and the doctors car is dispatched.

But...what do we think? I've not seen any facebook posts giving info and IMO if there are individual marshals posting info that is deemed to be inappropriate then these can be dealt with by a word in their ear can't it?

Thoughts?

[cowchap]

Should'nt the way Silverstone organizes its marshals and this ridiculous scanner ruling be two separate threads.I did say on post over the weekend that other marshals will love using this as another stick to beat Silverstone with.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by FRENCHIE44T

I agree with you on this. There were times when I was on post at Silverstone this weekend when I was a long way from my IO. If I had not had a scanner I would have been totally up the creek. More than once.

How would you be totally up the creek?

If the incident is at your feet you should know what to do. If the incident is on the other side of the circuit what creek are you up?

[b1gfrenchy]

I did react to my scanner this weekend when I heard that a car was on fire, I grabbed a bottle & waited behind the barrier in case it pulled off near me. When it didn't come round I stepped back again & carried on as normal (my I O was 100 yards away so could not tell me what may be coming).


Was I wrong?

[Asp]

Originally Posted by b1gfrenchy

I did react to my scanner this weekend when I heard that a car was on fire, I grabbed a bottle & waited behind the barrier in case it pulled off near me. When it didn't come round I stepped back again & carried on as normal (my I O was 100 yards away so could not tell me what may be coming).


Was I wrong?

Nope, that's preparing - not reacting.

Reacting would be running to the edge of the track with the bottle trying to flag it down. Which I wouldn't recommend!!

Of course, without a scanner if it had pulled off with you on fire nothing would have changed (to play devil's advocate) - you'd have grabbed the bottle you were stood near and put the fire out (I hope). But, especially in a long race, hearing it on the scanner just brings you back to the living and increases your awareness, which is only a good thing!

[HairyDJ]

Originally Posted by b1gfrenchy

I did react to my scanner this weekend when I heard that a car was on fire, I grabbed a bottle & waited behind the barrier in case it pulled off near me. When it didn't come round I stepped back again & carried on as normal (my I O was 100 yards away so could not tell me what may be coming).


Was I wrong?

Must have been - I did exactly the same

Some excellent guvnors all weekend - thanks guys. Sad to hear from one of our "first time at Silverstone" chaps that he'd been given an IO morning briefing on the Friday where the majority of it was spent on an anti scanner rant. It clearly created a hostile and unwelcoming feel - something we can't afford to do if we want to keep our numbers up! Hope my box of flapjacks will have been enough to persuade him to come again

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by Piglet

It's been suggested to me that one of the real concerns about scanners is that some marshals are posting information about incidents on social networking sites such as facebook. I'm told that along with the dislike of scanners is a dislike of mobile phones because of this.

Now Mobile phones are a different cuttlefish all together. They can be very distracting, and if there are marshals posting messages on facebook, no doubt along the lines of "ZOMG BIG CRASH!!!!! EVRY1Z DED"* then for one thing, they're not paying attention to the race [which you would be with a scanner by default] and for another, that doesn't really look very professional.

as for the amount of information gained from a scanner, read back to one of my previous posts - if radio is used correctly then unauthorised listeners should be considered before transmitting anything. That way there should be nothing that prompts anyone, marshal or otherwise, to immediately dive down their mobile phones and post junk on facebook or the like.

If the incident happens in front of a crowd of spectators who immediately all get their mobiles out and start tapping the keys with what they can see, then the case against scanners is pretty weak...

*not facebook's biggest fan

[Circuit boy]

Having started this thread, i thought i'd see first hand what was happening.
Nothing at sign on about scanners being banned.
One IO on the next post was happy to have scanners used, our IO said they were banned at all tracks, and didn't want them used, which turns out to be a load of Bo88888s, it's not an MSA thing at all, it appears to be the brain child of certain Chief IO's at the circuit/ this has caused so much bad feeling on the bank, especially amongst new, and marshals who come occasionally being dictaed too in a very poor manor, which does nothing for the reputation of the Silverstone ES, hopefully things will be clarified before next weekend.

[Guinness2702]

"Race control to any marshal at post 9 / 19 with a scanner. Please ensure your phone is on the hook"
- heard this weekend, on the scanner, at BTCC@Brands.

Dear Moderator,
'nuff said, argument settled, please close

[Teletubby]

Originally Posted by Guinness2702

"Race control to any marshal at post 9 / 19 with a scanner. Please ensure your phone is on the hook"
- heard this weekend, on the scanner, at BTCC@Brands.

Dear Moderator,
'nuff said, argument settled, please close

That'll be a BARC meeting then.

[deadsquirrel]

Originally Posted by Teletubby

That'll be a BARC meeting then.

Outlaws!

[Stack]

Originally Posted by Circuit boy

..... our IO said they were banned at all tracks, and didn't want them used, which turns out to be a load of Bo88888s, it's not an MSA thing at all, it appears to be the brain child of certain Chief IO's at the circuit.

If that is the case I think Penny should be informed of which one (or ones) of her I/O's are giving the incorrect information.

[welche2]

its a barc meeting this weekend to come. im down as a barc marshal that weekend. wonder if i be allowed to use my scanner or be told to put it away again like the f2.
find out on Saturday i think. nothing about scanners banned in my instrustions from barc though.