How Do Marshals Get "picked" for races ?

[darcym]

Not understanding fully how marshaling works, I am curious. for clubby events marshals seem to pick which ever meeting is best for them, or response to requests for mashals from an orginising club.

This seems to work ok, with a few exceptions. How does something like the British GP, or the super Bikes, or CART work ? surly every marshal in the UK would be available for those races, or do you have to be asked ?


Just curious how it works.

[EvilPumpkin]

I'm not an expert by any means, but from personal experience, with Cart, everyone threw their name into the ring and then marshals were picked and notified that they'd been selected.

With Superbikes, it's generally done via Racesafe - I'm not sure how "local" circuit marshals are handled though.

As for the GP, I believe you volunteer and then are notified if you've been selected.

[Mark Mitchell]

As a marshal, you volunteer your services for all events!
Most events are short of marshals, therefore your offer is nearly always accepted!
Dates and venues are sent out to marshals at about this time of the year, and from those dates/events, a marshal simply chooses where they want to marshal at!
Events like the GP have you volunteering in October and go to a selection committee, who will make a decision as to whether or not your services are required.

[Malc's]

Originally posted by darcym
surly every marshal in the UK would be available for those races, or do you have to be asked ?

Not me, rather do a clubbie any day.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by EvilPumpkin
With Superbikes, it's generally done via Racesafe - I'm not sure how "local" circuit marshals are handled though.

BSB & the UK rounds of WSB & MotoGP round are always done by Racesafe. Anyone wishing to marshal at any of these events must be a Racesafe member (although Mondello may be an exception to this).

[chezza]

Originally posted by Dave Brand
BSB & the UK rounds of WSB & MotoGP round are always done by Racesafe. Anyone wishing to marshal at any of these events must be a Racesafe member (although Mondello may be an exception to this).

I don't mean to confuse the issue but I marshalled a round of the BSB last year and as far as I know I'm not a member of racesafe.

[KayBee]

Originally posted by chezza
I don't mean to confuse the issue but I marshalled a round of the BSB last year and as far as I know I'm not a member of racesafe.

Racesafe have an agreement with BMMC and BRDC whereby you can marshal at BSB meetings without having marshalled at a bike club meeting.

Darcym car marshals come under the control of FIA/MSA and bike marshals of FIM/ACU unless it is at a meeting where Racesafe provides the marshals.

[Stephen Green]

Darcym,

All of the above is true of course and for the most part we marshals cover the 'clubbie' meetings which normally offer the best racing.

For the larger meetings such as the GP, CART, Goodwood etc etc you are right, in most cases there are more marshals than places to offer and in those cases it is normally down to the Chief Marshal to pick which people he wants. It could be done on the number of days you have marshalled for that club, your experience, whether you are able to do all three days (in the case of both Goodwood meetings and the GP) or, it could be whether you are in fact a member of the organising club.

Some years ago it was hard to be picked to marshal the British GP and for some you had to wait years before being picked. Sadly these days the numbers of volunteers has fallen (for many reasons) and so you are almost certainly going to be asked to attend if you volunteer. Not quite the same with the Goodwood meetings which are always over subscribed for marshals.

[Stephen Green]

Why not join us one day this year and enjoy a day in the company of some hardened marshals (nutters some may say)

[Ian Sowman]

Would make a good feature Matthew

[Stephen Green]

Well if you venture to Brands I would welcome you on post with me, just let me know if you are interested.

[darcym]

I'd love to do a day on a marshals post, I'll keep an eye open for an event I can make, when I am not racing.

[Stephen Green]

The offer is there anytime Sir (we don't bite)

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by KayBee
Racesafe have an agreement with BMMC and BRDC whereby you can marshal at BSB meetings without having marshalled at a bike club meeting.

Hmmm, now let me see......what's my excuse? I know......I was wrong!

(Memo to self: check facts before posting! )

[Woolley]

The same goes for any circuit - you'll be most welcome. From Bath, consider Castle Combe or a hill-climb at Prescott where you only have to worry about 1 car at a time. pm Gizmo if you're interested.

[paddock.one]

Stephen's right - I've not been declined for a meeting yet, though this may be tested this year as I'm determined to get to the Goodwood Revival meeting, usually oversubscribed. Here's hoping...

Re the GP, I'm hoping that Silverstone's decision not to sell Centre transfers won't mean they'll cut down on the number of padock marshals accepted. What a great piece of circular logic - over recent years the public have discovered that there's not much point in buying centre transfer as you'll rarely see a mechanic in the F1 paddock, let alone a driver / now no access to F3000 paddock or Porsche paddock, Maseratis have security on their marquee so you can't see the cars or rub any famous shoulders - interest declines, so the powers that be decide you can't go there even if you still want to.

Three cheers for the accessibilty of the Historic sports car crews - positively welcoming, as always. It'll be interesting to see this year whether the BTCC paddock is also cordoned off from the public - meanwhile no spectator will now have the opportunity to see the racing from anywhere inside the circuit. How sad...

[darcym]

Ok, Stephen your on.

Ian Snowman's judge judge seems the extra nudge I need to get off my ass.

We'll work out a date early on in the season, as the later part of the season starts getting busy for me. I'd rarther do a meeting without any formula Ford running.... as it may kill me

[darcym]

I race at Castle Combe a lot Wolly and know a few of the marshals up there, so we'll see what we can do at combe too.

[Stevespurr]

Its about time F1 took a lead from Cart and allowed pit walk abouts to the general public, after all its them the public pays to see.

[scorch]

I am probebly the only person in the country that thinks the access to the F1 drivers should be limited...

The reason is very simple. sombody would have a go at schumacher. I'm not a great fan of the man but it would do so much harm for motorsport in general if some stupid idiot decides to have a pop at a driver that they didn't like.

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by darcym
I'd love to do a day on a marshals post, I'll keep an eye open for an event I can make, when I am not racing.

Don't forget to take your licence along for an upgrading signature then! All drivers wishing to upgrade can get a signature on their licences for a day's marshalling instead of a day's racing.

[PVDA]

The Australian F1 GP tends to keep the sector teams together each year remembering most of us only see each other once a year at the GP so after several years we all get to know each other. It also makes it easier to allocate everyone by just rotating the teams around the circuit (different sector each year).

By team I mean Flag, Fire, Comms & Track marshals, the medics are run as a separate group so move around year by year separately.

If the sector requires more or less marshals they increase or decrease the numbers by shifting spares around.

[blueflagger]

In the US, if the number of marshals is limited, they generally pick by level of experience and application date. For instance, for F1, those with previous F1 experience are usually at the top of the list; those who have only marshalled at club events for a year or two at the bottom.

There are exceptions: someone who has proven unreliable (saying they'll go and then cancelling for unknown reasons for example) might be moved down on the list.

At SCCA club events, everyone is welcome regardless of license level.