Do You Work in motorsport with your other half?

MartinSmith · 26 May 2008, 23:06 (Ref:2212622)

Just a quick question....call me nosey...call me what you like, but im trying to gauge something and just wanna do another one of those poll type things...only...well ...with more comment.

Do you work with your other half in Motorsport?, be it racing or out on post ..or say even Race Control. Do you find it works?..do you find it gets in the way....have you ever had say a "conflict of Interest".

My motives are simple enough ..im just curious if anyone has found that having a relationship with someone caused any problems

Thanks in advance for any info

**Peter Mallett** · 27 May 2008, 06:22 (Ref:2212740)

You looking for advice on divorce?

This is possibly better served in Marshals because nobody who posts here works, either during the week or at weekends.

Piglet · 27 May 2008, 07:19 (Ref:2212766)

I work in Race Admin/Race Control (plus pits/paddock/assembly/startline where necc!) and OH works outside - pits/paddock/assembly/startline.

Most clubs are glad to get a BOGOF!!

Never had any problems at all, but we are careful to avoid domestic "type" bickering when there are others around!

Lord Summerisle · 27 May 2008, 08:01 (Ref:2212792)

Lady S and I try to be together on post, tho only at hillclimbs, as she doesnt like circuits.
At Loton Park we are usually manning the post between us, just toss a coin in the morning to see who does the radio, and who flags.

TBH - we generally have no problems and like the time together, gives us chance to natter.

MartinSmith · 27 May 2008, 08:41 (Ref:2212813)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piglet

Most clubs are glad to get a BOGOF!!

Thats interesting and kinda what Im trying to understand....how the organising club/event organisers perceive volenteers who may have a friendship/relationship/marraige outside Motorsport as well as work together within.

Peter ....Im not looking for advice on divorce...are you saying you are good at it??..thanks for moving it to the Marshals Forum for me

Piglet · 27 May 2008, 08:50 (Ref:2212821)

I see it as a bonus, if you travel as a couple there are fewer outside pressures ("you're going away this weekend AS WELL?!"), we spend time together, so are more likely to do more events.

terence · 27 May 2008, 09:59 (Ref:2212867)

The years I've been in motorsport and the couples I have known,have always worked well together.As has been said,if they are both at the same venue,so much the better.No pressure to dash off as soon as the circuit is "Dead".I suppose there could be some who would see only what they want to see though,usually narrow minded people who cannot see the benefits of a couple working side by side.!

The Fat Clerk · 27 May 2008, 10:16 (Ref:2212873)

I consider myself very lucky in that my Wife Elaine also Marshals - sometimes we're both in Race Control, with me Clerking & she on the phones or radio, and other times we do different things, like this weekend @ Mallory she was Observing whilst I was Chief Obs. It means I never get any grief for being away 40 weekends a year. Occasionally we're at different venues but that's rare, although she'll always go for Mallory if there's a meeting on (bikes or cars) if I'm the MSA Steward at a Kart event!

MartinSmith · 27 May 2008, 11:24 (Ref:2212916)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Fat Clerk

I consider myself very lucky in that my Wife Elaine also Marshals - sometimes we're both in Race Control, with me Clerking & she on the phones or radio, and other times we do different things........

FC....I have worked with you both several times in Race Control and havent noticed any but can you confiirm, was there, or has there ever been, or have you ever been told that, there were "perceptions of favouritism, nepotism and possible loss of clarity in the chain of command" ? have you witnessed any of the above while working in Race Control by anyone else?

chezza · 27 May 2008, 11:35 (Ref:2212926)

This is a really random topic.

Can I ask why you're asking Claire? Are you doing a study or something?

MartinSmith · 27 May 2008, 11:39 (Ref:2212931)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chezza

Can I ask why you're asking Claire? Are you doing a study or something?

Chezza, I dont think its really ramdom, and I stated my motives earlier in the thread. (twice actually)

The Fat Clerk · 27 May 2008, 11:55 (Ref:2212943)

Claire, no no and another no, Elaine and I are professional at all times.

chezza · 27 May 2008, 12:02 (Ref:2212948)

Yeah you said, being nosey, but I just find it odd for something like this to come up, unless there is something else behind it. It maybe you've experienced something like this, or that you are studying or you're looking at it as part of development as a Clerk. It was just some of the language that you used that has caused me to ask as it just strikes me as a bit of a strange subject to just pop into someones head to ask.

Its not that I have an issue with the subject...I'm just being nosey!

MartinSmith · 27 May 2008, 12:09 (Ref:2212956)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chezza

Its not that I have an issue with the subject...I'm just being nosey!

It must be something to do with our inquisitive female minds

...watch this space

fazza · 27 May 2008, 12:20 (Ref:2212960)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Summerisle

Lady S and I try to be together on post, tho only at hillclimbs, as she doesnt like circuits.
At Loton Park we are usually manning the post between us, just toss a coin in the morning to see who does the radio, and who flags.

TBH - we generally have no problems and like the time together, gives us chance to natter.

'WE WANT TO BE TOGETHER'

The Fat Clerk · 27 May 2008, 12:30 (Ref:2212968)

Elaine is a Trainee Observer, so she regularly acts as my Observer whilst I flag or IO. She only needs 1 more signature before being tested (not by me I hasten to add).
I love being on post with her, or in Race Control, she keeps me sensible! well ish anyway.

flagwaver · 27 May 2008, 13:57 (Ref:2213056)

Can cause major problems in our house, but only because often only one of us can attend a meeting, whilst the other looks after our daughter.
When we do attend meetings together then we will often be at different locations/stages.
So apart from the discussions about who is attending what meetings, then for us it works fine.

**Peter Mallett** · 27 May 2008, 14:47 (Ref:2213105)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClaireSmith

Peter ....Im not looking for advice on divorce...are you saying you are good at it??..thanks for moving it to the Marshals Forum for me

Lol. Definitely not.

Stack · 27 May 2008, 15:06 (Ref:2213125)

I marshal to get out of her way

danccooke · 27 May 2008, 15:39 (Ref:2213155)

Dee and I have spent the last 5 years working together, this year I am upgrading to IO and have been assinging pairs to work together etc etc. It isn't a problem for us. I don't think we have ever had an issue. We bicker from time to time but that is just how we work and everyone else finds it amusing.

I have in the past had a IO who didn't want us working together as he felt it compromised our safety, ( I think it makes us safer but that is another argument) so put me with someone else on post (my cousin) once he realised and moved us about until he realised that on that particular post there was no way to move us about so that no relations worked with each other, six marshals, four of which were related.

Back on topic though, Dee and I work well as course marshals or as course marshal and IO. No nepotism, no fussingn just lots of fun.

**Peter Mallett** · 27 May 2008, 15:46 (Ref:2213161)

Quote:

Originally Posted by danccooke

I have in the past had a IO who didn't want us working together as he felt it compromised our safety, ( I think it makes us safer but that is another argument) so put me with someone else on post (my cousin) once he realised and moved us about until he realised that on that particular post there was no way to move us about so that no relations worked with each other, six marshals, four of which were related.

I'm hearing "duelling banjoes".

johngee · 27 May 2008, 15:49 (Ref:2213164)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I'm hearing "duelling banjoes".

That's NEARLY as funny as your post about the Spa 6 hours being run to Appendix K

.....but we digress

gachjoel · 27 May 2008, 17:15 (Ref:2213245)

I started marshalling before the wife,but she still came away on the weekends,either going shopping in the local town,having a lie in or playing on the laptop.

Since she`s started marshalling,we always go on post together,we work as a team,but are not joined at the hip.
Like Dan,i`ve been I/O training this year and she`s happy to be paired with anyone.
She trusts my decision in what we need to do,we do Cars & Bikes,so we also have our own signals if i`m dealing with an incident and she is on flags,she can relate to the PC,so that means i`m not trackside dancing like a funky chicken with signals.
Plus she generally knows when i need a cuppa.....

gwar · 27 May 2008, 17:37 (Ref:2213258)

Myself and wends have been marshaling for about 4 years know (together).
We work well together and know each others weak and strong points, when were flagging i prefer blue,s, but when were Bike marshaling she prefers to be post cheif/ IO...(with the clubbies) in touch with race control whilst i play with the toys in the gravel ,

I,ve been told by her, the bikes are mine...the men in leathers are hers

The big problem every year is filling in the calender, which one,s to do.
How ever we always go together...wherever...save,s on fuel, and i dont get told off every weekend.

PS: we have seen GACHJOEL doing the funky chicken

Better than my frog in a blender...so i,m told

Peter Harding · 27 May 2008, 17:41 (Ref:2213261)

Went to my first marshalling session in 1971 with the wife. After a few more she got pregnant and stopped. From then on she was always pregnant and only started coming occasionally with me about 2 years ago.

I think those in certain positions tend to be over cautious in making sure the don't give a sign of favouritism to the point where the other half is adversely affected.

All such couples I have known seem to get on well together right up to the time of divorce.