Motorsport officials training

[storyline]

(General comments here - except for Mr. Ryan who can take this as personal, individual or even team abuse as he sees fit)

One of the main drawbacks I have noticed over the past 10 years of the CAMS Officials Program is its training - or, more precisely, its lack of training.

In the past 3-5 years, training has been provided but at levels that are often not relevant to the job or based on the assumption that officials are idiots (IOW the training is aimed at the lowest common denominator regardless of the actually skill level of the officials attending).

In some areas, the training is almost non-existant.

On the other hand CAMS have implemented internet based training for various skills. I am sure this type of training has its place for administrative type roles but definately NOT for roles that require the official to be trackside and act, usually in a split-second, based on what they are seeing before them - not what a computer simulation thinks may happen (and, as we know - simulations are purely that - they can never include all possible factors that ca - and usually do - go wrong).

So it was with interest this morning that an email was received (indirectly unfortunately), from Winton Raceway about an upcoming Motorsport Officials Training Dat to be held, at Winton in conjunciton with Simon Maas' RaceSafe organistion, on February 11th (a Saturday to save anyone looking it up).

Quoteing from the release, the day is being used to train and show:

[quote]· General Officials Duties
· Race Communications
· Race Vehicle recovery
· Flagging and Racing Rules / Regulations
· Scrutineering
· Trackside Marshalling
· Racecar Fire Fighting
· Working Safely in the Racetrack Enviroment


Demonstrations will consist of mocking up simulated accident scenes on a racetrack, with actual racecars and open wheelers, then going through the procedures of dealing with these events. Flag Marshals to Radio Communicators right down to the Pace Car drivers, they will practice the procedures that make Winton's race meetings some of the best-coordinated races in Australia. .

The Fire Training will demonstrate how to handle a racecar fire and what type of extinguishers to use under the circumstances. The Fire demonstrations are supported by Chubb Fire & Safety, they will provide the latest fire fighting equipment for people to become familiar with.[quote]

For once - lets put poitics aside - and applaud this initiative for what it is - a proposal and effort to have on-the-spot demonstrations and training in the relevant trackside officialing jobs that motorsport requires.

Before anyone jumps up and says 'Yes - but <insert job-name here> already does this' - some do (many don't). But the issue is that many of these training days are aimed at existing officials - they do not seek to entice NEW blood into the officialing ranks (well except for friends, relatives etc).

Hopefully, this will be the first of further days such as this. Consider, also, that the day this is being put on, Winton could quite have easily booked the track to someone simply opting for $xxx income - instead, they have seen a chance to try and bring in and demonstrate officials and what they do at a race meeting.

(No - I do not work for or have any connection with Winton).

[Guest]

Ok, so I want to get into officialing, don't know what area I would like to be involbed in yet. Can I go to this training day, do I need to ring and book?

[Trevor]

Originally Posted by Guest

Ok, so I want to get into officialing, don't know what area I would like to be involbed in yet. Can I go to this training day, do I need to ring and book?

Yes you can come Guest, please ring Winton on (03) 5766 4235 and leave your details and they will be more than happy to give you all information you require

[Guest]

Thank you Big Trev, I hope to make the trip up there, I am looking forward to it!

[storyline]

Guest - hmmm thought you might already be up on that area - but, never mind.

As Big_Trev says - contct Winton - apologies for leaving that detail out.

[Guest]

No sorry Storyline, I am a bit of a drive from there.

[PVDA]

You might even meet a few of us there.

That statement could put a few people off

[Guest]

By looking at your picture PVDA I would say you are in the yellow suit, from what I hear it might be a good idea to stay away from that area.

[Wazzi]

Does anyone know if the same thing is done at either Eastern Ck or oran Park? I live not far from them and would love to get involved. Is there another way in?

[Aquarius]

Originally Posted by Wazzi

Does anyone know if the same thing is done at either Eastern Ck or oran Park? I live not far from them and would love to get involved. Is there another way in?

Just give them a ring, I am sure they would love to have you around.

[storyline]

This is the first I have heard or seen of this being done. As I mentioned, whilst some groups (notably flaggies) do something similar, it is in-house that it is aimed at whereas this is aimed at a much broader audience.

[BFC]

Originally Posted by Guest

By looking at your picture PVDA I would say you are in the yellow suit, from what I hear it might be a good idea to stay away from that area.

yeah the driver of that car has never raced again after meeting Knackers

[BFC]

Originally Posted by storyline

This is the first I have heard or seen of this being done. As I mentioned, whilst some groups (notably flaggies) do something similar, it is in-house that it is aimed at whereas this is aimed at a much broader audience.

has been done several times before but mainly for just Racesafe members flaggies have done firefighting training with the VFRS in the past

[Guest]

Ok, so I must be careful of a guy in a yellow suit called Knackers! gotcha!

[storyline]

BFC - as part of open days though? Again - previously they have been 'in-house'.

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by Guest

Ok, so I must be careful of a guy in a yellow suit called Knackers! gotcha!

Not quite Guest, Knackers has chosen not to wear a yellow suit anymore.....

But if you PM me I'll give you a little bit more info on the day,




And how apparantly my role on the day will be one of attempting to scare the pants off people during some of the training sessions...........

[storyline]

Originally Posted by Uncle Cranker

And how apparantly my role on the day will be one of attempting to scare the pants off people during some of the training sessions...........

Are you going to be training would-be Race Directors?

What brand shoes will you be wearing?

[Stephen Green]

Your training day sounds rather similar to those held here in the UK. If so, they are informative and give a pretty accurate description of what marshalling is like in real life. It is always difficult to replicate the situation you may find yourself in at a real race meeting, but training days such as these go a very long way towards makong motorsport safer for divers and marshals alike.

You may wish to have a look at the British Motorsport Marshals Club website for some hopefully helpful information, especially those who are novice or just thinking about becoming an official www.marshals.co.uk

If any of us here can be of help then please ask. I know that in the past CAMS have been extremely pro-active in training matters.

Stephen Green
National P.R.O.
British Motorsport Marshals Club.

[Uncle Cranker]

Originally Posted by storyline

Are you going to be training would-be Race Directors?

What brand shoes will you be wearing?

Well for what your suggesting, nothing less than Julius Marlows.....

But for what I will be doing, probably Oliver work boots.......

[BFC]

CAMS proactive????? ha ha ha what training does anyone get when they ring CAMS and want a grade 4 licence and get one over the phone correct me if im wrong but this day has nothing to do with CAMS

[PVDA]

Originally Posted by BFC

yeah the driver of that car has never raced again after meeting Knackers

Not quite right BFC. The driver in question did a reasonable job at the Classic at the weekend, although W.A. Shout did win the event in the end

If the good Uncle is drive a vehicle it would be a good idea to make sure you're standing behind the armco/walls at all times.

[storyline]

Drives a wiiidddeeee vehicle does he?

[Vanilla Dice]

Hmmm, it seems my previous post was deleted, and I have been warned. I apologise if I offended anyone. I was making a (poor) attempt at humour

[Aquarius]

A very poor attempt, many people on here (including me) are volunteer officials (sometimes called marshalls) who put in hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours per year to make all types of motorsport events happen. Without these volunteer officials motorsport wouldn't happen. Everything from flaggies, safety, recovery, firies, race control, people who feed all the spectators, etc, etc, etc!

[storyline]

I am aware that there are some within CAMS and the Officiating Panel who are concerned about the level of contact this program has been having with volunteer officials over the last 2-3 years.

One member of the panel stated to me, as recently as 3 weeks ago, that they are finding that a number of long term, experienced officials are expressing doubt, supplemented by their failure to renew their CAMS officials licences, in the program as a whole. One of the primary reasons being given is that despite all the promises and talk that CAMS have been spouting, apart from the quarterly CAMS magazine, there is actually very little contact with these volunteers until it comes times for them to receive their licence renewal.

Also mentioned has beena growing concern - again - amongst some officials that even if they let their CAMS licence lapse, there is nothing CAMS can do (legally) to prevent them from officiating at events. Oh - sure, CAMS will say you can't work at this event or that event - but (and remember, this came from a member of the Officiating Panel) if anyone from CAMS is stupid enough to put this in writing OR physically prevent anyone from attending as an official - then the law has been broken and there is a body waiting in the wings to take appropriate action.

Of course - CAMS will always simply not invite you to there Big Boys Party of the year at Albert Park - but, like many of the V8 rounds - some of the more experienced volunteers are not losing any sleep over what ends up becoming 12 to 14 hour longgg days in addition to having to take time off work to attend.