Upgrade - Trainee to track

[ForZiE23]

Hello Guys,
New on here and somewhat new to marshalling too (Started and beginning of season this year). I have done 7 sessions on incident now so a way from upgrade but a little confused on requirements. I "think" i heard in training but cannot find anything to double confirm this you need 15 signatures before assessment on upgrade of which X need to be incident and X flagging.

Now in the blue book it say min 2 of one sort so can do 13 track and 2 flagging, the assessment. BUT i have some feeling its changed and need to do at least 5 of each in this 15 required? All though not in any rush to really upgrade i am thinking to balance my signs do i need to get some flagging in now otherwise will not have requirements when need them next year. Looking on MSA website i cannot see any chances from this min 2 in either way.

Thank you for your help in advance

[Greem]

I've not heard of anything changing in terms of the split (13/2 minimum) but I'd strongly recommend doing as many of each as you can over and above the absolute minimum before requesting an assessment. If you want to do 10 and 10, or more than that, then go for it - and remember that once you're no longer a trainee you may be asked to supervise other trainees under some circumstances so the broader your experience, the better.

Those of us who do a lot of flagging would be delighted, I'm sure, to see trainees gladly volunteer to do more flagging than the 2 days required at minimum, if only to see more people dispel the notion that gets widely implanted that it's (a) hard and (b) boring!

[ForZiE23]

Thank you for this. I intend on working up a good amount of days before attempting to hand back the trainee status. The more you do as i am sure everyone says to the more different things you see and come across which doesn't always fall within a 15 day period!
I think i will drop the organise and email and asked to be put forward for a few flagging post in future meetings i have enrolled for to build on this side too.

[Terrible-Tones]

No nothing has changed. The requirement for "attendance" sigs for Trainee to Track remains at 15.

There is indeed a split - which is a minimum of two days. So you could do 13 Track and 2 Flagging, or 13 Flagging and 2 Track. Or anything in between, say 10 Track and 5 Flagging.

On top of this you will be required to have completed the correct modules for training (in this case it is Fire, Flag, and Basic Marshalling).

You also need to do two assessment days, one for Trackside and one for Flagging (these days are ON TOP of the 15 attendance days, not part of the 15). An assessment has to be signed by an Examining Post Chief.

Note - you have to have done the minimum attendance days and the training day BEFORE you go for assessment.

I think your confusion around a split of 5 days comes from Track to Exp Track. There the min number of attendance is 20, with a 5/15 split.

Here is an link to the MSA requirements - though this particular document does not mention the split.

https://www.msauk.org/assets/upgraderequirements.pdf

Ok - so that is what it is formally. More prosaically, as Graeme suggests, it is always worth doing more, and be in no rush. Don't upgrade until you are good and ready. A good measure is would you be happy to have a trainee with you and be prepared to make a decision on your own about going trackside if you have to - you never know when you may be remotely posted on your own in this age of low numbers.

Hope that this helps?

[ForZiE23]

Originally Posted by Terrible-Tones

No nothing has changed. The requirement for "attendance" sigs for Trainee to Track remains at 15.

There is indeed a split - which is a minimum of two days. So you could do 13 Track and 2 Flagging, or 13 Flagging and 2 Track. Or anything in between, say 10 Track and 5 Flagging.

On top of this you will be required to have completed the correct modules for training (in this case it is Fire, Flag, and Basic Marshalling).

You also need to do two assessment days, one for Trackside and one for Flagging (these days are ON TOP of the 15 attendance days, not part of the 15). An assessment has to be signed by an Examining Post Chief.

Note - you have to have done the minimum attendance days and the training day BEFORE you go for assessment.

I think your confusion around a split of 5 days comes from Track to Exp Track. There the min number of attendance is 20, with a 5/15 split.

Here is an link to the MSA requirements - though this particular document does not mention the split.

https://www.msauk.org/assets/upgraderequirements.pdf

Ok - so that is what it is formally. More prosaically, as Graeme suggests, it is always worth doing more, and be in no rush. Don't upgrade until you are good and ready. A good measure is would you be happy to have a trainee with you and be prepared to make a decision on your own about going trackside if you have to - you never know when you may be remotely posted on your own in this age of low numbers.

Hope that this helps?

Thank you and it does. I am not in a rush to upgrade and agree it does seem at some events i have done very short on the ground. Looking to build a good base before upgrading and would like to think ideally end of next season (2018) i could be put forward for this. From the incidents i have had dealt with currently there's always more to learn. Side note though and only talking from Silverstone side as marshalling there currently everyone either IO, Track or Exp Track have been great and share wise wisdom and stories. Maybe preaching to the converted being where this post is but would recommend to anyone to get into it who enjoys motorsport.

[EmileNaus]

Originally Posted by Terrible-Tones

A good measure is would you be happy to have a trainee with you and be prepared to make a decision on your own about going trackside if you have to - you never know when you may be remotely posted on your own in this age of low numbers.

To me, that was more important than the number of events. I did around 30 days before the update, keep in mind there are only 2 things you cannot do as a trainee (GP and international) - all other events you can do.
Lots of info on the MSA site, including https://www.msauk.org/assets/guideli...rshals2012.pdf
I have only relatively recently gone to Track, let me know if you have any questions.

[ForZiE23]

Originally Posted by EmileNaus

To me, that was more important than the number of events. I did around 30 days before the update, keep in mind there are only 2 things you cannot do as a trainee (GP and international) - all other events you can do.
Lots of info on the MSA site, including https://www.msauk.org/assets/guideli...rshals2012.pdf
I have only relatively recently gone to Track, let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you
I agree and always listen to the wisdom of other before me. Its a great club (Is that the right way to think of it marshalling?) to be involved with. Also i think i need to dispel the myth of flagging being boring or hard! I think that will be next on my "to do" list.

[EmileNaus]

Originally Posted by ForZiE23

Thank you
I agree and always listen to the wisdom of other before me. Its a great club (Is that the right way to think of it marshalling?) to be involved with. Also i think i need to dispel the myth of flagging being boring or hard! I think that will be next on my "to do" list.

Not sure if you are confusing wisdom with experience...
Give flagging a try - it is not boring and it isn't hard. It is just different from incident!

[Terrible-Tones]

Originally Posted by ForZiE23

Thank you
Its a great club (Is that the right way to think of it marshalling?)

Yes! Or maybe a better description would be "community"?

Good luck with everything - hopefully I will run into you on post at Silverstone at some point!

Then I can explain that there is a whole other side to marshalling as well, that of Specialism - different thing, requires different mindset, but equally as fun. But hey - lets not complicate it too much quite yet LOL.

[ForZiE23]

Thanks guys and yea hope to see you around. My next meet is MSVR on 1st July but attending MG live tomorrow. This marshalling is somewhat a bug as when you visit you want to be the other side of the fence

[The Fat Clerk]

Feel free to wave, blow kisses @ the Safety Car tomorrow as it passes you

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by ForZiE23

This marshalling is somewhat a bug as when you visit you want to be the other side of the fence

It certainly is. On the whole I've lost the ability to spectate. The very few occasions I've done so were very odd experiences.

Just wait until you get to the point where you're watching motorsport on tv and when there's an incident you watch the marshals instead of the car...

[ForZiE23]

I can see that becoming a reality too for me! Its my son's 6th birthday and he's pretty into cars so hence why i am joining the spectators this weekend. One thing i have found is how quickly the thrill of doing this draws you in and kick myself i didn't sign up sooner in life.

[Terrible-Tones]

Originally Posted by Woolley

Just wait until you get to the point where you're watching motorsport on tv and when there's an incident you watch the marshals instead of the car...

Oh yes, that's so true isn't it!

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Woolley

It certainly is. On the whole I've lost the ability to spectate. The very few occasions I've done so were very odd experiences.

Just wait until you get to the point where you're watching motorsport on tv and when there's an incident you watch the marshals instead of the car...

I haven't been to a meeting as a spectator for some years now. A bit like I find gigs hard to go to after years working in venues in my student and recent graduate days!

The other aspect when you've been around for a while is watching TV and identifying marshals because of the way they're flagging, or the way they've set out a post rather than them being fully in shot...

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Greem

The other aspect when you've been around for a while is watching TV and identifying marshals because of the way they're flagging, or the way they've set out a post rather than them being fully in shot...

Case in point: I'm pretty sure I've already spotted PapaJuliet (2nd Mulsanne chicane) and turbo-ww (halfway along the first Mulsanne section) on the TV coverage of the Le Mans 24!