Learning points at my season end

[SuperDuff]

I thought I'd share some of the things I have learnt this year (my first season).

1. When the black bit falls off the bottom of an extinguisher at the end of the day, the extinguisher will not stand upright.
2. After 10 hours, marshals are scarily odd people (oh sleep deprivation and coffee...)
3. When you can smell a portaloo from a 5m distance, you probably don't need the loo afterall.
4. Remember to take a torch to a portaloo in a night race.
5. Fire points are further spaced than you first realise, and are in fact, double the visual distance when you are carrying two extinguishers out to them.
6. Tyre wall climbing should be an Olympic sport (and not one I would be any good at).
7. Running across gravel traps should be a Marshal Endurance Event.
8. In your first season, after a very soggy race, buy lots of waterproofs - you are guaranteed dry meetings for the rest of the year.
9. When a car hits the armco, it shatters into many pieces - more than it looks on TV!
10. You get a sense of bereavement when your season has ended, and immediately start planning your wish list for next year.
11. Never underestimate the amount of food and drink that keeps a post going. (and the sense of humour helps!) Oh, and not all marshals eat pork pies - only two eatings witnessed at LMS.
12. Arriving at stupid o'clock, and struggling to get the tent pegs in probably means you have pitched on hardcore, but can't see this until the morning.
13. Lastly - it's addictive. The adrenaline rush of seeing cars belting by, good racing and spending time with equally as mad people is worth it all.

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by SuperDuff

[*]Remember to take a torch to a portaloo in a night race.

especially if you're wearing sunglasses as well...

[M Greenslade]

SuperDuff, glad you have enjoyed your first season, I am just finishing my 37th and still 'lovin it' despite all the changes, H&S etc etc, it is still the best sport in the world, I hope to come back next year and do it all again, God willing........

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

[Sparky-steve]

Originally Posted by SuperDuff

I thought I'd share some of the things I have learnt this year (my first season).

1. When the black bit falls off the bottom of an extinguisher at the end of the day, the extinguisher will not stand upright.
2. After 10 hours, marshals are scarily odd people (oh sleep deprivation and coffee...)
3. When you can smell a portaloo from a 5m distance, you probably don't need the loo afterall.
4. Remember to take a torch to a portaloo in a night race.
5. Fire points are further spaced than you first realise, and are in fact, double the visual distance when you are carrying two extinguishers out to them.
6. Tyre wall climbing should be an Olympic sport (and not one I would be any good at).
7. Running across gravel traps should be a Marshal Endurance Event.
8. In your first season, after a very soggy race, buy lots of waterproofs - you are guaranteed dry meetings for the rest of the year.
9. When a car hits the armco, it shatters into many pieces - more than it looks on TV!
10. You get a sense of bereavement when your season has ended, and immediately start planning your wish list for next year.
11. Never underestimate the amount of food and drink that keeps a post going. (and the sense of humour helps!) Oh, and not all marshals eat pork pies - only two eatings witnessed at LMS.
12. Arriving at stupid o'clock, and struggling to get the tent pegs in probably means you have pitched on hardcore, but can't see this until the morning.
13. Lastly - it's addictive. The adrenaline rush of seeing cars belting by, good racing and spending time with equally as mad people is worth it all.

scary how many i've done too, and its my third season LOL
must be the marshal in me trying to get out

[White flag man]

1/. If you're about to swear at a useless object, for not doing what it's supposed to do, make sure you're finger is not on the radio's trnsmit button!
"F...ing lights!!!".

[Woolley]

Classic moment from the Britcar week-end. I think every post cheered that one.

[Bodysnatcher]

1/. Sometimes Plan C is required.

[NewYankee01]

Originally Posted by SuperDuff

You get a sense of bereavement when your season has ended, and immediately start planning your wish list for next year.

not if youre a rally marshal!

[The Fat Clerk]

Or a Race marshal - Mallory Park Boxing Day

[Mike Kelly 1]

Originally Posted by The Fat Clerk

Or a Race marshal - Mallory Park Boxing Day

And Anglesey 27 November.

[bludvl_x19]

Or Down Under. I've got somewhere between 10 and 15 days remaining for the year.

[Greem]

1. Remember that you're not always at the same circuit, or on the same post when making radio calls to R/C. I got myself mentally 45 miles away on a different track a few weeks ago

[cowchap]

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

1/. Sometimes Plan C is required.

I didnt know there was a plan A and B !

[The Fat Clerk]

A lot of the time when I'm 'Clerking' the plan begins with the letter 'F', along the line of 'Oh gosh what the .... do I do here

[mark25787]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly 1

And Anglesey 27 November.

Is the 27th November meet definitely on?

[numbersix]

Originally Posted by mark25787

Is the 27th November meet definitely on?

Not definite. We need to keep our eyes open for ongoing information on this one. (Mentioned by Alistair at last Saturday's briefing.)

[skeee]

Originally Posted by SuperDuff

- it's addictive. The adrenaline rush of seeing cars belting by, good racing and spending time with equally as mad people is worth it all.

Definitely!

There's still a few weekends left at Brands!

[AMP Marshal]

Originally Posted by White flag man

1/. If you're about to swear at a useless object, for not doing what it's supposed to do, make sure you're finger is not on the radio's trnsmit button!
"F...ing lights!!!".

Sorry about the giggling, but I couldn't help myself. I've been close a few times over other items not behaving as I think they should, but haven't fallen over that comm " line " yet.

[White flag man]

Originally Posted by AMP Marshal

Sorry about the giggling, but I couldn't help myself. I've been close a few times over other items not behaving as I think they should, but haven't fallen over that comm " line " yet.

It could have been quite dangerous, as a car had stopped on the circuit, during night qualifying, with no electrics, but I'm pleased to announce that no lights were harmed during this episode.

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by White flag man

It could have been quite dangerous, as a car had stopped on the circuit, during night qualifying, with no electrics, but I'm pleased to announce that no lights were harmed during this episode.

They must have been stronger than they looked - it sounded like you were about to throw it! One of the many highlights of the week-end, I have to say.

[White flag man]

Originally Posted by Woolley

They must have been stronger than they looked - it sounded like you were about to throw it! One of the many highlights of the week-end, I have to say.

Throw it!, no, it might have survived. There was a big lake behind me!
Fortunately it saved itself, by coming to life, just in time.

[stephen0183]

Originally Posted by White flag man

Throw it!, no, it might have survived. There was a big lake behind me!
Fortunately it saved itself, by coming to life, just in time.

Twas good to at least put a voice to the name!...

... but going back on topic, additions to my list are:

• make sure that when carrying a bottle, it's done in a way that the pin, if it's loose doesn't fall out...
• just because the startline marshal is waving a red flag for the start of a scooter race doesn't mean that I have to wave one from the last post on the circuit...
• take lessons from girlfriend on how to stitch badges onto my probans properly... or failing that ask her to do it for me!