Oulton Park Easter

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

For as long as I can remember the F3 races have been terminally boring.

I agree. Although strangely I've always enjoyed F3, especially right at the start of the season. Something about spotting the future star when they're having one of their first goes with significant downforce and grip. I seem to remember commenting that Vergne chappy was quite good a couple of years back. So yes, the racing is poor, but there's something of a fascination about it.

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

I loathe bacon butties . . .

I knew there was something weird about you. I even know some vegitarians who can't manage to utter that sentence.

[chrisjt1985]

You guys have worn me out so much over the last two days that this is the first time I've turned on my computer, and to be honest, I'm too tired to do too much, so I'm gonna do my writing tomorrow. But in the last two days on Avenue, I've seen an F3 go sideways into old hall, then another shortly after the restart appear to head directly to me and somehow find the steering wheel and keep it out of the barrier, only to spin and stall halfway between points. As we approach him he starts his engine and drives off. He wasn't the only one too! One of the VW's stalled on the way out of the pits, stopping right in the middle of us and old hall. Marshals met in the middle to hear the engine start, the driver put his thumbs up and drive off.

Rain on Monday, something proper might happen! I will write properly tomorrow.

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by chrisjt1985

As we approach him he starts his engine and drives off. He wasn't the only one too! One of the VW's stalled on the way out of the pits, stopping right in the middle of us and old hall. Marshals met in the middle to hear the engine start, the driver put his thumbs up and drive off.

Thats why you count to ten and twenty when its raining! That count is a lot shorter than you think and even twenty will be done in under 10 seconds. Gives the driver a chance to get going and gives you a chance to assess the situation before making rash decisions and wasting your energy running to a car thats probably ok, only to perhaps miss something thats happened just after it.

Originally Posted by chrisjt1985

Rain on Monday, something proper might happen!

Why proper? Was the action on track today somewhat improper? What does proper mean in your book?

[chrisjt1985]

Originally Posted by Justin Moran

Thats why you count to ten and twenty when its raining! That count is a lot shorter than you think and even twenty will be done in under 10 seconds. Gives the driver a chance to get going and gives you a chance to assess the situation before making rash decisions and wasting your energy running to a car thats probably ok, only to perhaps miss something thats happened just after it.



Why proper? Was the action on track today somewhat improper? What does proper mean in your book?

I'll be honest, it's my first nearly crash! No idea how it stayed out of the barrier! And for the record, I was following the experienced marshal next to me behind the barrier, even though I knew I'm not built to climb or jump it!

And as for something proper, I mean I need something where I actual do have to deal with a driver and car! Whilst it's nice to not have to do anything all day, I know once I'm up for my upgrade signature I will need to have dealt with at least one incident in my (at least) 15 previous events. Mind you, I'm signed up for touring cars in June... something is bound to happen!!!

[robbie_crewe]

Originally Posted by Justin Moran

Thats why you count to ten and twenty when its raining! That count is a lot shorter than you think and even twenty will be done in under 10 seconds. Gives the driver a chance to get going and gives you a chance to assess the situation before making rash decisions and wasting your energy running to a car thats probably ok, only to perhaps miss something thats happened just after it.

Couldn't have put it better myself!!

[Justin Moran]

There will be many more nearlys than actuals in reality, the whole point is to stay on the black bit and race. Your experienced marshal should have known to count to ten, even if it looks like its going to be a bad one, and trust me you get to know when that happens, you still count to ten even if you are slowly moving towards the incident that is happening.
Even though you may not have had "hands on" as yet you are still learning the craft and learning to read and follow a race is as important as knowing what to do in the event of an incident happening.
Good luck at the Touring Cars, I wont touch em with a barge pole.

[janeybobs]

Originally Posted by robbie_crewe

Couldn't have put it better myself!!

I remember you telling me this at my very first meeting and its a piece of advice that's really stuck!!! My eyes may look glazed over and like I'm not listening but it does soak some stuff in!!

You don't wanna be running on track like a plank for them to sort themselevs out and make you look like a knob :-) or even worse you run out there for something else worse to happen as you didn't give the situation chance to develop and some other dozy driver decides to bin it too!

Lodge has been quiet on incidents that have needed dealing with but have seen lots of ginettas doing pirouettes down the track!! And those Nissan GTR's are worth getting out of bed for

[snoz wanger]

Originally Posted by robbie_crewe

Couldn't have put it better myself!!

I Was the so called experienced marshal!......i Was counting to ten coz we were still behind the barrier!!!!....didnt go out, as i wouldnt take a trainee trackside while the driver was obviously sorting it out himself...... Full story not told!!!

[lucky scarf]

Two good days at Deer Leep, a post i'd never done before this weekend, a brilliant place to watch the beasts that were the GT's. I think the phrase Car Porn does sum up these animals and yes the earth did move at Deer Leep as the Nissan's went past. As the GT/F3's were the first event I did a few years ago always one that stands out on the calender.

Some good advice on here for trainees and experienced marshals alike in terms of reacting to potential incidents. One comment made to me on my first day was the importance of watching what happens and for the first few meetings it's just as important to observe what other marshals are doing as that's how you can learn and hopefully become a better marshal. You can learn a lot more watching how incidents are dealt, whether good, bad or indifferent and then reflecting why people did what. As is often said the day when you stop learning is when its best to pack it all in.

[chrisjt1985]

Originally Posted by snoz wanger

I Was the so called experienced marshal!......i Was counting to ten coz we were still behind the barrier!!!!....didnt go out, as i wouldnt take a trainee trackside while the driver was obviously sorting it out himself...... Full story not told!!!

Apologies Snoz, I did say we were behind the barrier, but obviously not that we didn't go over or were waiting to see what was happening. So easy for things to be said in the wrong way or taken the wrong way on here! I guess that's why 80% of our communication is non-verbal!

[snoz wanger]

Originally Posted by chrisjt1985

Apologies Snoz, I did say we were behind the barrier, but obviously not that we didn't go over or were waiting to see what was happening. So easy for things to be said in the wrong way or taken the wrong way on here! I guess that's why 80% of our communication is non-verbal!

No worries Chris.....see you in the morning for more fun!...

[bouncyclare]

what a fantstic day at avenue yesterday.... racing gud but the laughs even better,thanx lads sorry if your ears hurt...my stomach killing today...see ya tomorrow..

[chrisjt1985]

Originally Posted by snoz wanger

No worries Chris.....see you in the morning for more fun!...

Absolutely!!! See what excitement the GT's can bring us!!! Enjoy your day off.

[KayBee]

Originally Posted by lucky scarf

Two good days at Deer Leep, a post i'd never done before this weekend, a brilliant place to watch the beasts that were the GT's. I think the phrase Car Porn does sum up these animals and yes the earth did move at Deer Leep as the Nissan's went past.

Especially if you're on yellow flag in the old (Romeo and Juliet) box - you can feel it shaking.

[robbie_crewe]

Originally Posted by bouncyclare

what a fantstic day at avenue yesterday.... racing gud but the laughs even better,thanx lads sorry if your ears hurt...my stomach killing today...see ya tomorrow..

Was a great day!! Can't wait for more of the same tomorrow!

[Matthews Dad]

Originally Posted by lucky scarf

Two good days at Deer Leep, a post i'd never done before this weekend, a brilliant place to watch the beasts that were the GT's. I think the phrase Car Porn does sum up these animals and yes the earth did move at Deer Leep as the Nissan's went past. As the GT/F3's were the first event I did a few years ago always one that stands out on the calender..

Deer Leap is such a great place for these cars, but the noise was even better in the days of the Ascaris and Saleens,

As James says later in his posting you never stop learning, I learnt how to deal with an F3 stuck in gear on the grid, Well doen to all the team on startline and Deer Leap for that one, and roll on tomorrow, the Porshe versus Ferrari battle will begin

[Henno]

Originally Posted by Matthews Dad

Deer Leap is such a great place for these cars, but the noise was even better in the days of the Ascaris and Saleens,

As James says later in his posting you never stop learning, I learnt how to deal with an F3 stuck in gear on the grid, Well doen to all the team on startline and Deer Leap for that one, and roll on tomorrow, the Porshe versus Ferrari battle will begin

Looks like it's going to be a wet one bring your wellies !

[janeybobs]

Had a blast on avenue today!!!! Totally worth getting wet for the true car porn of the gtr and ferrari racing side by side!!!

[hayesy P]

What a fantastic days racing, shame about the weather but the GT's made up for that. Superb viewpoint from the outside of shell. Great racing and a great team at shell nice to meet you all

[ascarracinguk]

Great fun at warrick bridge....seriously though, who had the pork pies at Druids, ive never seen so many cars off in one day!! Got to be some sort of record along with the ones in at the bridge too! Just glad everyone is ok.

On a bad note though...live snatching with a truck....really!!! Cr4p idea, never going to work and darn dangerous...what's wrong with a safety car huh?

[Woolley]

Thoroughly enjoyable day at Old Hall, forgot how much you ache after the first full day of the season. A couple of incidents to ease me back in - two VWs locked together in the middle of the corner and poor Hector Lester struggling to find the right gears after the lightest contact with the barrier meant he had to reverse first.

Never thought I'd see the day when FFord was the most tedious race of the week-end! More than made up for by being next to the pit lane exit when an Aston passed in front of me and that Mercedes behind me. Happily the drool was washed away by the damp(!) conditions.

Quality team on post and soooooo many marshals. Good to see.

[ibuckley]

Three excellent days at Shell, and I concur with the earlier post - a great team. Shame they took our new lap tray away, but it probably does serve more use attached the rear of a Ferrari. Keyword: attached.

Druids looked looked like some kind of apocalyptic aftermath! Driving back round on the way to a well earned pint at Chequers I was taken aback by the amount of wheel tracks and lack of grass. Looks like you had a busy day up there!

[vulcan607]

Busy day on Druids but good fun all the same! Cheers

[bouncyclare]

old hall was good but very cold to the point my knees were a knocking....nice to meet some new people this weekened and be with our andy...poor man.!!!!!

[janeybobs]

Originally Posted by bouncyclare

old hall was good but very cold to the point my knees were a knocking....nice to meet some new people this weekened and be with our andy...poor man.!!!!!

Know what you mean - it was a cold through to your bones wasn't it!!!