Calling all Pit Marshals - Guidance Notes

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by Tango n Crash
As a trainee, (almost alone in the pit lane) I had great difficulty in directing cars to 'safe areas' when the teams were determined to keep to their preferred position despite that area being clogged up. It was becoming heated between teams as blocking was occurring. I think the teams need better advise training too.

Whilst I appreciate what you were trying to do (without much success by the sound of it), if you were single handed you may as well forget it. If you thought that the pit lane was becoming dangerously overcrowded you should not have entered into discussions with the teams but sought advice from the Clerk of the Course and, if necessary, get someone from race control to speak to the series co-ordinator to ensure that the situation was resolved as quickly as possible.

I don't have that problem any more because these days I just wave the broomstick in the general direction of miscreants and they then behave properly

[Tango n Crash]

Bob, it can work well as you state, it seemed to be 1 or 2 teams that did not want to comply, causing problems for others. The major problem was at Mallory during driver changes. There had obviously been earlier agreement as to where they would stop... beginning or end of pit lane. This caused the blocking, if the waiting team would be willing to move to the ample free space it would have prevented any blocking.

[Tango n Crash]

shopping list: 1 Broomstick, lots more training and practice (see u soon Sheila).

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by Tango n Crash
Bob, it can work well as you state, it seemed to be 1 or 2 teams that did not want to comply, causing problems for others. The major problem was at Mallory during driver changes. There had obviously been earlier agreement as to where they would stop... beginning or end of pit lane. This caused the blocking, if the waiting team would be willing to move to the ample free space it would have prevented any blocking.

Of course, there is always the rule in the Blue Book that states that all competitors should obey the instructions of officials! If they don't then you are quite within your rights to send a written report to the Clerk of the Course.

[bigted]

If you want Manicv try the running the dummy grid at a rallyX meeting, with races only 4 laps long it getts VERY hectic at times.

[dogsbody]

Sheila, you may already have covered it - no photography.

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by dogsbody
Sheila, you may already have covered it - no photography.

Depends on which circuit you are at - some allow it some don't. I have covered team people using cameras though and spectators using cameras shouldn't be there in the first place.

Any more ideas anyone? I have now prepared a first, very rough, draft which I handed out at the BRSCC specialist training yesterday and also gave a copy to Don Truman for his views.

Sheila

[Bryan Degerlund]

Sheila,

Would it be possible to forward me a copy as well, as I shall be running the BRSCC-SE Specialist training at Brands Hatch this Saturday, 7th February?

Bryan

[Sheila M]

Bryan, with pleasure. Drop me a PM with your address details (its only hard copy at the moment I'm afraid)and I'll send it to you. As long as you remember that this is very much a very very rough first discussion draft which has to be "tarted up" before we can do much with it you shouldn't go far wrong! All comments, amendments, additions, deletions, etc gratefully accepted!

Sheila

[Bryan Degerlund]

Sheila, have sent PM. I was hoping to get to DP training day but my wife fractured her ankle in the snow last week and will be well plastered until mid-March. (No jokes -- she does not drink alcohol!!!)

Bryan

[Sheila M]

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this so far. I am receiving some very good positive feedback and hope to be able to be in a position to get the "Guide to pit marshalling" into a proper workable draft in the not too distant future. Whether it ever gets published anywhere remains to be seen but I consider that it has proved a worthwhile exercise nonetheless.

If anyone else has anything to add or would like to see the initial rough draft please pm me with your details and I'll get a copy to you.

Thanks once again to those who have already contributed.

Sheila

[Sheila M]

Since my last post on this topic, I have had some very helpful comments from lots of people and what started out to be a "rough guide" is now turning out to be a small book!

I have yet to sort it into some sort of order and when I have it will be available as a discussion draft. If anyone would like to cast their eye over it in this format, please either e-mail or pm me and I'll put their names on the list to receive it.

In the meantime, many thanks once again to all who have contributed valuable knowledge and information.

Sheila

[jam888p]

Hello all,

as far as Snetterton is concerned, we ask that no-one takes cameras/digital video etc from the pit wall, as these have tended to fall into the path of cars drafting the wall.... not sure what else you have had in the way of all these replies, but obvious stuff includes, no smoking, no under 16's, and that all team crew on the wall are on their feet, in case they need to get out of the way quickly, so no sitting on the wall either trackside or pit lane side..

Rgds

Jamie (Ops Manager - CP & SN

[Pete Howarth]

Hi Jamie

Long time no see, kids will still offer you sweets when they see you.

Regards
Pete

[Sheila M]

Originally posted by jam888p
Hello all,

as far as Snetterton is concerned, we ask that no-one takes cameras/digital video etc from the pit wall, as these have tended to fall into the path of cars drafting the wall.... not sure what else you have had in the way of all these replies, but obvious stuff includes, no smoking, no under 16's, and that all team crew on the wall are on their feet, in case they need to get out of the way quickly, so no sitting on the wall either trackside or pit lane side..

Rgds

Jamie (Ops Manager - CP & SN

Jamie, many thanks for this - you are the first person in officialdom at a circuit who has made any comment on my "guide". Would you like me to send you a "discussion draft" when I have prepared it? If so, please either e-mail or PM me with your details and I'll be glad to let you have a copy.

Regards

Sheila

[petestenning]

As you message box is full i will reply here,
I am at Mallory on the 14th,but i will leave my E-Mail address om a PM when i can.

Regards

Pete

[Sheila M]

Pete, my PM box is empty now. Alternatively you could always e-mail me.

Regards

Sheila

[jam888p]

Sheila M,

Sorry for delay, if you want to send me a draft that would be fine... work e-mail is jamie.hopper@snettertonmsv.com

Pete H, certainly is long time no speak... hope you and the family are all OK.... you still visiting Cadders on a regular basis?... I hope to be up there at some point this year... but Mick and the gang seem to only rota me for Superbikes these days... guess they don't want me interfering!

Rgds

Jamie

[Sheila M]

Jamie, thanks for that. I am working on the "discussion draft" at the moment. What started out as a few scribblings on a single page of a shorthand pad is now up to 12 pages of A4 type!

I am trying to get it into a sensible order before I dare show it to anyone else so I hope you will bear with me for a few days before I e-mail it to you.

Also, please bear in mind that at the moment, it is very much a working "discussion draft" and will need to be approved by various senior officials before I can do anything positive with it.

I am very grateful for your offer to look at it though and I hope you won't laugh too loudly at my feeble attempts to "generalise" pit marshalling throughout the country.

Regards,


Sheila