Thursday F1 Fast Laps

[garybirch]

I know there's a lot of us who don't enjoy F1, but I'm one that does and am going again to Silverstone for only my second time, last was in 2001.

I've been accepted to work the Thursday Fast Laps in the afternoon and looking at the paperwork they were after 30 of us to man flag posts.

Anyone done this before and able to give me an idea of what's involved? Is it just waving a yellow and red when told?

[Grandslammer]

Did it once in 2002,can't remember if the yellow was actually waved or not while the Medical cars passed,can remember a lot of hanging around though,(not exactly rivetting ).
Reward was a tour of Race Control,plus the extra fiver .
Not sure if the procedure has altered since .

[Alan Green]

Gary,
You're pretty much right, it's just keeping an eye on the Safety Car & Doctors Car as they practise their fast laps. The SC will lead as if scrambled in the race with the DC acting as the pack. It will do that for a few laps, then the SC will practice lights off, pit in, and the DC will take the restart. Repeat several times so that circuit timing links, radios and monitoring can be checked and then back to the drinking in moderation that goes on on the day before the GP (and the moaning about how far the toilets are away from your pitch, and how the hill is steeper than last year, and finiding out who people are and trying to match 10/10ths badges to names, etc, etc).

Unfortunately I won't be doing the Thursday (oversubscribed / too late sending my acceptance card back) as last year I did pit lane exit which was good to see the teams getting set up and getting the cars ready for scrutineering, so I'll make use of the extra hours some other way I'm sure (see above )

Al.

Al

[Alan Green]

Forgot to add: Don't think flags were used, the first 'proper' SC practice with all flag posts and flag radios is usually Friday AM.

Al

[roys1]

Okay I will reply to this as the man who helps to run it...
after being dropped at post with a yellow flag and radio you will recieve a radio check..
I will then make sure that all is ok in your sector, When the course car comes round with the clerks you wave your flag as you would do for a track inspection,
The trials commence at 2 and last then for approx 1 hr so the FIA can do their test to radios and computers etc, If anything suddenly appears on track appart from those two cars wave your flag and let us know via radio urgently.. more detailed instructions will be given on the day but that is basically it...
Yours Roy (joint deputy chief flag)
(ps we cannot always have the tour of race control)

[garybirch]

Thanks all, especially Roy.
Sounds like a bit of fun for a Thursday afternoon which would otherwise be spent putting up a tent! The Father-in-Law can do that!!
A tour of race control or anything mildly interesting would be good, but I appreciate you'll be busy.
Looking forward to seeing you.

[The Fat Clerk]

Sounds similar to my plan, I got out on Post, Elaine sorts out the camping, a cunning plan or what?

[chezza]

Nooo..half the fun of the GP is seeing everyone turn up and watching the campsite taking shape. I enjoy this and so the fast laps on thursday have never interested me!

[The Fat Clerk]

No it's much better to go out on Post, come back & see it's all done! (spoken like a true Clerk, before anyone else says it!)