A Visit to the Clerks?

[PieMan]

Originally Posted by Pitsmarion

At one race meeting I was at last year we had an incident marshal join us in the pits and startline for a few hours, and he was surprised with the range of responsibilties and activities we did, and that was even without any driver change/pit stop races.

IIRC this (and Specialists spending one day on the bank) was compulsory for an upgrade about 10 years or so ago. It's not for everybody so the requirement was subsequently dropped but I'd still thoroughly recommend it.

[Upside Down Bug]

What about clerks having to spend at least a day a year on post to retain their grading.......

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Upside Down Bug

What about clerks having to spend at least a day a year on post to retain their grading.......

I know quite a few clerks who do just that.

[Pitsmarion]

I've just received my latest copy of the MGCC magazine and the Racing Co-Ordinator is encouraging their drivers to spend a day marshalling....... Let's hope some of them take it up, although I find in general the MGCC boys and girls are amongst the better behaved of the racing fraternity.

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

I know quite a few clerks who do just that.

2013: 4 days as FIA Steward, 13 as MSA Steward, 11 as Clerk of the Course, 1 as Chief Marshal, 1 as Chief Observer, 10 as Observer, 1 as a Flag Marshal, 2 as an Incident Marshal, 3 days Training, 2 as an Instructor and 14 days as a Rally Marshal

[Nadine J Lewis]

Taster days are a great way to find out about things - it also helps the Chief Marshal as there is an element of control! At Oulton Park we run standard taster days for brand new marshals which covers everything already mentioned above including visits to clerks and stewards. At this level though it's a lot to take in.
We also try to run a few "intro to..." taster days - covering specialist (pit lane and startline mainly).
I would see no harm in having more senior graded marshals spending a day in Race Control to see what happens at the other end of the radio / phone. Many of these people would have missed out on circuit taster days and this would help in many ways

[Shelagh]

Originally Posted by The Fat Clerk

2013: 4 days as FIA Steward, 13 as MSA Steward, 11 as Clerk of the Course, 1 as Chief Marshal, 1 as Chief Observer, 10 as Observer, 1 as a Flag Marshal, 2 as an Incident Marshal, 3 days Training, 2 as an Instructor and 14 days as a Rally Marshal

Dave - you are a man of many talents (I won't say a Jack of All Trades because I know you too well and that would be a joke too far!)

[Tal Aras]

It's also worth saying yes when Chief Marshals ask for volunteers for different jobs. Last year I said yes twice and found out how to work on a rally time control and just what the scrutineers for the DTMs do (drink very nice German coffee while watch mechanics clean cars in my case).