Calling all Marshals!

Mark Mitchell · 24 Apr 2003, 16:21 (Ref:579573)

Quote:

Originally posted by scorch
What are people's feelings about the other common distractions? ie. radios, mobile phones, camera's etc...

At a recent meeting I had a marshal on post with me who continuously had her mobile to her ear. After a couple of sessions, I reiterated my morning briefing.......no mobiles except between sessions, provided that duties had been carried out first!
She kept taking calls throughout the morning and I aksed the IO to talk with her again.
After lunch just before racing commenced I had to (For the very first time in my role as an observer)take her to one side and point out the dangers to her and others and that I would ask her to leave post if the darned thing rang again.

Another distraction (Same day, same marshal)the "Family" turned up for the afternoon. All through racing there were cries of "Mum, can I have an Ice-Cream - Mum can I have......"
I took the unpleasant steps of reporting her to the Chief Marshal. Had I have had enough marshals on post I would probably have had her stood down.

sss · 24 Apr 2003, 17:23 (Ref:579634)

Quote:

Originally posted by observer

Another distraction (Same day, same marshal)the "Family" turned up for the afternoon. All through racing there were cries of "Mum, can I have an Ice-Cream - Mum can I have......"
I took the unpleasant steps of reporting her to the Chief Marshal. Had I have had enough marshals on post I would probably have had her stood down.

surely if it was 'that' dangerous she should have been stood down straight away, by not standing her down are you not saying that it is acceptable or aiding the crime?

as for mobiles, what about people who are on call during the weekend at the end of a phone, do we ban them from marshalling in the likely hood that they may get a call.

DarrellB · 24 Apr 2003, 18:28 (Ref:579734)

I have had someone who thought it would be a good idea to get some photos of the F3s on their first lap of the second race at Combe. He looked very disgruntled when I told him to put it away, so I asked if he saw the collision in the first race and when he said no it explained my reasons. On rescue we have used mobiles at incidents in the past for confidential conversations wtih race control and it is a very useful way of dealing directly those in charge.

Tony_J · 24 Apr 2003, 19:07 (Ref:579781)

There's a clear distinction between someone on-call and takes a single call and has to leave of his/her own accord and the obvious liability of those who can't/wont detach themselves from a phone. I for one would strongly question their application and suitability for the task

Tony_J · 24 Apr 2003, 19:10 (Ref:579785)

Flagman whilst I accept your point of view I have also seen flaggers so busy talking to each other that they've missed the obvious as well

Dave Brand · 24 Apr 2003, 19:32 (Ref:579809)

Quote:

Originally posted by sss
surely if it was 'that' dangerous she should have been stood down straight away, by not standing her down are you not saying that it is acceptable or aiding the crime?

Not as bad as a barbecue, though, is it?

sss · 24 Apr 2003, 19:35 (Ref:579818)

cant comment as i didnt see it from old hall

Dave Brand · 24 Apr 2003, 19:40 (Ref:579825)

Quote:

Originally posted by sss
cant comment as i didnt see it from old hall

I didn't see it from Clay Hill, but I heard about it......

pixie · 24 Apr 2003, 22:25 (Ref:579984)

You could see it from Hilltop and smell it from the startline .......

Dave Brand · 25 Apr 2003, 08:23 (Ref:580320)

Quote:

Originally posted by pixie
You could see it from Hilltop and smell it from the startline .......

If the allegations are true it ain't a barbie you can smell on the startline!

Mark Mitchell · 25 Apr 2003, 08:28 (Ref:580325)

Quote:

Originally posted by sss
surely if it was 'that' dangerous she should have been stood down straight away, by not standing her down are you not saying that it is acceptable or aiding the crime?

No!
As with most Donington meetings, the marshal in question was the ONLY incident marshal on post except the IO, so it was one of those situations when I could have been left with no marshalling team.

Quote:

As for mobiles, what about people who are on call during the weekend at the end of a phone, do we ban them from marshalling in the likely hood that they may get a call.

I would expect a marshal who may have to be called away to inform both the Chief at Sign-on and me when arriving on post.

sss · 25 Apr 2003, 10:25 (Ref:580400)

Quote:

Originally posted by observer
[B]No!
As with most Donington meetings, the marshal in question was the ONLY incident marshal on post except the IO, so it was one of those situations when I could have been left with no marshalling team.

B]

sorry to go a little off thread and playing devils advocate, but whilst the number of marshals you have on post will vary from post to post, at which stage should the IO say im not playing with this number as its not safe, thats the only way organisers may get to do something to encourage marshals. or do run with such a few and just keep asking for a race stoppage at every opportunity to clear up?

JimW · 25 Apr 2003, 11:20 (Ref:580439)

Amazing how discussion spreads.

Two offerings.

For circuit frequencies see the thread on this forum called, I think, Frequencies. Then try a search on frequency for the forum overall. Then try the http://www.marshalspost.com/circuits.php for some circuit specific information (and don't forget to feed back new or corrected information). Then try Google. Lots of information (of variable quality/age) around.

When observing and the flag point is some way away (other side of the circuit or Lodge in for example) I give the flag marshal one of these personal radios and we can then discuss things quietly rather than making a spectacle of us shouting or employing arcane hand signals.

And, yes, I personally always have a scanner so as to be informed.

Regards

Jim

Chigley · 25 Apr 2003, 11:30 (Ref:580447)

Quote:

at which stage should the IO say im not playing with this number as its not safe,

That's a bit difficult when you are single handed on post, acting as observer, flag, I/O and incident plus having no comms; then a scanner is essential and a good set of hand signals to communiate with the next undermanned post who did have a phone working. Circuit: Snetterton - Bombhole In a few years ago.

Mark Mitchell · 25 Apr 2003, 11:35 (Ref:580456)

Quote:

Originally posted by JimW

When observing and the flag point is some way away.....I give the flag marshal one of these personal radios and we can then discuss things quietly rather than making a spectacle of us shouting or employing arcane hand signals.

I too have adopted that way of thinking after flagging for you at Knickerbrook. I managed to "Aquire" a pair of Binatone Hand-held radio's and they are perfect for this situation!