How do I become a marshall?

[paulzinho]

I don't know if this is elsewhere but how do I do it?

I'm thinking of doing some in the summer before Uni.

I think Stephen could answer this best from my pov but I'd appreciate any help.

[DarrellB]

You have asked at the right place. To become a marshal does not require membership of any clubs but being joining a club does make things easier. The choices available are the racing clubs such as the BARC www.barc.net or the BRSCC www.brscc.co.uk or BRDC marshals club pam.dearn@brdc.co.uk the other choice is the British Motorsport Marshals Club www.marshals.co.uk all these will provide availability forms which you indicate which meetings you wish to attend and arrange for passes etc. The other advantage of these is the training days which are currently being run before the season kicks off in full. The best idea as an introduction would be to find out when a training day is being held locally to you and contacting the organiser this will allow you to get the basics out of the way before letting loose at a meeting. If you let me have your email I have a list of all training events for this year which I can send you. I am sure there will be plenty more reponses to your question. Happy Marshalling!!

[Stephen Green]

Paul,

There is a training day this Saturday at Brands Hatch. If you fancy going then speak to the BRSCC at Brands Hatch for details. Their telephone number is 01732 848884. Let me know how you get on ok?

Stephen

[paulzinho]

Can't do Saturdays, my part time job is a bit of a stumbling block. I may have to leave it a while but its just something i've been thinking about.

[Stephen Green]

Paul,

Ring the BRSCC anyway and ask them to send you details of how to become a marshal. At least you have something to look at and for reference. The marshals secretary is Audrey Cranmer.

Stephen

[imull]

Join a motorclub and get into it from there. Racing you have to do courses but rallying anyone can do it although tehy will soon weed you out if you are time wasting!

[Stephen Green]

Imull, the point of doing the courses is to train you properly and so that you don't get hurt while marshalling. If the Rally Marshals Club don't do that (and I am sure they do) then you are putting yourself in danger!

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by imull
Racing you have to do courses but rallying anyone can do it although tehy will soon weed you out if you are time wasting!

Anyone can do it? Anyone can be trained to do it. As a marshal you are responsible for the safety of yourself, other marshals, spectators & competitors. You owe it to yourself & everyone else to ensure that you are properly trained to do the job you set out to do.

Let me put a little scenario to you. A car crashes on a forest stage. You are first to it; the driver is sitting motionless, his head slumped on his chest; the nearest rescue unit can get there in ten minutes. Can anyone, with no training, deal with this situation?

[Stephen Green]

Well said David. Training is ESSENTIAL and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[Jenny]

Hi, I've just seen the discussion re marshals. I am an historic single seater racer and attended a day at Goodwood (my home circuit)as one of the signatures on my ARDS licence last year. I just loved the day (working only in the paddock I might add) that I joined as a Goodwood Marshal. I attended their Training Day 2 weeks ago which was extremely informative and absolutely essential for anyone considering going trackside. You would be a danger to everyone, not just yourself, if you attend any race or rally meeting with no current knowledge of first stage paramedic activity. Just the equipment they use blows your mind!

Incidently, I wish more racers spent more time as marshals (and so do the marshals!)because we would realise just how important their (often unpaid) role is in our racing lives.

Oh, and hello Hadfield! Best wishes from WSx.

[imull]

Perhaps I put my point badly. To marshall at a race meeting a training course is mandatory. To marshal on a rally, it is not mandatory but is advisable. Most clubs run a course at least once a season, most more often. I was not meaning to promote rallying over racing becasue of the lack of training, if anything the other way round. It is up to the individuals preferances to chose which route to follow. Most clubs tend to specialise in one form of motorsport although if you look about there will be a club near to you that has a wider spectrum.

The job of the marshal, as someone said is to provide safety for everyone including fellow marshalls. In order to do that properly, you need a degree of training no matter who you are and a lot of training on teh medical side.

I came accross people on the Network Q this year who were only marshalling to avoid paying to get in. They were what I meant by the time wasters that get weeded out, as in two cases (that I know of) they were driven out of the stage and forced to pay to get back in and collect their car after the stage was closed.

Perhaps, I am differant to most marshalls, as I am a trained lifeguard (third highest First aid to Ambulance and D of E instructors). I also hold St Johns ambulance certificates.

Naturally, the scenario that was put to me above, no untrained person could rush into, although I suspect that most people would try to help and probably do more damage than good.

We saw on the RAC last year that marshalls are not infallable, its my understanding that Sainz hit a mix of speccies and marshalls. The club that I marshall through has a rule that marshalls are not allowed to take families onto the stage until children are at least teenagers to minimise the distractions. I once saw a marshall changing a nappy as a car rolled down the road towards him. He was one of the last people there to move to help or direct other cars round...

Most of what I have learnt relevant to marshalling has been through maarshalling on events. Keeping near to more experienced and qualified marshalls as well as attending courses and night classes (as are provided my the MSA prior to the Network Q for example) on safety etc.

At no point did I mean to send people onto the stages as they would not have to take courses. Personally, I would like to see a mandatory course for all forms of motorsport from racing through to forest rallying.

[Stephen Green]

Jenny,

Thank you for your words of wisdom and I agree with you 100%. Most marshals wish a few more drivers would spend some time with them on the banks, if only to know the type of aggravation many of us suffer. I would say that unpaid is more the norm rather than often unpaid, not to mention the cost of buying our own equipment. Moast drivers be they rally or circuit drivers are most welcomed by marshals if they are unlucky enough to have an 'off'. We often offer them shelter and a welcome drink before the wrecker crews turn up to drag their car away to a place of repair.

Imull, non of us are infallible as I am sure you are aware. Even the best person makes mistakes and they should be treated as such.

It has been many an occasion when I have heard that to have a heart attack at a race meeting is probably the most fortuotous place in the country for that to happen. With all the relevant first aid and medical care around, it gives you a much greater degree of recovery!

Marshals are by and large unpaid volunteers and we often get put upon by officials who receive payment for their jobs.

Let me thoroughly recommend becoming a marshal if you have the slightest interest in motor racing of any disipline!

[DavidBritainUK]

Originally posted by Stephen Green

Let me thoroughly recommend becoming a marshal if you have the slightest interest in motor racing of any disipline!

Well said Steve. Great fun, and usually cheaper than Retail Therapy.

[Stephen Green]

Very true!!!!!

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by imull
Perhaps I put my point badly. To marshall at a race meeting a training course is mandatory.

I think your remark was open to misinterpretation, which is why I thought it important to stress the importance of training.

Have you seen the MSA Rally Safety Group's recommendations? it looks to me as though rally marshalling is going to be brought into line with race marshalling with regard to training & licence requirements.

Naturally, the scenario that was put to me above, no untrained person could rush into, although I suspect that most people would try to help and probably do more damage than good.

I chose it carefully as an example of just the sort of situation where untrained 'assistance' could do more harm than good!

[imull]

No I have not seen MSA recommendations yet but will no doubt get them in the next week or so.

I have to say though, that as a student it was the cost element that pushed me to rallying (and my bum looks big in Proban).

In road rallying, as far as I know you have to porvide a marshall. Will find out when I can afford to compete. In my opinion (which I forgot to mention above) all competitors should have to marshal one or two events a year just to keep their licence. Be they McRae or the local escort wrecker. To many events that I have been to have been thin on the ground to say the least, admittedly mostly ralling but occasionally at circuit tests (eg Snetterton in 99 I was a guest at the Lister test session and I counted about half a dozen marshalls.

It would not take to much effort to put a box on teh back of the license for C of C signitures and send it to the MSA once a year.

Would provide events with enough hands and maybe make some of the more famous competitors realise that we are the reason that they can comptete and a word of thanks may be in order...

[Stuart Hill]

Don't forget Speed Hillclimbing!!!! Fast cars, close to the action and, most places, a small remuneration plus free food!!! PLUS, you need to have attended any training as your first day is part of it!!

[Stephen Green]

Imull, if you go the the RACMSA website there's a full press release of the rule changes.

[imull]

cheers.

Seen them and think they are heading in teh right direction. Though as I read them I still got the feeling that compressing the route is causing many of these problems.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by imull

I have to say though, that as a student it was the cost element that pushed me to rallying (and my bum looks big in Proban).

You wouldn't be the first person whose bum looks big in Proban!

In my opinion (which I forgot to mention above) all competitors should have to marshal one or two events a year just to keep their licence.

I'm not sure of this, but I think the MSA now requires that all novice racing drivers do a day's marshalling before their licence can be upgraded. I know a couple of drivers who marshal - or are they marshals who race?

Would provide events with enough hands and maybe make some of the more famous competitors realise that we are the reason that they can comptete and a word of thanks may be in order...

Hmm......maybe too late for the more famous competitors! Most club racers are very appreciative of the work marshals do.

[Stuart Hill]

have you ever seen my wife in probans ?????????????

[Stephen Green]

I think you will find that a driver can elect to do a day marshalling and for that he gets a signature on his/her licence. However, I don't believe it's mandatory.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by crazystu
have you ever seen my wife in probans ?????????????

I've seen MY wife in Probans; she's

[Stephen Green]

Well you can have my wife! please.......

[Jenny]

Yr right, Dave, it is not mandatory for novice racing drivers to spend a days marshalling for a signature but it does give you another signature on your Licence...

Have yet to test the Proban on my butt - that shade of orane should put you off, never mind the elephantine bum!