Thin Orange Line

Ian Lewis · 21 Jul 2003, 12:06 (Ref:667020)

I have just received my final instuctions for the Oulton Park race meeting 26th July. I see that just 48 incident marshals have volenteered. From this number 15% will be no-shows, down to 41, four will be on the dodgems (fire trucks)37 now for 12 posts 3ish each. Please make sure you have your weetabix.
On a serious note: why are numbers falling? what can be done to boost the thin orange line?
Anyone on the trackside forum want to help??
Regards,
Ian

andrew_powell98 · 21 Jul 2003, 13:40 (Ref:667153)

Sorry Ian I would love to be there but I have a shortage in the beer stocks so will be having fun in France.
As for the serious note why not get talks in schools espacially the sports colleges about marshalling? it could bring in some new recriuts from the age of 16 upwards

garcon · 21 Jul 2003, 14:29 (Ref:667189)

Oulton's fairly local for me and I don't have much on this weekend, so if you're allowed to put a complete and utter novice in an orange suit, I could be persuaded!

PM me...

PaulPerkins · 21 Jul 2003, 14:54 (Ref:667219)

Garcon,

If you do manage to make it, I've got a complete 'Marshals Starter Pack' going spare - Probans, Gloves and even Union Flag sew-on badge. Only used once for the training session. You're welcome to borrow them until you make up your mind whether or not to continue marshalling (which you will, of course!)

Paul.

garcon · 21 Jul 2003, 14:58 (Ref:667224)

Cheers Paul!

I'll be in touch...

*garcon wonders what he might be letting himself in for...*

Stuart Hill · 21 Jul 2003, 16:44 (Ref:667364)

Quote:

Originally posted by garcon
Cheers Paul!

I'll be in touch...

*garcon wonders what he might be letting himself in for...*

ooohhhh yippee !!!! another virgin !!

"You will never know the true power of the Orange Side"

andrew_powell98 · 21 Jul 2003, 18:16 (Ref:667482)

well they do say the futures bright the futures orange

Adrian Randle · 21 Jul 2003, 18:21 (Ref:667489)

I can assure you it's becoming a very thin pale shade of orange judging by the numbers at some recent meetings.

Stevespurr · 21 Jul 2003, 21:21 (Ref:667669)

How many are at Donington for the DTM?

darcym · 21 Jul 2003, 21:41 (Ref:667691)

every marshall I have ever met has been a great person and has been a real enthusiast for club racing. I cannot sing the praises of the marshalls enough as they allow me to go racing. So please don't stop going because you are un-appriciated.

The idea of visiting schools in the area - or even inviting college/uni students to participate for fun to get a taste or maybe to use the experience as part of their study (if it is sports related - they can examine cars for mechanical related degrees, examine drivers for fitness and phycological related courses, and be part of motorsport for sports related courses, perhaps even use a season at a track marshalling as a case study watching how the economy effects numbers, how certain drivers mature through out a season, there is lots of scope. I would be happy to do my part as a driver in helping get students interested, be it going to schools, offering myself, my car and the team I race with as "candidates" anything really. If there is any plans for this, I'd be happy to participate anything that gets you guys new recruits.

darcym · 21 Jul 2003, 21:42 (Ref:667695)

I should also point out that if someone wants to work with me (who is a marshall) I would be very happy to spend some time putting together a small package for disribution at schools/colleges/uni's showing how being a marhsall gives them access to a.) Fun b.) new friends c.) great subjects for school work.

**Woolley** · 21 Jul 2003, 22:30 (Ref:667733)

Thanks, darcym, appreciate the sentiments.

I think we all know that the drivers do appreciate what we do (as we appreciate great racing), we just need the message to get to the clubs/circuits/MSA etc

Stuart Hill · 21 Jul 2003, 23:41 (Ref:667771)

Quote:

Originally posted by darcym
I should also point out that if someone wants to work with me (who is a marshall) I would be very happy to spend some time putting together a small package for disribution at schools/colleges/uni's showing how being a marhsall gives them access to a.) Fun b.) new friends c.) great subjects for school work.

having "worked" with a driver during a meeting it is very enlightening as to just how much goes on during a Speed Event weekend. Just how that may translate to non-participants i'm not sure but as an ex-marshal it was great fun. I might even go back on-the-bank.

But to address your earlier point, just to echo Woolley, thank you for your comments. I don't think any of us marshals do it for the thanks but it is nice to receive them. As to recruiting "new blood", well..... many have tried and some have failed. The only way I know is to get them trackside by whatever means and see if they like it. Some do, some don't, such is life, but the manner in which they are introduced to the sport must count for something. Just dumped on a post cannot be good for anyone, but (as at Oulton Park), getting a tour of the circuit and an introduction to all the posts aswell as the personnel must help. I would love to know the percentage of "newbies" at Oulton that have taken the plunge and become regular marshals.

Ian Lewis · 22 Jul 2003, 07:39 (Ref:667995)

Any new Marshal attending Oulton park will be very well looked after, not just dumped on a post and left to fend for themselves. Please make yourselves known to Nadine or me, we do the marshals sign on at Oulton.
Please let me know if you attending and I will arrange a ticket for you to pass through the gate.
Ian Lewis

Alan Green · 22 Jul 2003, 08:04 (Ref:668012)

Quote:

Originally posted by Stevespurr
How many are at Donington for the DTM?

Friday (obviously) is quite thin on the ground according to BARCs list, with observers needed mostly (lots of flaggies taking pens & clipboards & extra arms I think!). For the weekend there seems to be plenty to go round the GP circuit. Should be a good weekend (although the timings look to be missing much in the way of breaks).

Alan

PaulPerkins · 22 Jul 2003, 08:14 (Ref:668022)

Slightly off-topic, but..

Ian, you've obviously done some work on the stats for no-shows, etc. I'd be interested to know how many people turn up on-spec (i.e. have not volunteered) - is that normally a percentage, or does it vary.

Cheers,

Paul.

EvilPumpkin · 22 Jul 2003, 08:23 (Ref:668029)

Stu, you're not an ex-marshal - you'll always be a marshal - you're simply a "non-practicing" one!

I've never been to Oulton - is 3 per post workable? We've been doing a lot better with numbers this year after a concerted recruitment drive, but time was when 3 per post was considered to be a pretty good average.

Is this a regular thing now or is the problem with conflicting meetings and/or people not wanting to attend specific events?

Ian Lewis · 22 Jul 2003, 09:22 (Ref:668076)

Oulton has untill recently enjoyed a good marshal to post ratio. Back in 1995 we had 118 incident marshals down for this meeting, along with 47 flaggies. compare it to what we have now! Paul we do have extras turning up but I would estimate them to be 1-2% and yes we can work with 3 per post but it will be hard.
What can be done to encourage new marshals??
Ian

EvilPumpkin · 22 Jul 2003, 09:33 (Ref:668085)

Ian, one of the main issues we encountered with marshal numbers was lack of communication. Initiating a regular marshals post (monthly) that had the list of that month's dates in it, combined with regular email and text message updates - plus a ring around 3 days before the event - had a good impact on marshal numbers.

With regards to recruitment, our biggest success has been advertising in the voluntary section on an Irish recruitment website. Once I explained who we were and what we did, they gave us the advertisement for free. The ad went up in March and by June, we'd had over 50 enquiries. Ok we only managed to convert 10 of them (mostly they didn't read the "voluntary" bit) but that's still 10 people we would not have had otherwise. I don't know if this is applicable to you, but it may be worth looking at.

We also have a standing advertisement in all Mondello programmes and at larger events, we hand out leaflets (although of all the initiatives, this has been the least successful and most expensive!)

With regard to retention of new marshals, generally the most important thing is to get them integrated as fast as possible. It sounds like a no-brainer, but there's nothing more daunting than being on your own with a group of people who've all known each other for ages! I think you already do this at Oulton in any case though. We also do regular marshals draws, but I don't know how much of a factor that is in people coming back!

The biggest thing is to try to make sure people have a good time. As long as that is happening, the rest sort of takes care of itself. However, working out how that happens is not always an easy thing to do!

I don't know if any of this is of any help!

Ian Lewis · 22 Jul 2003, 09:41 (Ref:668093)

Dear Evil Pumpkin, Nadine and I are taking all of this on board and will come up with action Plan.
I know numbers are falling but I was shocked when I saw we had 118 marshals down for the same event in 1995.
Ian

EvilPumpkin · 22 Jul 2003, 09:53 (Ref:668101)

Hi Ian,

Well as I said, I didn't really give you anything I hadn't already picked up from other people on the board, but if you want to discuss further, feel free to PM or email me - I'll do my best to assist.

Cheers,
EP

Ian Lewis · 22 Jul 2003, 10:15 (Ref:668111)

Dear EP, Thanks we need all the help we can get.no matter where it originates from. I will discuss with Nadine and take it from there. Thanks again for your imput.
Ian

PaulSands · 22 Jul 2003, 10:21 (Ref:668112)

As a non marshall I've always been a little confused by which club is which as you see a variety of uniforms around.
Is there an overall governing body for marshalls that has a clearly mapped out route for getting into it or is purely down to the individual clubs?

Ian Lewis · 22 Jul 2003, 11:17 (Ref:668158)

Hi Paul,
There are a number of marshal clubs, but you can volenteer through any club to marshal the event of your choice.
All the clubs are the same i.e. all the marshals are great fun. The overalls differ inso much as most are bright Orange but the BRDC marshals overalls are mainly Black with Orange. Rescue crew wear Green but we in the N.W wear Red!! Doctors wear Red. Confused?
The main point - we are all the same.
Ian

**Spudgun** · 22 Jul 2003, 20:14 (Ref:668748)

I've been thinking trying to become a marshal for a while now. How do you go about it?

Is it a case of joining the BMMC and taking it from there?

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