Appreciation of Marshals

[greenamex2]

blackhands - Yes we generally do. Those who don't are generally pay drivers, which even other drivers don't like!

If any marshalls are reading this who attended Snetterton on Saturday, you are mad and have earned my utmost respect for your dedication. I hope we managed to entertain, but it's very difficuly driving really hard when you can't see where you are going, or been, or what you are going past!

[COLIN STUBBS]

mmm was that really you i passed on revett dennis?? sounded like youd got a million revs on!! thanks guys you must have been well soaked

[dtype38]

Hmmm... yes I definitely always wave to the marshalls on the run down lap after a race, no matter where I finished. I also try to make sure I wave to every marshall post. I do add a fiver to the entry if there's a space on the form for it, but not many organisers do that.... however, I have a guilty secret.... Saturday before last I was at Lydden Hill and needed a bump start on the grid. The starter and a marshall gave me a push. I dropped the clutch but the car didn't start immediately so they pushed harder. Then it suddenly caught and unfortunately the starter and possibly the marshall as well went down quite heavily. I thought about going and thanking them afterwards, and apologising for any injury, but sadly I was just far too embarrased to even show my face. Sorry chaps

[Chris Y]

I should have thanked one of the marshals that gave a push to my car at Mallory yesterday, but he vanished!

During a test, the car managed to shear off 3 driveshaft bolts, which left me without drive just after the hairpin - a couple of marshals gave me a push down the hill to the paddock, and I was in the middle of talking to one of them, but when I turned around he was nowhere to be seen - completely disappeared - very neat trick if you're wearing bright orange

[Stephen Green]

He is probably still attached to the back of your car

[danccooke]

I think every marshal will say it again and again, that wave of thanks IS everything we want (well maybe the jaffa cakes too) so often we stand up on the barriers and clap all the drivers and stand there and count wavers to non wavers. i must say this year there has been more wavers than non so far.
Just keep racing, else i will look stupid stood on the bank of a weekend with no cars.

[TuscanR 64]

I think racers and marshalls complement each other, we both go together so well. I always give every racer a clap and/or a wave at the end of every race and appreciate the smiles and waves we get in return, that's much better than anyones money.

I marshalled at Croft at the weekend and after the days racing was over and a few of us were left nattering Rupert Lewin came over and thanked us, nice one we all look forward to the Porsches visiting us again next year.

[b1ackcr0w]

There is one way you can make a massive difference.

After a recent nasty off I dealt with, the driver wrote back to the club with a letter of thanks. That was brilliant.

After the initial chaos has died down, we don't always get to hear much about what happenend to the driver and how well they're recovering. A nice thankyou letter and a note about how you & the car are, is hugely gratifying and very welcome indeed.

[Chris Y]

I think a lot more drivers would do just that - IF they knew who to write to...? Not all drivers are as savvy with computers as us on here, and quite a large proportion don't really understand the way marshalling is organised (i.e. what club would that marshal have belonged to, etc).

No easy answer to that, or at least none that I can think of.

[EvilPumpkin]

Well the class co-ordinator should have that info so a letter to them could be passed on fairly easily I would think?

[Chris Y]

I think you over-estimate the 'ordinator' part of some co-ordinators

[ianpearson]

i always believe a thank you & good bye goes alongway after being helped by marshalls or tow truck. I have'nt needed marshall assistance all year until last weekend when i needed three tow's & spent the formula renault race watching form lakeside hairpin marshalls post at oulton, they had good coffee aswell

thanks again

[Chris Y]

I have so far managed to avoid 'the big one', but if that day ever comes, I think I will probably write to one of the comics (Autospurt/Mortaring News) and send my thanks to the marshals involved. Usually a quick "Ta!" as I'm leaving behind the tow truck for me

Last time out at Oulton though, my luck held, and I finished the race - it was obvious that the marshals enjoyed the race, as my waves attracted waves back, and some applause, which was nice

[SpawnyWhippet]

I always give a thumbs up to the marshalls on the slowing down lap. Easily done and seems to be appreciated. Glad to hear confirmation though