20/21 Donington BTCC

alicesophia · 12 Apr 2013, 12:53 (Ref:3232936)

Hello,

Very much a newbie both here and to marshalling - this will be my fourth race (including a sprint) and I was just hoping to get some advice on what I'll need or need to be aware of for the meeting at Donington next weekend?

Thanks,
Alice

Mike Kelly 1 · 12 Apr 2013, 13:16 (Ref:3232942)

As its BTCC just watch out for Plato!

Darren Holmes · 12 Apr 2013, 13:59 (Ref:3232957)

You will soon find that BTCC meetings are a bit like Marmite, some people love some hate them, but that's the beauty of volunteering you have a choice!

It's no different to any other race meeting really, except that there is a bit more contact in some of the races than you would find in club racing, and occasionally when certain drivers come and join you on post their ego is bigger than their talent.

I personally enjoy these meetings, they are well attended by Marshals and its a good opportunity to speak to some experienced people.

Come & say hi at sign on, I will be the fat, bald one in orange.... Oh wait, that won't help you much lol

Greem · 12 Apr 2013, 14:35 (Ref:3232977)

Hello Alice, welcome to the big orange family (and Tenths)!

Darren summed up the general stuff, but I would add:

Wear (or bring) lots of layers. Donington's posts have their own climate, especially at the top end of the circuit where the wind can be merciless!
Bring waterproofs. They're also windproof (see previous item). Wear a hat.
Bring sweeties or cake. You'll be very popular with the rest of your team if you do
Bring plenty to drink.
If there's even a hint of sunshine, put some sun gunge on. The wind will lull you into a sense of it not being sunny and you'll go home all tomato-coloured. I do this at almost every meeting despite putting on sun stuff!
Listen to the Post Chief & I/O on your post at the morning briefing. If you feel nervous or unsafe at any point, tell them (and tell them why).
Enjoy yourself!

...and as Darren said, say hello. I'll be the short bald one in orange!

Matt Gusher · 12 Apr 2013, 15:47 (Ref:3233014)

Hi Alice.
As said previously, BTCC isn't massively different as far as marshalling us concerned.
Last years BTCC at Donny was my second ever day on the bank, at Redgate (turn 1 if you're unfamiliar with Donny) and we had zero cars to deal with all day Sunday.
Just enjoy it and don't fall over because this does get a good deal of spectators!
Come say hello at sign on too, I'm the Johnny Depp lookalike.

Just kidding, I'm the tall, bald one in orange!

Dave Weston · 12 Apr 2013, 18:10 (Ref:3233061)

you may also find some of the info on here useful?
http://www.marshalsguide.com/index.php/Donington_Park

alicesophia · 15 Apr 2013, 12:30 (Ref:3234616)

Hi guys,

Thank you so much for the comments and advice! I shall be bringing plenty of layers, drink and keep my ears and eyes open!

I'll see you all at sign-on, bright and early on Saturday morning, and will hopefully bring some sweet treats with me too!

Shelagh · 15 Apr 2013, 16:34 (Ref:3234739)

Driving up the M1 this morning on our way home from Silverstone, the "advisory message boards" (don't know what the proper term is) were warning about an "event" at Donington next weekend and that delays were expected. You might want to bear this in mind if you are going because that's the first time we've ever seen any such warning - what do they know thus far in advance ???

No worries for us, though, as we will be watching it on TV!!!

big mick · 16 Apr 2013, 12:45 (Ref:3235278)

No worries for us, though, as we will be watching it on TV!!![/QUOTE]
i will be at home too tin in one hand and butty in the other

simon_blay · 16 Apr 2013, 18:50 (Ref:3235441)

I'm not mashaling this one, still recovering from spending the day on Hangar Straight at the WEC last weekend!

If anyone has a spare ticket for Sunday, can they PM me?

Cheers

Dav · 17 Apr 2013, 21:29 (Ref:3235953)

I remember seeing those "informative" messages in the week before BTCC last year as well. I don't recall the traffic actually affecting the M1 much, but I believe the traffic plan requires that the messages be shown amongst other things.

D

thepits! · 18 Apr 2013, 13:00 (Ref:3236192)

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon_blay

I'm not mashaling this one, still recovering from spending the day on Hangar Straight at the WEC last weekend!

Wimp!

I did the 3 days at WEC, and I'm doing the 2 days at BTCC - yes, even at my advanced age!

Sodemo · 18 Apr 2013, 15:45 (Ref:3236235)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dav

I remember seeing those "informative" messages in the week before BTCC last year as well. I don't recall the traffic actually affecting the M1 much, but I believe the traffic plan requires that the messages be shown amongst other things.

D

Isn't it more the M42? Never known BTCC meetings to cause traffic problems to be honest, not unless you count the car park scrum at the end of the day...?

Greem · 22 Apr 2013, 08:33 (Ref:3237754)

...and what a hideous scrum it was. Took over an hour to get from the end of the Melbourne Loop to the A453 (but only 15 minutes to get home from there).

That aside, Sunday was an excellent day on post 11. I wasn't there on Saturday, so I didn't get to warm my hands on the burning Ginetta; I told the team yesterday that with me there the fun would all be elsewhere, and I was right!

We did however almost catch a Porsche who made the most amazing save after spearing off to the right exiting the Old Hairpin - to within about a metre of the tyrewall, and the Clios provided much entertainment with one of them gaining full style marks for a tank slapper that started on the exit of the Old Hairpin and ended *after* he'd gone under Starkey's Bridge. That one must have changed direction about 5 or 6 times, facing left, then right, then left again...

A big well done to all those who passed their various assessments over the weekend, too.

thepits! · 22 Apr 2013, 12:30 (Ref:3237870)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greem

...and what a hideous scrum it was. Took over an hour to get from the end of the Melbourne Loop to the A453 (.

Me likewise

The security/car park attendants were useless!

I was directed from the paddock towards the main entrance, but then found more security at the top of the hill, and the end of the queue, so at their suggestion[!] I doubled back to the queue for the back-gate [which at least I could see

] But then the one on the back gate keep stopping the queue coming from the paddock for ages whilst he let everyone out of the car-park next to the gate.

That's obviously the best place to park for next time, you'll be home in no time, even with the walk!

Sodemo · 22 Apr 2013, 12:43 (Ref:3237874)

I'm amazed to hear people had issues. We parked in the Melbourne Loop car park area and got out within about 2 minutes of starting up the car. We did watch the last few laps though from Redgate so we could make a swift exit... All this could be avoided though if they put another race on after the final touring car race. Brands was perfect in that respect as you didn't have the mad rush of people all trying to leave at once.

Johansen2000 · 22 Apr 2013, 18:06 (Ref:3238025)

I had no problem walking out to get my bus lol!!!! Lost count of how many cars I passed tho!

Had a fab day on 9, great team and had a little btcc car park that only 3 of the drivers used, all at the same time in race 2...

Ill certainly do btcc again next year :-)

f1madmatt · 23 Apr 2013, 11:13 (Ref:3238340)

I went out of the Coppice gate , and was out of the circuit in less than 2 minutes. Learnt my lesson fron a couple of years ago when it took me an hour to get out of the paddock entrance

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