So how did you start?

[Paul Millard]

Went to Mondello to watch the BTCC round their last year and as a result was camping with the marshals in a field and after several hours and beers was convinced that joining them on the bank was a good idea. Up at six the next morning and spent the following two days soaked to the skin but loved it and haven’t looked back since. Thanks to Mr Orange and Mr Flash.
Paul

[Red Man]

I went to one of the old Trans Atlantic Bike Races at Brands and saw people marshalling and said to my husband, "I wonder how you get involved in that". A couple of weeks later I saw a poster asking for Lydden Marshalls and gave the number a ring - that was back in 198oh my god have I been marshalling that long9.

[Stevespurr]

Daughter decuded she wanted to marshal and went as well.

[b1ackcr0w]

My dad and I watched GP's religeously from as far back as I can remember. Eventually, because we couldn't afford proper racing we did the next best thing and built and raced little 3.5cc Radio Control cars. Got quite good at that but a big family move meant we fell out of the sport. When Dad died, I considered taking the R/C racing up again and went to Silverstone for the Empire Cup to get some ideas for bodyshells, I was hooked and before long was spending a fortune on BTCC and GT racing tickets, but also quickly got tired of having a sore butt from sitting down on cold benches all day. When it started to cost £60+ a weekend I was glad when the off season came around. Fatally addicted, I went to the Autosport show and bumped into the BMRMC (as was) stand by more luck than judgement. Castle Combe training day and wallop, - the full marshalling Monty!

If anybody's having a think about pulling on the Proban and joining us - I can promise you, it's one of the best moves you will ever make.

[SuperMarshal]

I was at the 2002 DTM at Donington and saw a sign in the pits saying 'would you like to be a marshal?' and I thought, "why the hell not". A month later I was standing at post 4 at Donington for the VSCC and haven't looked back since. Had a good laugh at my second meeting, Thunder in the park 2 at Donington (again) and bumped into Paul Stodard who wasn't too impressed with the Jordan cap that I was wearing.

[Pike]

Its all down to Martin Brundle.... or a advert in his Grabd Prix guide of 1998 I think for BMRMC, fancied it applied and now love it lots 5 years on, also met some great people along the way. Proban Blackcr0w - surely leather is better???!!!!

[G Tanner]

Went to the GP at Brands in 84. Was on the South Bank behind Post 8?. Looked interesting but then did nothing for a year. Finally rang up Adrian at Combe end of 85 (we all make mistakes) and here I am. No one told me it was addictive.

[scottball75]

After being at a cold wet RAC Rally at Silverstone one year, i got back home and watched the highlights on BBC2 with Murrey Walker (then BMRMC President), who thanked all of the marshals from across the country and said that "Anybody can become a marshal, just go along to your local car club..."

I then phoned a friend of a friend who said that I should call a really nice bloke called Alec Spooner, who would explain how to get started.

[paddock.one]

My dad - already a race fan - took me to Brands when I was seven - loved it. Nagged him to go again (and again, and again...) He was Marketing Manager for Decca Records, so we went, press passes & all, to Le Mans in 1966 and finished helping record the on- and off-track sounds that became the LP record (remember them?), now quite a rarity. Spectated on and off, watched anything I could find on the box, got introduced by a friend to Gerry Donker at Brands. Volunteered, now been doing it for fifteen years. Still love it, just wish someone with Dr Palmer's money would open a circuit a bit nearer so I didn't have a 250-mile round trip to Oulton or Croft. Best wishes to everyone for the 2004 season - have fun, keep safe...

[schrammy]

Used to watch any racing on the box and often wondered how those blokes in orange got to be those blokes in orange! 1991 saw a change of job and an introduction to a marshal who gave me a phone number etc. First meeting was Donington, coppice, wet, HSCC. I was hooked!

[Garry Holmes]

Through a school friends father. I used to go to Donny & Mallory with my dad on his guest pass, first meeting F2 in 1980, by 84/85 I was getting bored with spectating. So aged 14 I started in the Paddock, moved into rallying following the RAC round for the week, brewing up for the Forest12 radio crew when I was at 6th form (handy, no probs with time off) and onto the bank.

[racerkeke]

My parents were in motorsports before I was born -- in fact their first date was competing in a rally that went across the US-Canada border. My dad nearly got arrested for taking an unmarried unrelated minor (she was 19) female into the US. I guess in the '50s Customs was worried about white slavery.

Anyway, I was in high school before I realized that not everyone's family had a four-car garage with racing cars in it, and that they all didn't put the car on the trailer and go to races every weekend. Later my dad stopped racing himself and became a steward, and my mom took up timing and scoring while we kids ran free around the spectator areas (remember when it was okay for kids to do that unescorted?).

Soon afterwards I realized that if I became a marshal I'd get to see the races without being hit on by drunk spectators (this was Mosport in the '70's). As I found out later they still hit on you, but at least there's a fence between!

keke

[Tracey]

Had always watched motorsport on TV since I was a litt'lun. Went to see BTCC at Snetterton a couple of years, and loved it. 2nd year John Cleland had a disagreement with (I think!) Alain Menu or Jason Plato, and ended up in Coram inside, hitting the post heavily and busting ribs. Saw the marshals and rescue guys assist, and thought 'I can do that!' Saw an ad the next January in Motoring News (as it was called back then) for a novice training/find out about marshalling day at Donington, went and joined there and then.

Ironic thing is I am now a trainee on a Snet rescue unit!!!

[Nighthawk]

I was at Goodwood Revival with a mate who was a marshall. on the saturday I was asked if i wanted to marshall as they were short handed ,someone gave me a tango suit and of i went to St.Marys enjoyed it and still at it 8 years on

[mini-mental]

It's lovely to see how all of you got into it. Don wins top prize again for long service award!
Interesting to see how many of you were spectators, and more than I thought from a Rally interest.
Been into motorsport (short track stocks mechanic) since I can remember, and a spectator at ciruits. Didn't even know marshals existed until a friend of my Dad's farther (Cheif Marshal for Bentley) needed help at Silverstone. Great day. Joined the BMRMC on the reccomendation of him, and started Hillclimbs (as he also ran a rather dodgy MG). Really enjoying it, and planning to continue.

[Stuart Hill]

Originally posted by mini-mental
It's lovely to see how all of you got into it. Don wins top prize again for long service award!

You wouldn't possibly be "sucking-up" to the Great-One would you??? We all know just how much of a sucker he is for a cute smile and a flash of a thigh!!!!

But to change the subject briefly (my apologies Stephen!!), well done M-M on your Rescue achievements.

[Fonzie]

I went to a race meeting and collected a leaflet. Rang up and was asked down for a day by Wicked Witch to see if I would like it. Have been going ever since.

[Boo Boo]

I started in 1991 at Oulton park after a long chat to the flaggie on Deer's leap box, plus the fact that he told me that when you marshal you in free of charge and nobody stands in front of you so you can watch all the racing.

[chezza]

I've always watched GP's and finally went to one a couple of years ago on a my Dad's spare ticket. I loved the people, loved the atmosphere and knew I had to have a go...!

[Nadine J Lewis]

I put other - as although I was interested in motorsport had only spectated the GP once when it was at Donington (watched on the tele loads too though!!). Then a friend of mine heard marshalling advertised on the local radio - phoned the number, spoke to Mike Farnworth, turned up for my first day (ever!) at Oulton Park - did walkabout with Cliff / fell over in front of the crowd as I dodged an incoming Tuscan and couldn't wait to buy my overalls - I was hooked!! That was 7 years ago - met husband there / now on committee - perhaps I should be committed!!

[andrew_powell98]

Mine was quite odd as it was a chance phone call by my mums accountant to speak to her. She was out and I took the call, and what should have been a 5 minute call ended over an hour later with me getting told who to call dates and which meetings to go to. Have to say not regrated that phone call, mum did though as she thought it was too dangerous back then, now she is fine with it.

[KayBee]

Blame Pixie and a Milli (Aprillia RSV1000) rider called Daz Jones for both of us!!