Marshals Mouthpiece August 2010
Many thanks to everyone who turned out to marshal at the
National Hill Climb Championship meeting at Wiscombe Park last month. Although
marshal numbers were not as high as we have enjoyed in previous years, everyone
did a fantastic job. I’m also extremely grateful for the support and kind words
received from a number of marshals both during and in the days following the
meeting. The British Championship event isn’t the easiest of events to be a
Chief Marshal and I very much appreciate everyone’s support. In addition, a big “thank you” to all the
marshals for taking a much shortened lunch break on the Sunday following some
gremlins with the timing gear. I hope the indigestion didn’t last too long!
Luckily, the drivers were kind to us this year and kept things “on track.
For most marshals, a hill climb event is a day (or weekend)
out, being a part of a sport that we really enjoy and giving our time for free.
Without marshals, events would simply not take place. Being stood out in all
weathers, sometimes freezing, sometimes sweltering (or if you are at Wiscombe,
sometimes soaking), a marshal’s lot is a varied one!
However, for many of us, there’s lots of work to be done
prior to an event even taking place, work that often starts many months
earlier. The organising club have to deal with a whole host of different things
to ensure that a hill climb runs successfully. This can include dealing with
and arranging competitor entries, marshals, officials, catering, toilets,
marshal’s equipment, advertising, sponsorship, medical staff, breakdown crew,
commentary, communications, site clean-up and maintenance, site access, site
clean-up and preparation, signposting, paddock layout and spectator enclosures
to name but a few. I’m sure there is a lot more that could be added to this
list.
I thought I would take this opportunity to give you some
insight into the organisational work involved from a marshalling point of view,
particularly the work that is carried out not only to recruit marshals for an
event but also the things involved in preparing the venue to ensure that
marshals (along with the competitors and spectators) are kept as safe as
possible.
1) Marshal invites are sent out approximately two months
prior to an event taking place. We currently hold a database of some 130 speed marshals
who are invited directly to our speed events (however, it is worth a note that
I am constantly working on this spreadsheet to identify those who have perhaps
not marshalled for the club for many years and enquiring if they still wish to
be invited in the future). All the event-specific paperwork has to be prepared
and copied, with address labels and return envelopes all needing to be available.
I am very thankful for the assistance of Roger Emond with this task.
All marshal responses are automatically directed back to me
for the issuing of marshal’s instructions, tickets and later, post allocation. Around
three-quarters of marshals are recruited by post with others by e-mail and
telephone. When a brand new venue is introduced, completely new paperwork has
to be produced, detailing all the correct information, directions, timescales
etc; hence, shiny new Manor Farm, Charmouth marshal’s information paperwork
(marshal’s invites, final instructions, site map, directions and even lunch vouchers)
have already been produced, many in glorious colour!
Final marshal allocations are not now usually completed
until about 48 hours before the event is due to take. Unfortunately, marshal’s
availability can (and does) change at very short notice and this can result in
having to totally re-think post allocations. It is normally a fine balancing
act to allocate marshals correctly and not
simply writing down names on a post sheet. Insufficient experience on a
key post or an unsuitable allocation will have repercussions in the event of an
incident.
Every effort is always made to ensure that any individual
marshal requests are honoured. Requests for a particular post or to marshal
with a particular person/team are not uncommon and everything possible is done
to accommodate these requests. I am also very aware that marshalling is also a
“social” activity for some, especially those who marshal as a team or who
travel together. I like to ensure that these volunteers are able to stay
together on post. This all has to be incorporated into the allocation
procedure.
Of course, on the day of an event, it only takes a few “no
shows” and everything has to change again at short notice, sometimes as late as
half-an-hour before practice starts. Not an easy task if you are low on
numbers. Having to work out a reallocation during signing-on is common-place;
however, this can sometimes result in one or two posts being shorter on
marshals than one would like. Unlike some event chief marshals, I do continue
to marshal on a post for the duration of an event as I feel this is extremely
important to be at the pointy end.
Woolbridge are fortunate in that there is a number of
regular, very experienced (please notice I didn’t use the word “old”) marshals
who turn out for most events. This makes my job a lot easier and I can normally
guarantee that there is enough experience to spread around and to “look after”
the less experienced or new marshals.
2) You will normally find the event organisers at the site at
least several days prior to a meeting taking place. Some events such as Manor
Farm and especially the previously-used Longleat Estate can take a lot of organisation
and setting up just to enable the meeting to take place. In almost all cases, a
venue has a life completely separate from motor sport in its daily life and the
designers of these venues would probably turn in their graves at the thought of
Mr Forsyth and Mr Pook racing round at over 100mph. Very careful planning is needed
to ensure that all marshal’s posts are positioned safely, that the marshals are
adequately protected and that any other “objects” not especially compatible
with motorsport are made safe. This can include drain covers, posts, trees,
ditches etc. To give you some indication of the scale of this task, the
Longleat hill used to require around 70 large straw or hay bales, each to be
positioned correctly to ensure the protection of Lord Bath’s property and effectiveness
in protecting marshals and drivers. Each one has to be positioned by a tractor
or similar. Arm-co barrier also had to be installed prior to the hairpin.
Although at the time of writing this article, the first
Manor Farm event has yet to take place, a day has been set aside for
“preparation work” a few days before the weekend motorsport (following on from
plans draw up some months ago). Everything is being put into place to ensure
the Manor Farm marshals are kept safe and comfortable.
Be part of the action. Contact me for more details on marshalling…
Damian Evans
Woolbridge Marshal Co-Ordinator
Tel: 01264 361766 E-mail: damian1972@sky.com if you have any comments, or add them to the Woolbridge
forum at: http://woolbridge.forumup.co.uk/.
NOVICES GUIDE TO SPEED HILLCLIMB MARSHALLING
·
What is
a speed hillclimb?
A speed hillclimb
involves a variety of cars (and sometimes bikes) from road going saloons to
specialised single seater racing cars using ex Formula 1 engines racing against
the clock uphill on a narrow tarmac track.
Timing is to a hundredth of a second and only the drivers fastest run
counts. Drivers usually get 2 practice
runs which whilst timed do not count towards the final results and two timed
competetive runs.
· How do I
start marshalling?
Contact either me
(Dick Nadin Woolbridge Marshal Co-Ordinator Tel: 01308 485488 E-mail: rwnadin@tiscali.co.uk) or the chiefmarshal for the event if you know who that is.
·
Do I
need training?
Whilst training is
available at special training days, and is to be recommended, no formal
training is necessary to start marshalling as you will be placed with
experienced marshals who will "teach you the ropes" and let you gain
experience throughout the event.
Marshals are a friendly band of people who are only to willing to pass
on their knowledge and also recount their experiences.
·
Do I need
special clothing?
Whilst many
marshals have their own orange fireproof overalls and sometimes other equipment
there is no requirement for this and normal clothing is perfectly
adequate. For your own protection it is
preferable that shorts and short sleeved T shirts are not worn on marshals
posts and avoid red clothing as this can be mistaken for a red flag. Stout shoes or boots are also preferred. Some form of waterproof clothing is also
recomended as the British weather is nothing if not unpredictable!
·
What do
I have to do when marshalling?
On arriving at the
venue you must sign on with the chief marshal, at the time stated on the
instructions you receive before the event,
who will allocate you a role or post.
For most speed events marshals signing on is between 0730 and 0815 so
you can be in position in plenty of time for the event to run to schedule.
There are many
varied roles for marshals including getting cars to the start line from the
main paddock area, working on the start line positioning the cars at the timing
beam which starts the clock, supervising their arrival at the end of their runs
in the top collecting paddock prior to their return in a batch back down the
course, and of course manning the marshals posts up the hill. These marshals posts are positioned up the
entire course within sight of each other and manned by any number from 2 - 6 or
more marshals. Each post will be equiped
with a fire extinguisher, brooms and shovel, a radio, gloves, a tub of cement
(for dressing oil spillages), a red flag and a whistle. The post will be
responsible for the section of track from its position (safely behind a
protective barrier) up the hill to the next post. If a car stops or has an incident in "your"
section a marshal blows the whistle to alert the next post down the hill and a
marshal waves the red flag to stop following competing cars from
proceeding. The marshal in charge of the
radio will report the nature of the incident to "Course Control" and
request any other assistance required such as a breakdown vehicle. Other marshals will attend the incident with
the fire extinguishers (as a precaution though rarely needed!) and possibly a
broom and shovel as your section of track has to be kept clear of debris. If the marshals post above you on the hill
blow their whistle and deploy their flag you should do likewise as will posts
below you. This will cascade down the
hill stopping further progress of other cars up the hill until the incident has
been dealt with.
This might sound a
litlle complicated but you'll soon get the hang of it and marshals frequently
rotate between roles on the post during the course of the day.
Marshals are
expected to remain standing whilst cars are competing (it takes time to get up
to run to or from an incident!) and are not permitted to take photographs or
videos whilst on a marshals post. Some
marshals do however frequently have lightweight folding chairs on post with
them to use in between competetive runs or whilst waiting for the event to
commence.
· Will I
be paid?
Marshals are all
volunteers and so do not get paid. They
do however usually receive some form of recognition for their assistance. On Woolbridge Motor Club Hillclimbs this consists
of a free voucher for the catering facilities at lunchtime, a free daily
marshals draw, free entry in the Woolbridge Motor Club Limited Annual Marshals
Draw with a first prize of £100, free camping facilities for the weekend and
sometimes other little "thank you's".
· Other
bits and tips
Things do not
always run smoothly at events due to many thing including the unpredictability
of combining car and driver with speed!
You can therefore be on duty for quite a long time possibly with only a
short lunch break. It is therefore wise
to consider having some drink or food with you on post. I should point out that competitors and
officials are not allowed to consume alcohol during the course of the event but
after the meeting is however another matter when bar facilities are sometimes
available.
Most importantly a
sense of humour helps us all get through the day! Welcome to Speed Hillclimb marshalling!
Dick Nadin
Woolbridge Marshal Co-Ordinator
Tel: 01308 485488 E-mail: rwnadin@tiscali.co.uk
Want to extend your marshalling skills further, then see
(click image to go to website).
