The last major exodus of marshals from our sport was in the late 1990’s, the reasons then much the same as now, i.e. lack of decent on-circuit facilities, timetabling, etc and at that time, petrol hitting £4 a gallon for the first time. (Wouldn’t we settle for that price now?!) There was another minor exodus in 2008 as the present financial crisis began to bite, camouflaged to a large extent by the ongoing success of various recruitment campaigns run by BMMC, supported by the MSA, BTCC and the circuit owners.
In October 2011, as we opened the renewal season for 2012, there were ominous signs that the financial crisis was now hitting everyone and there was an instant flutter of direct debit cancellations, plus statements on Ten-Tenths that many marshals would be cutting back or quitting altogether in 2012. We reported this to the Association of British Motor Racing Clubs. There was a sympathetic response, perhaps a little muted from the organising clubs who were already struggling to make money, but largely sympathetic nonetheless.
The matter was further discussed within BMMC and a variety of reports and suggestions forwarded to the MSA. A summary of this situation is now on our web site
www.marshals.co.uk for your information. (Great cartoon by Jim Bamber!) There is not a comment facility on our web site but I am happy to receive comments via the current thread on Ten-Tenths or by email to
Nat.Treasurer@marshals.co.uk
In trying to assess opinion, I suppose we must recognise that between the two extremes of those marshals who would marshal for ever for no reward, other than a job well done amidst a gang of good mates, and those who are now saying they simply cannot afford to continue, there is the great majority of marshals who do appreciate a little help from the clubs. Historically it is from this silent majority that most marshals simply drift away and although we can keep the numbers up by continued recruiting, this recruiting and the constant training of new marshals is not without cost to the sport as a whole. Our aim must be to retain a few more of those we already have; hence our suggestions to make the marshal feel a little more appreciated than is sometimes the case.
George Copeland
Marshals' & Officials' Rep on ABMRC
Nat Treasurer BMMC