Your First Ever Days Marshalling

[Andrew Hornsey]

End of July 1989. British F3000 meeting at Silverstone. I was on the (old) beckets inside post. It was the infamous meeting where Pete Berry radiod through that the rear diff on a mini had seized.......

Seem to remember a certain Mr Coulthard in a FF race as well.

[Micky.H]

Cadwell Park, Easter 1993, Short Circuit Hairpin, Very Wet and wondering why I was running with a fire extinguisher.

[Red Baron]

My first meeting was a BTCC meeting at Thruxton in 2001. No particular incidents spring to mind, but I do remember wondering why I had waited until I was 28 to start marshalling. All those wasted years!!!

A couple of seasons on the bank and an 'Introduction to Rescue' day lead to me joining the BARC Rescue Crew, even though the crew chief told me that it was likely to be 99% boredom.

He lied !!!!!!

[racerkeke]

First event was probably a CASC regional at Mosport in 1978. I'm a little fuzzy on exactly when because I'd practically grown up at the track, and it seemed like a seamless transition from track brat to marshal. I can't even remember which station I worked first, because I knew all of them pretty well before I was legally allowed to hop the fence.

As I recall, I first asked someone about working turns because the people in white on the other side of the spectator fence seemed to have the best view of the racing, and didn't get hit on by too many drunks (remember, this was Mosport in the 70's).

Interestingly, this was not long after women were allowed to become full marshals, rather than just "phone girls".

keke

[Teletubby]

Originally posted by Red Baron
He lied !!!!!!

It was true!

Since you joined the crew we never seem to have any quality donut time!

Actually that and a few other 'carefully chosen' phrases have now been retired after it was proved that my utterings were akin to pork pie eating (see seperate thread)!

[EvilPumpkin]

A cold wet rallycross in 2000..... seems like such a long time ago now........

We got no incidents, a small child was dropping rocks on my head from the pedestrian bridge and my rain gear leaked!

[Dan Friel]

Think it was 1993.. Post 15 at Thruxton with Damon Hill doing demo runs in a Williams as well.. was quite unbelievable stuff and still ranks at the top of all time marshalling experiences.

Ten years ago.. worrying stuff indeed..

[Red Baron]

Originally posted by Teletubby

Since you joined the crew we never seem to have any quality donut time!

You're telling me.... I'm begining to think that the donuts are only a malicious rumour

Maybe we'll get time this weekend?

(Oops, that's probably the kiss of death isn't it. If we have a busy weekend, it's nuffin' to do wiv me guvvnor )

[Stephen Green]

I almost bought dougnuts for the day I spent on the unit a couple of weekends ago, but at the last minute decided that to increase the weight on the van might not be too good an idea. Next time maybe???

[Red Baron]

Sounds good to me, as long as I am there of course

[chezza]

I'll always remember my first day...freezing day in feb not a lot happened on track, but at the end of the day I was lifting the bottles down off the wall and ended up dropping a foam one on its handle resulting in me being showered with foam!!!

[manicmarshal]

Lol... got a great mind picture of that. Thanks for sharing

[FCYTravis]

My first day was at Thunderhill Park in Willows, Calif. this year... for an SCCA drivers' school event. Neither the drivers or I knew what the heck we were doing, but I learned from the best... and boy did I need it!

That weekend, we had a rollover, a grass fire and a track-blocking accident on the cooloff lap... whereupon an instructor was almost rear-ended whilst pitting... all in my corner!

Talk about your crash course introduction

Needless to say, I was hooked... and I've worked 15 events and 39 days since... from the downpour that was the Grand Prix of Rain America to the sunbaked Sears Point hills.

[NotLordPercy]

First day was at the real Russell 'curve' at Snetts in September 1962. Those days it was a really quick "flick left flick right", which caught out the fool hardy who felt it was not on to lift!!

It was a European Saloon car event i think involving Alfas and especially the racing Fiat Arbarths with the rear engine covers wedged wide open! I believe one French driver was pulled over for having a cigarette whilst competing; he was one of only 2 entries in a class & just needed to finish to win his class! Still got the programme , but its at the bottom of a large pile, as you can imagine...............

Since then progression was uneven but the company improved year on year. A strange process where people of all ranks and professions join a crew and those that like it stay .So gradually a team is formed who act professionally week in and week out but always enjoy the social side of meeting old friends in the right surroundings.

I'm glad to say that my oldest and bestest mates have almost invariably come from long years ' on the bank'. You get to really know people in these situations.

Long may it last.

[Tim Norman]

My first post.

I started a bit later than Martin Shalders - my first meeting was at Brands at the end of October in 1970. BRSCC clubbie. Might even have met Dave Gilbert then or shortly afterwards. Post 4 - a great place for initiation and lots happened including a Mini on fire. In those days the bankings were earth and there wasn't much run-off space. Can't remember now who was on post but it was at the F2 Whitsun Crystal Palace (fabulous circuit) meeting in 1972 that I met up with Martin Shalders and Bob Illman (and have worked with them ever since). We ended up with our pictures on the front of The Times the following day after dealing with a fire at North Tower.

Can't remember when I first met Stephen Green's fellow moderator "Marshal" (otherwise known as Jonathan Dee) at Silverstone but I think he was out of nappies by then. His father, David Dee, must rank amongst the longest serving marshals currently on the bank - he told me at Goodwood a couple of years back, that he remembered the pits burning down (1958?) but I think he must have been too young to have been marshaling then.

Tim N

[blueflagger]

Welcome FCYTravis! It's good to see another Yank marshal in the ranks. In fact, welcome to all the new 10-Tenths members in this thread. There's a lot of you.

I made it out of rookie status on the banks quickly; I'll make it out of rookie status in here yet!

[theracegypsy]

1966, Castle Combe, I had already been competing for 2 years and my co-driver asked me to help marshalling at a club meeting as they were short.

I was on Quarry with Bob McKinnesse, the chief fire, and we had a formula ford hit the bank and catch fire where the fuel pipe pulled off the tank.

I remember trying to get the extinquisher to work and Bob leaning over through the flames and saying "like this" and pulled a pin out. next thing I'm enveloped in a cloud of dust and coughing and spluttering.

Fire went out though!

Since then I have worked upwards and outwards, and now have friends across the world through motorsport. (I am writing this while enjoying Blueflagger's hospitality in the Twin Cities, then moving down to Atlanta to see Lacerat for the Petit.)

[G Tanner]

Bob, Is that the same meeting that you reported Stirling Moss for overtaking under waved yellows!!!!!!!!!

[flagwaver]

Ellough Kart Track (1978). Was third man on an ambulance crew. We were told that if they didn't get another marshal the meeting would have to be cancelled. So muggins here stepped forward. The rest as they say is history.

[greenbean]

my first meeting was the start of the 1989 seson at brands hatch i was on the old post 7 we had a couple of incidents the best being a ferrari into the barrier.hello racegypsy say hello to blueflager for me and have a good time at petit .i wont be there this year

[Woolley]

Originally posted by greenbean
my first meeting was the start of the 1989 seson

and it was only a few years after that when you were my I/O for a BTC meeting at Donington after I'd expanded from hills to circuits - I'd guess about the end of my second season. You must have had quite a quick rise - it took me 2½ years to find enough Xs to lose my trainee grade. To all those newer marshals who complain about the lack of signatures, 'twas ever thus!

[sf2001]

a round of the NI Kart championships at Bishopscourt... Flag Marshaling

[aprescott]

Woodcote gap, Silverstone in the pouring rain I must be mad that did not put me off!!

[Andrew Palmer]

Woodcote gap Silverstone for PMC March 1999 should have been Woodcote Approach but did not know the circuit and got lost.

There was also the training day at Donnington dragged along by the wife to see what Marshlling is all about. After the morning session on basic Marshalling and incident handling in the afternoon with Medical (do we really get to play with drips {no not rescue crew} and all that stuff) we joined their and then. Have not looked back since.

Done most things from Lawnmower down to F1, and most English circuits.

[Jim Lamb]

Woodcote gap seems to be a common starting place? My first marshaling day on a Race Track (I'd only Rally Marshaled till then) was the Marshals Club(BMRMC) meeting at Silverstone 1985/86?? I remember a formula ford race won by Paul Warwick on his debut, I think. Also a certain Alan McNish was on the podium or thereabouts.

An interesting note is, that was the first meeting I took my very 'New' girlfriend to, and she ripped her Jeans on the fencing and was not amused(Ooooerr)!
We've been married for 14 Years this year, ;-).
Stay safe,

Jim Lamb