How do you get started?

Well you could do a lot worse than looking up the link in my signiture. That's the url of the Marshals club website, and if they can't help you...

Failing that. find yourself a meeting at a circuit you can get to easily, then find out which club is running it. It's likely that it's one of the main 3 culprits. Namely, BARC, 750MC, and BRSCC. Once you have assercertained that, get in contact with either the chief Marshal of the club, or at least their marshals representatives who can help you. That's Sara Wernham for BARC (marshals@barc.net). Peter Harding for 750 (a TPL member, so you can e-mail him via this site.). BRSCC have a few different marshals contacts depending on the region - visit http://www.brscc.co.uk/marshalling.html to find out which one. They'll help you on your next steps.

As far as equipment goes. a good pair of boots is essential, and something waterproof. and a packed lunch. that's the basics. You will either be given something orange or a set of overalls.

And that's pretty much it on that one. Anyone got any answers or questions, or questions and answers that you get frequently asked/given... then post em up!

I'd like to expand a little on that point if I may ?

Boots: preferably should not be trainers - leather walking boots are fine as long as they support your ankles.

Clothing: should be of natural fibres - wool, cotton, silk. Preferably with long sleeves. Several light layers are better than one great hefty one. Much easier to remove layers if you're too hot or put an extra one on if you're too cold.

Waterproofs: Lightweight and breathable are best for running around in - there's nothing worse than being wet inside your waterproofs.

Hats: Wooly ones for winter (2/3 of your body heat is lost out of the top of your head), baseball caps for other times (the peak keeps the sun and rain out of your eyes).

Packed lunch: yes, but make sure that there's enough food to last all day, especially if it looks like bad weather (you'll eat more if you're cold). Good things to have in your packed lunch - sandwiches, snack type things (pork pies, sausage rolls, mini eggs), chocolate, crisps or nuts (very useful in summer if you're drinking a lot of water - they keep your salt levels up), bananas. You'll also need hot and cold drinks. Try to avoid fizzy drinks in summer as they make you hotter! Plain water is best.

You'll also need to consider the British weather: sun cream - a must on hot sunny days and also useful on cold, windy ones.

Finally, a bag to put it all in! Most marshals use rucksacks but many use fishing boxes as they are waterproof and can double up as a seat. If you do choose to use a rucksack, make sure you have a black bin liner in it. This will double up as a cover to keep your bag dry if it rains and also a rubbish bin!

Of course you may! if everyone pitches in we'll get us a nice little reference!

<thumbsup>

Now, onto my "Specialised" subject of Pit Marshalling. Anyone who wants to become a pit marshal will, at some point in their career, have to write something, whether it be a log or a report.

Equipment necessary for writing a log or report:

Clipboard (not necessarily one of those flash ones with a clear plastic lift up lid - I use a clear plastic bag over mine when it rains!) If you are writing a log in the wet, always start writing from the bottom of the page - that way you'll always be writing on a dry bit of paper.

Pens - lots of pens. You can never have too many pens. Red ones are especially helpful if you need to write a report about something out of the ordinary - a blatant breach of regs for example. If you write that report in red, as opposed to blue or black, it will stand out and be easily found by the Clerk of the Course.

Pencils - lots of pencils (and a sharpener). Ever tried writing on wet paper with a ballpoint? Pencils are the best.

Well that's me out of it then!!

Anyway, I'm pinning this topic so it can become an easily found reference for anyone interested in joining the orange army.

My first question: isn't marshaling spelled marshalling in this country?

<peek>

Yep! Although marshals only has the one "l". ;)

Unless you're a certain type of copper, I believe.....