I have a marshalling question for you guys (and gals):

A few years back, I was considering taking up marshalling myself, after seeing an advert when I was at a race meeting at Snetterton. I was only working part-time at the time, and needed something to keep me occupied.

What put me off slightly was the fact that after sending an email and having a phone conversation with the relevant people, they told me all I needed to do was to simply turn up and they'd give me something to do. This set alarm bells ringing inside me - after all, the signs at the race tracks always inform the spectators that "motorsport is a dangerous sport" and the fact that they simply told me to "turn up", despite the fact I'd had no training whatsoever, gave me a little bit of concern. Probably my natural paranoia - I don't know.

Anyway, I decided not go to for two reasons - one, I had just started my new job and my masters was getting more intensive, and two - I was a little concerned about this lack of training thing. So, I just wanted to know, is it normal for a totally newbie marshal just to "turn up and have a go" or was this situation of mine unique?


Who knows, now that my masters is out of the way, and once I get my own transport sorted out, I may consider taking it up!

Thanks!

Well that's how I got started!

But don't panic - Newbies are not just given the oranges and sent out to marshal, they're always briefed on saftey first, and will have an experienced marshal with them at all times. They will also not be allowed to deal with incidents, and for the first couple of meets only observe what's going on.

Gradually more involvement is brought up. so it's not a case of jumping straight in at the deep end.

Strange as it may sound, that is exactly what we tell people. You don't actually need any training to stand in a safe (ish) place and watch what goes on!

Some clubs do a "first timers" day, where you are taken on a tour of the circuit, given some idea of what all the jobs are (and there are many marshalling jobs around) and let you get a feel for whether you would actually like doing the job.

Other clubs will take the "newbies" and put them with a very experienced marshal, thus giving them a chance to have a "hands on" go.

Both ways are acceptable I think.

Which neatly brings us on to Frequently Asked Question number 42...

What Training do I need?

And the answer is - as you've already guessed.

None.

Because you get all the training you could want/need on the job - and that's the best way because you build up practical experience in the way it works.

Thanks for the answers people! :)

Not strictly true. If you want to upgrade you will need to attend training days.

These are held all over the country (usually in the off season) and all grades of marshals are catered for, ranging from trainee to Examining officials.

I went to a [circuit] training day in the off season - just wanted to see what it was about, now only marshal occasionally - but never have done at a circuit meeting!