First day on the job November 3rd 2007
My first days racing as a marshal at Donington Park for the BARC winter series.
This was 4 qualifying sessions and 8 races throughout the day.
Took the wife and kids with me to the meeting as they wanted to watch the racing and the spare ticket they send worked well ( under 12's are free ).
7.00am Sign-on ( probably the worst bit about marshaling
)
Arrived at circuit at 6.30am ( didn't want to be late for first meeting ) parked in paddock 3 where security told me I needed to be and left the family to try and find sign-on ( had no idea where to go ) after asking several people and finding routes locked to where i needed to go I high tailed it across the race circuit and climbed a fence to finally arrive in the right area to find that actually I could drive to sign on via a different entrance and under a tunnel
apparently they don't tell gate security where everyone is meeting each day so they didn't know any better.
So I signed on and got my post number and hot footed it back to the car which was ow much faster as some of the routes had now been unlocked and drove back to sign-on.
Couldn't find my source for an extra pair of overalls so was starting to panic a bit not really having any idea what was going off. Went back to Sign-on point and found one of the chief marshals who had a few sets of spare probans on hand for trainees to use so got myself a set that fit and got myself ready.
8.25am Observers briefing
8.35am Marshals to be on post
My post was on the far side of the track and I was told that I would have to drive on the track to reach it
so got in the car and drove me and the family round the circuit ( 3/4 of the track ) to my post.
When I got there was the first person on post closely followed by the flag marshal ( and to her surprise observer too ) we got out the equipment comprising, foam and powder fire extinguishers ( 3 of each ), a set of flags, brooms, shovel and bucket of cement dust ( for oil spills ).
We tested all the extinguishers to ensure they were in working order - pressure was ok, pipes were clear and the powder slid down the inside so it was not a solid block, and placed them out on circuit ready for the racing. Flags were unrolled and prepared, brooms put in easy reach and cement dust ready just in case.
We had 3 other guys turn up while we did this to make the post have 5 people on it for the day we also had an incident officer join us for the day too.
We worked in pairs on each side of the post for 2 race sessions then swapped.
The observer and IO gave a post briefing telling us what to expect and giving us info regarding procedures ( how to indicate different types of tow required, how to indicate a doc or ambulance was required and so forth)
Then we settled in for the first session.
8.45am Course car comes round and checks that all posts have the required equipment and everything is in order.
9.00am Renault Clios 20 mins qualifying.
9.30am Caterham Graduates 15 mins qualifying
9.55am Formula Renault 20 mins qualifying
10.25am BSA 250cc Superkarts 15 mins qualifying
not much in way of incidents but the karts where a bit nuts and w had a few go wide and through the gravel trap. In between each session we checked the track for oil, debris and stones etc to ensure nothing would cause damage in the next session.
11.00am Races start
nothing too bad happened in the morning session some good racing but they were being slightly careful as they had another race to follow.
12.45pm - 1.15pm Lunch
1.30pm afternoon racing starts.
The karts come out and all hell lets loose the corner before us is full of karts and the flags are out. 
after much pushing, shoving and a bit of helmet throwing the problems are solved and racing continues
The racing becomes a bit more frantic and the tow truck is called out every session now to bring multiple cars in behind on straight tows from various gravel traps and pull offs. then comes the last race of the day Karts again.
There are karts going off all over the place we are called out to one that gets stuck in the gravel in front of us and as the guy from the previous corner is getting one driver out of the kart another kart comes flying past in the gravel missing driver and marshal by about a foot
The observer reports the car for dangerous driving under yellow flags and everything gets cleared up and racing continues.
4.30pm the racing finishes we return all the equipment to the bunk and retire back to our cars to return home.
I pass back my probans and set off for home having had a fantastic time being only several feet away from racing cars doing their stuff with no obstructions.
Only thing that remained was to drive back round the other side of the circuit and watch the firework display that had been put on for bonfire night. Great display and kids enjoyed it for first time ever without screaming in fright
So I had my BARC card stamped for my first day but didn't realise I didn't have an attendance card to have signed for my upgrading
never mind would sort that when i got home.
This was 4 qualifying sessions and 8 races throughout the day.
Took the wife and kids with me to the meeting as they wanted to watch the racing and the spare ticket they send worked well ( under 12's are free ).
7.00am Sign-on ( probably the worst bit about marshaling
)Arrived at circuit at 6.30am ( didn't want to be late for first meeting ) parked in paddock 3 where security told me I needed to be and left the family to try and find sign-on ( had no idea where to go ) after asking several people and finding routes locked to where i needed to go I high tailed it across the race circuit and climbed a fence to finally arrive in the right area to find that actually I could drive to sign on via a different entrance and under a tunnel
apparently they don't tell gate security where everyone is meeting each day so they didn't know any better.So I signed on and got my post number and hot footed it back to the car which was ow much faster as some of the routes had now been unlocked and drove back to sign-on.
Couldn't find my source for an extra pair of overalls so was starting to panic a bit not really having any idea what was going off. Went back to Sign-on point and found one of the chief marshals who had a few sets of spare probans on hand for trainees to use so got myself a set that fit and got myself ready.
8.25am Observers briefing
8.35am Marshals to be on post
My post was on the far side of the track and I was told that I would have to drive on the track to reach it
so got in the car and drove me and the family round the circuit ( 3/4 of the track ) to my post.When I got there was the first person on post closely followed by the flag marshal ( and to her surprise observer too ) we got out the equipment comprising, foam and powder fire extinguishers ( 3 of each ), a set of flags, brooms, shovel and bucket of cement dust ( for oil spills ).
We tested all the extinguishers to ensure they were in working order - pressure was ok, pipes were clear and the powder slid down the inside so it was not a solid block, and placed them out on circuit ready for the racing. Flags were unrolled and prepared, brooms put in easy reach and cement dust ready just in case.
We had 3 other guys turn up while we did this to make the post have 5 people on it for the day we also had an incident officer join us for the day too.
We worked in pairs on each side of the post for 2 race sessions then swapped.
The observer and IO gave a post briefing telling us what to expect and giving us info regarding procedures ( how to indicate different types of tow required, how to indicate a doc or ambulance was required and so forth)
Then we settled in for the first session.
8.45am Course car comes round and checks that all posts have the required equipment and everything is in order.
9.00am Renault Clios 20 mins qualifying.
9.30am Caterham Graduates 15 mins qualifying
9.55am Formula Renault 20 mins qualifying
10.25am BSA 250cc Superkarts 15 mins qualifying
not much in way of incidents but the karts where a bit nuts and w had a few go wide and through the gravel trap. In between each session we checked the track for oil, debris and stones etc to ensure nothing would cause damage in the next session.
11.00am Races start
nothing too bad happened in the morning session some good racing but they were being slightly careful as they had another race to follow.
12.45pm - 1.15pm Lunch
1.30pm afternoon racing starts.
The karts come out and all hell lets loose
the corner before us is full of karts and the flags are out. after much pushing, shoving and a bit of helmet throwing the problems are solved and racing continues
The racing becomes a bit more frantic and the tow truck is called out every session now to bring multiple cars in behind on straight tows from various gravel traps and pull offs. then comes the last race of the day Karts again.
There are karts going off all over the place we are called out to one that gets stuck in the gravel in front of us and as the guy from the previous corner is getting one driver out of the kart another kart comes flying past in the gravel missing driver and marshal by about a foot
The observer reports the car for dangerous driving under yellow flags and everything gets cleared up and racing continues.
4.30pm the racing finishes we return all the equipment to the bunk and retire back to our cars to return home.
I pass back my probans and set off for home having had a fantastic time being only several feet away from racing cars doing their stuff with no obstructions.
Only thing that remained was to drive back round the other side of the circuit and watch the firework display that had been put on for bonfire night. Great display and kids enjoyed it for first time ever without screaming in fright
So I had my BARC card stamped for my first day but didn't realise I didn't have an attendance card to have signed for my upgrading
never mind would sort that when i got home.
Total Comments 0
