Marshalling
Without marshals giving up their time to attend events, motor sport would not be possible. Marshals and radio crews provide safety cover and rapid response in case of incident as well as undertaking important roles in running an event, e.g. timing controls at the start and end of stages. All forms of motor sport need marshals, and if you compete in motor sport, marshalling is a good way to put something back into the sport.
What‛s involved?
Mablethorpe and District Motor Club‛s marshalling team attend several events through the year and tackle all jobs given. You may, for example, be monitoring a mid-stage junction, helping to control spectators, re-building chicanes on an airfield; pushing cars back onto the track in a forest or giving crews their stage time at the end of stage control. Whatever, you will be working alongside other club members and ensuring the safety of each other and competitors.
What do you need?
Flask and food for the day
Warm Clothing and good footwear (appropriate for the conditions)
Waterproofs and gloves
Sense of Humour
Alarm Clock (so you can reach the rendezvous point on time)!
Different Events
East Midlands
Each event has its own challenges/drama and fun.
Road Rally marshalling under the stars in the Peak District may mean signing time cards for competitors and setting them off into a competitive section by counting them down to their minute. This can be just as good fun as watching a stage rally around a square right corner in Clipstone Forest.
Sometimes you will have little to do other than spectate at a safe distance but at other times you will be very busy re-building stage furniture or assisting crews to a safe place.
Most events are in the East Midlands/Yorkshire areas so a maximum of 2 hours travel away.
Airfields, forests, race circuits and farm tracks are the typical locations for stage events.
Other Events
While we tend to provide support to clubs in the East Midlands, we do go further afield. Our annual trip to Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire to support a round of the National Tarmac Championship is a good opportunity to see some of the fastest British drivers on some superb and challenging roads. The May date usually guarantees good weather which is an added bonus!
For those that remember the classic rallying era of the 60s, 70s and 80s the Roger Albert Clark rally in November is a must. The marshalling team assist in the Yorkshire Forests and usually return full of nostalgia!
International
In the past club members have assisted in Belgium on the Ypres Rally. A fun time has been had by all who have been both on the stages and in the camaraderie with other motor sport enthusiasts. Seeing the amount of support for rallying on the continent and the ways the organisers control the stages has to be experienced.
A trip to Rally Ireland has been suggested….
You do not need to be a competitor to marshal with us, anyone can! The more the merrier. Contact Mick Smith, Chief Marshal to let him know if you are coming to an event.