The Marshals’ Post May 2008

Donington World Championship events

When Racesafe published the volunteering form for 2008 late last year, both of Donington’s world championship events were planned to be organised as usual by MCRCB-Events Ltd (whose activities have now been assumed by MSVR). This situation has changed recently with the appointment of the ACU as organiser and Jim Parker as Clerk of the Course and the two meetings are no longer on our calendar.  The meetings in question are The Day of Champions and MotoGP (June 18th – 22nd) and World Superbikes (September 5th – 7th). No other meetings are affected.

Editor’s introduction Roger Ingle

Season Starts

Finally, after the Met Office seemed to want to delay the racing indefinitely, we kicked off at Thruxton and I think you’ll all agree every race was worth waiting for. At last our new members experienced the real deal! Sunshine and dry track on race day provided the usual high speed action that Thruxton serves up but also gave us some work to do with the high speed crashes. Racesafe once again acted efficiently in dealing with these incidents and I’m sure we all wish the injured riders a speedy recovery.

Fallers?

Alas, fallen riders on the track seemed to be mirrored off track by yours truly who christened both the new overalls and the new taxi bikes. Not content with falling off at Brands Hatch, I then did a graceful exit at Thruxton this time in front of a grateful audience. I am still waiting for my points score from the entire crew at Campbell which unfortunately included Stubbsie! At Brands the front washed out at Sheene, while at Thruxton I lost the back end going into the complex. All right then, I was a complete plank but if Shakey Byrne had said it you would have believed him! Apparently I have been given the nickname Rubens Xaus which I hope I don’t carry over to Oulton Park………………………..

Quote of the Week, from Thruxton 

Picture the scene, two flag marshals, training still ringing in their ears and expertly facing each other, concentration apparent in every line and ready to respond to the merest hint of a request from either race control or on-track incident.....There is a comment from race control which the IO passes on.  Suddenly the marshal (to name names, John Cox) on Blue/Green flags puts a hand to his ear, pats his pockets and swings round with a look of intense and grave concern on his face "I didn't get any of that!  My radio is broken!  Am I open line?!!"  The IO gave this marshal a particularly searching look in return, but then realised that, for once, legs were not being pulled and John was totally serious.  So as kindly and gently as possible she pointed out "But John, you don't have the radio!!!"  It is just as well there were neither those requests from race control nor any on-track incidents for the next 5 minutes or so because as you can imagine we were all doubled up and completely incapable of doing anything for quite a while!!!!

New Team

You would by now have all seen the new team for Rutter and Laverty this season. Sponsored by NW200 which as we all know stands for North West 200 relating to the annual race. Unfortunately not all of us realised the significance of the NW. One of our esteemed members questioned what the 200 stood for on the bikes sponsored by Nat West! Never mind eh Steve?  

New Arrival

May I take this opportunity, on behalf of all of us at Racesafe, to send congratulations to Matt and Nikki Hooper who are expecting a baby at the end of the season (that is proper planning for you!) Looks like the end of season party is going to be a real celebration!!!

Brands BSB1  The races!

Remember this exciting two day meeting combines the BSB series and MRO championships. Everyone welcome for what will be a first class meeting..

Newcomers to Racesafe  Mike Blakey

One of the most exciting developments for Racesafe in the past few months has been the influx of large numbers of new members, not only to the organisation but, in most cases, also to marshalling. We have always attracted good new members but never in such numbers and I know that the level of enthusiasm shown and also expertise has impressed everyone. I think it would be interesting if one of these new members reported on how they feel we integrate newcomers into marshalling and what they think we do right (and wrong).  If there is a volunteer, contact Roger Ingle whose exploits are described elsewhere.

A view from the tower Adrian Addison

It was with some trepidation that I departed for Thruxton. Despite Mike Blakey’s prediction of tropical conditions for Brands and the “it can only get better” afterwards, the weather forecast was not favourable. True to form, Friday was cold and Saturday was cold and wet. I would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to all those who stood out in it; I am staggered by the support you have given BSB this year and promise I am doing what I can to improve things for you when I can.

You may be aware that the Superbike qualifying session is used by the TV directors to test camera views and that this is usually the first opportunity I have to see what the circuit looks like. At Thruxton, one of the branding managers for Bennetts was in race control to look at the signage around the circuit. She was a little entertained when the camera at Goodwood presented view of Nino and his team huddling in the shelter of the marshal’s post. To hear Nino described as “the thinking girl’s Bennetts’ bloke” was nearly as funny as the look on his face when he realised he was on TV!

I promised not to mock Roger for falling off the taxi bike (again), so he got away with it this time.

Rain was predicted for race day, but it was noticeably warmer in the morning with the sun even making a brief appearance. We got through the warm ups and pit walk and finally, finally, managed to get some racing under our belt in 2008. The racing was tight all day; there were some difficult incidents through the weekend, all of which were dealt with in an efficient and professional manner. Again, thank you all, without this support, it would not be possible to run the meetings the way we do.

I look forward to seeing you all at Oulton Park and at future events.

Administration information Mike Blakey

Insurance matters

Since the last newsletter, the whole BSB operation has a new insurer with Zurich taking over from SLE. All the benefits from SLE are still in place but there are increases in some payments. If you have any claim outstanding from before March 2008, it will continue to be dealt with by SLE. The discussions leading to this changeover have resulted in a delay to the processing of some claims for which I can only apologise. As before, all details of claims should be sent to me as soon as possible after the event, even if the claim is only a possibility. Full details on the website shortly.

Change of availability

While we are very appreciative of so many of you using the website to change availability, many of you are adding or deleting one day’s attendance but still re-entering your availability for the whole year. Stephen is happy to receive just the changes with the rest left blank.

BSB Permanent Passes

BSB permanent passes and guest tickets will admit holders to the Paddock. BSB passes will also admit motorcycles to Paddock areas.  BSB windscreen passes will admit to officials’ car parking or the marshals’ campsite, not the Paddock. (Repeated from last newsletter)

The passes are not valid for access to circuits at non-BSB events including world championship meetings.

Meeting Arrangements May 1^st – June 15^th  Mike Blakey

General information - revised

This information is correct at the time of going to print – April 28^th but may change slightly before the event.  Updated information will be published on the website and emailed within 48 hours of changes being received.  Printed updates will also be available at signing on where necessary.

We know that lunches were a major cause of complaint during 2007 so, this year, we have mixed the offerings – sometimes meals, other times lunch packs. We shall always let you know in the newsletter what will be provided. If you have a view on the subject, tell us although the contract is probably fixed for this year at most venues and any changes will be for 2009. I have already had a few comments from the Racesafe Tasting Panel (Matt Hooper) suggesting a variety of drinks in the packs from Hydrex rather than two types of Cola and labels on the packs showing contents of the rolls. This will be done from Donington BSB onwards. Any other comments will be welcome.

Bennetts British Superbike Series Round 3.  Oulton Park.  Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday Monday May 3^rd – May 5^th.

Sign on under Race Control Saturday 0700 – 0800, Sunday 1000 – 1100. Monday by arrangement only

On track activities – Saturday 0900 – 1700, Sunday 1210 – 1825, Monday 0845 – 1745

Other meeting specific information Admission all days via Lodge Gate although anyone arriving for the campsite will probably need to use East Gate, fifty metres to the east.  Breakfast and lunch/dinner vouchers Saturday, lunch packs other two days.

Bennetts British Superbike Series Round 1 - rescheduled.  Brands Hatch GP Circuit.  Saturday, Sunday May 10^th – 11^th Two days only  

Sign on in Kentagon Saturday 0700 - 0750, Sunday by arrangement only.

On track activities –Saturday 0900 – 1800, Sunday 1000 – 1810

Other meeting specific information  Access to circuit from campsite via H Gate.

Car parking in Triangle field on Scratcher’s Lane both days. Bike parking in Paddock – place to be arranged. Breakfast vouchers and lunch/dinner vouchers for Saturday, lunch pack on Sunday.

Bennetts British Superbike Series Round 4.  Donington Park.  Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holiday Monday May 24^th – May 26^th.

The circuit have booked a round of the World Sidecar Championship so the days are all long although there look like being enough marshals to arrange breaks.

Sign on outside Paddock gate in Portakabin Saturday and Sunday 0700 – 0750. Monday by arrangement only

On track activities – Saturday 0900 – 1825, Sunday 0900 – 1855, Monday 0900 – 1810

Other meeting specific information Lunch packs all three days.

Provisional arrangements – watch the website or update sheets for changes

Bennett’s British Superbike Series Round 5.  Snetterton.  Friday June 13th - Sunday June 15^th  

Sign on in Medical Centre Annexe – to be found along the service road past the restaurant.  Friday 0800 – 0845, Saturday 0700 – 0750. Sunday by arrangement only. 

On track Friday 1000 – 1700, Saturday 0900 – 1805, Sunday 0900 -1750. 

Other meeting specific information. Breakfast and evening meal Friday, lunch packs other two days.

Camping Karl Booth

Marshal Campsites  

 The campsite will be for marshals and their guests only, who must share the marshal’s accommodation who is hosting them in whatever form that takes. Marshals are reminded that there is a 2300 curfew on the marshals’ campsite and after this time you are asked to respect your fellow marshals. You are reminded that you are responsible for your guest’s actions whilst they are at the meeting. This could result in you and your guests being invited to go home.

Access to Marshals’ Campsites

The Marshals’ campsite will be open from the lunchtime on the day before the first day of track activity and are usually open until 1000 the day after the meeting. At your first meeting you will be issued with a car pass and a living vehicle pass which will give you access to the campsite (please note there is not enough room for your guests to park on the marshals’ campsite, there is adequate free parking at all circuits). If you do not have the correct passes you will not be allowed onto the campsite. Please be considerate to other users and park your cars neatly so the maximum use can be made of the available space

Facilities – a reminder

Stuart Higgs has confirmed he will provide a generator at all rounds this year with exception of the Snetterton test days where no power is being provided on the circuit at all. The campsites will also have toilets and showers provided for the use of the marshals. May I ask that you treat these as if they were your own as I cannot go to the circuit manager and complain about cleanliness when there are beer cans and other foreign bodies in the urinals and toilets, you wouldn’t do this to yours at home, and if you would, then please refrain from doing so. If you have any issues with the facilities over a meeting weekend then please let me know about it, I cannot do anything about it if I do not know about it. 

BSB3 Oulton Park 3^rd- 5^th May 2008

The campsite is located opposite the start line on the outside of the circuit, access is via East Gate not the main gate, arrangements will be made to keep this gate open late on Friday and Saturday evenings to allow late arrivals to set up. The campsite is long and narrow and undulates with trees in awkward positions. Neat parking and sensible set up are essential here. The site should be slightly larger than in previous years and the facilities will be for the sole use of the marshals unlike last year. Power will be provided.

BSB1 (Rearranged) Brands Hatch 10^th – 11^th May 2008

The campsite will be located on the airfield which is accessed by driving to the main gate and turning left immediately before going through the gate and following the perimeter fence behind the Thistle Hotel to the fenced area by the circuit compound. Showers, toilets and power will be provided. The airfield site is flat level and chalk based grass although it can get a little slimy after heavy rain (or snowfall).

BSB4 Donington Park 24^th – 26^th May 2008

As of the time of writing we are still waiting for confirmation of the location of the marshal’s campsite at this round. However it will have all the facilities and power provided.

BSB5 Snetterton 13^th – 15^th June 2008

The campsite here will be the same one as used for the Test Days behind Tyrell’s Restaurant and bar. it is a large flat site and will have power provided along with the close proximity of the other facilities.

*********************************************************************

RACESAFE KEY CONTACTS