F1 Marshall - An insider's look

rk_sans · 5th June 2010, 17:56

Excellent !! Congrats @Mclaren. All the best for your training.

Shan2nu · 5th June 2010, 23:05

Congrats!!!

For once, if some controversy happens on track, you aint gonna be thousand of miles away. LOL

Shan2nu

McLaren Rulez · 5th June 2010, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan2nu

Congrats!!!

For once, if some controversy happens on track, you aint gonna be thousand of miles away. LOL

Good one!

Turbo Head · 11th June 2010, 21:13

CONGRATULATION ! McLaren, Its a great achievement indeed.
Pardon me for shooting dumb question, Is it a paid job ?

Slick · 12th June 2010, 22:12

Wo Wo Wo ! congratulations dude, So you'll be busy from may to september. Just a curious question on my part? You dont have any other engagements during this time like work or studies.

McLaren Rulez · 13th June 2010, 00:11

This job not paid. I think there are far too many of us eager to do this for it them to consider paying us.

I am a student full-time but the trainings are only on weekends. So it all works out. Most other trainee marshalls have a day job too.

Thanks for the encouraging words

echo77 · 13th June 2010, 00:44

Wow! Congratz, McLaren!

I've heard that they are all volunteer jobs - not paid. But the experience itself makes up for it

SinghBHP · 13th June 2010, 09:58

Congrats Mate, now this is what's called a "Dream Job".

autoweirdo · 13th June 2010, 15:13

congrats and really appreciate you will be marshaling a really difficult race (since a city circuit and race held in night). Also you will enjoy the smell of rubber really close. All the best and keep updating your experience.

SchumiFan · 13th June 2010, 18:00

Congrats McLaren Rulez

Please let us know which corner would you be standing in and post a pic of you in the marshal's dress.

It better be a corner than in the straights since the track is covered more at the corners.

And I hope you get to celebrate a McLaren win with Hamilton winning there this year. That will complete your experience as a track Marshal.

zavegur · 14th June 2010, 14:52

lucky man u are! i've been trying in vain to get a job for the British GP, but never could!
(am sorry, I dont support macca! so go ferrari go for singapore GP!!)

McLaren Rulez · 14th June 2010, 17:21

Thanks everyone.

Just finished my Basic Trackside Training module. That's the last general course. Next up, we have specialist training. So we'll be split into different groups focussing on specific roles. Its down to three options: Flag marshall, track marshall or observer.

Flag marshall: On the surface, the easy job. But believe me, its not. A mistake or wrong flag shown can have seriously bad consequences. Imagine showing a yellow unnecessarily and prevent a race winning overtake or something. Of the three roles, this one is the one with maximum pressure. In addition, flag marshalls need to know what the race order is to show the blue flags correctly to the right drivers. And its hard knowing the order without TV or even a big screen to guide them. Its all down to looking at the cars as they pass and writing down the order. Quick reactions are important, particularly in bringing out yellows as soon as an incident occurs. Naturally, a high pressure job makes for more excitement

Track Marshall: The brave ones: These guys are the ones that need to run out on the track, sometimes when the race is still on at full speed. While track marshalls don't often see much action, when there is a crash or debris or a spill on track, these are the guys who put their rear ends on the line. Unlike the others, they don't have the luxury of a fence protecting them. Communicating correctly is of utmost importance to make sure that they go out on track to work at exactly the right moment, i.e, when there's a large enough gap on the track. And sometimes, these guys time it so closely that a car whooshes past five or ten seconds after they finish their work and get back over the wall. I'm not exaggerating about that one either!

Observer: Incidentally, none of the marshalls have a radio. The observer is the guy in charge. The observer's job is to coordinate between Race Control and the marshall post. For instance, if a Safety Car is announced, the flag marshall must display yellows and the SC board. The observer is the guy who tells him. Similarly, finding the gap for track marshalls to go out and recover debris is something that the observer and Race Control work on. Lastly, an observer must report every incident from a simple spin to big crashes on his sector. He's also the guy who reports unsporting behaviour (like cutting a chicane) to Race Control. In essence, the eyes, ears and mouth of Race Control.

I don't know which role I will be assigned yet. It should be announced by the end of the month. Whatever it is, I'm totally looking forward to it!

Hatari · 14th June 2010, 17:48

congratulations! hope they give u ear plugs
be safe and keep an eye out if you hear a crash.. you dont want debris (including tires that have come loose) to hit you..

dhall_gagan · 14th June 2010, 18:05

many many many congratulations on this awesome feat!

Its a great feeling when suddenly reel comes to the real life and you are out of your dreamland.

Awesome, many wishes for your great future ahead.

Jaguar · 14th June 2010, 19:02

Congrats Mclaren! Best of luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAS

Hey, you could message us where you would be positioned during the race...

+1 to that. I have a premier walkabout ticket for the race. Would at least say Hi to you and click pics of you in action.

5th June 2010, 17:56	#16
rk_sans Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,037 Thanked: 969 Times View My Garage	Excellent !! Congrats @Mclaren. All the best for your training.
	() Thanks

5th June 2010, 23:05	#17
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	Congrats!!! For once, if some controversy happens on track, you aint gonna be thousand of miles away. LOL Shan2nu Last edited by Shan2nu : 5th June 2010 at 23:08.
	() Thanks

11th June 2010, 21:13	#19
Turbo Head BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 322 Thanked: 216 Times	CONGRATULATION ! McLaren, Its a great achievement indeed. Pardon me for shooting dumb question, Is it a paid job ?
	() Thanks

12th June 2010, 22:12	#20
Slick BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 384 Thanked: 611 Times	Wo Wo Wo ! congratulations dude, So you'll be busy from may to september. Just a curious question on my part? You dont have any other engagements during this time like work or studies.
	() Thanks

13th June 2010, 00:11	#21
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,392 Thanked: 5,113 Times	This job not paid. I think there are far too many of us eager to do this for it them to consider paying us. I am a student full-time but the trainings are only on weekends. So it all works out. Most other trainee marshalls have a day job too. Thanks for the encouraging words
	() Thanks

13th June 2010, 00:44	#22
echo77 BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: goa Posts: 359 Thanked: 116 Times View My Garage	Wow! Congratz, McLaren! I've heard that they are all volunteer jobs - not paid. But the experience itself makes up for it
	() Thanks

13th June 2010, 09:58	#23
SinghBHP BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 123 Thanked: 113 Times	Congrats Mate, now this is what's called a "Dream Job".
	() Thanks

13th June 2010, 15:13	#24
autoweirdo BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 173 Thanked: 108 Times	congrats and really appreciate you will be marshaling a really difficult race (since a city circuit and race held in night). Also you will enjoy the smell of rubber really close. All the best and keep updating your experience.
	() Thanks

13th June 2010, 18:00	#25
SchumiFan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,041 Thanked: 1,161 Times	Congrats McLaren Rulez Please let us know which corner would you be standing in and post a pic of you in the marshal's dress. It better be a corner than in the straights since the track is covered more at the corners. And I hope you get to celebrate a McLaren win with Hamilton winning there this year. That will complete your experience as a track Marshal.
	() Thanks

14th June 2010, 14:52	#26
zavegur BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 94 Thanked: 121 Times	lucky man u are! i've been trying in vain to get a job for the British GP, but never could! (am sorry, I dont support macca! so go ferrari go for singapore GP!!)
	() Thanks

14th June 2010, 17:21	#27
McLaren Rulez Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 3,392 Thanked: 5,113 Times	Thanks everyone. Just finished my Basic Trackside Training module. That's the last general course. Next up, we have specialist training. So we'll be split into different groups focussing on specific roles. Its down to three options: Flag marshall, track marshall or observer. Flag marshall: On the surface, the easy job. But believe me, its not. A mistake or wrong flag shown can have seriously bad consequences. Imagine showing a yellow unnecessarily and prevent a race winning overtake or something. Of the three roles, this one is the one with maximum pressure. In addition, flag marshalls need to know what the race order is to show the blue flags correctly to the right drivers. And its hard knowing the order without TV or even a big screen to guide them. Its all down to looking at the cars as they pass and writing down the order. Quick reactions are important, particularly in bringing out yellows as soon as an incident occurs. Naturally, a high pressure job makes for more excitement Track Marshall: The brave ones: These guys are the ones that need to run out on the track, sometimes when the race is still on at full speed. While track marshalls don't often see much action, when there is a crash or debris or a spill on track, these are the guys who put their rear ends on the line. Unlike the others, they don't have the luxury of a fence protecting them. Communicating correctly is of utmost importance to make sure that they go out on track to work at exactly the right moment, i.e, when there's a large enough gap on the track. And sometimes, these guys time it so closely that a car whooshes past five or ten seconds after they finish their work and get back over the wall. I'm not exaggerating about that one either! Observer: Incidentally, none of the marshalls have a radio. The observer is the guy in charge. The observer's job is to coordinate between Race Control and the marshall post. For instance, if a Safety Car is announced, the flag marshall must display yellows and the SC board. The observer is the guy who tells him. Similarly, finding the gap for track marshalls to go out and recover debris is something that the observer and Race Control work on. Lastly, an observer must report every incident from a simple spin to big crashes on his sector. He's also the guy who reports unsporting behaviour (like cutting a chicane) to Race Control. In essence, the eyes, ears and mouth of Race Control. I don't know which role I will be assigned yet. It should be announced by the end of the month. Whatever it is, I'm totally looking forward to it!
	() Thanks

14th June 2010, 17:48	#28
Hatari Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Calcutta Posts: 1,872 Thanked: 874 Times	congratulations! hope they give u ear plugs be safe and keep an eye out if you hear a crash.. you dont want debris (including tires that have come loose) to hit you..
	() Thanks

14th June 2010, 18:05	#29
dhall_gagan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Delhi Posts: 166 Thanked: 14 Times View My Garage	many many many congratulations on this awesome feat! Its a great feeling when suddenly reel comes to the real life and you are out of your dreamland. Awesome, many wishes for your great future ahead.
	() Thanks