WHY JOIN THE BRITISH MOTORSPORT MARSHALS’ CLUB?

Historically, you become a member of probably the only independent motorsport club in the World that exists solely for marshals.  It was formed in 1957 by a group of enthusiasts from the Midlands, who saw the need for marshals to be better organised, better trained and better represented “at Court”, i.e. with the governing body, the MSA.  In these tasks it has largely succeeded and has remained apolitical throughout this time.  In the years since 1957, marshals – still volunteers – are much better organised and much more numerous, thanks mainly to the recruiting activities of the BMMC, the Marshals’ Club. 

The Marshals’ Club initiated and perfected the Training and Grading Scheme for marshals in the early 1970’s, which not only proved to be a magnet for marshals who wanted to be properly trained, it was quickly replicated in different countries around the World, in sixteen different languages at one count.  The scheme was transferred to the MSA in the early 1990’s and is still developed mainly by BMMC trainers but now available to all marshals from all motorsport clubs in the UK.

BMMC members sit on all the important committees at the MSA – Race Committee, ABMRC, Clerks’ and Stewards’ training, Safety panels, etc, etc.  Our Club Chairman also chairs the Marshals’ Working Group and sits on the Volunteer Officials Advisory Panel.

We offer nationwide volunteering, in every form of motorsport activity with all the major organising clubs in the UK – and some overseas.  You can keep up to date via regional newsletters and our recently revamped web site.  One lucky member each year wins a super Star Prize at renewal time.  Once again this year this takes the form of a full day’s driving at Bedford Autodrome – “the best corporate motorsport day available anywhere” – given by Jonathan Palmer and the team at MSV.

More recently, the Club launched probably the most effective ever recruitment campaign when marshalling numbers were in serious decline.  With support from the BTCC organisers, the circuit owners and assisted with finance from the MSA, the decline has been reversed.  Our own membership numbers are up by almost one third and we know other clubs with marshalling registers have benefited similarly from the list of 6,000+ names we sent them.  Our Taster Day programme has greatly enhanced the retention rate of new marshals.

The Marshals’ Club pioneered on track personal accident insurance and our insurance, like Heineken, still covers areas other insurance policies do not!  For instance, it covers non-MSA approved events, overseas events (inc direct travel to and from the event) and a wide list of other activities such as attendance at exhibitions, committee meetings and the like.  Our policy is not means tested on weekly disablement benefit, a great help to those not in gainful employment (stay-at-home Mums, retired people, etc).  For claims on other policies there has to be proven loss of earnings.

We offer similarly extended Public Liability cover (£5M) for marshals who partake in motorsport activities outside the immediate remit of MSA-approved events.

The Club offers deep discounts on overalls and other essential protective wear, thanks to specially arranged sponsorship from our many friends in motorsport.  The total subsidy matches well the stamp schemes offered by other clubs with marshalling registers and is of genuine benefit to marshals – the last true volunteers in motor sport.

Best of all, you belong to THE Club that any marshal serious about marshalling should belong to.  Still independent, still totally apolitical, still the only club that exists solely to look after the interests of marshals and provides probably the best camaraderie of any club in the sport!

If you want to know more about the club and its history, go to the Club’s web site (www.marshals.co.uk) and buy a copy of 50 Years of Motorsport Marshalling.  It is available at £10 to members, with all profits going to Club funds.

George Copeland
National Treasurer