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The beginning of the month was a difficult weekend in our Motorsport world with the sad loss of Anthoine Hubert and significant injuries to Juan Manuel Correa at F2 in Spa plus news that a rally marshal died in France.  A sad day and a reminder that ‘Motorsport is dangerous’ and life is fragile.  

It’s important that you take care of yourselves and each other #OrangeFamily

It’s that time of year to renew your registration with Motorsport UK.  This is not automatic – so you either need to log on to their website or contact them directly.

Don’t forget that you are declaring that you have enough attendance and training signatures to maintain your grade.

‘I can confirm that I have complied with the maintenance criteria (where appropriate) as stated in Motorsport UK’s Grading Scheme document(s) to enable me to apply for my requested Marshal Registration grade(s).’

If you can’t comply then contact them directly to confirm your grade and renew accordingly.  

The recent PRC checks produced some interesting responses…….which warrant some clarifications:

‘Motorsport UK has records of my attendance why do I need to provide them’ 

1. Motorsport UK do not keep records of attendance at events
2. Motorsport UK are sent details of number of marshals attending but not their names
3. This is for training days and events
4. Organising clubs retain details
5. These are all in paper format and not electronic therefore manual to scrutinise

‘I don’t get my PRC signed but here’s a list of events I have done’

1. How can Motorsport UK verify your list? (See above)
2. It is your responsibility to maintain your grade
3. It is easier to check your details if they are in the same format as everyone else i.e. in a PRC

‘I don’t do that duty any more but still want to retain my grade’

1. If you don’t perform a duty why do you want to keep the grade?
2. If you are doing other duties are these above your current grade? – if so then signatures for these days count!
3. If you hold multiple grades then maybe you need to decide which ones to retain – and good for you if you can do enough days in all grades / disciplines you hold!

Grading may be something you see as a competition and race in itself to see how far you can get and how quickly but don’t forget to pause and ask yourself a few questions:

1. Have I gained enough experience to perform my new grade?
2. Can I look after trainees now I have progressed?
3. Can I manage a team and do they have trust in me to look out for them?
4. Would I be able to perform my role as well at another venue that is unfamiliar?

There’s no rush! Above all you MUST consider your safety and that of those around you.

My biggest concern is for the number of people who are being asked to perform duties above their training. If you volunteered to be a flag marshal and you are handed a radio you are not suddenly qualified to be a Post Chief. You can make reports if you feel able but really you are given the radio for Race Control to communicate to you or for you to ask for help.

The worst case scenario would be that your decisions could be questioned.  You should only ever react based on the level of training and experience you have received.  So do not feel obliged to do a duty if you have not had any training previously.

Above all safety is paramount – yours and your team.  And this is a hobby so enjoy yourselves!

‘I declare that I am physically and mentally fit to carry out my duties and that I will inform the organisers immediately should any change in my condition occur which I have reason or ought to have reason to believe would affect my ability to carry out my duties.’

Did you know this sentence forms part of the declaration that you sign every time you volunteer?

In training we are told to look after ourselves, our buddies, drivers and then worry about the cars. So be selfish and make sure you are ok before you even get to the event – and if you are not well enough then don’t battle on but send your apologies to the Chief marshal. No one will thank you for carrying on if you later require medical attention or put someone else in danger.

Be prepared for the weather – another essential training point. Your welfare is your responsibility – so make sure you have waterproofs, sun cream, hat and food and fluids for the day. Put extras in the car and if the organisers provide something see it as a bonus not an entitlement. A number of events provide water bottles but that’s not great for the environment so reuse them where possible!

We are all volunteers – we are not paid but sometimes get freebies / vouchers / raffle prizes from organisers. These should be gratefully received but not expected! I for one do this as a hobby anything extra is a bonus. I keep my raffle prizes and save them up to buy new kit!

You should be given permission to get extra supplies from your superior – even if someone stands in for you when there is no break in proceedings! Be ready for any eventuality and plan accordingly – check the weather report and plan for the opposite too. We are in the U.K. after all.

It is really important that you look after yourself but what about your buddies. We like to think of ourselves as one big family so check up on each other. And this means mental health as much as physical health.

Georgina O’Hara Smith wrote a thought provoking article for SE newsletter Page 4 – Mental Health, Motorsport and me http://tiny.cc/civxaz

Ask someone who is acting out of character if they are ok? Is there someone you haven’t seen for a while? Can you give them a call?

We have elected MIND as our charity at my workplace. The numbers are quite staggering: ‘Three in five young people have experienced a mental health problem or are close to someone who has’. MIND can help with all sorts of situations and we should help remove the stigma of mental health. It’s ok not to be ok. Thanks Georgina for opening up about this topic.

I would also like to remind all members that there is no place in the club for verbal or physical abuse, harassment or bullying of any kind. This will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly. Please respect each other – opinions, decisions and outcomes all can lead to disagreement but there is no need for this to lead to anything more serious than a healthy and lively debate.

Take care of yourself and each other #orangefamily

As a reminder there’s a prize draw each month so don’t forget to check the website to see if you are a winner!

How many of you have questions about the grading scheme?  What does it mean?  What’s the process?  What is in it for me?  Who do I ask for help.

The grading scheme was originally created by the BMRMC (as we used to be called) and Dave Scott (now MSVR Race Operations Director) helped Motorsport UK adopt it as a National scheme for all marshals and now for other disciplines.  So we were the forerunners and continue to input.

Primarily the scheme recognises an individuals’ experience and training to ensure that they are able to manage the duty they are assigned.  The PRC for each discipline was introduced to enable a record to be maintained in one handy booklet.  A number of iterations to the schemes have taken place and potential further adjustments will be made as new ideas and suggestions are forthcoming.  The ownership of the scheme sits within the Marshals Working Group who work with the Training Working Group to recommend enhancements to update the training modules too.

So what can you do to gain signatures?

• Part fill the appropriate line in the card so it’s easy to know where you want it signing 
• Ensure you hand your card in to your Chief at the appropriate time (normally first thing when you arrive)
• Ask your Chief for feedback – if you are the Chief write something appropriate!
• Remember feedback is to help you – it should contain learning points and or reflections on duties performed 
• If the day didn’t go so well – make sure you know what needs improving for next time
• And if you had a great day – remember for next time

[Chiefs – don’t be afraid to put the truth!  Your comments could determine someone’s upgrade – if there are issues you must say. You can’t later complain if someone gets upgraded who you don’t think is good enough if you are not prepared to put an appropriate comment on their card!]

When looking for assessments make sure you have enough attendance and training signatures in place beforehand – remember it’s a minimum number and no maximum. Assessments are for your benefit – once you are ready only.  An assessment is to check your learnings – Knowledge, Attitude, Skills and Experience. Again if you are not quite ready then the Examiner can advise additional experience or training required before being re-assessed.  (Examiners – you don’t have to pass someone if they are not ready – help them to understand what’s missing)

Once you’ve got all your signatures then send your PRC to your Regional grading officer – don’t forget to take a photocopy first of all the appropriate pages (maybe do that every so often in case the dog decides to eat it!).  They will ensure it’s completed correctly – you can always check with them first if you are not sure!  Our National Grading Officer will then send it to Motorsport UK after another check.  We know this may seem a little bureaucratic but honestly we have very few returned on technicalities as a result of our grading teams attention to detail.

Motorsport UK circulate all upgrades to a panel from various clubs (except rally) to ensure adherence to the scheme.  Potentially another club may object!  So hold off sewing on those badges until you’ve had confirmation from Motorsport UK….just in case.

Most importantly though there should be no compulsion to upgrade.  This is a hobby after all – so enjoy it and maybe pick up some experiences along the way.  Help your fellow marshals to gain the experience they want and need.  But most of all stay safe!

As a reminder there’s a prize draw each month so don’t forget to check the website to see if you are a winner!

The three R’s

Don’t worry I am not expecting you to all go back to school – but hopefully you can already read, write and count!

My three R’s are Recruitment, Retention and Recognition – what can we do?

Recruitment – we have a number of events we already target for recruitment – BTCC, F1 and WRGB.  And I know regional recruitment officers plan to attend other events too.  But what can we all do?

• Talk to people – your school, work colleagues, sports clubs and spectators at events.  Tell people what we do and why you love it so much.  If you want a formal presentation ask the Brand team to help
• Suggest events to attend – maybe you could help the Recruitment Officer in your region?
• Offer yourself as a volunteer at your regional events – they are mostly run on a rota basis so you won’t miss the main sessions and you get to talk to people about what you do (even trainees are experts to someone who knows nothing!)
• Taster days are a great way to encourage a “try before you buy” scenario and they work!  But don’t forget to engage with these new people when they come on post for the first time and they return for future events.
• Could you look after someone out on a rally for their first time?
• Much of what we do is geared to circuit racing – but what about other disciplines?  Are there venues where we can put posters? Leaflets?
• Local papers / radio stations all love a good news story.  Dawnontrack is getting great local publicity with her BMMC branded racing Production GTi

Retention – every year we have a number of members who don’t renew or don’t come back.  What can we do to keep them?

• Inevitably work, family and social commitments restrict your free time to enjoy your hobby – we completely understand!  But don’t leave us – do what you can, when you can. Don’t forget to tell the Chief Marshal if you can’t attend (even an email after the event!) and especially if you cancel online after the closing date for volunteering.  They need to know you are not coming.
• Maybe you just forgot to renew – why not set up a DD to ensure it’s automatic.  And update your contact details via the volunteering system to make sure you don’t miss out on reminders.
• And while you are there don’t forget to renew your Motorsport UK registration too – they need to know if you move address / change contact details too!

But what makes you come back?

• What do you like about our hobby?  And what don’t you?? (Sorry can’t fix the weather!)
• Do you like socialising at the end of a meeting and sharing stories of the day?
• Do you use the benefits that we are attracting? (discounted airport parking / Nimbus gloves / Regalia offers).  And are there others that you could help with or suggest?
• How about our communications?  Do you enjoy my messages?  Are you subscribed to the regional newsletters?
• Are your regional committees approachable to answer your questions?  Always use them as a first port of call for Grading, Training, Membership, Volunteering and Regalia in particular.  And any issues which are specifically local should be fed through the regional chairs.

Recognition – we all want to feel appreciated and be involved.

• Club ambassadors are doing a great job of ensuring that we are recognised at events they are competing in and across Social media
• Our annual awards are presented on a regional basis – can you nominate someone for one of yours?  The winners are put forward for our three National awards (sponsored by Cataclean)
• Each year we submit a Marshal of the Year and Club of the Year nomination to Motorsport UK – we’ve attracted some worthy winners in the past.  But who is going above and beyond?
• Length of service badges are available to recognise your service
• One lucky annual member receives a trip to Bedford Autodrome for renewing their membership (congratulations to NE member Joe Watts who is this years’ winner – have a great time!)
• How about writing an article for your regional newsletter on a particular aspect of our hobby?

I hope this has been pause for thought….we each can play a part in recruiting, retaining and recognising our members within the club and to a wider audience.

Let me have your thoughts and inputs – or contact your regional committees.  We may even do a survey and reach out to people – but don’t wait for us to contact you – please get in touch!

Have you got a particular expertise or some spare time to offer your regional committees to help in any way.  Everyone is from such a diverse background and skill set we may not even have thought of!

And by the way I am a volunteer – I have a day job too – so contact me by email if you need to and I will get back to you as soon as I can.  I monitor Social Media but prefer emails – thanks also go to those who take the time to get in touch – feedback is great. It’s good to meet some of you on my recent travels to Donington, Brands Hatch and Castle Combe too.  Where will I see you next?