It all started when I saw a photo on a well-known social media platform of one of my sisters wearing a Hi-Vis orange coat (clearly borrowed as it was far too big!) marshalling for a rally in the pouring rain; it seriously looked like my idea of fun and I was eager to find out more - as until then, I didn’t think that marshalling was accessible to the likes of me. So, I found myself asking “how do you get into marshalling?”
The first step was to open an account with Motorsport UK (MSUK) and then follow the instructions to complete the online learning via the MSUK Learning hub in order to gain UK Registered Marshal status; this was very straightforward – in fact the trickiest part was uploading a photo (much easier to do this on a computer).
In November 2023, it was my turn to borrow an oversized Hi-Vis coat for my very first taste of marshalling at The Bustard Targa Rally on the site where the Glastonbury Festival is held. When I arrived, I was quite apprehensive as I didn’t really know what to expect or what exactly I would have to do. I needn’t have worried though because everyone was so friendly and helpful, and my nerves quickly dissipated to be replaced by the thrill of watching the cars fly through the Test where I was marshalling as fast as they could while I wrote down the numbers of those that failed to negotiate the course correctly or hit the cones.
After just one marshalling experience, I was already hooked so the next step was to subscribe to British Motorsport Marshals Club. The BMMC not only provided me with training and development support and information about events across all disciplines (with an online volunteering link) – but they also offer their members a generous subsidy on clothing so I was able to buy my own Hi-Vis clothing and Proban overalls!
In the application to join BMMC, I ticked the box to indicate an interest in Rallying; the British Rally Marshals Club then contacted me; like the BMMC, the BRMC is another useful source of information about upcoming events and training with a focus on the rally discipline.
I soon found myself marshalling at a variety of rally events: from AutoSolos and 12 Car to Targa, Historic, Stage and Night rallies (the thrill of hearing the engines get closer and watching the approaching headlamps light up the darkness while standing in the freezing fog in a remote part of Exmoor is not to be underestimated!).
After branching out into the Speed discipline at Wiscombe Park HillClimb, I recently started marshalling at Castle Combe Circuit and have now added the Race discipline to the list of events attended in my Personal Record Card.
The Orange Army really is a very friendly community of which I am proud to be a member; I’m so grateful for the support that they have given me in learning different marshalling roles. My friends and colleagues enjoy listening to me enthuse about my weekends in orange, and when they ask me the question that I was asking just over 2 years ago, “how do you get into marshalling?”, I’m happy to explain to them that it’s easier than they think!
See how we support local charities with our club donations and optional donations from events in the year.
