Sunday morning. 5am. It's cold, wet and dark outside. My alarm has just gone off, the rest of the house is sleeping and the hard, uncomfortable bed I went to sleep in last night has been magically replaced by a nice warm comfortable one.
Fortunately, 5am starts are fairly usual for me - and the excitement of the day outweighed any thoughts of just pulling the covers over and going back to sleep. Up, showered, dressed and breakfasted all by 5.30. Going over the invitation e-mail in my head I hope that my army boots and combats, and denim shirt - that clashes horribly but is about the only thing that I own that covers my arms - are going to be suitable for the day, but nonetheless I climb into the car and start the 50ish mile journey to Donington Park.
An hour later, I pull into the main entrance of the circuit. The two guys manning the security gate look at me as if I am some sort of alien, but that look soon turned to complete bewilderment as I ask them where we were supposed to meet, until I mentioned the Grand Prix collection, at which point I was waved through and pointed vaguely in the correct direction.
Two other cars in the car park. This is a good start. As always at this time in the morning, my mouth engages while my brain struggles to catch up. I just about manage to string a sentence together to ask the other two people there if they were here for the taster day. They nodded politely then went back to drinking their coffee.
The guy with the elastic band at East Midlands Airport then started firing the planes off overhead. A good way to start waking you up is to see 100 tonnes of aircraft hanging precariously overhead. Slowly more and more cars started turning up in the car park. More bleary eyes peered around and affirmed we were all there for the same reason. Then a moment of excitement as someone in an orange romper suit turns up. He looks as startled to see us as we are to be there at that hour. More cars turn up. More attendees. Then more orange jumpsuits.
Chris, the organiser of the day, marks his arrival with an exclamation of how surprised he is that so many people have turned up ... which was a worrying start. However after a few minutes of the team gathering their wits, the talk began. Desperately trying to listen to all that is said as the rubber band guy keeps trying to deafen us overhead, we all nod and smile as we are talked through what the day would entail. Many of us put on our best high-viz clothing in a failed attempt to look prepared. We all pick up our rucksacks and bags, only to be told that we don't need anything with us, and we will be moving our cars before long anyway. We all sheepishly put our stuff back in the boots of our cars and carry on with the sign up and safety briefings.
8am, and we are to move our cars. The long conga line of vehicles sets off from the museum and winds it's way through the maze of dirt tracks to the actual entrance. Much to the amusement of the security guys on the gate we all move through, turn through a gap in the fence and are suddenly met by some very well maintained tarmac ... We're on the actual circuit! Hazard lights on we all become seasoned race drivers and speed up a little as we travel down the start/finish straight, before hanging a hard right onto another track towards the meeting area. We park at the top of the car park and get out to see a sea of orange at the bottom of the area having their morning briefing. A bit more of a chat from Chris as the rain starts. While we are all listening and taking the sights in, the morning briefing finishes and the sea of orange turns into a raging river as the car park empties in what seems like seconds with the pros all heading off to their assigned posts for the day.
Somewhat bewildered, we start our tour of the circuit. First stop - the toilets! Those that need, do, while the rest of us huddle under the small amount of shelter the building provides while the rain lashes down. We wait and listen, hoping that the rain gods would be nice to us and ease off on the downpour. I'm not sure who's prayer they listened to, but they capitulated and the rain died down. Off we trotted to through the paddock and past the back of the pit garages. First impressive sight was the stunning amount of money's worth of motor homes and mobile garages parked in the area.
Next impressive sight, and not an inconsiderable amount of sound, was the actual vehicles in the garages. Smiling at the mechanics and drivers on the way past, hoping that they wouldn't notice that we were all wide eyed interlopers and not actually worthy of being there just yet, we move down the line of vehicles making the appropriate "ohh" and "ahh" noises while we resist the urge to just go up and drool all over the cars. One of the garage's occupants all started to line up as we passed and peered in. Expecting looks of derision, I was pleasantly surprised to hear words of encouragement and support from the team. A nice touch, which just made a good day even better.
On we walk. Up to the medical centre, then back down the paddock to scrutineering. We pause outside while we wait to be invited in, before being shown round and told about the role and resources of the scrutineers, and how marshalling can lead into that area as well.
After a good talk from a very knowledgeable guy we move onto the pit lane. Dodging cars and mechanics we look around and have a talk from Jayne as to what marshals do in this area, before walking up to the start of the pit straight and a look around one of the fire trucks there - another marshal powered service!
Every time that Chris went off to ask if this bedraggled group of nobodies were allowed to visit certain areas, he always came back with a smile on his face and an exclamation of how the relevant people were more than happy for us to be shown round. I'm not sure if it was down to pride in their jobs, or a willingness to introduce people to the world of marshals, but either way it was very nice to see.
On to Race Control, and we are ushered in with a stern warning to be quiet as there was an incident in progress. As many of us as could fit in stood at the back of the room watching as military precision was applied to the deployment of the safety car and the recovery of the vehicle. We were told about the roles up there, and the fact that one of the cars had missed it's mandatory pit stop so was going to be summoned for a drive through penalty. A while longer gorping and we were moved out so the second half of the group could go in and watch.
Once we had all been suitable impressed we moved on to where the "real action" was - one of the actual posts! We were introduced to Colin, the Post Chief for the day. He talked a little about his time as a marshal as we watched his crew sweeping up the debris from an earlier spin ready for the next race. We stayed a while to watch the start of the race, before moving on to a suite to have the last of the main talk from Chris and the all important cuppa.
Well organised orange envelopes of information were issued. Chris talked about the role of BMMC, and MSA, followed by an introduction on how to apply and the benefits, and process of rising through the ranks was covered. The option was then given for anyone who had had enough of the day to head off and just become a spectator for the rest of the day - an option which nobody in the group took. We were all hooked and wanting more.
We broke for an extended lunch break. Several of us headed back down to Post 3 where we had met Colin earlier and clung onto the safety fencing as we watched the cars pound round the track. As we looked on, still a little bemused as to what would actually happen if a car went off, a very obliging driver decided to go straight on at the corner and into the gravel. Wide eyes watched as the orange suits ran off to assist, the yellow flags came out, the tractor was fired up and driven onto the area and dragged the car back towards civilisation and the barriers were moved and opened to allow it through to the paddock right next to us.
A suitable time of getting in the way passed, and we headed back to the suite to find out our fate for the rest of the day. Several of the group expressed an interest in the specialist areas of marshalling and were taken off to the pits to be assigned jobs. The rest of us were assigned posts and split up into groups to be taken off to the correct areas. Our small group headed off to assembly, then on to the posts on the last corners, heading back down to the start/finish line, progressively getting smaller in numbers until just myself and Chris remained.
Post 1. This was the post I was going to interfere with the smooth running of for the rest of the day. I was introduced to Caroline and Ian who were manning the post, who seemed a little surprised to see a dumb looking newbie arrive there, but were polite and welcoming nonetheless. Chris headed off for a well earned rest as the guys pointed out the various points and pertinent information of the post layout.
Now this is the part that impressed me the most. I was fully expecting to be very much in a "look but don't touch, and stay out of the way" kind of place for the rest of the day, but the two guys took this completely clueless individual and included him in what they were doing. As the first race of the afternoon was starting I was taken with them up to the start line as the cars lined up on the grid. We watched as they all started off on their formation lap before heading back down to the post for the race proper. Cars thundered round the track and I watched with awe as Caroline deftly waved the appropriate flags. I still to this day have no idea how people keep track of who to blue flag and when.
Each time we a race started we headed down to the start line. For one of the races we stood trackside with extinguishers ready while they sat on the grid. Once the engines restarted we headed back over the barrier and watched. One of the vehicles stalled on the grid. Before having chance to think or panic over what to do, I was called over with the guys and suddenly there I was, push starting a very expensive racing car!
We headed back down to post and watched. Then there was a safety car situation. Caroline spent a while waving the flag, followed by Ian .. and then it was handed to me. Who would have thought that waving a flag was so difficult. I spent most of my time unfurling the thing rather than waving it. I was told to keep an eye on the previous post, and to withdraw the flag and safety car sign when they did. I will be honest here - I was that focused on trying not to tie the flag up in knots that I missed the signal. Ian, calm and patient, just gave me the nudge.
Between the last two races, Caroline quizzes me on the flags. I had spent the weeks before studying everything I could on the internet so as not to be completely clueless. Yellow flag - know that one. Even know about it being waved where the incident is and static at the post before. Green flag - Know that one too. Blue flag - yup, that's sorted. Black and yellow - yes, even know this one. Then Caroline points to the white flag, and so does my brain in surrender. My mind goes blank. Hours seem to pass as I try and desperately claw at the information, but it's not forthcoming. With a smile, she just explains it to me and all is well in the world again.
Last race of the day, and I have my instructions. As soon as the race is finished I am to bring the extinguishers back to the storage bin. I do, and then help Ian with the ones on the other side of the post. All equipment stowed away and the day is over with a crash. I thank my two mentors for putting up with me and my inane questions, and head back to the car park with my head buzzing with thoughts of the day. Everyone I see arriving back at the cars have huge grins on their faces. A good day all round, but it's not quite finished yet.
We jump in our cars and head off. You can't drive the wrong way around the circuit, so we were forced ... forced I tell you ... to drive around the majority of the circuit to get to the exit. The journey home was filled recalling the experience and wondering where to go next.
Now home and back to normality, the next steps have been chosen. My BMMC application forms have been filled in and posted. Fingers crossed my application will be accepted and I will be joining in the fun soon!
If anyone is thinking of getting into marshalling, I can highly recommend taking a BMMC Taster Day. The guys go out of their way to ensure you have a good introduction to all aspects of marshalling, and give you the good and bad points as well. I am so very glad I took this opportunity, and all being well this is just the start of my marshalling career.
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