Marshaling equipment sources

Hi all,

I'm a new marshal and am starting to build up my collection of bits and pieces needed for carrying out my duties.

I'm now trying to locate a good (and cheap) supply of things like belts, tool pouches and hand tools (dumpy screw drivers, belt cuttters, etc). I've tried the usual B&Q and the like, but with no luck.

Can anyone point me at some websites that might be of use?

A starter for ten - Arco http://www.arco.co.uk/ are very good for gloves, boots and other safety wear and have a good delivery service.

Many thanks,

Paul.

Paul,

Welcome to ten-tenths!

You might try the links section of the British Motorsport Marshals Club on www.marshals.co.uk for some useful hints. Other than that chat to the other marshals on post and find out where they bought their stuff from, as many of them will be local to you.

If you need any further help then ask away, we are all in the same boat and glad to help where possible.

Stephen.

Paul - If you are marshalling at Oulton Park then see Eric Ridler, the BMMC North Region Regalia Officer - he normally parks his estate car in the pit lane during the sign on period for the purposes of relieving us of our hard earned cash... He may have some of the stuff you need and I believe he has contacts with Arco.

Although I've only done one season, & therefore don't claim to speak with any authority, I'd say don't worry too much about building up a collection of tools. If an incident is serious enough to need tools to extract the driver, the rescue unit will be called. Probans, waterproofs, gloves & boots will see you through a few seasons - as Flagman says, Eric Ridler will gladly supply all of those, with the exception of the boots.

Thanks for your replies chaps - I guess talking to other people is a good suggestion!!

Just to follow up on my own message for the enlightenment of others in the same position as me; I've just spent the morning surfing the net (don't tell my boss :angel: ) and I've come across the following useful sites:

St John's supplies http://www.stjohnsupplies.co.uk/ have a very good range of kit and is reasonably priced. They sell sirect to the public and seem to be the only direct supplier of Tuff Kut scissors that I could find.

Notex Products http://www.nortex-products.co.uk also seem to be quite good and have an enormous range of stuff, including handcuffs (?!) (which might come in handy if fisticuffs break out between two ticked off drivers, I suppose ;) )

Thanks again, and I hope my reasearch proves useful for someone else.

Paul.

Thanks for the info Paul.

In the million years I have marshalled, I have not once needed to cut seat belts or break windscreens etc. May I suggest to begin with you concentrate on things like fireproof underwear and socks, decent overals and gloves, good waterproof boots with football socks etc (feet can get incredibly cold in the winter). Another tip is to always carry a bottle of drinking water in your bag along with some sun cream. A day in the sun and/or wind can leave your face, neck and ears pretty sore. I speak from experience!

Ooh - don't tell me about sore ears :eek: I was quite surprised at how quickly your lips get chapped too!

Also, there's a moisturiser for MEN from Nivea that I have it on good authority is pretty good.

Lip balm is essential as far as I'm concerned. And handcream. I find my hands get very dry after having the gloves on for so long at a time.

Oh and wet wipes. For all those times you climb up a bank and THEN remember it's a known rat bog....!

Any or all of the above can be got from any superdrug/boots/generic chemist.

Also suggest you invest in insect repellent, sting spray and antiseptic spray.

Of course, since I'm usually seen wandering round the track hauling a huge rucksack, you may not want to take my advice...but then again, I'm the first one people come to when they have dirty hands/nettle stings/bugs chasing them so I must be doing something right ;)

Paul did you enjoy your experience on Saturday - contrary to Lydden there were some full grids and good racing.

Will you be there on Saturday? I will look out for you.

I swear by Riemann P20 once a day sunfilter and Riemann PS aloe vera after sun gel - expensive but effective if you burn very easily like I do.

and a HAT!

Goes without saying - either a bob or one with a peak depending on the weather. The Oulton ovies also have mandarin collars so the back of your neck is both protected (from the sun) and kept warm with space for a rollkneck jumper underneath.

Kaybee,

It started off a little dull and appeared that everyone was out on a Sunday drive (not wishing to condone recklessness of course). It was the first time I've seen Sport2000 so I that was fun (plus we had a couple of offs at Old Hall which helped to ease the day along! All drivers OK, I'm glad to add)

The FFords were good as usual, but it was a shame that the final race of the day was canned (due to the Sport2000 careering backwards into our tyre wall)

I'll be coming along on Saturday. I presume it's the usual 7:45 - 8:15 sign-on?

EP - do you have shares in Superdrug or something :laugh:

Hope to see you all there,

Paul.

Paul were you there on Saturday? I've never seen it so short of marshals. Where did you play and will you be there for the AMOC meeting?

We enjoyed some good racing and a fairly incident free day.

Kaybee, yep - was there on Saturday and got pretty wet (actually I didn't as my waterproofs saved the day).

Ended up at the Avenue which, although it was incident-free, meant we had to muck in with the gang on Old Hall.

Have to agree about the racing - absolutely cracking stuff. It was a shame about the XR2 (sorry driver, your name's just left my head) that stalled on the grid, put in the drive of his life to make it up to 5th, but then threw a rear stub-axle to end up on his roof at OH. Bad luck mate :(

Won't be at AMOC, but will be trundling down the M6 to the BTCC/F3/GTs at Silverstone.

Tara,

Paul.

Mr. Pearson in the ARC sponsored XR2. We watched it from the inside of the circuit, at the exit of OH, and we watched him wiggle round OH every lap - really charging. Then one lap he got sideways, rolled, and slid down the grass on his roof! That was one hell of a wierd accident.. We didn't know he lost a wheel until we saw a marhsal pick it up a bit later.. Fortunately he was okay, although he did look a bit miffed! :)