Website idea

Just been thinking (yes, it hurt a little) about an idea for a website that I know I would find useful.

How about a marshals' guide to all the circuits in the UK (or even world-wide - let's be adventurous!), with details of signing on points, typical sign-on times, along with the best places to park for each marshalling post, good posts to work, good places to get photos and views of the action, and so on and so on...

Could also include details of local hostelries, B&Bs, Travelodges and the like, best routes to avoid traffic, meeting points at the circuit, and like wise.

I know all of this information is probably available on other websites, or by chatting to other people, but I think it would be extremely useful if condensed into one website.

What are people's thoughts on this?

I'm happy to provide the web-space and admin for this little venture, and to start off with the little that I know about Oulton if others are willing to chip in with other circuits.

Sound like a goer??

Paul.

I can give you some good stuff on Mondello and I could get stuff for Kirkistown as well if you like.

Sounds like a good idea to me, As you say, a lot of the information is available elsewhere, but a lot of vital stuff, such as where to park, location of sign-on points, etc., isn't, as far as I know, available anywhere.

Let me know if you go ahead and I'll give you the info for Brands Hatch

Go for it paul sound a great idea and there will be loads of people willing to help Im sure. Ill chip in with Donington and Malory.

Thanks for the encouragement, boys and girls!

I've set to with a prototype of what I think it might look like, and only includes the main page for Oulton with the Old Hall post as a starter.

Please feel free to have a look and suggest any additions or omissions that you might have to hand.

The URL is http://objektiv.intrascape.com/marshalling/

This URL will probably change as this is my test server.

Thanks again,

Paul.

Looks good Paul, you've got a typo on "Marshal" on the banner but other than that it's good.

Also as a suggestion, you've got England and Ireland, it might be a nice idea to add an "other" so that all the invaluable information that marshals have about places like Spa, Le Mans etc. can be disseminated as well.

Perhaps someone creative could come up with a logo as well?

A brilliant idea, good to see the addition of "other" circuits, but that subdividing of the world still has to be refined a bit.
A resource detailing circuits from a marshalling point of view could become a class leader.
Honest, fair opinions would be the clincher for me. Nothing too sycophantic and I would'nt be too interested in a site that said (for example) that xxxx circuit is better than yyyy circuit. No inter track rivalries.

If Brands Hatch's official marshal's car park becomes a mud trap at the slightest sign of rain say so. (it does)
If Lydden's communication system is less than robust tell us. (semaphore helps)
Croix's posts badly sighted, speak up.(oops, sillytoes aready did)
Knockhill's free breakfast and lunch, terrific (well it was back in the 90s)
Maybe have to have opinions referred to an adjudicating panel so that nothing too libellious is said.

Finally, refering back to my first point about geography, some of us from Scotland or Wales might be a bit upset to be in that "other" category, and is Ireland going to be Northern Ireland as well as Ireland?

Why not just UK and Ireland, followed by Europe, North America, Australia?(Since there are a few ozzies on this part of the board), then other.


I sense a "posted/stickied thread"

Great start if you want to get a bit of interest try and get people to put a note up at sign on for different circuits so people will look and give you more info on there circuits. This was you will cover more ground quickly. And a few pictures would be nice (of racing the track and even a few crashes).
If you want something on donington or mallory ill try and put something together

Good idea about this web site. It might be useful to put what the main clubs are for each circuit like BRSCC SE is the main club at Brands SEMSEC is for Lydden and so on.
I will put the web address into the BMMC SE newsletter for July/ August edition and a small piece about it would be usefull to all our members from yourself. You can mail me this on: richard_sneader@hotmail.com
If I can supply any info then please let me know. Are you considering sprint, hillclimb and kart tracks as well?.
Yours,
Richard Sneader...
BMMC SE Newsletter Editor.

do you want some info on Croft

Excellent start! I'll fill in some of the Oulton gaps, & I can do a pretty comprehensive write-up for Anglesey - which, by the way, is in WALES!

Superb Site - good luck with it!

Super stuff!

Would you be interested in adding a branded version of this forum (http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/affiliate.php) to the new site ? If you're interested I can set one up - email me :)

I've been thinking about doing exactly that over the last week or so (mainly after getting hopelessly confused about how to get to post at Donnington for the DTM's).

I would think things like Photo's showing where the sign on huts are, circuit entrances, handy cut throughs to get to awkward posts, dodgy line of sight problems like that.

I'm off to Gurston Down this weekend, I might take my camera down and have a pop at it.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Alistair
:rotate:

Looks like you've started something here Paul!! I hope you've got lots of server capacity lined up - I think this is going to be popular!

Sorry to be precise but you've still got the typo on the banner heading!

I think this site is excellent and I can see it being used a lot - well done Paul. Good luck, with the site! :)

Good move, go for it, anything which will encourage marshals to visit other circuits will reap dividends in the long term.
Interestingly this thread seems very UK based, most US & Canadian circuits already give this sort of info either on a circuit site or SCCA or Canadian Corner Worker site. They find it essential in view of the distances they have to cover.

Wow! Thanks everyone - looks like I'm going to be busy! (The girlfriend will be very pleased, I'm sure ;( )

Righty - I'm going to start some coding this weekend to allow people to sign up and contribute content directly to the site. In the meantime, if you're kind enought to donate some time, please do send on some content by email. If you could use the address in the 'contact' page of the website that would be good.

In other words, if you've said 'would you like some info on xxxx' in this thread, then my reply is 'yes, please!'.

As you've probably come to realise, this project will only succeed if everyone gets involved; as I said in the opening page, this should be a site by marshals for marshals, so please do send content on to me - no matter how little (or better still, large).

I'll try to read over every message here again and make sure that I've covered each idea - the more we can get in at the beginning, the more likely we are to get visitors.

Richard S, I will get round to writing to you at some time soon.

Piglet, can you excuse my density - what is the typo? I thought that the spelling would be " Marshals' " as it's a site belonging to many marshals. Am I missing your point?!

Oh, and yes - if you've got photos, please do send them to me - I think it would help enormously to explain the words (picture is worth a thousand... etc), and a gallery would be nice, too.

And Craig, yes, a branded version of this forum would be excellent - after all, without this forum, the website wouldn't have even begun. I'll be in touch.

Phew, that was a long message. Thanks again, everyone, and please do get the info coming in. Let's make a go of it!

Paul.

I think Piglet is trying to tell you there's an "s" missing Paul :)

You have "Marhals'" rather than "Marshals'"

:)

Spot on EP, sorry Paul I should have been clearer! I proof read in my day job & these things jump out at me & I tend to assume that they do to everyone else as well! Keep up the good work.

Ooops! :banghead:

you're right about the apostrophe though if that helps? ;)

if you want directions etc, I am sure Craig won't mind you using the details from the Circuit Guides at www.bandqsi.com

I can help with Pembrey. The thing I find most difficult is knowing where on the circuit a particulat post is. At sign on you normally just get... ' Ahhh Post 12 ' I'm like ' Ahhh where the flip's that and how the flip do I get there ? '

Perhaps circuit maps with marshals posts would help.

Great idea!

Web site's looking better all the time Paul.
Le Mans is a place people are always asking about, I'll see what I can do.
Will remember more after this year's trip, probably.

I can probably give you some info on Albert Park from my time there. one comment is I like the site could have done with the OP info a few years ago when I first started marshalling. With regards Foulstons there is a marshals point there. It is shared with Island so you have 2 observers. I have Flagged it and it is nice spot to flag.
Personally agree with you about the Sprotsoon and Cookson commetry, but you failed to mention the constant one two, one two, two one, one two three ect for half of the morning.

Cracking idea. Looks like it will be popular.

Someone had to say it but maybe a page for clerks of courses to post the date/time and map number/grid referance for signing on at rallies as well.

That information seems to be hard to come by as well.

good luck with the sie...

This is a great idea Paul. As an ex-marshal (Silverstone mainly) and now racer (Historic Saloons) I can see that this will be a great help to all of us, not just marshals!

Hi All,

If you've been checking back, you will have seen that the site has been slowly developing.

I've now added the signup page, and the whole thing is now fully database driven, so please feel free to start adding content.

Please exercise the system fully (add notes, edit notes, add HTML bits - which probably won't work) and let me know if you can break it. You should only be able to edit bits that you've added, and you can add as many notes as you like to each item.

It would be also useful to recruit a couple of 'moderators'. These rather powerful people would have ultimate authoity to add circuits and edit and delete posts at circuits. You'd also have the heady responsibility of being able to delete notes that other people have added. Phew, imagine the power!! Any volunteers?

I'll try and get round to adding the ability to upload images this week. So we can start to attach photos.

Many thanks for everyone's encouragement so far. Now is the time to make the project fly!

(It would be particularly good to get Silverstone sorted as I'm there for the first time this weekend ;) )

Tara for now,

Paul.

Count me in as a volenteer - It'll be an interesting project.

b1ckcr0w,

You are henceforth pronounced as moderator God. Your powers on the website should now be magically multiplied.

(Can we trust this geezer to edit our posts? ;) )

Thanks for your help matey.

Paul.

ROTFLMAO - cr0w if he asks you to sign anything in blood....make sure you use a sterilised needle ;)

Already have most of the best deseases worth catching :)

Post Info Site (http://objektiv.intrascape.com/marshalling/)

Good work Paul, the sites looking better and better.

I've done the notes for Kirkistown but I don't seem to have an "add notes" option for the marshals posts?

EP, Thanks for your bits and pieces so far.

I've been toying with what the security model behind the 'Add Post' functionality should be, and it was that the user had to be a 'moderator' to do this, but I've since changed my mind. Anyone with 'post' privileges (ie anyone with an account) can now add a post.

It should now be fixed.

Thanks for prompting that re-think,

Paul.

LOL - I just wanted to be able to do it ;)

I'm putting together the other stuff promised but it'll probably be next week before I can get it to you as I'm running around a lot atm :)

Well, now you can :p

Whenever you're ready. I'm busy getting my stuff ready for the weekend, too - looking forward to Silverstone.

Anyone else here going?

Paul.

ok Kirkistown all updated - let me know what you think :)

Lovely, EP - exactly the spirit of what I wanted for the site - good, useful, humourous stuff!

Just one small point, if you now click on the post name from the circuit page, this takes you through to details of the posts themselves. I guess some of the detail you entered for each post could be moved into there. It's up to you - I'm extremely glad for what you've done so far.

Cheers, me dear :)

yep move whatever you want wherever you want :)

I have a circuit map as well - what's the best way of putting that up?

Ooh, nice!

For the time begin, could you email it to me - the next step is to allow the editing of the map for circuits.

Ta,

Paul.

okies :)

I'm plundering a couple of the circut websites for this stuff but I'm being careful to credit them and if it gets them more marshals I'm sure there will be no objections :)

updates for Anglesey are now in and hopefully will have a couple of photos available as well when I get a chance to d/l the memory card from the camera! :)

Thanks, EP. Sounds like a good weekend was had!

Look forward to the photos!

Paul when is the next time you will be at Oulton? I would like to meet up either before we go on post or afterwards.

Are you doing Anglesey at the end of June?

Hi Kaybee,

The next Oulton outing is likely to be 22nd, and I was hoping to get to Anglesey at the end of June.

I'll drop you a note nearer the time, and I'll see you there!

Great site, well done.

Don't forget venues which are not circuits - I'll put some details for Shelsley Walsh, Loton Park and Curborough sprint course if you like

Thanks, Woolley. I've added those venues to the database, so they should now be ready for your info.

Cheers! :beer:

Just a suggestion - is it worth putting marshalling contact details for a circuit as well?

I know that's not appropriate to all circuits, but the majority of them have a "primary" marshals' club that looks after them I think?

Good idea, EP.

That's now in.

You've got my banner on there! (I'm Miss Trackdates.com) :) :) :) Thank you!

Just off to return the favour now...

Looks good! Like it very much.

Double post...

Thanks, Lorna!

No probs at all. :)

Just to say great idea, new to site. If you need any information about Brands Hatch,here to oblige.:beer:

Thanks, Ric.

If you've got the time to spare, sign up and oblige away :)

The circuit is already in the database, so it's simply a case of adding the info to the appropriate place.

Thanks again,

Paul.

Sorry I've not added much lately - I'll put that to rights now I've got a few days off!

Thanks, b1ackcr0w

Dear all,

Just a quick note to say a big thankyou to everyone that has helped the website get off the ground. Without you, it would be Oulton Park and nothing else!

And the update:

We now have a proper domain name for the website. It can be reached on

http://www.marshalspost.com

The new domain name has kind of happened by accident - that's what I used as a working title for the site and it has stuck since. There is another domain name in the wings - I'll announce that at a later date.

Now for the exciting bit!!

:rotate: Free email address for each user :rotate:

Every user signed up to the system now gets a proper email address. For example, my user ID on the system is 'paul', so all mail sent to 'paul@marshalspost.com' will be forwarded on to the email address I signed up with. Similarly, all email sent to 'davebrand@marshalspost.com' will make it to his email address.

To activate your email address, please log in as normal and go to the 'my profile' page. Your email alias will then be displayed (note that the email aliases is the same as your user ID but with spaces removed). Enter your password into both boxes and press 'Save' (you're not actually changing anything, but the action of saving sets up the email system to forward your emails).

Please note that any changes to your forwarding address will normally take around 12 hours to activate, so your alias will not work to begin with until 12 hours after you log in and work through the steps outlined above.

Thanks once again for all your help, and I hope the email address feature helps in some small way to repay you.

Paul.

No payment needed mate. Nice to be involved in something so useful and worthwhile.

Have you considered doing a section club by club, as so many of them travel from circuit to circuit it may be useful to have a main contact for each club as well as each circuit. You couldn't have such a detailed breakdown but you could still have a marshal's persepective on each club, whether they tend to stick to decent length lunch breaks and whether the organiser's are friendly. Just an idea.

icklimp,

Yes, that's a good idea. There does seem to be a discernable difference between how events are run by the different clubs.

I'll get my PHP thinking cap on and add the pages to the site.

Thanks for the idea!

Paul.

well if you need some help i can do something well informed on MAC and VSCC and fairly general stuff on BRSCC, BARC, 750MC, JCC and MGCC.

Thanks, icklimp. I'll drop you a line when the pages are done.

Paul,

I'm going to Silverstone next weekend, Observing at Club camping G 15

Me too Peter H14 I believe so lets say hi. Talk of a ten-tenths get together on Friday night if you're interested?

Stephen,

Sounds like a good idea, see you Friday evening

Peter, Gret to see you over the weekend! Hope you made it home ok?

Hi Chaps,

Sorry I've been a little quiet on this thread recently.

As it looks like we've all had an 'interesting' weekend, could I be cheeky and ask you to mosey on over to the website and add your experiences ;)

Ta v much,

Paul.

PS. Don't forget to update your profile to get your free email address!

Stephen,

Made home eventually, must admit had a great weekend meeting up with people and a great team on post.
Enough said a about the camp site

Pete

Yay! A url I can remember! :rotate:

Tis looking good. :)

Dear all,

Time for another update!

I've now added a 'Club' section to the website. This will contain details of both marshalling clubs and race organisers.

Also, thanks to the v. kind MagnetON and EP, we now have another way of reaching the site. The URL is http://www.wavedyellow.com Many thanks MO and EP :)

Have fun!

Cheers Peter (Howarth).

My first day back at work having gone from the GP to Goodwood and handling yet another F1 (Luciano Burti in the 2001 Ferrari). I hope you noticed my ugly mug in Autosport helping HHF over the barrier when his Arrows expired during the race?

As you know I no longer have access to e-mail at home so can only write from the office. It was however great to see so many faces at the GP and as you rightly say Peter, enough said about the campsite!

SAW the picture - we have it and intend to scan it :)

I might just use it as my wallpaper... ;)

Thank you dear lady...Fame at last!!!!! Seems I was on the Silverstone telly quite a bit over the GP weekend. Both Arrows stalled on the Saturday free practice, then Olivier Panis stalled during the 15 mins the pit lane opened before the race. Then HHF made a repeat visit during the race. Must be my animal magnetism?

Stevie's back Stevie's back Stevie's back
*bounces around excitedly*
http://romancereaderatheart.com/bb/emot/bounce5.gif

Yes we saw you on the telly as well dear - although I have to be honest, I didn't realise it was you until it was pointed out. So we watched it on the re-run and it WAS you :)

I would keep a low profile on the "animal magnetism" or we might start blaming you for the whole sordid "hare" incident.....!

Is that splitting hares or hares on the splitter?

God knows why i'm still awake at this time god only knows, but whilst i'm here, paul's website still needs updating, for those of you that haven't visisted there has been a clubs page added so notes are needed on the HSCC, MAC, JCC, MGCC, BARC, BRSCC and 750 club. i know ther must be at least one shelsley marshal on here and the circuit pages for that need notes adding. If our little cadwell can have them, (thanks mainly to pete) then tracks where the british hillclimb championship is run should have them too and i know some of you do prescott too. So go to www.marshalspost.com and add some notes!

Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.:rotate:

apparently my 'please' (or should that be pleas) have don't nasty things to the page, i apologise now to everyone that has to scroll across coz i'm stoopid (well i am in lincolnshire after all.

I know the EvilPumkin can count. (Remember Delta 23 and lady drivers / lady marshals on the radio?) At the last meeting there were 19 posts on the Croft circuit not the 18 on the map on www.marshalspost.com Ask Kev Smith.

Paul, I've emailed you some stuff about the JCC. Hope it helps.

I was also fooled by your despam address too! Just clicked on it and didn't read it! D'oh! :)

Cheers, Adam. Stuff uploaded with thanks.

Rod H, can you point me at a map that contains the correct posts, or let me know what I need to change?

:beer:

Originally posted by Guisbro Rod H
I know the EvilPumkin can count. (Remember Delta 23 and lady drivers / lady marshals on the radio?) At the last meeting there were 19 posts on the Croft circuit not the 18 on the map on www.marshalspost.com Ask Kev Smith.

LOL hello Rod - welcome to the Internet ;)

Um Delta 23? The last time I was at 23 was for Bikes - don't remember ever doing 23 for cars? What did I miss?

:confused:

To help PaulPerkins

This might sound like a womans logic but at Croft you can be sent Post 19 because usually only 18 posts are manned (personed!).
First lets have a history lesson!
Originally a post existed at Barcroft
The next post was further round Sunny that was most useful for when the circuit was triangular prior to the new "L" shape.
The new track layout started with these two posts in use.
So Barcroft was post 12 and the old Sunny was 13.
Therefore Sunny Out was 14, Complex Out was 16 finishing up at Hairpin out as post 19.
Someone decided to combine the Barcroft and the old Sunny posts into one and called it post 12.
Now the Evil people say that 13 is unlucky.
So they left out 13 just in case they decided to reuse the old Sunny Post again.

So what do you need to do to the map
Add one to the post numbers on the map starting at Sunny Out
You are still confused.
OK try this, the actual numbers are:
Sunny Out Post 14
Back straight Post 15 (BORING)
Complex In Post 16
Complex Out Post 17
Hairpin Post 18
Hairpin Out Post 19

As for the EvilPumkin unfortunately Grant will not let me demonstrate what happened at Delta 23.
I will explain it when I visit Ireland with the The Tour Manager John and Trapper in September. I really look forward to meeting you again.

Poor drivers, do they realise that they depend on Stercus Tauris and EvilPumpkin for their safety!

*Snigger* Of course they realise - motorsport is dangerous and so am I - says so in the programme...... :laugh:

Rod email me directly about September please - I don't know if I'll be around at the event you're going to marshal.

evilpumpkin@spankymarshal.com

And yes that's a real address! :p

Thankyou muchly Rod :)

I'll re-read the details when I've had another cuppa (it's still *very* early) and I'll update the map ASAP.

That must be a mighty fine cuppa. :beer:
Probably explains why its a "hot topic".;)

Do you want comments on each marshalling post at Croft as per Irish circuits? Are they submitted through the www.marshalspost.com or via this thread?

Hi Rod,

Yes, please - if you could update the website directly, that would be marvellous.

Off for another cuppa!!

Doh - just re-read the 'probably explains why it's a hot topic'. V. drole. ;)

Paul! I've had an idea! Could you add another section to all the circuits and name it Where to stay. Not everybody wants to either camp or caravan and a list of reasonably priced B&B, Guest/Farmhouses and more personal hotels would be useful for those of us to like to work circuits which require an overnight stop.

Thanx!

:p :p :p :p :D :D :D :D :p :D :p :D

Eh - top one!

I'll add it when I get back home (sometime Wednesday)

:beer: Cheers KayBee :beer:

how about adding speed venues?

Hi SS,

If you drop me a line at paul@marshalspost.com I'll add them. The more the better!

Cheers,

Paul.