World Series by Renault - Silverstone 18-19 Sep

[HairyDJ]

Hmmm - time to make a decision .....

Just had the BARC email appealing for WSR volunteers, which pointed out the clash with Goodwood Revival & Donington BTTC! My notes also show MSVR @ Brands on the GP circuit, plus BRSCC @ Mallory on the Sunday.

Clearly, there is going to be a real scrap to get enough marshals to spread across all these events - some likely to have way more support than others! Based on previous years, I suspect WSR at Silverstone will be bottom of most marshal's preferences?

Looking at the timetable here
http://www.worldseriesbyrenault.fr/e...Programme.aspx
it seems that the short lunch break will have F1 high speed laps running through it. Also only 10 mins between sessions on the GP circuit simply cannot be achieved, even if there are no recoveries / sweeping to be done. That means that the timetable will either over-run or lunch will vanish. Previous years have had high speed passenger laps (Renault commercial PR, not racing) added onto the program - not clear whether these have been dropped this year, or are just being kept secret?

Given that previous years have suffered from yobbo crowds - throwing stones onto the track and intruding into closed areas (including Obs huts & marshals' kit), there needs to be a serious increase in paid security staff (and police?) over last year.

Well - back to decision time! Do I avoid this event as so many others will, or is there a degree of loyalty needed to help the few good folk who are going to grin & bear it? For sure, novice / first timers will be desperately welcomed, and bound to be kept busy! I can't remember what efforts Renault go to in thanking marshals - hopefully a generous breakfast voucher, post event drink voucher, hat & shirt as well as a few "prize draw" specials of Renault drive days or similar ---- dream on!!

So ...... is anybody going this year, or will "marshal power" veto the event

[Woolley]

Perhaps a reply to the e-mail expressing your concerns about the meeting on the basis of past experience and asking for assurances might ring a few alarm bells...

I always hate the thought of the marshals who go being made to suffer, or an announcement the the meeting is cancelled because of 'lack of marshals' gives the impression that it's our fault, but some high profile struggles where marshals welfare has not been given proper consideration wouldn't go amiss.

As for loyalty, it's not as if the problems haven't been expressed in a form that they must be aware of. I long ago learned with Donington's dismal scheduling that loyalty works in both directions and that if they're not going to consider me when creating a timetable I was quite at liberty to return the compliment.

Apart from 'how dumb is it to schedule 3 significant meetings in the lower half of the country on the same week-end' question. a quick check shows there are were also meetings scheduled for Shelsley (where I'll be), Int GT Open at Brands, Harewood, 750MC at Snetterton and on the Sunday, BRSCC at Mallory. Apart from Harewood, all are potentially within Silverstone's catchment area.

[Alan Crook]

Me and Fay are at Silverstone for World Series Renault, we have not managed to do this meeting at Silverstone before. We will attend with an open mind and make our own decision after.

We did this meeting for a couple of years at Donington & stopped attending on the Sunday due to poor traffic management, we also passed our comments to both BARC & Donington.

Personally I have enjoyed the WSR meetings I have attended but as people say spectators can be a problem, at Donington we had spectators drunk at 09.30 in the morning & crossing the circuit between green flag lap & race start.

[Steven Humphrey]

I've always enjoyed this meeting but I have been at posts which aren't bothered by spectators (Brooklands &, to a lesser degree,Hangar Straight). However, this year I have volunteered for Goodwood for the first time so unless I get the 'thanks but no thanks' email, my decision has been made!

[PULSERACING]

This was actually my first event as a marshal last year and it hooked me so i will be a definate attendee. There is a few issues such as the huge crowd which dwarfs even the GP and in that crowd you do get some unruly lunatics ,and also the evecuation at the end of the weekend which took me two hours to battle my way through, but i think if you want to see some top class drivers in some fine machinery then this will suit you. It cant be much worse than the classic in that the punters seemed to be getting everywhere they shiouldnt have been , the camp site was a s**t fight with tents in any avaliable space ,and two long days ,but it was still great to be a part of. Im sure we will have a great time!!

[The Fat Clerk]

Elaine and I are @ Thoresby Hall for a 2 day sprint. Nice cars in the grounds of a Stately Home no competition from anywhere else

[gachjoel]

Do this one every year,
last year spent the weekend in the pits as Chief Flags Assistant.
always a good weekend of racing

[NICK ALLISON]

Last year I reluctantly gave up the Goodwood Festival (favourite event )to help out as there was a shortage of marshals.
What a cracking meeting !
Some very quick cars ,exciting racing from many of them ,compulsary pit stops ,every one mucked in including stewards ,scrutineers,race admin,and even the Pits walk about was civilized .
I am sure the BARC could do with your support especially Pits and Start.It could be a good practice run for those who did not attend the British Grand Prix but could be asked by the club to be involved in the Abu Dhabi GP.

[Wet marshal]

I Supose this meeting is like "MARMITE" Love it or Hate it, but I will be there for the 3rd year running.

[bella]

just an observational point from a world series by renault regular all over europe, but try comparing the silverstone timetable to that of other events in the world series by renault calendar. they also get constant renaultsport demonstrations on circuit which don't seem to be mentioned on the silverstone timetable.

the yobbo behaviour is isolated to silverstone. i've been to all events so far this season and i haven't seen anything like the kind of nonsense the british public get up to. there's barely any spectator marshals there either. so it's something silverstone as a circuit need to tackle, not the organisation. the fans at hungary for example are amongst the most enthusiastic you'll ever find (their support for tamas pal kiss the other weekend was INCREDIBLE), but they're also the most respectful and considerate spectators.

the racing is excellent and the formula renault 3.5 and megane trophy cars make brilliant noises. it's worth doing as an event but i can see why with the spectator troubles you might want to avoid it.

(edit: that said, 10 minutes between sessions is a bit optimistic - usually it's 15...)

[Greem]

I'm going to Silverstone for the three days of the WSR. As Alan says, I'll go with an open mind and see what happens. My logic was that I did a day at the BTCC at Oulton, and I'm doing a day at the Silverstone BTCC too - so Donington, although I'd love to do it (and is only 15 mins from where I live!) would probably survive without me.

I'm a bit dismayed to read about the problems with spectators, though. I'll have to wait and see I guess.

I've been to the WSR at Donington as a speccy and very definitely didn't see any misbehaviour, apart from two other speccies running away with the arse end (diffuser/splitter/crash assembly) of a Megane which had been put into a spectator area when it fell off a car during a race! The fact that the two blokes had a Mini may have made getting it home somewhat challenging

[gachjoel]

Strange,
wifey got E mail, i didn't, but we are both down to do it

[Chigley]

This is the only meeting where RC encouraged me to put in a P/C written report with names about two spectator marshals who spent more time chatting to friends and family than keeping speccies out of danger areas. The marshals on post were having to act as speccy marshals just to try to keep things semi safe. Very dubious whether I'd want to do WSR at Sillystones again. Not BARC's problems, it was pure and simple down to Silverstone who didn't have enough resources or didn't care as they knew marshals would step in.

[HairyDJ]

Seem to remember something mentioned last year or the year before that WSR dictate how many security that they pay for (same at every WSR event) and expect Silverstone to bankroll any more than that minimum amount.

I agree about the commitment standards from some of the security team, but they don't seem to get much supervision. To be fair, some of the scumbags need dog handlers and tasers to deal with them - not smart yellow jackets. btw whoever signed a contract with a security firm that uses flag colours for their uniform?

[gachjoel]

this will be our 5th wsr meeting.
we know the wsr is purely a PR thing
we know that the finances are set to minimum
that is why i only deal with anything that comes trackside.
anything else i let RC know to inform security