BMMC Sprint @ Curborough

[neilwaynesmith]

Attended the BMMC's own sprint at Curborough on Saturday.

Was appalled at the lack of enthusiasm and attendance shown by marshals and committee members.

It's pretty embarrassing when the marshals, at the marshals club-organised sprint, have to beg, borrow and steal warm bodies from the paddock to run entire posts......

Even worse was the fact that more marshals turned up for the Lotus7 meeting the next day.....

As course controller on both days, I'd like to offer my sincerest thanks to those people, marshals and conscripts, that stepped up to the plate on both days. They literally couldn't have been run without you.

[Mark Mitchell]

Originally Posted by neilwaynesmith

Attended the BMMC's own sprint at Curborough on Saturday.

Was appalled at the lack of enthusiasm and attendance shown by marshals and committee members.

Whilst I appreciate your frustration, I don't think the above sentance will do much to make things better next time.

It's the same old story I guess........too many events on and not enough Marshals to go round.

[neilwaynesmith]

Mark, believe me, this is toned down from the collective opinions on the day...

Anyway, from the enthusiasm shown for both sprints this year, most marshals won't be bothered by my comments anyway.....

[MelanieJSmith]

That is of course if it runs next year. After the complete lack of support (not inflammatory, just the truth) I would not blame the organisers for calling it a day, which would be a real shame as it has always been a really good event.

And I do support Neil's post as I was in the meeting with the MSA Steward and that was appallingly embarrassing for all of the senior officials and after the support that the BMMC gives to each and every one of us, people should be ashamed of the turn out.

[Mark Mitchell]

Mel, I think it's a little unfair to say we should all be ashamed.
I've never been told that before when meetings are short of Marshals.
Cadwell once had a meeting cancelled for the same reasons, but I don't recall the Senior officials telling us we should be ashamed for not attending.

Regarding the Sprint, I have never attended one - it just doesn't appeal to me (Ignorance is possibly a factor here?) and as such, I wouldn't actively look for these meetings on volunteering lists such as Julians'.
Neither do I recall the BMMC Top Brass canvassing for Marshals for this.

I'm sure that all concerned with the Organisation of this event worked their socks off to make it happen, and obviously are both disappointed with the turn out from marshals and embarrassed at having to ask for assistance in front of competitors and the MSA Steward.

Having said that, surely someone must have known beforehand that not many Marshals had volunteered?

[Pistonbroke]

As a BMMC member living only 30 miles from Curborough, I am disappointed to hear that there were problems with numbers at this event.

If I had known about it, not only would I have been there but I could probably have rounded up a few more experienced marshals, had I known there was a problem.

There was no mention of the event in any of the Midland Region newsletters this year, no mention on the main BMMC website (unless I've missed it), and the event is not in Julian's list on www.marshals.org.uk

Having done the event a few times in the past, perhaps I should have remembered it's usually about this time of year and enquired, but a bit of publicity would certainly have helped!

[MelanieJSmith]

All meetings are short of marshals at the moment, no-one needs to be told that.

The reason for the high feelings on this one is that it is a meeting run by the marshals club, to raise the profile and funds of the marshals club and to have to stand in front of the MSA Steward and competitors an apologise and request help was downright embarrassing. The meeting was advertised in the Midlands newsletter and has been on the Curborough website all season. The point about Julian’s website and BMMC website is well made and will be addressed.

This is MY opinion and mine alone. I am not representing anyone but myself with these comments and I still feel that marshals should do more to support the club that insures and represents them.

[The STIG]

I didn't even know the BMMC ran sprints, let alone was short of marshals for them!

[Mark Mitchell]

That seems to be the problem - no one seemed to be aware of the meeting!

[Sheila M]

As Clerk of the Course for this sprint I'd like to echo Neil's comments of gratitude to those marshals who did turn up and also to those competitors and their guests who helped us out and who all did a sterling job.

[Shelagh]

Not aware of this meeting either - you only get bodies if they know about it, what does this say about the BMMC advertising itself?!

We do AMOC sprints at Curburough and they are really good fun, so Mark, if you do ever get the chance then go for it. Startline and Paddock are, in my opinion, the best jobs and the fact that recently I've had drivers (from the sprint) waving or saying hello at other meetings (eg Silverstone Classic) just proves that to me.

"Action" wise, not much, but I reckon the only time I get to chat to drivers when they are "relaxed" (so much so one bought me a cup of tea last time out!).

[The Fat Clerk]

Ignorance is bliss as they say, for the BMMC Sprint @ Curborough earlier in the year a piece appeared on this site and I voluntered and went along, having a great time.
Didn't see a plea for this one.

[mmm_five]

I was free on Saturday and would have felt guilty for not volunteering...except for the fact that it wasn't publicised - and I'd guess 99% of the contributors to these forums would not have know there was a BMMC event on at Curborough either.

<facetious mode=on>
If you want to get marshal's to an event then surely you have to ensure it's not a secret squirrel, invitation only, funny handshake while passing 2CVs on the B7625 affair.
<facetious mode=off>

I'm sure the BMMC has details of a few marshals (local and not-so-local), so a recruitment drive a fortnight before - once you knew the numbers were low - should not have been a problem. A post here would have sufficed to bring the numbers up, as I'm sure even half a dozen more would have made a difference.

I don't think it's the individual marshal's obligation to search the calendar of every motorsport-related website, every day, to find every event going on throughout the country 'just in case'.

[Mark Mitchell]

I'm getting a feeling that this event wasn't supported by the Clubs' own "Top Brass" - and maybe that is what Neil & Mel are suggesting?

Despite me saying that Sprints aren't my boat-floater, please let me know when the next one is, and if I'm free, I will make the effort to come and play.

[neilwaynesmith]

That's what we feel too. It's been interesting to note the comments about lack of publicity.

I know Steve Hill works his n*ts off to get this sprint up and running, with little apparent regard from committee members. Obviously it isn't enough to rely on the Marshals post so, Steve usually give me the dates when we bump into each other at the Autosports show, in addition to Steve's work, I'LL be making damn sure it's publicised next year.