In reply to vomit comets comment on leaving a marshal at the end of the spectator pen, we did try something like this last year. We had a bunch of spectators sitting in a dangerouse position, who were not willing to move. We finally persuaded them to move on and left one our team in the area to make sure no one came back. However, the poor guy we left got such abuse, as the spectators could not see why they had to be moved along if a marshal could stand there. Now i know where they were coming from, however our guy was standing behind the tree line, something the spectators were not willing to do. It all boils down to common sense. We should all try working together, spectators and marshals, as i dont think anyone wants to see stages cancelled this year, do they?

[Edited by ap1 - 11/1/2003 9:15:53 PM]

In this week's Motorsport News, there is photo on page 2 of McRae in Catalonia. It shows him on opposite lock exiting a right hander, with spectators standing and even sitting casually right at the side of the road - they're not even up on a bank, and unless it's a trick of the camera they look very close to the car.

This would never be allowed on Rally GB, I can imagine this is the sort of thing that gets stages cancelled. So how come other countries get away with it? Are the course & safety cars driven by the same people on all WRC events or is it local crews? Why are the standards so different here?

As mentioned in previous threads I think with the WRC events becoming so popular tighter controls are inevitable, but are we the only country taking this line? I haven't spectated on a rally outside GB so I'd like to hear other people's experiences.

Spectator safety as well as competitor safety is taken very seriously, but please appreciate that once the course opening car and spectator car has traversed the stage, the people who have been moved from danger areas, simply bide their time, then walk back, once the "coast is clear". No country ever has enough marshalls to place in every location where someone could get hurt, not even in the UK. Dont forget, all marshalls are unpaid and do this totally voluntarily, so why dont you try doing this for some weekend fun. You try asking a large group of rally fans to move from a dangerous corner as politely as possible, then see what verbal abuse and threatening behaviour is cast in your direction. Unless you get into this position yourself, you wont appreciate what marshalls have to put up with, so go on, join a club and get out there and put your own life at risk to the mobbing hords of rally "fans" eager for a view and a photograph !

Couldn't have put it better myself.

I bet RM is goin to rip this topic to bits ;)

THe FIA hate the UK at the end of the day they are French we are britsh, thats why nothing is said about the Monte but bad stuff is said about RallyGB.

As for Pens we only have a small group of people to blame for that and they know who they are idots!

Don't you believe it! Many rallies are having to improve their safety requirements (including Monte and Catalunya). There is huge pressure on the organisers these days, as the demand for staging the events seems to increase every year. With annual TV viewing figures set to go past 1 billion a year, there will be plenty of places willing to stage a rally. At the moment, all rallies would consider themselves under threat - Wales Rally GB is no more or less threatened.

If the FIA was prepared to remove Spa from the F1 championship, don't think for a moment that they will get all misty eyed and nostalgic about some of the older events on the WRC....

Chris

LOL @ Zetec...

My own take on it is that the UK is one of the leading countries in terms of spectator safety - partly through internal pressures but also because the UK is different to other countries in terms of legislation and the pressures this brings on the sport. I suspect over the next couple of years, all countries will have to conform to similar standards of spectator placing etc.

I completely agree with Scoobysluts (what a username!) comments on getting out there and marshalling events but the UK seems to face different challenges to other countries in terms of the types of people attracted to this event.

Paul..

My point about the FIA faving non-uk based events was the monte last year had a ticking off BUT no way as big as rallygb did, didnt they get threating with removal?

MY FIA point they, I think can been seen more clearly in F1 I have attended the GP since 98 and its NO WAY as bad as everyone makes out. And after watching the rain at Brizal this year and people breaking into pit garage's to nick stuff I cant belive that the FIA hasnt publicly repormanded them.

Just to point out that Spa was removed beacuse of new advertising rules for fags. Spa is one of the best places to watch a F1 car.

Scoobyslut, don't get me wrong - I've already said in another thread that the reason I have stuck to circuit marshalling and not tried rally marshalling is because I don't want to deal with the type of abusive people you refer to. Looking for feedback on this year's rally from marshals after the event.

My point is that we seem to adopt higher safety standards on Rally GB than many other rallies yet still get hit harder. TV coverage and photos in the press suggest to me other rallies run in what appear to be unsafe conditions.

Remember the standards are only as good as the marshals. There seems to be a continuos problem of marshals standing in incorrect places. Last year we were at age stage the senior marshal was complaining about groups of people moving out of the spectator areas and saying the stage would be cancelled. Why instead of him moaning didnt he use one of the six or severn marshalls talking at the spectator entrance and get one of them to stand at the end of the spectator area. Thus stopping people from going out.

This doesnt apply to all marshals just some.

It would be nice though if the spectators played a part in the marshaling! - If you see an issue which you think should be adressed by the marshals, point it out to them - but don't put it in the form of an order or you may risk backchat - just put it to them as a suggestion - I know this helps me out, we don't have eyes in the back of our heads. ;)

Good points guys. It says on everyone's tickets that as a condition of entry they must comply with all instructions issued by marshals, police etc. I think it should also say more clearly that if they don't comply they will be removed from the stage, and get some heavies in to do the dirty work.

I would hate to have a stage cancelled again this year.

Dont forget guys, that once someone has "bought" a ticket, they are then under the cover of the event insurance, yes, true, as by paying to attend, their ticket applies cover for them too as well as the marshalls insurance, once they sign on.
One thing still bugs me though, How many marshalls do you see "on stage and on duty" with cameras ! Surly if they are to perform their duties properly and ensure the safety of their section, how the blazes can they do it with their eyes stuck behind a camera lens.
Never mind, as I dont know how long the UK will be able to support international events anyway, as the event permit fees go up "AGAIN" next year, so both the dreaded "GP" and the "rally UK" will now attract a fee of 143,000 Euro's as compared with the 32,000 Euro's for 2003. But all countries have to foot this bill so we are not alone, but it does leave a nasty sting in the promoters invoice tray, so no doubts will see ticket prices increase yet again, so dont say you wern't warned chaps and chap esses!!

I know what you mean about the cameras - I tried to get a remote control for mine, then just set it up on a tripod and just press the button when the cars go by.... but as I can't get one, the camera is staying at home!

I might take it down to service for some piccies!

Yes most do a good job but this year we have seen marshalls playing with R/C off road buggies whilst stage is live this was on Rally Sunseeker it sometimes makes you wounder.

John