Marshalling
Without marshals, there couldn’t be any motorsport
From the pits and paddock to track-side and behind the scenes, marshals make sure motorsport meetings run smoothly and safely.
A marshal’s job is essential, providing safety cover as well as administrative functions. And we are all volunteers.
It’s the closest you can get to the action without actually being in the car!
See the LMC Calendar for the full list of events that we are involved with.
We need marshals for the following events at Aintree each year
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- April: LMC Trackday 1 – Aintree
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- May: LMC Spring Sprint – Aintree
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- June: LMC Mid-Summer Sprint – Aintree
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- August: LMC Trackday 2 – Aintree
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- August: LMC Late-Summer Sprint – Aintree
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- September: Sporting Bears Charity “Dream Rides for kids” day – Aintree
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- September: Greenpower Electric Car Races – Aintree
- See our calendar page for this year’s dates
And the Hillclimbs at Barbon Manor, Cumbria, too
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- June: Championship Hillclimb 1 – Barbon Manor
- July: Championship Hillclimb 2 – Barbon Manor
- See our calendar page for this year’s dates
Want to get closer to the action? Would you like to help us run our events?
Just complete our marshals’ volunteering form HERE and we’ll get back to you to let you know how you can get involved.
See the LMC Facebook page for the latest information about our events.
Officials/marshals at each of the LMC events at Aintree and Barbon will receive a contribution towards their travel expenses.
For more information on any of the above events please contact our Chief Marshal Bill Gray via the contacts page.
You can join the ANWCC regional marshals’ championship too, and it’s free to enter! There’s a monthly draw based on the number of events you do, and you could win £30 cash. More info here:-
What about other events where I can help?
Our marshals also help by volunteering at a range of other organisers’ events, including Car Racing at Oulton Park and Anglesey, Sprints at Three Sisters (Wigan), Scammonden and Anglesey, AutoSolos near Blackburn, Lymm and Knutsford, and a whole range of rallies at locations in North West England, North Wales and the Isle of Man.
Do you marshal regularly?
You do? That’s excellent, thank you so much for all you do.
See our Marshals’ Championship page for info about local championships that you can join for free.
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What’s marshalling all about? Is it for me?
Read on……
Marshalling is great for anybody who wants to be involved in motorsport, but perhaps not as a competitor. You don’t need any special skills or qualifications to start, just common sense and a reasonably developed sense of self-preservation. And it’s not just for blokes…. female marshals are most welcome too.
Whilst the main bulk of our marshalling is at Aintree and Barbon Manor, we also assist on several other events including stage and endurance rallies for which marshals are always required, please have a look at our Club Calendar for the list of this year’s events.
Don’t worry if you have never been marshalling before; you will be made most welcome and will be placed with one of our experienced marshals who will show you the ropes. We encourage our marshals to attend training days which are held at various locations around the country each year and will greatly enhance your knowledge.
Quite simply, without the help of volunteers, Motorsport cannot exist so your contribution is vital to the future of Clubs such as ours. As part of the marshalling team, you will help to make our events as safe as possible and keep them running smoothly.
What are the good parts of being a marshal?
Marshalling is brilliant, especially…
- Getting into events free
- Having the best view possible
- Having a great day out
- Being involved
- Learning new skills
- Meeting new people
- Making new friends
- Helping others and getting recognition
- Being appreciated
- The satisfaction of a job done well
What are the downsides of being a marshal?
We are in the UK so the weather can be (and is) unpredictable
Most events start early so you’ll need to leave home early too in order to be in position before the event begins.
Come rain or shine, frost, fog or early mornings – marshalling is still great – are you up for it?
What do our marshals do at Aintree & Barbon?
Paddock Marshals: In the paddock where cars are prepared, we need marshals to make sure the area is organised and safe.
Assembly Area: The Assembly area is where cars wait just before they start their run. Here the marshals get the cars into numerical & class order.
Both these areas are suitable for marshals who are under 16.
Startline: Probably the busiest marshals at the event, they position the car into the timing beam at the start of the course. Once in position, the marshals stand clear until the car is released. At our Aintree events, the start line team can deal with well over 600 starts during the day.
Lining up an historic Lotus 69
Big and small we look after them all….
Track Marshals: Are positioned at set points around the track where they watch for incidents during the competitor’s run. Any problems are relayed by radio to Course Control and the session is halted until the course is clear. These marshals are first on-scene and will deal with the driver and car until Rescue and Recovery vehicles arrive.
Red flag for an incident
The car might not have been ok, but the driver was fine.
Where can you help?
At Aintree, we run 3 Sprints and 2 Trackdays each year. And we help with 2 other charity motorsport events there too.
At Barbon, we hold 2 Speed Hillclimbs, on the spectacular and challenging drive through Barbon Park
On Rally stages at Classic car rallies such as the Tour of Cheshire, the Land’s End to John O’Groats (LeJOG) Trial and on Stage rallies such as the North West Stages (based near Preston).
Our marshalling team on Wales Rally GB
Lining up a Mini at Barbon Hillclimb
How to volunteer
The club has a marshals’ register for those who would like to help with the marshalling of events held at Aintree, Barbon or elsewhere.
If you would like to find out how to assist at our events please contact our Chief Marshal, (see our Contacts page) or telephone the club on 0788 508 2219 and your name will be added to the register. Or simply fill in our volunteering form HERE and we’ll be in touch
You will then receive information on events that we are attending and also be able to volunteer to help at Aintree where you’ll receive a contribution towards your expenses, and we also provide sandwiches and drinks during the lunch break. At Barbon, a contribution towards the cost of your lunch is provided.
Please note that under 18’s must have the consent of a parent or guardian, please ask us for details.
Training
Training events are held during the year to develop marshals’ skills and knowledge. These courses are provided by the Motorsport UK and details can be found on their website.
If you have not already done so, we urge you to complete the Motorsport UK marshal accreditation training online, which you will find here https://www.msauk.org/rallymarshalstraining It’s just everyday common sense, only takes a few minutes and, on completion, you can join Motorsport UK’s marshals’ database to receive regular updates on marshalling matters.
Fire Training
Practising righting a car using a controlled roll
What Equipment do you need?
None, though you will need suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. Some marshals do buy fire-resistant overalls but they are not compulsory. You may be able to get assistance towards their cost by joining the local branch of the British Motorsport Marshals Club.
Want to know more?
Then contact LMC Chief Marshal Bill Gray via our contacts page to find out more about marshalling at one of LMC’s friendly events at Aintree Circuit or Barbon Manor.
We also help other clubs in the North West with their events, sending marshalling teams to Rallies (both classic & modern) autotests, AutoSolos etc. If you would like to help – and you don’t have to be an LMC member to do so – have a look at the Club Calendar page and then contact us to let us know what you might like to do.