OUTPOST. The North West Region Newsletter The BMMC Stand prior to the invasion. Nadine accepting a cheque from MGCC

Transcription

1 OUTPOST The North West Region Newsletter The BMMC Stand prior to the invasion Nadine accepting a cheque from MGCC Nadine interviewed on the REIS Insurance stand

2 CHAIRBEING S CHILLY CHIT CHAT Ah well, Happy New Season to all our members. It is too cold just now to even think of marshalling, but Spring will soon be sprung and we ll be out there at it again. The weather thing does remind me that we all must ensure that we get out to our posts fully equipped for whatever the weather might do on the day. We marshals have to pack extraordinarily diverse kit bags sun screen alongside waterproofs, for instance. Not sure if it is Global Warming or Nonino effects, but whatever, we have to be prepared. Check your kit bags before our training weekend to make sure you have the right kit in there. You can also dispose of last season s left-over sandwiches, apples, bananas etc. Talking of training, I m sure that you all have MARCH 11 & 12 in your diaries, phones, pads etc. Training for our duties is vital. We are the most important people at the circuit, on the hill and in the forest. Drivers are having fun and Officials are officiating. We are there to make sure it all goes smoothly and safely and to clear up if it doesn t. A burst of training just before the season starts serves to gee us all up so we are like well-oiled coiled springs, ready to hit the ground running (work that out if you can!). So, I look forward to seeing hundreds of you on Saturday, March 11 or Sunday, March 12. Don t forget to bring along your PDRs. The Oulton season then launches with BARC NW on Saturday 18, followed 2 swiftly by BRSCC NW on Saturday 25. Your training will be fresh in the memory and can be live-tested straight away. Three important weekends on the trot. See you there. North West Region is already The Northern Powerhouse. Mike Cadwallader ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONGRATULATIONS!! It is with the greatest pleasure that we congratulate Dave (Fasttoes) Williams on recently passing his driving test. This has long been an ambition of Dave s to become self reliant in transportation both for work and leisure. Keep on trucking Dave!

3 AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RACING CAR SHOW 2017 We were very well represented at the Show at Birmingham NEC last weekend. A number of us manned the BMMC and BRMC stands. Plus we had members of the Midlands region helping out on the Reis stand (brilliant job ladies!). REIS Insurance invited Nadine to attend the announcement of their sponsorship of the BMMC on the Thursday of the Show. She was interviewed by Alan Hyde alongside BTCC driver Tom Ingram and REIS MD, Mark Taylor and they have included us on their website. Some superb publicity for us and them! Thank you to all our sponsors. This year we took over 70 names of potential new recruits from all around the country as well as answering questions particularly on the rally front. The names will be sent out by Pete Wilson to be processed by regional recruitment officers who do a great job ensuring they are invited to training days, Taster days and encourage them to join our club. It is then up to each and every one of us to be responsible for ensuring they stay. Please make sure they get involved on their first day, help them to volunteer, give them advice for getting experience to upgrade we can all do our bit. And if you are amongst our new members already this year a big welcome to you all and keep asking lots of questions. Thank you to Paul Sutcliffe for setting 3 up and managing our new National Facebook page alongside our Instagram and Twitter accounts. We will endeavour to publish info directly on all our Social Media outlets and our website to keep you informed. We will also keep our MailChimp messages to you so please ensure you sign up. Our regions will continue to update you on local activities as well. You can also sign up for regional newsletters via your volunteering / website log on. A big Thank you to Derek Johnston British GT champion for 2016, Derek has kindly donated his 2016 crash helmet to the British Motorsports Marshals club, Watch this space for up and coming news about how you can win it, Derek and Johnny Adams have both signed the prize. On the front page of this newsletter our National Chairman, Nadine Lewis is seen receiving another very generous donation from Ian Quarrington of the MG Car Club. Our sincerest thanks go to all the members of the MGCC for their continued support and for providing us with much enjoyment and entertainment.

4 HAIRY ADVENTURES AROUND THE GLOBE Part 1 British marshals are widely regarded as the best in the World and our Regional Chairman, Mike Cadwallader, claims with a great deal of certainty that those from the North West are the crème de la crème. Certainly, one regular member of the orange army from Oulton Park and Anglesey has become well known across the Globe although this is as much due to her distinctive hair-style catching the eye when she is on duty at Grands Prix as her skills at ensuring motor sporting events run smoothly. Her name is Janette Williams better known on the internet as the Dreadlock Marshal after her blonde mane was captured on Worldwide TV helping fellow North West BMMC Member, Mark Mitchell, push Felipe Massa s Ferrari to safety during qualifying for the 2013 Canadian Grand Prix. This caused her to appear on the Jenson Button and Lotus Facebook pages plus the news sharing site Reddit, where the thread was entitled Move aside Monaco bird, dreadlock girl is our new champion! 4 Thus the Dreadlock Marshal moniker has become something of a nom-de-plume for Janette she even uses it to identify herself on Facebook but, ironically, the distinctive styling is not actually dreadlocks because her trademark look is created by braided extensions woven into her hair. Janette s head has been adorned in this individualistic way since December 2004 when she was island hopping on the Andaman Archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. While enjoying the sunshine on Koh Phi Phi, she became fed up with her hair sticking to the sun-cream on her face thus she made use of the talents of the local beauty experts to have braids added to her locks it took 3 ladies 4 hours to complete the task! When she proposed to her mum that she would stay on the island paradise and see in the start of 2005 the plan was met with such strong objections that Janette returned home for Christmas. These maternal ties probably saved her life because the hotel she stayed at was pretty much wiped out by the tsunami which struck on Boxing Day that year. A photograph of the resulting carnage at the location appeared on the front page of one of the UK s newspapers and only the concrete drinks bar fitted to one of the swimming pools remained, everything else was destroyed by the forces of nature. Greatly saddened, initially Williams decided to keep her braids as a mark of respect to the 100,000s who had lost

5 their lives. But then, because her chosen career is as a solicitor, Janette wondered whether there would be an adverse reaction to her new look when she attended court. As no comments were made, the braids have remained. Janette now maintains them herself. There is something of an urban myth that to offer protection from fire when marshalling, the braids are coated in Proban however that is not true. In fact, such precautions are unnecessary for two reasons. Firstly, the extensions are made out of a material called Kanekleon, which is flame retardant Janette has proof of this as she has to set light to the ends to seal them. Secondly, as a result of all the marshal training she has undertaken, Janette knows that if she was close enough to a blaze for it to spread to her braids, that would mean she was far too close! The other concern that is often expressed is what would happen if her hair got caught in the moving parts of an engine but Williams points out that she is a lawyer not a mechanic and so would never put her head near the moving parts of a car. Nonetheless, Janette always carries a couple of ties with her in case she has to keep her braids under particularly close control. 5 Although she has always had a love of cars Janette s father was very proud when she was able to name every car on the road at the age of 3 and used to let her sit on his knee while she held the steering wheel (this was back in the 1970s!) motor racing never appeared on her radar until she moved house in The new home was just 5 miles from Oulton Park. Some five years later, Janette got to know a fellow local resident who is well known to the marshalling community Vanessa Bott who quickly picked up on her automotive fascinations and suggested that she visited the Tarporley track for an orange clad training day. Underlining her lack of sporting experience, she had never seen a motor race prior to becoming a trainee marshal! Janette quickly became a regular at her local circuit and ventured to Anglesey once during her first season. Visiting a different track was something she really enjoyed and in the early stages of taking up her hobby she vowed to marshal at a new venue each year thus she joined the teams on away days at Brands Hatch, Lydden Hill, Snetterton, Mallory, Donington, Croft and Silverstone. Undoubtedly, this made Janette a better marshal. She explains, It s extremely

6 informative and interesting to see how the different circuits, and the different local marshals, handle things as there are variations in approaches everywhere. The examples of good practice along with the observation of useful tips helps to build your own field of knowledge and experience. Having been blown off her feet while flagging at Anglesey once too often, Janette elected to have a go at officiating on the start-line at the picturesque but often windswept circuit. This put her in good stead for when her application to be a track marshal at the British Grand Prix was accepted as she was allocated to the start-line. Since then this has become something of a speciality role for her. It is an area in which she is greatly admired by her colleagues. Mike Cadwallader told us Janette is very friendly and popular, we regard her as a great team player. On the start-line she is a good, sensible and controlled operator with no tantrums or alarms. Walter Holme adds, Working with Janette over the past few years, I have found her to be confident and very professional in her attitude to running the pit lane/grid at Anglesey. She is very kind and considerate to all whom she meets at these events. To be invited back time after time to marshal at overseas Grands Prix, as she does, you need bags of confidence and skill. She also has an ever-present smile even after a normal Anglesey race day (wet and windy!). Because nothing beats the spectacle of seeing a grid full of cars blast away, working on the start-line is an aspect of marshalling that Janette really enjoys. However, the drama of race starts and the number of accidents witnessed firsthand at this most intense moment in any sporting event has proved a deterrent from competing herself although Janette has got out behind the wheel for a few track-days. She confesses, I was too worried about crashing my (new) car to really relax and enjoy the track-days to the full! Managing the pits and start-line is a role Williams particularly relishes at big meetings such as the British rounds of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Blancpain GT Series at Silverstone where she has been able to build a close working relationship with the organisers. Last year, at both meetings, 6

7 Janette acted as a runner for Race Control which was another interesting new experience not least when Bruno Senna mistook her for an ACO official and vigorously began shaking her hand! To the onlooker, watching Williams sprint down the track so that she is in the correct position to direct each car to its designated grid position as the field returns from the formation lap, it appears as though a high level of fitness is required to undertake her role however as the distances involved are not too great, Janette does not find this activity too strenuous although she admits that a certain level of fitness is required to undertake any form of circuit marshalling. For her, life on the bank standing in one position for long periods is more tiring. Nonetheless, once Spring arrives time and weather permitting Janette goes out cycling to increase her fitness levels in preparation for the season ahead. An avid traveller, in the next edition of Outpost we ll report on how Janette combined this wanderlust with her love of motor sport to become, quite literally, a World-famous marshal. Dave (Fasttoes) Williams JLT MSA Volunteer of the Year Awards Congratulations to Margaret Simpson on her well deserved award as a Volunteer Official of the Year. Margaret Simpson was nominated by the BMMC for her efforts at Oulton Park, and going above and beyond what is normally expected of a marshal. Margaret Simpson supports marshals in a number of ways, including ensuring that at each event she undertakes circuit walk-arounds to speak to marshals and understand any issues that they may have. She then helps resolve things and helps improvements to be made, as well as following up with marshals after meetings. When there have been changes at Oulton Park, she has worked with the marshals and liaised with the venue to ensure these are as smooth as possible, and helped new processes be put into place for the benefit of all involved. Well done Margaret!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DON T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OTHERWISE YOU MAY MISS OUT ON YOUR GOODY BOX!! IT SO EASY,JUST GO TO THE BMMC WEBSITE AND FOLLOW THE ONLINE LINK TO PAY BY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD. 7

8 REIS MOTORSPORT INSURANCE ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIPS FOR 2017 REIS Motorsport Insurance celebrated two new partnerships at Autosport International 2017 at the NEC Birmingham last week. Marking a focus on motorsport safety, The BMMC will join our existing sponsorship portfolio for 2017, alongside the Scottish Rally Championship. The British Motorsports Marshals Club are at the heart of the industry and their volunteer officials and marshals are the linchpins to helping ensure the safety of all those taking part in the sport. Partnering with the Scottish Rally Championship also aids REIS dedication to supporting competitive racing at all levels, with a presence in domestic stage rallying. Mark Taylor, Deputy Head of Motorsport Broking at REIS Motorsport Insurance, comments: In 2017 a key focus for us is motor sport safety for all participants. We deal with risk on a daily basis and understand the need to support those who facilitate the safety and smooth running of our sport, whilst also promoting the importance and benefits personal accident cover can offer to those taking part. We re delighted to partner with these dynamic organisations, to complement our on-going sponsorship of Tom Ingram and Speedworks in the BTCC. Nadine Lewis, British Motorsport Marshals Club Chairman, comments: We re the largest marshalling organisation in the world and in our diamond anniversary year, we re delighted to welcome REIS as one of our sponsors. Founded in 1957, the club still follows its original objectives of training and providing marshals for all forms of motor sport and provides officials for all the organising clubs in the country. The club has over 2,300 volunteer members, who will benefit from subsidised overalls which provide protection whilst ensuring visibility and we look forward to working with REIS for the future benefit of marshals and motorsport. Image (from left to right) Mark Taylor, Deputy Head at REIS Motorsport Insurance, Nadine Lewis, Chairman of the British Motorsport Marshals Club and Tom Ingram, BTCC driver. 8

9 BMMC NW REGION TRAINING WEEKEND Now that the festive season has finished, it is time to look ahead to this year s training weekend, which in 2017 will be held on the 11th and 12th March at Oulton Park circuit, near Tarporley in Cheshire. As in previous years, Saturday s training will be held completely under cover in the Fogarty Moss Centre and will cover training for Post Chiefs, Flag marshals and senior Specialist marshals. However, the training on the Sunday will be for new and Cadet marshals, Track and Experienced marshals, Incident Officers and Specialist marshals, and it will be partly inside and partly out. Enclosed should be an Application Form and a flow diagram to help you choose the appropriate training sessions. Please note that if you want to upgrade to the grade of Experienced marshal, you need two training signatures. If you are looking for your first annual training signature then you should attend 5U on the Sunday; for your second annual signature then you can choose either 2U on Saturday (flag training only) or you can attend 5U again. 2U is designed for marshals who have completed several flagging sessions already and is NOT suitable for those starting their Experienced marshal upgrade. Please see the accompanying flow diagram session chooser to help you decide which training session is best for you, please check the training section of your PRC to see which modules are required to decide which modules would be most suitable. Due to new environmental protection guidance from the MSA, live fire training will be limited to those marshals who require this signature for upgrade this year, or who have not done live fire training in the last 2 years. If you are new to marshalling, or have only completed 1 or 2 race meetings, then you should attend the Trainee marshal sessions (tick box 7U). You must be aged 16 or over to complete this training; if you are under 18 your parent / guardian MUST complete an Indemnity Form on your behalf BEFORE the event - if you fill out your date of birth on the Application Form I will send you a blank Indemnity Form in advance of the training. If you are aged 14 or 15, I am afraid that you cannot take part in the Trainee Marshal training but instead you can attend the Cadet Marshal training (tick box 8U). This will include aspects of the Trainee Marshal training as well as some Specialist training, but we cannot let you conduct any live fire training. Again, see the comments above concerning Indemnity Forms. Please apply for the training by Monday 27 February You can apply in several ways; firstly, if you wish to apply electronically, you can just me all the relevant details (name, first line of address and post code, address, which training session you want and any lunch requirements). Alternatively, I can send you a blank form for you to complete and return. This year you can just text me the same details; if you apply by or text I will send you a reply to confirm your application. A postal application is also fine, though I cannot send a confirmation reply. Final Instructions will be sent out about 8-10 days prior to the event. If you have volunteered by text or , or you have completed the address box on the application form LEGIBLY, I will send these out electronically (to save postage charges); otherwise I will post them. MSV (the owners of Oulton Park) will be selling hot food over the weekend in the Chequers restaurant at lunch time; this will be at your own cost. They have asked if I can provide an idea of how many marshals will be buying food at lunch-time, so please indicate this on the Volunteering Form. Alternatively, you are welcome to bring your own packed lunches, and you will be able to use some of the rooms in the Fogarty Moss Centre to eat your lunch. Hot drinks should also be available all day in the Centre or in the Chequers restaurant. Please bear in mind that March can still bring particularly inclement weather, so for all those volunteering for Sunday I advise you to bring warm, waterproof outdoor clothing. If you have any questions or problems, please contact me by (preferably) or by post. Finally, may I wish you all a prosperous New Year, and I look forward to meeting and welcoming you all on the 11th and 12th. Yours sincerely, Bill BILL GRAY TRAINING CO-ORDINATOR, NW REGION 2 OAKFORD CLOSE, BANKS, SOUTHPORT, PR9 8BP NW.Training@marshals.co.uk Phone:

10 EASTHAM CENTRE PARENT/CARERS ASSOCIATION Dear Mr Mike Cadwallader, On Behalf of Eastham Parent & Carers Association I would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to the BMMC for your generosity and consideration in choosing our Charity as the beneficiary of your recent social evening. We too are all volunteers so were especially grateful to be nominated by your organisation. The students at Eastham centre have a broad range of physical and learning disabilities, we worh hard to provide stimulating oppurtunities for all and your cheque for 350 really will make a difference. Please can you extend our Associations gratitude to your members and assure all that your donation is hugely appreciated. Sincere regards, A. Harrison, Treasurer. A Letter from Magdalen Scott Following the recent award of Life Membership, the following letter has been received from Magdalen Scott: Dear Mike, I would like to thank you and your committee for presenting me with Life Membership of the British Motorsports Marshals Club. It is a great honour and one I am proud to accept. My work at Oulton Park has given me great pleasure. I have enjoyed working with you all and especially Tom. It has helped me through some difficult times. With gratitude, Magdalen. We are very proud to announce 3 new partnerships for 2017, we are really looking forward to working with them all over the next three years, REIS Motorsport Insurance, Autosport and Polyflor. (Above) Nadine Lewis and Kate Neal showing off our new sponsors logo and flag at the Autosport Show. 10

11 FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN MARCH 2017 OULTON PARK TRAINING WEEKEND RACE MEETINGS Mar 18 BARC NW Oulton Park Mar 25 BRSCC NW Oulton Park Apr MC Oulton Park Apr 15 MSVR - GT/F3 Oulton Park Apr 17 MSVR - GT/F3 Oulton Park Apr 22 BARC NW Anglesey Apr 23 BARC NW Anglesey May 06 BRSCC NW Oulton Park May 13 MSVR/Aston Martin Oulton HILLCLIMB MEETINGS Mar 25 Hagley&DMC Loton Park Mar 26 Hagley&DMC Loton Park Apr 15 Hagley&DMC Loton Park Apr 16 Hagley&DMC Loton Park May 14 MGCC NW Scammonden May 20 Hagley&DMC Loton Park May 21 Hagley&DMC Loton Park SPRINT MEETINGS Apr 01 Longton&DMC Anglesey Apr 02 Longton&DMC Anglesey Apr 22 Liverpool MC Aintree Apr 29 MGCC NW Anglesey Apr 30 MGCC NW Anglesey May 21 Liverpool MC Three Sisters NW REGION COMMITTEE MEETINGS 7 th March th April 2017 BMMC NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETINGS 5 th March 2017 Description DON T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OTHERWISE YOU MAY MISS OUT ON YOUR GOODY BOX!! REGALIA PRICE LIST New Overalls are only available from AWS RACEWEAR - Tel: quoting BMMC membership number For all other enquiries contact the Regional Regalia Officer, Adam Levitt at Oulton Park or Anglesey circuits. or: The National Regalia Officer - Eric Ridler Nat.Regalia@marshals.co.uk NEWSLETTERS Next Copy Date - 6 th March 2017 Publishing Date - 13 th March 2017 IT SO EASY,JUST GO TO THE BMMC WEBSITE AND FOLLOW THE ONLINE LINK TO PAY BY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD. Price BMMC CLOTH BADGES, LAPEL BADGES & STICKERS 2.00 UNION FLAG CLOTH BADGE c/w WEBSITE 2.00 BMMC GRADING BADGES 1.00 HEROES CLOTH BADGES, LAPEL BADGES & STICKERS 2.00 LEATHER WELDERS GLOVES 4.00 WOOLLEN SKI HATS - BLACK or ORANGE 4.50 BASEBALL CAPS - BLACK or ORANGE 7.00 OUTBACK SUN HATS SP PROBAN OVERALLS- SMALL (Ideal for Cadet Marshals) Poloshirts and Mugs also Heroes T-Shirts and mugs, Sweatshirts and Fleece Jackets are available by mail order. Catalogue and Order forms can be downloaded from the club website or from Eric Ridler, BMMC NRO 11

12 Committee Members Information Chairman Mike Cadwallader Apt.20 Tower Building 22 Water Street LIVERPOOL; L3 1BH Tel: NW.Chair(at)marshals.co.uk Vice Chairman Peter Preston-Hough 51 Hodge Lane HARTFORD CW8 3AG Tel: NW.Vicechair(at)marshals.co.uk Volunteering Coordinator Dave Cleaveley 13 Rowley Way KNUTSFORD WA16 9AU Mobile: NW.Volco(at)marshals.co.uk Recruitment Officer Rob Wood 80 Geneva Way Biddulph; Staffs ST8 7FE Mobile: NW.Recruiting(at)marshals.co.uk Committee Member Mike Broadbent 184 Crewe Road Haslington CREWE; CW1 5RT Tel: Secretary Gordon Knight 1 Brackley Road MONTON M30 9LG Tel: NW.secretary(at)marshls.co.uk Grading Officer Rob Mugurian 15 Nesfield Drive SANDBACH CW11 4NT Tel: NW.Grading(at)marshals.co.uk Social Media Officer Rob Lee 1a Tarnside ORRELL, Wigan WN5 8RN Mobile: NW.Media(at)marshals.co.uk Marshal Liaison Mark Noble 11 Bransdale Close Great Sankey, WARRINGTON WA5 3FW Mobile: NW.Liaison(at)marshals.co.uk Regalia Officer Adam Levitt 25 White Moss Road Skelmersdale WN8 8BL Mobile: NW.Regalia(at)marshals.co.uk Treasurer & Newsletter Editor Eric Ridler 41 Norwood Drive TIMPERLEY WA15 7LD Tel: NW.News(at)marshals.co.uk Membership Secretary Darren Gallagher 46 The Triangle TIMPERLEY WA15 6DP Tel: NW.Members(at)marshals.co.uk Training Coordinator Bill Gray 2 Oakford Close BANKS PR9 8BP Tel: NW.Training(at)marshals.co.uk Speed Representative Bill Gray 2 Oakford Close BANKS PR9 8BP Tel: NW.Speed(at)marshals.co.uk Rally Representative Ian Briggs 12 Kilburn Close HEALD GREEN SK8 3LP Tel: north(at)brmc.org.uk National Chairman Nadine Lewis Catalina. 2 The Nursery Beach Road HARTFORD; CW8 4UH Bmmc.Chair(at)marshals.co.uk National Membership Secretary Dave Reed The Berries, 26 Little London SILVERSTONE NN12 8UP Nat.Members(at)marshals.co.uk National Officers Information National Secretary Steve Woolfe 88 Scholes Lane PRESTWICH M25 0AU Nat.Secretary(at)marshals.co.uk National Grading Officer Steve Malec 14 Osborn Close Ipplepen TQ12 5XB Nat.Grading(at)marshals.co.uk National Treasurer Colin Barnes 24 Tewkesbury Close Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1QJ Nat.Treasurer(at)marshals.co.uk National P.R.O. Paul Sutcliffe 7 Fourth Ave LIMESIDE OL8 3RU Nat.Pro(at)marshals.co.uk The contents included in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the BMMC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the British Motorsports Marshals Club. Enquiries concerning reproduction should be sent to the Newsletter Editor at the address above.