I was the first marshal at the shakedown/special rides, taking your tickets. These are the tickets that many people didn't know about. This translates into me, on DIRECT order from the organiser, turning people away from the stage unless they have that coveted ticket. I do not know how the ticket sales were managed at the HQ, nor was that my job or responsibility. I personally think the supp regs were not 100% in this regard, they just say 'pay $10/run.' (paraphrasing)
Since I'm not a performance rally driver guy, I usually try to keep my trap shut on this performance rally board, however I am a part of the sport, and I want to remind drivers of a few things, then I'll go away:
a) I took a day off work so you can go play. Don't give me sh*t at the stage start. Some drivers were really good about it, others were less than good. I totally understand the frustration with the shakedown ticket situation. I'm just a guy wearing an ugly (and smelly) vest that says "Marshal" on it. OK?
b) Don't ever take a passenger out in your rally car during an event without knowing that your passenger has signed a waiver. Luckily I had a waiver, and wristbands with me and we solved that little issue on the spot. Think about the liability you open yourself and the organisation up to in case of a 'serious problem' out on the road. Perhaps this part could have been managed better at HQ, too.
c) Don't do doughnuts on gravel near parked cars (shakedown, again). Would you like rocks thrown onto your parked car because you were helping at a rally, on your day off? Save the driving displays for the stages. Courtesy and respect please.
d) Try thanking the marshals once in while. A few drivers look at you like your some sort of worm (I never see those drivers volunteering at rally events, btw). Of course, most are really nice.
Besides all that 'stuff' I saw some fantastic driving out there. Thanks a bunch. That's why I go.
Craig
Shakedown/A1/A7/B2/B4//radio