A Flag Marshal's Journey

Thursday, 21 April 2016

Shannons Nationals rd 1 2nd & 3rd April 2016

Bit late putting this one in always a good round with great categories. I was on 0.5 in front of Grand Stand main straight on Saturday and has part of my ongoing training Sunday I was walking around with one of our Chiefs and finished off at 0.1 for last couple of hours. A fairly uneventful w/end at the Flag Points I worked but some great racing with the following on track, Sports Racers, Porsche GT3, Kerrick Sport Sedans, Formula Fords, Formula 3, Touring Car Masters, Aust GT Trophy class and Kuhmo V8 Touring Cars. So a full day of racing from 9am till 5pm both days.

Has part of my Award from last year I was also presented with a Ride in Jim Richards Porsche Carrera Cup car which I will be doing in May so hope to get some photos and let you know how I go should be great fun.
Next round Phillip Island WD-40 V8 Supercars

goggomobil

Jim Richards Presenting us with award Geoff and Rebecca http://www.revvedphotography.com.au/

Post 0.5 thanks Revved Photography for the photo http://www.revvedphotography.com.au/

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Melbourne AGP 2016

Well another F1 event done and dusted once again with the same great Team I have been with for the last 4 years. What an interesting w/end we had with the weather playing games with us starting Thursday in mid 30s and Friday wet and cold Saturday cool day but mainly dry and race-day being Perfect.
Our Team was assigned Post 3.0 drivers Left on turn 3 great spot with cars coming down at speed from two and breaking heavy into turns 3 and 4. Thursday gave us Cars from all categories apart from the F1 cars which don't come out till Friday. GT3, V8 Supercars and Porsche we had many visit our Kitty Litter but no one getting stuck. Friday was a similar day but on a wet track so we had to get two cars pulled out of the kitty Litter.
Saturday proved to be a reasonably quiet day for us with V8s giving us some good battles but with all the action happening up between turns 1 and 2.
Our Team briefing Sunday our Sector Marshal said its been like a rubber band stretched to the max ready to let loose and it did. It started to break with the Porsche race when two cars made contact which sent one nearly into our flag point being on blue flag at the time I just called incoming and we all moved out of the way the driver was able to keep the car straight with only the mirror running along the wall before he spun round deep into the kitty litter he wasn't going anywhere after that. Wow that was a close one brushing off some dirt well and truly awake now. all other events were fairy smooth until the main F1 Race.
Once again I was on Blue flag when on lap 17 Alonso (Mclaren Honda 14) made a move to pass Gutierrez (Haas 21) on the inside when they touched this sent Alonso into the wall just before our post once again I called incoming and to Duck I knew this was going to be big not being able to see much but hearing heaps of crunching and crashing and all of us being covered in dirt carbon and whatever else but at least nothing big came through the fencing. Only after I stood up and we went double yellow and race control Quickly went Red flag did I realize that both cars had flown into the kitty litter. Great to see both Drivers get out safe and all our Team even though a bit dusty were all good a big clean up after delayed the race about 30 mins. This now one of the biggest Crashes that I have had being on a Post. Once again a Great w/end with fantastic people definitely a year that I wont forget.
Sandown Shannons Nationals Next Event for me 2nd & 3rd April until then stay safe have fun.

Looking into turns 3 & 4

Looking back to 2.5 & 2.0

Team at post 3.0

Stewards Cup Presented to our Team

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Winton VMRC RD 1 March 5 & 6 2016

Well second event of the year for me first one at Winton. Headed up after work Friday to the track to stay in the bunkhouse was going to be a hot w/end around 39 degrees both days. Settled in and enjoyed a light BBQ put on by Benalla Auto club Members.
Was assigned post 12.0 for the w/end by myself which is fine we often run one a point at Winton due to having a light system was going to be interesting to see how the cars go on a new track surface.
We had six categories PRB Clubman, Porsche 944, Combined Tin Tops, Excel Series, BMW E30 and Vic V8s.
Great field of Excels around 23 Porsche and BMW also well supported Good racing all w/end considering how hot it was the new surface gave way to faster laps and records broken Excels were the ones to watch kicking up the dirt or should I say Dust on the edge of the track so I got a good dust bath both days along with some of my fellow Marshals around the track.
Only a few reports from my post mainly light side to side contact through turns 11 & 12.
Nice dinner put on by Winton Saturday night a great w/end with a great Team and the icy pole Sunday with our drink run was a great cool down.
Next Event for me is F1 in Melbourne

Briefing

ICY POLE

Dinner Saturday

SAFETY CREWS

VIC V8S

POST 12.0

LIGHT SYSTEM

TURN 12

Friday, 12 February 2016

Bathurst 12hr 2016

IM BACK..............Well what a way to start the racing year with my favorite event the LIQUI-MOLY 12 hr at Bathurst.
Headed off early Wednesday morning for a nine hour drive, going straight to Credentials to pick up my kit on into the camp ground to set up a camp site for my friend Russ who was coming over from USA but not getting to the track until Thursday.
Camp set up a quick catch up with some of the members from FMOTW and VFT and head to Motel to unpack and get some supplies from town. Back to camp ground after to catch up with James who was over from Hawaii help set his tent up next to Russ camp site and Pizza and beer watching the sun go down.
Thursday went to track in the morning to walk it took just over an hour for 6.4 km spent the afternoon taking photos in pit lane and paddock before meeting up with the gang for tea which became our nightly trip each night after getting off track to hit the pubs and clubs for a good Meal thanks for making it a great w/end Russ,James,Julio and Christian who joined us Thursday night.

Friday and Saturday sign on 6am was assigned post 10.5 for the w/end top of the mountain fantastic, surprisingly we did not get any major incidents over the w/end but some really going fast wide, We had Radicals, Improved Production and Combined Sedans for support Categories, we had a Radical spin and hit the wall in front of us Friday and on Saturday another Radical spin and get stuck in kitty litter right in front of post stuck good and proper so driver joined us for awhile until end of race. Improved Production had 62 cars in the field Awesome.............
Sunday up at 3:30am for sign on at 4am track-side and ready for race start of 12hr at 5:45am and what a race not only did we break Qualifying time on Saturday but on Sunday broke race lap record and done 297 laps in total with the Mclaren winning Nissan Second and Bentley Third in front of a record crowd.
What can I say but bring on 2017 and be there and watch the best drivers in the world take on the Mighty Mount Panorama.