A RACING MIND
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STEPHANIE WALLCRAFT CONTRIBUTOR | TRQ
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ithout marshals, there is no But racing resumed the next day. motorsport. Why? Because the rest of the British Automobile Racing Club’s Plenty of things in this world can volunteer marshals on duty that be automated and replaced, but weekend returned trackside so that in the high-stakes world of raceit could happen. track safety, a human presence will always be required. As of this writing, we still don’t Marshals carry many roles on their even know the late marshal’s shoulders: observers, communi- name. But we know the names of cators, referees, first responders. some of the others who were lost Every single situation they’re faced in similar circumstances. Three with is unique in some way, and especially high-profile incidents in they call on years or even decades Canadian racing history come to of experience to respond fearlessly mind. Without rehashing the tragic while making split-second deci- events, we can remember them by sions that keep those around them their names: Gary Avrin of Calgary (Molson Indy Toronto, 1996); Jeansafe and regularly save lives. Patrick Hein of Montreal (Molson What’s more, they do it with little Indy Vancouver, 1990); Mark expectation of reward. Racing driv- Robinson of Montreal (Canadian ers carry the highest risk in the sport, Grand Prix, 2013). to be sure, but they do what they do for glory, adrenaline, competitive Every marshal who signs up for desire, and if they’re lucky, perhaps the job knows the risks involved. an athlete’s salary. Members of pit And every one does it anyway out crews do what they do to hone their of sheer passion for the sport and engineering expertise, to play a key knowledge that the show couldn’t role in a team environment, and if go on without them. they’re lucky, to call their passion for automotive performance a full- They also quickly find themselves part of a tight-knit community of or part-time job. like-minded racing enthusiasts, Marshals are the next closest who spend many of their summer participants to the on-track action. weekends together keeping the They’re almost always volunteers, racing going by day and enjoyand they do what they do to keep ing camaraderie and fireside chats the sport they love alive, gain lowerin the evenings. It becomes their cost access to races, and if they’re version of camping and cottaglucky, get handed free sandwiches ing, except instead of the sound of and apples each day for lunch. paddles slicing through lakes, their And yet, we’re sometimes reminded days are filled with the cacophony that the sacrifices made by marshals of high-revving engines. can be just as great as for racing’s other participants. The most recent Next time you’re trackside, be reminder, as this story is published, sure to thank your marshals, and took place during a classics event at perhaps consider offering them Brands Hatch circuit in the United something more in gratitude. It’s Kingdom in late July. Two cars thanks to them that the rest of us collided on the start-finish straight, can go to the races at all, and they and one of them became airborne ask for very little in return. But they and struck a marshal’s post, claim- sure as heck deserve a lot more ing the life of a volunteer marshal. than a couple of soggy sandwiches.
