As the start of the 2020 circuit racing season is on the horizon we start to gather our marshalling equipment back together. Some of the forward thinkers will put it all in one place whilst others ask themselves “Where are my overalls?”, “did I really throw that box out last year?” and of course “what have I done with my gloves?”
Before you can get to this and dream of the season – there are a few things to check first.
Now as we have a few weeks before it all kicks off again – we have compiled a handy little checklist to make sure you’re ready to hit the ground running this year.
License – Let’s start from the top. If you marshal in a country where you need a license then now is as good a time as any to get it renewed.
Don’t let your overalls get to this state before you know you need a new set
Overalls – A pretty obvious one we agree but have you actually found them? And what condition are they in? Is that hole in the groin still there that you said you would sort at the end of last year? Are they going to rip as soon as they put them on? Or have you stuck with your New Year’s Resolution and your overalls are a bit baggy? It may be time to review the orange to see if it’s in working condition.
It’s going to be cold and wet out there – make sure your waterproofs do what they say.
Waterproofs – Same with the overalls… are they actually waterproof? Do you know where they are? And do they fit? It may be time to get some new ones that will keep you dry on a very British day.
Boots and Socks – It may be an obvious one again – but, sometimes our boots and socks need a little TLC. It may be worth getting some that keep your feet warm and socks that help stop your boots rubbing. It may also be worth checking to see if those boots support your ankles as you will be on your feet a lot.
Gloves – Remember at the end of last season when your gloves had a hole in and you said “I’ll sort that next season” well you’ve got to be quick because that time is almost upon us. I’d recommend a cheap set of kevlar gauntlets if you want a pair for now.
Bag/Box – You’re going to need a place to store all this and a bag or a box is always a good place to start. Normally you’ll get a good few seasons out of them but, you’ll need to dig it out to get it ready for the season opener.
If you’re jetting off to a different country for marshalling make sure you have your paperwork sorted.
Travel – Now the start of the circuit racing season in the UK may only start in a few weeks but, around the world, it has started or is in full flow. If you are wanting to go abroad and marshal this year you’ll need to get all your documents in check, don’t worry we’ll bring you a whole article on that.
Calendar – Before you scratch your head on this one – it’s always worth having a calendar to hand to check what you’ve got going on in the year – oh and if you’re looking at different race calendars it will help to stop some double booking.
Training Days – Last but not least it is always a good idea to get a training day completed before the start of the season. You may learn something new or even refresh your memory on something you may have forgotten.
Hopefully, this is a starter for ten for you to get back into the swing of things and get the new season going.
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