A couple of weeks back I posted some photos from
Scotland's first ever Rally Clerk of the Course Training Day, well, here's some
more. In 1984 the Scottish Rally Championship together with the Scottish
Motorsport Marshals Club organised a Marshal's Training Day at Blair Castle in
Perthshire.
This was more than just a training seminar. It was an actual hands-on
practical session where a proper forest stage was set up in the woods behind
the castle with an Arrival Control, Stage Start, Flying Finish, Stop and Passage
Control - and speeding rally cars.
All the marshals and would-be marshals were guided and shown through the
process of setting up a stage, including the need for accurate siting of arrows
and stage signage as well as using timing clocks and becoming familiar with the
rally crew paperwork.

They even got fed, thanks to a donation from Golden Wonder with a supply
of Pot Noodle/Rice and crisps. Some financial support also came from the government's
'Sport for All' campaign at the time.
This event was another first for Scottish rallying and when the Motor
Sports Association posed the question: "Why are you doing this?"
Back came the response: "Because YOU are not!"
Back then the MSA seemed to regard themselves as purely the law makers
and regulators. Little thought was given to the publicity and promotion of amateur
sport whilst training appeared to be left primarily to those race circuit based
marshalling organisations and the growing 'professionalism' of rally clubs.
It was a time when the amateur clubs were taking the lead and taking
responsibility because leadership from above was distinctly lacking. It seemed
that the emphasis there was all to do with control and governance.
Hopefully with a new structure and new leadership in place at the revamped
Motorsport UK, things can and will progress in a more positive and democratic
manner. I said hopefully.

Perhaps the most worrying thing is just how many of those hopeful, optimistic
young things are still doing today what they did back then, only slower, with
more creaks and groans, aches and pains, and topped off with grey beards and
even greyer hair.
How many can you spot?
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