Originally Posted by CraigMBA

I reread your post. You never mentioned getting hit while standing off course, so I apologize for assuming something that didn't happen.

I got taken off my feet at the Encino Velodrome about ten years ago while I was running from turn two to help another car in the backstretch infield. While I was running down there, somebody else got it wrong and got me (I had my back turned). That was the last time I ever ran with traffic to help somebody, and the last time I turned my back on on coming cars. Ever.

I got yelled at on Friday for not turn marshaling somebody because they crashed in no mans land (a double with a fence on one side and another double in the opposing lane) when it wasn't safe to get the crashed car, and when I went out to marshal for the mains, I got yelled at by the same driver for attempting to stand in the infield at the start to better cover that spot because "they can't see" and later I got yelled at by the same driver because somebody crashed in my corner, and the only safe place to head to was the other straight because at least four trucks were headed down the main straight, and again, they "Couldn't see". When I went over to talk about it after the race (he won) the situation didn't get any better (I heard him call me an idiot by name). He's not new, and neither am I. And if somebody local to me wants to know who the jerk is, send me a PM or call me.

I guess I'm still a little sore about it, but I'm not putting myself in harms way for somebody's race car, toy or otherwise. Nor do I expect another turn marshal to do it. And nothing frosts me anymore than hitting a marshal while I'm on track because they aren't paying attention.

Turn marshal safety is something I absolutely take seriously.