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Flagging and Communications


What's it all about?

Have you ever watched racing on TV, or been to a road race (like the Detroit Grand Prix, for example)? Have you seen those people in white standing at the corner stations, wielding flags and fire bottles, or running to cars that have been involved in an incident? Well, that's what F&C turn marshals do. We use communications equipment (land lines or radios) to speak to the control tower, and we use flags and hand signals to communicate with the drivers and with each other. Our primary job is to maintain a clear racing course for the competitors in a race. We also have the best "seats" in the house to watch a race from, and being a marshal is very exciting and rewarding. You get to meet some pretty terrific people, too. 

The School

The school consists of a Saturday morning classroom session, where we teach you the basics of flagging and communications. At Waterford Hills, we flag according to SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) flag rules. All students are provided with a SCCA flag manual for further study. The classroom session covers such things as:
  • The flags 
  • Basic communications 
  • Safety (of primary concern) 
  • Equipment (what you need, what to wear, what to bring) 


After the morning session, students will be taken on a tour of the paddock and introduced to the various car classes and vehicle types. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent working with our experienced marshals on a turn station, putting into practice everything they learned during the morning. Students are encouraged to return on Sunday, where they will once again work with our experienced marshals on a turn station. Debriefing will take place each evening with the instructors, to answer questions and share experiences.


Sounds great! How do I sign up?

Simple! Contact Lynn Bertin, WHRRI F&C Chief, to sign up for the school. If you are between 16 and 18 years of age, you will need to note this in your email. (Minors require a notarized minor consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian in order to participate. We can help with arrangements for a notary, and provide you with the forms.) A confirmation email will be sent to you, along with updates when necessary.

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