President's Note
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Welcome to the Victorian Flagmarshalling Team (VFT) web site, and home to a dedicated bunch of volunteer motor racing officials, better know as the “flaggies”. The VFT was formed in 1985 by a few officials who saw a need to provide a specialized team of flagmarshals to work at racetracks in Victoria. Today the club boasts over 130 trained and licensed flagmarshals, the team has earned and gained respect from motor sport promoters and other officiating clubs from around the world, our members are often invited to officiate at Australia’s biggest motor race meetings including Mount Panorama, The Gold Coast, and The Australian GP, we are also seen regularly at Winton, Calder Park, Sandown and Phillip Island flagging at club, professional, or historic race meetings. |
The main role of flagmarshalls at a motor racing event is to provide information to the drivers of race vehicles about the condition of the race track, and to pass commands to them from race control. This information includes, “danger ahead”, “oil spill” or “slippery surface”, “watch your mirrors, you are being passed”, and “your car has a problem, return to pit lane”, as well as many other items critical to driver safety and fair conduct of a race meeting.
Flags are still used to pass this information to drivers, despite them being rather old technology. They are a simple, reliable, and cheap method of communicating to drivers rushing past at high speed. The flags by themselves of course, are not enough, and a well trained team of flagmarshalls with significant motor racing experience is required to manage the information flow to the competitors. You’d be surprised how much information drivers can get just from how vigorously you wave your arms.
But is waving coloured bits of cloth all we do? No, far from it. Like most officials in motor racing, flaggies are expected to be multi talented. You will see them track side, pushing stranded cars to safe positions, putting out fires in unfortunate race cars, talking on radios to race control, and sweeping the race track to make it safe.
Its not always fun being trackside. Flaggies can expect to work long hours, work in the heat, the cold, the rain, and the wind, but the rewards are usually worth it. From a swarm of Formula VEE’s fighting for the lead, to the noise and grunt of the Marque Sports muscle cars, to that high pitched scream of the Formula Ones, the flaggies and other trackside officials are out there enjoying themselves, watching some very good racing.
Next time you are spectating at your favourite V8 Supercar meeting, or even a local car club meeting, take a look over the other side of the fence. Have a chat to the officials if you are close enough. Not only are they dedicated motor sport fans like you, but they have the best seat in the house, only metres from the action, and are often part of it.
So, if you would like to be part of the action instead of just watching, contact the VFT. We’ll welcome you as part of our friendly team, and have you out there flagging, and enjoying your motor sport even more!
Terry O'Callaghan
VFT President
