should there be kids as turn marshals

[hpiracer]

whats your opinion do you think kids could be turn marshalls I'm talkin 10-12 yr olds

i think as long as they get my car on the track in the right direction i couldnt care less

 

[Rolex]

At around 12 they should be responsible enough to make the right decisions and stay clear of traffic. Any younger than that, they're just moving targets.

 

[Network]

At around 12 they should be responsible enough to make the right decisions and stay clear of traffic. Any younger than that, they're just moving targets.

I agree. Especially when marshalling an 1/8th scale buggy race :redbuggy:

Travis

 

[Team 17]

If they can do the job quickly and know what to do, they should be no problem

 

[hpiracer]

they're just moving targets.

I'm never marshaling a race with you in it :jk: :bling:

 

[Tarant]

From what I have seen kids are more then capable of being a marshals as long as they are shown what to do. I have seen people get really mad at kid marshals cause they did somthing wrong yet no one told them or shown then what to do.

 

[rocknbil]

Kids are how we start in this hobby and hope to remain, if anyone's got any complaints about how poorly they're doing as marshalls they should take it upon themselves to teach them do's and don'ts instead of hollering at them. 'S IMHO and I'm stickin' to it.

 

[beason]

i think as long as they have the mental capablility to pick up the car and set it down on the track facing the correct way.. then it should be ok.. may have to make the parents sign a waver or something if some of you guys are racing though.. each should be viewed as a seperate case.. I've seen 20+ year old adults that couldnt get it right.. i dont think it should be based on age.. more on 1.mental capability, 2.general r/c knowledge (so they dont do something stupid like grad the head to flip it..), 3.reation time, 4.matrix rating (ability to dodge fast objects flying at them) and last but not least, 5.toughness.. (dont want the track whimp getting punked by a 1/8th scale buggy doing 55mph.. )

 

[Rolex]

I'm never marshaling a race with you in it :jk: :bling:

Why not? You get a 2 second advantage in your ET for every one you knock to the ground. That's what pumps up the fans and draws the crowd.

 

[vbgagnon]

I dont' care who you are if you get whacked by a 50 mph buggy thats going to hurt like a bitch, there is being a wimp and then there is being stupid. You would consider me a wimp, because if I had the choice between getting whacked and leaving the car there for afew more seconds....the car would stay there!

 

[beason]

i could just see the marshals decked out in full catchers gear..lol I'm not saying your a wimp vbgagnon but you know what i mean.. some kids cry over anything..

 

[Tarant]

Well if they are being stupid and get them selfs hurt that is their problem. You learn from your mistakes or the mistake of the kid next to you who is now on his way to the ER cause well lets just say that 55 mph buggies and feet dont mix.

And not to be mean but if I saw a marshal dressed in catchers gear I would want to see if it protects them lol

 

[Rolex]

Several months ago I got hit in the foot by a runaway buggy running flat out. Part of my foot still hurts, and part of it is still numb.
Although R/C cars are a lot safer than planes or helis, they can still do some serious damage. When kids are around, and think it's fun to chase them, or kick at them, all the cars get turned off till their parents are handed a car to feel how heavy they are, and get the message to keep the kids clear.

 

[beason]

hence the "matrix rating" if it dont hit you it dont hurt as bad..

 

[jetmechG550]

The only thing that bothers me with kids marshalling at the track is the ones that dance around in the middle of the track and can't sit still. I find it distracting. There's a couple kids I'd like to give a downer and tell them they are M&M's.

 

[JESSE G]

I've seen kids do it at my lhs and they did a good job, but the cars dont get going real fast its a portable track they set up in the parking lot and they dont have a huge area to cover. I think that might be something to consider how fast will the cars be running on the track and how many cars at a time Imo.

 

[RustlerDood]

This exact topic just came up at a local track where 1/8 buggies dominate the track....bottom line it is up to the parents to let the kid know exactly what they are getting into to. If a kid can drive a buggy in a race and can't TM then the parent needs to step up and sub. TM for the kid.

If the child knows what it takes to properly turn over a 1/8 buggy and can abide by the rules then everything is cool....if the kids think it is fun to TM then someone needs to let them know that TM is a serious job.

I got hit in the foot last week by a 1/8 buggy and my foot still hurts and the guy I was flipping over was going WOT...when on your lid you can blip the throttle but hit the brake when I flip your car over....read the ROAR rules!!!

 

[CorradoPsi]

at the tracks i go to, anyone who races also marshals unless someone subs for them. this includes the 7-8 year olds running novice electric. however those kids NEVER marshall the monster trucks or the buggies. they marshall say the stock or mod truck guys. something similar to what they race. that way they are familiar with the vehicle they are marshalling. if a 10yr old races buggy, he should know how to marshall buggy too. if not one of his parents better be out there helping him or doing it for him.

 

[low10s]

i agree. i race 1/8 and my son (10) races 1/10. he likes to do it. also most of the time you are wrenchng on your ride and it is nice to be able to do that and have someone marshall for ya, but not always. i dont know if it is like this at all tracks, but if a car is on its lid the CM will not turn it over untill the wheels are stopped for safety. it works well, you keep it running until the cm gets there then hit the brakes for him to turn it over. but you have to teach them the do's and don'ts of cm. we need all the help we can get in this area.

 

[Monster Flip]

I think if a 10-12yo knows enough to race, most likely he/she should know enough about being a TM...then again, last summer, this kid pickedup my truck grabbing my savage on both sides...did he know the pipe is located on the side of the truck? i don't know ab that, but he seemed to have hurt his fingers/hand and dropped my truck (upside down). I think no matter what age, TM's should be briefed about proper marshalling.