Hello rally fans :)!
Rally has been a huge part of my life (ever since I first watched it as a small kiddo). Also when I volunteered at WRC Croatia Rally in 2022, that was only the beginning. That experience sparked my passion for rally, and soon after, I joined a car club to get more involved. Over time, I realized that I wanted to take on more responsibilities at rallies, so recently I decided to take the rally marshal test for a national rank official’s license!!
Before qualifying for the test, I had to meet certain requirements. In my country, you need a club level license first, which only allows you to attend local rallies. You must hold that license for less than three years and participate in at least eight events before moving up :). After meeting these criteria, I was finally eligible to take the national test which happened today!!
I’ve gained a lot of experience from previous events, but I knew that just that wouldn’t be enough to pass. Rally regulations change over time, and answering questions based on memory alone wasn’t an option. The test required up to date knowledge of the most recent rulebook, so I had to study carefully. Even @ssekulji gave his best to help me out 😆 (thank you Šeki❤️).
The test itself was tricky, with detailed and kind of weirdly worded situational questions. For example:
Marshal Signalman (Flag Waver):
• During a marshal intervention, they must signal drivers with flags but do not participate in clearing the incident site. They only signal messages as instructed by the Marshal Post Leader or, through them, the Race Director.
This might seem straightforward, but the wording of the answer choices made it easy to misinterpret. Some options suggested the marshal could decide what to signal, which is incorrect communication must always follow the official chain of command.
Another example involved being stationed at a Radio Point (RP9) on a special stage and witnessing a competitor hit a traffic sign and drive off. The correct course of action was:
• Do not report it on the radio. After the stage, take photos of the damage, write a damage report, send it to the stage commander, and hand the report to the sweeper car.
Mistakes in judgment during a rally can have serious consequences, so the test really emphasized the importance of following proper procedures. Prior to the test online education course was held so we could understand it better and ask questions.
I took this test because I want more opportunities to attend rallies at a higher level and showcase my knowledge and skills. Although I already proved myself as a good and reliable marshal there’s still room for improvement.
Hah.. check what happened to me the FIRST TIME I was a radio point😭..
Yeah.. not cool😫. I was on the very end of the stage and there was a small jump that almost no one risked, except for them.. they landed on the mix of mud, avoiding the road sign and the car just spinned and went into the tree. I got such an adrenaline rush I can still remember my blood freezing , and shaking & being scared so bad but it wasn’t about me, it was about the crew(s)!!
Anyway..
I also applied for the time control test, which would allow me to officially work at crucial rally positions!! Checking in crews at the start and finish of stages and recording their times. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to see @ssekulji 🤣😆!
I hope I pass both tests because it would open up even more doors for me in the rally world! This journey has been challenging, but every step brings me closer to being a part of the sport I love in a more significant way.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Thank you for upvoting, reblogging & commenting. It is greatly appreciated :)❤️!
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