The TT marshals’ association is urging as many marshals as possible to sign up on-line this year so they can save the the cost of posting out the forms.

But anyone thinking about it should act without delay – ideally before March 26 – because after that time forms will be posted out.

‘They can still do it after that time online but then the forms will have been sent anyway,’ said sector five marshal Robert Crane, who has worked long hours with former travelling marshal Keith Trubshaw to get the new system set up.

‘We’ve been working on it since last October and it’s working well. So far we have about 300 signed up which is better than this time last year,’ he said.

Nonetheless, he added it would be unwise to be complacent and assume the minimum manning level of just over 500 would be met easily.

‘It’s misleading to say we are nearly there at 300 because a number of those people may only be doing one or two days. To be confident we need well over that 500 figure signed up. I think last year the total over the fortnight was something around 1,700,’ he said.

The new system has already been trialled by the sector marshals and went live about two weeks ago. It can be accessed by logging on to the TT marshals’ web site at iomttma.com and following the relevant links.

‘Even if people who have marshalled before are not intending to marshal for the TT this year we would still like them to log on and use the link to tell us, then we can save costs and avoid posting a form to them,’ he said.

For those marshalling on the mountain a convoy system will again operate, starting in opposite directions from both Ramsey and the Creg - ny- Baa to get people in place when the road closes.

At the end of racing or practising to get marshals home quicker two convoys will operate - one starting in Ramsey and the other from the Bungalow, both heading towards Douglas after the last travelling marshal has passed.

The last of the marshals’ social events is at 7pm on March 27 at the Tynwald Inn, St John’s. Anyone wanting to go should call the marshals’ office before hand so catering requirements can be assessed.

In the build up to this year’s TT the marshals’ recruitment caravan will be in place around the island out side Tesco and, on April 20, at the Sure shop in Strand Street, Douglas.



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