Thanks to everyone that has registered to help at Woodbridge on Sunday. Marshal instructions have been emailed now, if you have registered but haven't received them, please drop me an email on

Also, if you haven't given me your vehicle details do it ASAP.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Luis Diaz
TRS Ltd Woodbridge Targa Chief Marshal

OK, here I go...

First, the figures:
- a total of 149 emails are recorded on the 'targamarshal' account, that includes messages in and out, purely used for marshals registration and sending info out
- a total of 144 emails on my personal email to communicate with organising team (JC, DT, TM, PD and DJ)

That makes almost 300 emails on the run to the event!

At the beginning of the year John Conboy told me he would be CofC for the March Targa... hmm I better find a navigator then, I thought. He then went on to tell me that he was looking for a Chief Marshal to join the team; having had a sick Mini during the Christmas period I was feeling very vulnerable and he managed to convince me to take the job.

It's basically a 'sending emails out' job they said. Since I spend most of my spare time during the week in front of the computer reading forums and watching YouTube videos I thought I could do it.

I must admit the response from marshals was great from the beginning. I guess this is all down to the fantastic events put on by previous organisers, if the marshals feel welcome and valued they will come back for more.

As per the figures above there were endless sequences of emails with John, Dave, Paul and Tony to confirm that everything was going in the right direction. I can't imagine how many hours Dave Thompson must have spent dealing with paperwork. Diagrams, road books, Motorsport UK... I'm sure John will agree with me on this, he is the real man behind the event.

So with the date getting closer I started feeling more nervous, even more when I saw how quick the entry list filled in and the quality of it... What if I fail to deliver and let everyone down?!?

Marshal numbers were looking good and even last week some more registered so confidence built up. Instructions sent and against the clock to collect marshal's vehicle details...

We made it to the hotel at around 4ish on Saturday, met with JC on his way back from setting up and got the marshal's pack from him. Time for a walk around the Ipswich Marina (beautiful!) and back to the hotel early. A well deserved pint of amber nectar and Valentina was introduced to the Nicholls and the Endeans. A quick chat with Barney, top man, and Lee and Ben. Had a OK dinner and another couple of drinks, an even quicker chat with Andy and went up to the room... that's what you get when you're looking after a 9 month old creature!

Slept well but didn't feel it was long. At 6.15 I was leaving the hotel Woodbridge bound. It was then when I really started panicking. Met with Lucy Fryer, more about her later, and went on to the caravan. First marshals arriving and sent to their positions, they seemed happy with their meal vouchers and smiles all around. A couple of last minute changes but was happy that almost everyone had turned up...

Remember what I said about changing the clocks? There's always one! I got a phone call from Paul Richards at 8.53 saying he was at the gate... I know there's a 20mph limit but drove the Mini quickly to the gate and, after getting his sign on sheet, took him to position on Test 3. My job (at least for the morning) was done, I felt good when Paul Dumbill came back from Opening duties and told me everything look good.

Time to relax and spend some time with Sofia and the little one. I watch a bit of Test 3 with them from the gate back to the paddock area and, must admit, felt a bit jealous. There's something special about seeing road cars being thrown around corners legally. Everyone coming back from the tests was doing it with huge smiles... all looking good, I thought.

It was then my turn to get in the Mini and drive around collecting check sheets. The tests were brilliant, they felt so quick and rather smooth. No pressure for a result or the possibility of wrong tests... oh god, I enjoyed that! I was very pleased to see and hear Lucy giggling all the way. Marshals were enjoying it and was quite surprised to see so many wrong tests, hit cones and wrong directions! I thought the tests felt very quick and I enquired about top competitors beating bogey times. In the morning Owen was 20 secs behind the bogey, fantastic I thought...

We were a bit short in numbers for the afternoon tests so I am very grateful to those that volunteered, or got pushed into, covering some points. After some moments of panic, Paul came back of his round saying everything looked good. That was, basically, the last thing I had to do other than driving around again. All over now!

I felt a bit down when the top crews started arriving from the first loop of afternoon tests. Beating bogey times is not what you want from an organiser's point of view. Most competitors were still coming back from their tests with big smiles but I wasn't sure on how the top ones, the ones beating bogie times, were feeling. Not everyone hanging around for the awards made me think the worst...

By now it has taken me almost over two hours to write this, two glasses of wine and dinner is ready so I better cut it shortly.

It was a great experience being part of the organising team. Big thanks to the rest of the team, the greatest one to Dave Thompson for everything he has done, he is the real unsung hero. John for his support and believing in me, Paul for all his work also behind the curtains, Tony M and Tony B. and the other test commanders for your patience and understanding, to all the marshals, loads and cheerful, and as mentioned by Lee very very observant!!

The biggest personal THANKS go to Lucy Fryer. An excellent and very able person. Without any experience at chief marshal she dealt with all the small issues that arose during the day, navigated me brilliantly and made me smile with her very pleasant personality. The best thing is that, despite my company, she even enjoyed herself! Note for CMC, keep her on board and look after her as she may become a fantastic Chief Marshal for future events.

Thanks to all of you for making yesterday the best day so far in my short Motor Sport life.

Luis -TRS Ltd Woodbridge Targa Chief Marshal-