There seems to be a lot of differing opinions here and people getting slightly aggregated, perhaps everyone should just take a deep breath before we need to have Piers Morgan to host a live debate on CNN...
Its model car racing, not shark wrestling. Anything you do in life could be described as 'dangerous' by an outsider. Acceptable risk is something we are all aware of, however its naturally set at a different level from person to person.
If you don't want to run the risk of getting a broken / fractured / bruised ankle from being hit by a car while marshaling, then wear boots. If your not happy with the marshaling position near a jump (or indeed anywhere) then speak to race control, or just move to a safer position.
Pay attention when your marshaling and don't put yourself in harms way. Be responsible for your own safety first, then the safety of others. I was marshaling near the main jump a before xmas and felt some cars were a bit close to my head and chest for comfort, so I moved further down towards the landing, this was where cars usually require assistance anyway. To my knowledge nobody complained, and it didn't affect anyone's race.
Whether your running a boosted 10.5 or a 6.5 the car will still be traveling at the same approximate speed, and it still weighs the same.
When you get hit by a car it hurts, but its naive to think that a car hitting one person will cause the same damage as if it hit someone else. For example, my brother stacked a motorcycle on a trackday at Cadwell Park and walked away perfectly alright, someone else crashed in the same place at the same speed in a later session and went to hospital in an ambulance.
Accidents will sometimes happen, the best way to limit the chances of them happening one is being aware that actions usually have consequences, and having an awareness of whats going on around you. Yes there is always a chance you will get hit by a car someday, if that falls outside of your own personal level of acceptable risk, then don't race toy cars.
The thread drift onto safety seems to have come about due to what was a freak accident last week, and all parties involved know this. I think the guys who build the track do a great job, and they have already stated they have taken on board the comments regarding the jump position and will look at it when building the track next week.
Whether the issue of the mod class cars outright speed being appropriate for the size of the track is something for people much more experienced than me to discuss, I am just a newbie who struggles with a 17.5
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