do your training hands-on at events, supported by the experience of your qualified colleagues and learning from them all the time.”
Perhaps most importantly, her experience as a competitor has given her an understanding of what drivers are going through. She explains:“ An instructor once told me:‘ just remember, we’ re here to facilitate them racing safely’ and that’ s always stuck with me. I will do everything I can to work out a way of getting someone out, as long as they’ re going to race safely.”
The role has taken her from club events to some of the biggest stages in motorsport. She has worked across truck racing, revivals, touring cars and at the British Grand Prix – where a highlight was scrutineering Lewis Hamilton’ s Mercedes when he won at Silverstone.
However, one of the greatest rewards is helping people who are experiencing motorsport for the first time. Earlier this year, she helped a young woman through her first sprint and later, the competitor returned with a grin to say:
‘ I’ m having so much fun, everyone’ s been brilliant.’
That sums up what volunteering can offer – and for those who fancy giving it a try, the message is simple: volunteering can open doors that a competition licence alone cannot.
Sue Jeffery’ s advice is to experiment.“ You can start off with marshalling, scrutineering, clerking, timekeeping,” she says.“ There are so many different volunteering roles you can easily get involved with, and there are then lots of qualifications you can do to move forward if you want to.”
Previous competition experience is not essential. Enthusiasm, an interest in cars and a willingness to learn can be just as valuable. However, Jeffery says there is a surprising number of former, or current competitors, that are now playing their part in marshalling.
“ The other weekend, for example, I was at Brands Hatch with the Time Attack Championship and at least three out of the five of us in the scrutineering team had raced before,” she says.“ If you have an understanding of racing, wherever you get that from, it does make it a more enjoyable.”
Whatever the role, volunteering offers competitors the chance to discover what happens beyond the cockpit, builds respect for the people keeping races safe, and introduces an entirely new range of motorsport experiences. For former competitors, it can turn years of knowledge into something valuable, while also helping to extend the enjoyment of being involved.
Motorsport UK offers structured pathways and training for many official roles and Clubs can also provide opportunities to gain practical experience. Jeffery now plans her holidays and weekends all around motorsport.“ It’ s a big commitment, but I love it,” she concludes.“ It’ s great to give something back … and we all have such a good laugh!”
It’ s free to register as a volunteer with Motorsport UK, and joining the governing body gives you access to free training and insurance cover while on events.
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Motorsport can broaden your horizons and widen your social circle
Revolution Magazine 17