Southland Sports Car Club volunteer, Chanel Muir, has returned from Australia with some silverware after the Bathurst Supercar race in Australia recently.
Both Chanel and fellow volunteer Renee Brown travelled to Bathurst to volunteer at the Great Race for the third time this year, and while the duo has become increasingly familiar with the environment, there was one big unexpected turn for Chanel at the conclusion of the event.
She received the impressive “Gold Award for a Race Official for Bathurst”, an Australian Motorsport and Coates Volunteer Award. Organisers select the recipient for a variety of reasons.
“They said it was because of my cheery disposition every morning and because I did everything that was asked of me, even if it was not in my wheelhouse. The incident that stood out for those choosing the award winner was an incident where a lady took a tumble in the camping ground and injured herself. I handled the situation and cared for her. I am an Ambulance Officer, so I tend to run towards these types of situations,” says Chanel.
Chanel has previously been a casual and volunteer Ambulance Officer, but has been full-time since her return from Bathurst.
“The award was made at a Supercars meal for all the volunteers on the final evening of the race weekend, and the drivers and one of the teams served our meals and thanked us. I had no clue about the award until I was called out. It was very unexpected, but I appreciated being recognised because everyone puts in the hard yards.”
“Only two other kiwis have won it before, and every other year it has been taken home by an Australian. A lot of the other volunteers took the time to come and offer their congratulations and talk about New Zealand motorsport and ask when Renee and I would be coming to other events.”
Chanel said in previous years she had seen very little of the race, but this year, in the wet and with the way it works in her role with 1 hour on, 1 hour off, she saw the opening laps from the edge of the pit lane.
“It was one of the best races ever!”
“Working as part of the pitlane fire crew, it is like a family with the same people all three years Renee and I have been coming over. There was a newcomer as part of the team this year. Initially, they were unsure and nervous, but as the weekend unfolded, they loved it.”
“This year, they were really stretched for volunteers at the race, so they mixed experience with inexperience. It shows that no matter how big or prestigious an event is, it is hard to find volunteers, and we had to cover extra garages.
“I was in the Supaglass garage, and Renee was in the Bendix garage (the two Matt Stone Racing entries). The garages were welcoming, and on our third visit, as we learn and understand more, we are able to insert ourselves more.”
Away from their roles, Chanel says it was “much more like a big family this year. We had a big Chinese meal with plenty of Aussie and Kiwi banter. There was a trivia night at the RSL where we recreated a photo with Mark Beretta. He was keen and, with no hesitation, said, “Let’s do it”. It popped up on his Instagram page.”
Looking ahead to next year, Chanel hopes to get to Bathurst and the Gold Coast race immediately after it, if her work allows.
“I would like to do the New Zealand round of Supercars at Ruapuna in Christchurch, too!”
After many years of volunteering locally at Teretonga Park in Invercargill, that experience has opened up some great opportunities for Chanel.
Anyone keen to volunteer at Teretonga Park can contact the circuit office on 03 213 0522 during office hours or email info@teretonga.org.nz.
Header Image: Supplied
