BMMC MAGAZINE - British Motor Racing Marshals Club

SOUTH MIDS REGION CLUB NIGHTS
BRITISH MOTORSPORTS MARSHALS CLUB
The club nights in South Mids seem just to get better and better. This past year or so we have had some
super guests – culminating with Sir Jackie Stewart, arguably the best known motorsport personality of the
present day, who came along to the White Horse in Silverstone in May 2013. Sir Jackie was in great form
and seemed to respond especially well to an audience of well-informed and knowledgeable marshals. He
was very relaxed and posed for photographs with the Landlord and his wife, which I am sure will win pride
of place above the bar for some time to come – as will the photo of Sir Jackie pulling a pint behind the bar
and offering his services for busy weekends!
It was Alan and Fay Crook plus Bob Sketchley who resurrected the idea of regular club nights and they
are the main people behind the current very successful run. However, there are several others who chip
in to find speakers – Peter Minchinton, Geoff Dawson and George Copeland have all helped.
Recent guests have included Christian Horner, Martin Brundle – who both offered “an hour or so” from
very busy schedules but were still answering questions and talking to marshals three hours later! We
have seen in recent months John Watson, Lord Drayson, Andy Priaulx, Anthony Davidson, Allan McNish,
Andy Wallace, Dave Richards of Prodrive and BAR fame, designer Tony Southgate and many more from
the top echelon of motorsport. Local favourites such as our own President Whizzo, Callum Lockie (these
two should team up to drive in every race at Goodwood), Gary Pearson, Nick Mason, Ray Mallock,
Simon Hadfield have all made substantial appearances.
Bob’s guest book now contains well over 60 names – an important piece of motor sport memorabilia most
definitely not headed for E-Bay!!
Running alongside this has been a programme of visits to the premises of many of our guests. Teams of
marshals have been welcomed at Red Bull, Nick Mason’s Ten Tenths site, Prodrive, Force India, Ray
Mallock Limited, Dawn Treader Engineering, Classic Performance Engineering and several private
preparation shops – where there has been the odd “discovery” of quite famous cars.
In 2013, the MSA’s Year of the Volunteer, drivers are to be encouraged to show their appreciation of
marshals. It seems this practice is already alive and well in the BMMC South Mids region – and we thank
all the 60+ drivers who have given us their time over the past few years.
George Copeland
National Treasurer BMMC
Photos by Jakob Ebrey
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