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Spotlight on ARDC’s Fast Femmes

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we have a chat to some of the fastest women at the ARDC – their Motorsport careers, both past and present, and their views and advice for people wanting to take that first step into Motorsport.

Doreen Butchers

ARDC Race Operations Manager
NSWRRC Club Champion

Motorsport Career Highlight: Winning my first Championship. Winning my 2nd Championship at Amaroo Hillclimb when I was pregnant with my twin girls! Becoming Chief Timekeeper at Oran Park, then Event Secretary at numerous Touring/Supercar events, then CAMS, then Race Operations Manager at SMSP…

    Kaye Callandar

    Clerk of Course
    ARDC Awesome Official

    Motorsport Career Highlight: The opportunity the by the Clerk of Course for Supercars and being selected for the MSA senior development program where I was appointed Deputy Race Director for Fanatec GT Australia series… And working in race control at the AGP.

      Zara Horn

      ARDC Ambassador
      Racing Driver

      Motorsport Career Highlight: Being the first female selected for the Ferrari Driver Academy Australasia Regional Programme and driving the F4 on the Sepang F1 Circuit in Malaysia; two top-ten places in my first race in the 2023 Workhorse Radical Cup Australia at Sydney Motorsport Park.

        Kathy Pincott

        ARDC Scrutineer
        ARDC Awesome Official

        Motorsport Career Highlight: The day I received my bronze license! I hope to obtain my silver within the next three years and to become a chief.

          Rachelle Stirling

          ARDC Board Member
          Race Chix Race School, Supersprinter

          Motorsport Career Highlight: My many Race Chix initiatives, and in 2022 we also fielded two all female Race Chix Karting Teams in a 6-Hour enduro at Eastern Creek kart track…

            Natalie Turmine

            ARDC President
            Car and Motorbike racer

            Motorsport Career Highlight: Being elected as the first female President/Chair of the ARDC, marking a significant milestone in the club’s 70-year history. This achievement not only embodies personal triumph but also symbolises the ongoing progress and inclusivity within the fabulous motorsport community.

              What inspired you to get involved in motorsport? And what was the catalyst or turning point that made you decide on a career in motorsport?

              NATALIE: With no prior exposure to motorsports growing up, it surprised both my husband and my family when, at the age of 28, I developed a keen interest in motorcycles; not just the adrenaline, speed and sounds, but also the sense of adventure and camaraderie. Soon I found myself joining ARDC and fully immersed in the world of Ride Days at SMSP and crafting my own dedicated track bike. At age 31, I was invited to join friends camping at the Bathurst 1000, and it ignited my passion for car racing. Little did I anticipate that just a few years later, I would be tearing around Mount Panorama in my own race car at Challenge Bathurst!

              ZARA: My journey started with the Bathurst 1000. For as long as I can remember I’ve watched Australia’s most iconic motor race from the top of the Mountain, opposite The Chase or sitting on the grass at Murrays Corner. But it was during the COVID lockdown that my family all got to think about what we really valued. I had wanted to race for a long time and one day watching Drive to Survive, I realised it was the only thing I wanted to do. My family were super supportive, and we came out of lockdown and hit the track!

              RACHELLE: I was a big Supercars fan for many years, but knew nothing about the world of grassroots motorsport or even that car clubs existed. It wasn’t until I came across a CAMS (back then) stand at a Homebush round, when I was in my 30s, that I found out I could take my daily drive to the track – and compete! I signed up to the Come and Try Day that CAMS were running at SMSP the following month, and the rest is history.

              KAYE: A friend at the time got me involved. I really enjoyed my first time trackside at Amaroo as a flag marshal, and decision made: I think I will enjoy standing in the heat, cold, wind, rain and hail!

              DOREEN: My Dad from when I was about three years old would have me sitting with him while he watched it on TV. He bought me a red pedal car at three, and I rode it around our balcony singing When I grow up I am going to be a racing driver and drive a red sports car….. I did, and I did.

              KATHY: My future husband was heavily involved in Motorsport and very quickly I developed a taste for it; I was travelling to events with him which further encouraged me.

              What advice would you give to anyone who might like to get involved in motorsport, or might aspire to a career in motorsport?

              ZARA: No matter what part of motorsport you’re trying to get into, whether it’s media, engineering, racing, being an official or a mechanic, the advice I would give to someone wanting to get involved or build a career, is ‘go to events, network, message people, get your name out there, talk to people tell them your story and your aspirations.’

              KAYE:  Give it a go, it’s the best seat in the house and you will make lifelong friendships that you will cherish.

              KATHY: Give it a try, don’t except the ‘knockers’ and stay true to yourself.

              NATALIE: My advice? Just dive in! I vividly recall the day I told my mum about my desire to have a career in the motorsports industry. She asked me what my dream job would be, and without hesitation, I said, “Something at Sydney Motorsport Park.” Back then, I had no clue that my vague dream would catapult me into the role of President and Chair of ARDC, the very organisation overseeing Sydney Motorsport Park!

              What initiatives or programs do you think are important for encouraging people to get involved in motorsport?

              ZARA: I went to Motorsport Australia’s Girls on Track many times and started helping in the events where I could. Later on I was assigned a mentor, Emily Duggan, who helped me set goals and has been really encouraging.

              RACHELLE: I think educational programs in various learning formats are important to encourage people to become involved. How to get started in motorsport is not general knowledge for people who may not know anyone who’s already involved. There are so many different types of motorsport to become involved with and also so many different areas that you can be involved with, it can be overwhelming on where to start.      

              NATALIE: Creating more opportunities for women, young people, individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds, and those with disabilities to actively engage in motorsport is paramount. By fostering an environment that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, we can ensure that everyone feels empowered to pursue their passion for motorsport regardless of gender, financial status, or physical ability.

              DOREEN: Those that break down the barriers of confusion, untruths and creating simple clear ways to get involved in either a Competitive or officiating role. Programmes like our STARTLINE initiative that gives you very simple, clear, inclusive, factual information in a non-threatening environment.         

              In what ways do you think diversity and inclusion can be further improved in motorsport? 

              NATALIE: Creating more opportunities for women, young people, individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds, and those with disabilities to actively engage in motorsport is paramount. By fostering an environment that celebrates diversity and inclusivity, we can ensure that everyone feels empowered to pursue their passion for motorsport regardless of gender, financial status, or physical ability.

              DOREEN: Don’t expect anything to be easy and be prepared to work hard. You will be starting at the bottom, so be prepared for that. Be prepared to go through the correct steps to give yourself the best chance of creating a strong foundation. Listen, learn and take every opportunity that is even half coming your way, and never give up. Have courage, be brave.

              RACHELLE: Women in motorsport is not one target market – there are many. We need different programs and initiatives for different age groups, different experience levels… People need to see themselves in our marketing collateral / initiatives / programs etc, so they connect with what we do.

              Do you think more women would get involved in motorsport if:
              -there is a program and/or sport specifically for girls and women AND/OR
              -there is a program where genders are mixed, but is exclusive to those people NEW to the sport?

              NATALIE: I strongly believe that both avenues hold immense potential for attracting more women to the sport. Creating a program exclusively for girls and women can provide a supportive environment where they feel empowered to explore their passion for motorsport without barriers. Simultaneously, programs that promote mixed-gender participation while catering exclusively to newcomers can also be highly beneficial. These initiatives create opportunities for individuals new to the sport to discover its thrill and excitement in a welcoming environment.

              KAYE: Genders are mixed. When it comes to motorsport careers, it’s simply the right person for the job!

              KATHY: I believe it should be aimed at all, not just the one sex!

              RACHELLE: I think this may depend on the age of the group. From my experience and from what a lot of women have said to me is, women like women-only events/programs when they’re learning as they feel less judged. It’s also easier to connect with other women who are at the same stage of their motorsport journey as them in women-only programs. But…once they’re  confident and know what they’re doing, they don’t want women-only events, they want to participate / compete with everyone. 

              And finally, what does International Women’s Day mean to you?

              It’s a day for ALL women ALL over the world to be applauded for all the wonderful fabulous things that they achieve every day, but probably never get any recognition for. I feel the same about International Men’s Day, too.                                                                                                     

              Doreen

              Not much…

              Kathy

              Got an opinion or idea to share? EMAIL US HERE at the ARDC, we would love to chat!

              Being recognised.

              Kaye

              Whilst I personally believe every day is international women’s day – because you know, we’re awesome – I think IWD is a great time to have discussions and ask questions like we’re doing right here.

              Rachelle

              Celebrating the women who have made and are making history, and respecting the women who are working hard to make it in what ever area they are striving for. And the women who are mothers – there’s a lot of mums in motorsport working hard to make their kid’s dream happen.

              Zara

              Championing diversity, amplifying women’s voices, and creating pathways for them to reach their full potential in every sphere of life.

              Natalie


              Article collated by Samantha Stevens,
              ARDC Media and Communications Manager              ,
              Australian Tarmac Rally Champion.

              ARDC President’s Report, November 2019

              November 2019

              Everyone now knows that there will soon be a Supercar team based at Sydney MotorSport Park! ARDC has been working closely with several parties for some time to make this ambition a reality. We are delighted that Australia’s largest city will again have a resident team in Australia’s most popular motor racing category. I know that the team is very pleased to be based not just at SMSP but in the heart of Western Sydney, amongst the fastest growing and most exciting locations in the country. There is a lot of work to be done finalising details and planning permanent facilities, but this is a major step toward developing SMSP as a key location for engineering innovation and education, as well as expanding the motor sport industry in NSW.

              Last month I gave some information about the locations on the Sydney MotorSport Park circuit where serious injuries occur most frequently. I described a ‘serious injury’ as one requiring ambulance transport; this could have been more precisely defined as a ‘requiring ambulance transport to hospital’ i.e. away from SMSP. Any injury to a rider or driver is undesirable, but I hope it’s not surprising that the data we follow most closely is for the more serious injuries. ARDC will continue to develop that data and I will keep members informed. The more data points we collect, the better the information we have, but unfortunately every one of those data points mean someone has gone to hospital! It’s a bit of a conflict – we want to give you the best information, but it comes at a price. Warren Buffett says ‘price is what you pay, value is what you get’; we hope that proper use of this information will ultimately mean the value is greater than the price.

              Two members wrote expressing their views about other parts of the circuit and we will be looking into the questions they have raised.

              ARDC Director Denis Cribbin recently announced his decision to retire from the Board after lengthy service. I know that Denis will continue to keenly support our Club, but he believes it is important that we should continue to renew the talent on our Board and that it is time for him to step down. I have always enjoyed Denis’s contribution to our discussions and thank him for his service and thoughtful participation in the governance of ARDC.
              Denis’s retirement created a casual vacancy for an Elected Director position and I am very pleased to announce that at its October meeting the ARDC Board appointed Rachelle Stirling to fill the casual vacancy. Members may not recognise this name, but Rachelle Wilson has been a Board Appointed Director since September 2017 and has made a considerable contribution to Board discussions and overall governance. Rachelle Wilson recently married Jeremy Stirling and has chosen to change her name, so Rachelle Wilson and Rachelle Stirling are the same person. Rachelle is particularly passionate about attracting and supporting women into motorsport. She has been a key initiator and Program Director of the Women’s Motorsport Development Program (http://www.wmdp.com.au/), which is supported by ARDC and NSWRRC, among others. Rachelle will serve the remainder of Denis’s term as an Elected Director and will stand for re-election in May 2021. She has been an ARDC Member since 2016.

              This means there are now two Board Appointed Director vacancies, as Natalie Turmine and Rachelle have both been asked to fill casual Elected Director vacancies that have arisen this year. The Board has recently conducted a skills audit, to identify those areas where we would benefit from additional knowledge and expertise. The selection of new Board Appointed directors is a perfect opportunity for us to seek out people who can bring those desired skills to the Board.
              So, if you have skills and experience in digital/social media, property development and construction, IT/cyber/privacy/data security or venue/facility management and you are interested in contributing to the governance of ARDC, please contact me at president@ardc.com.au . A passion for motorsport is obviously a mandatory requirement! Please do keep in mind that the Board’s role is not to manage the club but to take responsibility for oversight and governance of ARDC.

              See you at SMSP,

              Cheers,

              Andrew

              ARDC President’s Report, October 2019

              This morning I attended the Australian Institute of Company Directors annual Essential Directors’ Update. [I hear thousands of responses already…….”BORING!”]

              Well, it may not seem immediately relevant or interesting with respect to motorsport, but high standards of governance are an essential requirement for ARDC’s ongoing occupation and management of Sydney Motorsport Park.  As I have said in this column before, we are responsible for a premium tax-payer asset, and we need to deliver excellence in our operations.  A key area of focus in the 2019 Directors’ Update was on non-financial risk.  All competently-run organisations have a high level of sensitivity to financial risk, but in recent years there has been increased focus on non-financial risk areas, such as conduct risk or operational risk.

              ARDC is the same: while we are very sensitive to correct financial management, we spend plenty of time focusing on areas of risk that are not primarily financial in nature but can ultimately impact on our financial position and potentially reputation.

              A key example is the ‘serious incident heat-map’ that we have been developing this year to provide a better understanding of the high-risk points at Sydney Motorsport Park.  Generally, we are confident that our management of on-track risks is as strong as possible, allowing of course that motorsport is dangerous. But serious injuries (i.e. requiring ambulance transport) still do occur and anything we can do to improve our risk mitigation, while not impinging on the nature and enjoyment of motorsport, must be considered.

              So, at this point here is some information for our competitors:

              1. Four wheels are safer than two. [doh!] Our heat-map for 2019 shows 8 serious incidents involving cars (to the end of August) and 21 involving motorbikes. That’s just the raw data and isn’t adjusted for the fact that there are many more events for cars than for bikes.
              2. For cars, so far this year, the most likely place for a serious incident is at the start.
              3. For bikes, entry to Turn 1 is most likely, closely followed by entry to Turn 15 and exit from Turn 2.
              4. Turns 4 and 6 have not seen a serious incident at all this year, on two or four wheels.

              I know we are all diligent in our preparation (of car/bike and driver/rider) and no-one goes on to the track anticipating an incident, but every little bit of information helps.  And, before anyone suggests I am disparaging bike riders: not so – they are far more heroic than me in my steel cage –  but the statistics say what they say!  We will continue to collate this data and I’ll provide another update in a year or so.

              World Time Attack is just around the corner on 18/19 October featuring the new Brabham BT-62 to add to the enormously competitive and exciting entry list. See you there!

              Andrew Leithhead
              President
              president@ardc.com.au

               

              ARDC President’s Report, September 2019

              What a BLAST!

              The 2019 Paynter Dixon ARDC MasterBlast on Father’s Day weekend was a fantastic celebration of motorsport.  We were blessed with great weather on race weekend (even if it was a bit dodgy for private practice on the Friday) and plenty of people gathered up family and friends to come along.

              There were over 280 entries and all categories enjoyed great racing with relatively few on-track dramas. I wonder when was the last time that a race meeting included both car and motorcycle racing, 4 different starting procedures – standing, handicap, rolling and ‘Le Mans’ – plus two different circuit configurations, plus night racing? On top of that was the usual open and friendly nature of the paddock area with many competitors chatting with spectators and visitors about their cars and the racing. It really was a great weekend all around, so mark your diaries for Father’s Day next year!

              It is always useful to receive constructive feedback after a race weekend to help us continue to improve events at Sydney MotorSport Park.  Competitors will receive the usual invitation to respond to an online survey and I encourage Members who came along to provide comments in the short SPECTATOR SURVEY.

              We are optimistic that by this time next year the permanent circuit lighting will be fully operational and some of the challenges posed by temporary lighting will therefore be resolved. A number of categories have already confirmed their interest in participating again in next year, so we will be working to firm up the program as the 2020 calendar develops over the next few months.

              The next high profile event at SMSP will be World Time Attack on 18/19 October, but in the meantime don’t forget usual activities such as the monthly ‘Night Drive’ for Learners (soon to be more twilight than night when daylight saving starts again), plus driver training with Driving Solutions, V8 experiences with Fastrack, rider training with MotoDNA, ride days, track days, icu=ycle racing – surely there is something for everyone!

              See you at SMSP,

              Andrew Leithhead
              President
              president@ardc.com.au

              ARDC President’s Report, April 2019

              Speaking purely selfishly, from the perspective of the ARDC, Sydney Motorsport Park and motorsport enthusiasts I am delighted that the NSW Government was returned to office at the recent election. The pre-election funding commitments made by Sports Minister Stuart Ayres to support the installation of full-circuit lighting and other infrastructure investment at SMSP will now be able to proceed as we have hoped! The ARDC team has commenced conversations with the relevant departmental executives and we are reviewing and updating plans as required. We are now working to deliver the lights as soon as possible.
              In the spirit of even-handedness, let’s not forget that the preceding Labor government provided the grant funding to enable to circuit extension work at SMSP, so it is great that the Coalition government is also extending support of our sport, its many different forms.
              I must advise members that our friend and long-serving Director, Neil Turner, has decide to retire from our Board. Neil has been a diligent and dedicated Board member for over 20 years, first joining the Board in difficult times for the ARDC. He has always been a positive voice around the Board table and a calm and encouraging adviser in his usual role as a Competitor Relations Officer at race meetings. His work for ARDC and motorsport has always been matched, perhaps less visibly, by his equally dedicated wife Ronda. There will be more said at our AGM next month and in my annual President’s Report, but there is no doubt that Neil and Ronda have earned a long and enjoyable retirement. It is often said that an admirable goal is ‘to leave a place better than you found it’, and that is unquestionably the position of the ARDC after the service of Neil and Ronda Turner.
              Neil’s term as an ARDC Director does not conclude until May 2020, and as such a casual vacancy has been created on the Board. Under our Constitution, it is the responsibility of the Board to decide the appointment of a qualified member to fill the vacancy until Neil’s term expires. The Board is considering this question and an appointment will be announced in the next few months.
              The official Notice of the ARDC Annual General Meeting to be held on 22nd May this year is included with this newsletter, as are Proxy and Nomination Forms for members eligible to vote. John Cotter, Denis Cribbin, Evan Jones and Terry Thompson will retire at the end of their two-year terms as Directors and have nominated for re-election. Full ARDC Members of at least 3 years standing are eligible to nominate for election to the Board and Nomination Forms have been distributed previously. I encourage qualified members who wish to do so to nominate, but in particular the Board would benefit from a new Director who has skills in areas such as governance, marketing, social media, government relations, risk management and event management. Of course, a passion for motorsport is taken for granted! Nominations will close at 5:00pm on Wednesday 10th April, 2019.
              I mentioned last month that we are seeing a marked increase in the number of female members joining ARDC over the last few months and this trend has continued. Unfortunately, none of our new female members has responded to my invitation to tell us why you joined ARDC and what benefit you hope (or expect) to receive. The invitation remains open and I am still keen to hear from anyone who would like do so, either by sending an email either to reception@ardc.com.au or direct to me at president@ardc.com.au
              See you at SMSP,
              Cheers,
              Andrew
              president@ardc.com.au