Hi Darren
How did you get in to drag racing? In 1986/1987 I was taken up to Santa pod to work at the rwyb events by a work mate and the rest
is history as they say .
Whats it like being race director? Its quite a big responsibility ,Hard work , stressful
,long hours ,
Is there a good bit being a race director? Yes the best
seat in the house I.e. to watch a race from anywhere you want if you ever had the chance to stand between two fuel
cars as they launch you will know what I mean or to watch any class be it sportsman or pro going up the track and taking
the long way around when you look down the track and up at tower height you really get to see how much more steering
or leaning there is to do, but to watch it from the tower is a great privilege .Getting to work with
a lot of other European marshals we have a great exchange thing going on at the moment where we have some marshals over from
Sweden Finland and Norway and we also go and work there its hard work, long hours but these people have become great
friends and this can only be a good thing for the FIA/UEM tour this is usually set up by Kjell petterrson Santa pods
track manger .Also knowing what is going on within the sport before most people though eurodragster.com are very hard to beat
that's where I tend to find out what going on.
Whats the bad bit being a race director? There is not really a bad bit about being a race director you sometimes have to make a decision
which will make you unpopular but on the whole I love this sport that's why I do it so the day that comes and it stops
being fun that the time to go.I sometimes take it a bit personally when we do not get the event finished . Being so busy
that at the end of the day you realise how little racing you actually seen.
If you was going to have a diffrent job in drag racing, what would it be? I do not know really as far as it goes I've done
every position as a marshal . I sit on the SPRC committee as an adviser . so a look at the other side of the fence and
go race would be nice so maybe one day when I stand down but that wont be for a while yet.
How hard is it being a race director? its a very hard job but is made easier by having a great team that work along side me. We
are a team and that goes a long away.I get a lot of help and support from the Santa pod raceway and the Santa pod racers club
so that makes it easier as well.
How many hours do you stay after a event? its not just about the hours after an event but before the event as well if
the weather looks abit dodgy or it has rained over night then myself and a small team will be at the track for 4.30/5.00am
in the sweepers and tractor trying to dry the track then another team comes in about 6.00am and starts up the jets and
this is not just marshals but Santa pod management chip in too that's what I meant earlier about team effort I get a lot of
help from all sides.but a least 2/3 hour after the last car and then a couple of hours on the computer at home changing
running orders swapping things around not all the time but more rather than less .Then before the event at least three to
four meetings with kjell petterrsson and a couple more with my chief marshals .
Thanks
Nice Talking
