TWE’s officials were christened ‘Redshirts’ by the competitors back in 1993 on our first London-Sydney Marathon, simply because they wore red shirts as a uniform. Twelve years and eight events later they are still known as The Redshirts.
The 18-man team is widely recognised as the most experienced, user-friendly and best qualified in the business. Four of them carry FIA International Clerk of Course credentials.
All have experience as competitors or officials at the sports highest level on World Rally Championship events. Core members have been have been on the team since 1993. See individual biog details and pix on the website in About TWE.
THE 4- MAN HQ TEAM
They travel the event by light plane. They see the event off each morning, rush to the airport, fly to the next overnight stop to set up the new HQ, the results service, check the hotels and are there to check you in at the final control of the day.
Rally Manager Ron Jackson, recognisable by his furrowed frown and ready smile does what his title suggests and is also responsible for the Results.
He is aided by David Fisher as Office Manager dealing with a mountain of paperwork each day.
John Trevethick is our long standing Clerk of Course, responsible for administering the sporting element of the event according to the regulations laid down by the FIA.
Nick Brittan as Event Director is responsible for, liaising with Authorities and governing bodies, writing the nightly website news reports and listening to complaints about hotel rooms that don’t have a sea view.
THE 4 ROAD CREWS
They travel in pairs in 4 cars equipped with satellite communications. Their job is to supervise the running of the special stages and the regularity tests that are operated for us by local motor sport clubs.
They carry TWE’s own synchronised timing clocks thus ensuring that there is absolute continuity of timing for the 25 days of the event.
They also carry the signage that is displayed at the start and finish of each stage again ensuring that there is uniformity so that competitors are not confronted with a variety of differing local signs and systems. They also ensure uniformity of starting and finishing procedures which would otherwise vary enormously from country to country.
You’ll find a Redshirt at the start and finish of each stage or test. If you have a problem or a query discuss it with him.
Mike Summerfield is Deputy Clerk of Course and Safety Officer. He is accompanied by Dick Pease. It’s their job to make the first run through each stage to ensure that it’s ready and safe with marshals, ambulance, doctor and tow truck in place. They phone back the OK to the start line to authorise the stage to start.
Mike is renowned for being a bit gruff and can do gruff in three languages on four continents. Dick doubles as Competitor Liaison Officer, take your technical queries to him.
Cliff Mainwaring and his Aussie off-sider Darryl Heydon are a happy smiling pair. Since 1993 Darryl has done the driving which he enjoys so he smiles. Cliff gets to see the scenery and not worry about the driving so he’s happy.
Greg Hoinville and Keith Morling are a pair of Aussies with a wicked sense of humour. Watch out for practical jokes and giant water pistols.
Ian Winter and Andy Turnbull plot and plan the Regularity sections intent on making them a difficult challenge, but not impossible.
THE 3-DAY CAR
This is run by two men you don’t get to meet until the Awards Dinner at the end of the rally. Their job title tells you why. They run as an ‘ice breaker’ three days ahead of the rally.
The Road Book or route bible was created by Nick Brittan and Mike Summerfield when they made the route survey last year.
The job of the three-day car is to check the route and advise HQ on a nightly basis of any required amendments. Their amendments are converted into Bulletins which are issued to you so you can make amendments in your copy of the Road Book.
They also check procedures at frontiers, and make sure that roofs haven’t blown off hotels. Theirs is a solitary but enormously important role.
Ryland James and John Butler-Jenkins (Bow to his friends who can’t cope with men with three names) are both Welshmen with more years in top level motor sport than they care to admit to.
Ryland worked for the Ford and Nissan factory teams as their special stage gravel note advance crew. So any amendments you are given relating to the stages will have been prepared by a professional.
Their rewards come at the end of the event dinner when you pat them on the back and buy them a glass of something coloured.
THE SCRUTINEER
He’s the man who answers all your pre-event questions about what’s legal and what’s not on your vehicle. He also verifies your Vehicle Identification Form (VIF).
Colin Salkeld is an RACMSA Eligibility scrutineer and has been around for a very long time and it’s he who checks your vehicle at Scrutineering in Rosario to make sure it complies with all the regulations for eligibility and safety. No flies on Colin so don’t try and sneak something dodgy past him.
THE THREE STEWARDS
Carrera Sudamericana is an FIA Long Distance Rally and we have three Stewards with full FIA credentials who act as magistrates or judges to determine any breaches of the regulations or protests.
We know them as The Three Wise Men and they have adjudicated on TWE events for 12 years. So they have a good understanding of our style of marathon events.
Les Needham prior to his retirement was a Director of the British governing body and is the Chairman.
Howard Lapsley is a lawyer and Mike Tilley has over 40 years involvement with the sport. All three have carried out Stewarding duties in Formula One and World Rally Championship events.
Universally thought to be firm and fair in their judgements.
TWE’s OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER.
Mike Johnson, while not actually an official, is our appointed photographer. He rides, on a rotating basis, with the four road crews and is dropped off at vantage points while the Redshirts supervise the stage controls.
His pictures are much sought after by the glossy magazines in several countries and accompany the reports that are published during and after the event.
Mike also makes his pix available to competitors. After the event he’ll send you a set of proofs and an order form
So, that who’s who and hopefully you now have an idea of what they do on the event. The team have fun doing what they do and enjoy working together as a team – they also enjoy the reputation of being the best and longest established in the business.
Issued 1 September 2005
