Sport + Motorsport
Southland Sports Car Club volunteer Chanel Muir has returned from Australia with silverware following the recent Bathurst Supercars event.
Chanel and fellow volunteer Renee Brown travelled to Bathurst for their third stint volunteering at the Great Race. While the pair have become increasingly familiar with the environment, the weekend ended with an unexpected honour for Chanel.
She was awarded the prestigious Gold Award for a Race Official for Bathurst, part of the Australian Motorsport and Coates Volunteer Awards. The recipient is selected based on a range of criteria.
“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,” Chanel said.
One incident in particular stood out during the selection process, when a woman fell and injured herself in the campground.
“I handled the situation and cared for her. I am an Ambulance Officer, so I tend to run towards these types of situations.”
Chanel, who had previously worked as a casual and volunteer Ambulance Officer, has been full-time since returning from Bathurst.
“The award was presented at a Supercars meal for all the volunteers on the final evening of the race weekend. The drivers and one of the teams served our meals and thanked us. I had no clue about the award until my name was called. 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 gone to an Australian. A lot of volunteers came up to congratulate me and talk about New Zealand motorsport, and asked when Renee and I would be coming to other events.”
Chanel said that while she had seen little of the race in previous years, this year was different.
“With the wet conditions and our one-hour on, one-hour off shifts, I was able to watch the opening laps from the edge of pit lane. It was one of the best races ever.”
Working as part of the pit lane fire crew, Chanel described the team as a close-knit group.
“It’s like a family, with many of the same people returning each year. We had a newcomer this year who was nervous at first, but by the end of the weekend they loved it.”
She said volunteer numbers were stretched this year, resulting in experienced and inexperienced volunteers being mixed.
“It shows that no matter how big or prestigious an event is, it’s still hard to find volunteers. We had to cover extra garages. I was in the Supaglass garage and Renee was in the Bendix garage with the two Matt Stone Racing entries. The teams were very welcoming, and with it being our third visit, we’re able to insert ourselves more.”
Outside their official duties, the social side of the event also stood out.
“It felt much more like a big family this year. We had a big Chinese meal with plenty of Aussie and Kiwi banter, and a trivia night at the RSL where we recreated a photo with Mark Beretta. He was keen and immediately said, ‘Let’s do it.’ It even popped up on his Instagram.”
Looking ahead, Chanel hopes to return to Bathurst next year and attend the Gold Coast race if work commitments allow.
“I’d also love to do the New Zealand round of Supercars at Ruapuna in Christchurch.”
After many years volunteering locally at Teretonga Park in Invercargill, that experience has opened up new opportunities for Chanel.
Anyone interested in volunteering at Teretonga Park can contact the circuit office on 03 213 0522 during office hours or email [email protected]