Shelagh Melvin    Back

 Your life is in her hands

Racing has been in my blood since I was a small child, as it was a family outing every weekend to attend the local track. By the time I was 8 years old my family had become involved in stockcar racing, as my Dad became a pit crew member for one team and my brother for another. Eventually my brother built his own car and I then became part of his pit crew. Snowmobile racing took our time in the winter.

As I became older I also got involved in Mud Boggers, always on the safety end, never the driver though. Drag Racing has always been my first love. Shirley Muldowney, Shelly Anderson, John Force, Eddie Hill and Hollywood Spurlock have always been my favorites. My dad and I used to spend one weekend every year as a Father/Daughter weekend and go to a drag race at the Winston Cup Track in Cache Creek, BC. We even ventured to Seattle one year so we could watch John, Eddie Shelly and Hollywood live.

I became a volunteer firefighter 8 years ago. I have always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and have had a fear of fire since I was a child as our own home burned to the ground. I have always believed the best way to overcome a fear is to face it head on.

Sun Valley Motor Speedway, a CASCAR WEST sanctioned track, opened for racing 3 seasons ago. This is my 2nd season on the safety team. Our team leader, Rick Thompson has been involved in racing for many years and has invested a lot of time in researching other teams and tracks to make sure we have one of the best safety crews around. On many occasions we have been complimented by visiting racers on the professionalism. We volunteer our time each Saturday to be there for the drivers. Their safety is our number one concern.

Check out our track at www.speedwaybc.com

Becoming a volunteer firefighter gave me a whole new lease on life and the thrills it can bring. I have always been somewhat of an adrenaline junkie so put that with a love for speed and the next logical step for me was to become a volunteer member of the safety team. The drivers are there for the spectators, we are there for the drivers. We want to make sure that we keep them safe so they can continue what they love. By making sure the track is clear of debris that could take out a tire, we assist in making sure the only round and round the driver does is the long way.......... around the track. There is a downside to being on the safety crew.........the endless sweeping when someone has the misfortune of loosing an engine and deposits all engine fluids on the track. We are not part of the show the spectators came to see, so this is a task that must be done as quickly as we can put the concrete powder or floor dry down.

Our protocol if there is a crash goes something like this.............we pull just past the crash site (incase we need to pull the hose from the 150lb extinguisher) The First Medical Responder goes immediately to the driver to check on his or her condition (looking for the dropped net or popped steering wheel) Fire Suppression stands by ready with the extinguisher. Bird dog has run about 100 feet up the track and signals the race cars to stay high or low, thus protecting the members of the safety team and avoiding the lose of another car from the field. The Safety Team driver (who also is the captain of the team) assesses the race car damage and directs the tow truck if needed.

Of all the positions on the truck, my personal favorite is the bird dog position. Standing out on the track with race cars coming straight at me, feeling the vibrations and wind as they go by. I can see the eyes of most drivers as they drive by and the pride I get for the job we do as I see the thumbs up sign or little wave through the netting as they go by me. At the end of a race we are all a combination of pumped and pooped............but counting down the days til the next race.