Tomorrow’s Eden Valley Hillclimb is shaping up to be a great event. There are plenty of people behind-the-scenes who ensure that the event is not only a great experience for competitors and spectators, but a safe one too.
In planning the hillclimb we have consulted Country Fire Services who are prepared to respond if required and on the day and the Women for Wheels Association of SA will be on-site throughout the event.
Women for Wheels was established in 1971, explains President Liam Meegan. “The club was formed by the founding members who are still alive today and who still attend different events. It was a band of racing drivers’ wives who formed it because back in 1971 there was no fire and rescue service trackside – there were people who knew how to use a fire extinguisher and that was it. They relied on donations and one of the donations was the Holden HQ one tonne fire truck that is still active today. It’s still going strong.”
Liam grew up around the club, quite literally. His father has been a member for 20 years and Liam attended his first events in a pram.
Women for Wheels provides fire and rescue and safety services to motorsport events predominantly in South Australia and the Northern Territory, and travel to a few events in Victoria and New South Wales. It’s a volunteer, not for profit organisation and all of the money from event services fees goes back into the organisation – all of 60+ members are volunteers. Women for Wheels provides fire and rescue services to over 160 individual race days each year including circuit racing, hillclimbs, speedway, drag racing, speed boats and off-road.
Each event is different, and the appointed fire chief for the day and Liam work with CAMS and other stakeholders to ensure that they have the appropriate crew and equipment for the event. Planning is well underway for the Eden Valley Hillclimb. “We’ll have two Toyota Hilux and four crew in each vehicle. One of those vehicles is kitted out with 12 extinguishers and the required equipment,” explains Liam.
CAMS accredited training is conducted regularly for the crews and is run by a senior member and the fire chief. “One of our deputy fire chiefs is a commander in the Metropolitan Fire Service in Adelaide, so he leads a lot of our rescue training. A lot of our members are also highly trained CFS members as well,” says Liam.
Although there are many male members, Liam is quick to point out women are very welcome. “We do still have female members – it’s called Women for Wheels – we haven’t strayed from that.”
For more information go to: http://wfwmotorsport.com
