Being an official can be a lifelong commitment, and for Roger Chirnside, that is certainly the case.
Chirnside has been a Motorsport Australia Official for almost 60 years, first taking on an officiating role at the Tasman Series at Sandown in February, 1966 at the suggestion of a close friend at the time.
It was there that Roger was bitten by the officiating bug, which lead to a number of other roles in the years to come.
Chirnside would take on roles to include crowd control, flag marshal, grid marshal, pit lane marshal, sector marshal, a chief flag marshal of 19 years from 1992 to 2010, and as a chief marshal since 2011.
Chirnside said he hopes to continue to represent Motorsport Australia at all event levels, citing how welcoming the officials community is overall.
“To witness marshals rising through the ranks to levels of significant responsibility is what makes me happy in the role I play in motorsport,” Chirnside said.
“The camaraderie of the motor racing family in Australia and around the world is next to none, and it’s a place I love to be.”
Chirnside’s accolades as an official are as extensive as they are impressive.
His earliest of note came in 1990 when Motorsport Australia (then CAMS) awarded Chirnside with a Service Award.
Other accolades include receiving Victorian Flagmarshalling Team Life Membership in 1994, being named the Australian Official of the Year in 2000, and the FIA Outstanding Official of the Year 2017.
Chirnside was awarded Motorsport Australia Life Membership earlier this year at the Motorsport Australia National Awards Gala.
“It has been a privilege over the years, to not just be part of the motor racing fraternity, but to also be able to usefully serve a purpose whilst taking part in something I love doing, Chirnside explained.
“I strongly encourage aspiring officials to enjoy the experience of being a valuable part of motorsport and that part is marshalling.
“I spoke of a dear friend at this year’s awards night who introduced me to crowd control many years ago – that friend was Barry Petersen.
“Barry was all of 6’4” and his height was an advantage in a couple of ways at the race track. If there were some unruly spectators, sometimes the sight of Barry looming could possibly calm things down a little, and as I frequently said to him ‘I’m right behind you’, but also in the heat of the day, he was a good source of shade.
“Above all, none of these awards, honours, thrills, would have been possible without the unwavering support from my dear wife Joy.”
Chirnside’s biggest officiating thrill to this day remains standing trackside in 1995 on the Mulsanne Straight at the Le Mans 24 hour with a blue flag in his hand.
It is the efforts of officials like Roger that makes motorsport possible throughout Australia.
As part of FIA Officials Month this October, take a moment to acknowledge the work of the 12,249 officials currently registered with Motorsport Australia who make our sport a great community to be part of.
