When Ian Lamb was first offered the prestigious Castrol South Australian Official of the Year award, he first reaction was that he didn’t want it. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in the award’s merits, but Lamb is someone who has always preferred to stay behind the scenes, away from the spotlight and focused on just getting the job done. 

For someone like Lamb, who has been involved with the sport since the early 1960s, he hasn’t spent more than half of his life volunteering just to be recognised by his peers, he does it because he lives and breathes the sport.

Quite simply, he just loves motor sport. 

However after some time of contemplation, the 73-year-old decided to accept the award and was grateful for the unexpected reception he received during the State awards earlier this year. 

“When they called my name out at the event, I received a standing ovation from everyone in the room and it was a very humbling experience,” Lamb said.

“It was a very special moment because of the appreciation everybody had for what I do. It really made me think how much I really am respected in this sport. Not just by people in circuit, but karting, off road, rally – everyone. 

“To get a reception like that feels so good and to think that everybody thinks so much of me, it’s really hard to describe the feeling.

“I have picked up a few awards over the years, but this award in particular is definitely the best I have ever received."

Lamb has been a fantastic servant to motor sport over the past 40 years, mainly volunteering in the service and equipment side of things.

But before he became known as 'Mr Fix it' at so many South Australian events, he was a well-respected member of former Australian Formula 2 Champion, Ian Richard’s entourage. 

After spending more than a decade working with the team, fixing the cars and developing new ones, Lamb was asked for a favour. 

A favour that changed the direction of his life.  

“In 1981. Rob Meade asked me to help put a meeting together for him, which I thought would be interesting because it gave me my first taste on the other side of the fence,” Lamb explained.

“And that was it. I just kept doing it and never stopped because I like the organisation of running a race meeting - putting a race together is what inspires me to continue.

“I really enjoy it. I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t having fun. You have to have a bit fun while you're doing it. I believe that you have to take it seriously, do your job, but at the same time you have to fun because it would be hard if you didn’t. 

“I never thought I would be doing this for so long. It started off as just helping out here and there and now after 40 years, I am still doing it.”