Motorsport volunteer veteran - Introducing Dr Chin Wei Ch'ng

Above: Wei and Australian motorcycle legend Casey Stoner at an event

What a great year 1996 was, had a great job as a junior registrar in the Alfred ED, dating my future wife, and actually earning some cash- yippee. As part of the ED job, I ended up in the F1 Medical centre and had to Rx some patients at the F1 that arrived as a new event to Melbourne, and the rest is history.

My dad loved F1, and he used to ooh and aah over the races and crashes. As a doctor he always wanted to get closer, but the F1 didn’t come to Melbourne. Now it’s here, and as a Motorsport volunteer I get close, really close. While I wish I could go to more races, I don’t have much time as I now have kids, but I make the time to volunteer for the World Superbikes, the Formula 1 and the MotoGP each year. In the last few years I have managed to volunteer at more than 25 of each of these events.

During that time I have finally become an ED physician, got married, had kids and now my daughter is going to yr 12 in 2023. The one constant- Motorsport (my wife didn’t know about that when we started dating). I get to watch from closer than any other paying spectator, I actually get it be hands on with world class racers, and if necessary Rx them or resuscitate them. Like all health care providers there are the mundane injuries and the more serious ones. They get in the way of enjoying the racing!

Volunteering at Motorsport events has allowed me to develop a huge circle of like minded Rev head friends! Not just medical, but track Marshall’s, firefighters, security, scrutineering and catering- every event we can catch up. My Motorsport family is a second family and now extends to friends and colleagues that are from all parts of the world.

Where else can I get to watch the worlds best road racers, FOR FREE. All I need to do is make sure I have the time off. Being a volunteer marshal allows me access to areas most people would only dream of, and sometimes experiences that are unforgettable. Imagine flying to Phillip Island (well back to the Island), Imagine being able to shoot the breeze with Casey Stoner, Mick Doohan or the Troys! I have been so lucky in that I have managed to get to know many racers both International and local, usually after some minor spill, but they are so appreciative of the service we provide. One year, a now 6 times WSBK WC, had a spill and I needed to fix his finger. When he saw me later that week with my 5 yo son he came up to say hello and meet my son, but unfortunately he lost out to a mechanic with a rattle gun. With a wry grin he realised my son was more interested in the tools than in a Motorsport superstar- something he now understands himself with a few kids of his own.

Its great being involved with your passion and volunteering allows me to indulge in my passion in a way that money can’t buy. 2022 has been a brilliant year. F1 came back in April, MotoGP came back in October, and very quickly World Superbikes in November. I got to reunite with my Motorsport family, and mourn some of my friends lost during the last few years. Motorsport is full of ups and downs, not just for the racers and teams, but also as a volunteer - my Motorsport family. This year my best and worst moment was at the end of the World Superbikes event, when a crash occurred and the race was red flagged. A racer I had known for years, and my kids loved meeting (pic from 2016), had crashed in his last race- his last race EVER. I had been wishing him well all weekend, and had hoped he would have a great send off after a brilliant career. Hearing that a red flag had been called we got ready to receive the patient, but I was devastated when I heard who it was. I had really wanted him to do well… but I had a job to do, and needed to look after my friend.

That race I got to use my skills- we managed his injuries and organised to send him to The Alfred. I got to look after him all the way to the Alfred, and got a ride back in the chopper. I got to see all my friends, look after a rider I respected and had followed for years, and still being at the Alfred got to follow up on “my” patient. Where else can you have such access? use your skills? and get so close to Motorsport royalty. I keep thinking of retiring and getting a “ticket” to the races, but what’s the point, I have more fun as a volunteer, get to meet different people, and if they are unlucky get to use my skills.

Written by Dr Chin Wei Ch'ng - Emergency Physician/ Hyperbaric Physician

Above: Wei's two children with Eugene Laverty in 2015