Kiwis rally to make Lexmark Indy 300 a success
The Gold Coast is looking for Kiwi help to reach an Australasian record for volunteers for an annual event or festival.
About 192,000 New Zealanders a year visit the Gold Coast. The Lexmark Indy 300 motor race is calling on Kiwi
holidaymakers to pitch in.
The race, from October 19 to 22, is aiming for 1,700 volunteers, 200 more than its traditional annual target. Roles
include pit lane, fire, flag, grid, track and spectator marshals, as well as accreditation centre, gate, grandstand,
information booth, corporate usher and pit walk officials.
The call for more volunteers is the result of the Lexmark Indy 300’s phenomenal growth. Crowds now exceed 316,000 over
four days and four nights of racing and entertainment.
Lexmark Indy 300 General Manager Ken Freer said the volunteer team is an integral ingredient in the Lexmark Indy 300’s
success.
“While the volunteers make a vital input, it is also a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying experience for them in
return. They can perform their role while having loads of fun meeting new people, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying
the entertainment.”
Kiwis who have volunteered in the past have already signed up again this year.
Ohau (Levin) volunteer Ian Mannsen is now part of a father-son team, and was a New Zealand Go Cart Champion in the
1960’s. He has volunteered at the Lexmark Indy 300 for 13 years.
Ian makes the most of the event by staying on the Gold Coast for around two weeks.
“It just gets better every year and the event constantly evolves. That’s why people keep going back. The city really
embraces the atmosphere – there are events around before and after – it’s like a festival” he says.
Grant Hanover from New Plymouth took spectators on pit tours last year.
“The sound of thousands of horsepower racing through town – it’s great. The cars have such intense power that they
create a vacuum with the road - manholes around the city have to be welded shut” he says.
Aucklander Chris Speight had always been interested in racing, though when her husband became increasingly involved in
racing, she didn’t want to be left out. Work permitting – she is now more involved than her husband.
Having witnessed some track accidents at other events, Chris knows she is there to do a job that’s important. “The buzz
is the event, but also it’s knowing it’s been done well and safely – that’s the real buzz for me”.
Volunteers should contact the Lexmark Indy 300 office on ph 0061 7 5588 6800 or by visiting the volunteers' page on the
website at http://www.indy.com.au/event/volunteer/index.htm
More Gold Coast information can be found on www.goldcoasttourism.com
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