Trustees

Garry Headridge

Chair

• Motorsport UK Radio Co-ordinator for Scotland

My first exposure to rallying was as a teenager in 1977 when the Scottish Rally had a service halt on Edzell Muir. A quick bit of autograph hunting and then dad was persuaded to take us to Dunkeld to see the cars through Craigvinean. I was hooked. A club competitor on Road Rallies, Autotests and Production Car Trials, attention turned to marshalling when family came along and I joined SMMC in 1989. I soon got involved with the Safety Radio Group and became a licensed Controller. I was particularly pleased to be part of the team that organised Rally of Scotland from 2009-11.

I am the Motorsport UK Radio Co-ordinator for Scotland as well as being a Trainer, and Interclub Rally Clerk of the Course. I am also on Motorsport UK's Volunteer and Officials Cross-Discipline Committee.

Nick Clarke

Trustee

• Secretary
• Marshalling Co-ordinator

I have been involved in Motorsport Marshalling since 1970 when I became a flag marshal at Ingliston Circuit and then also carried out the same role in the 1980's at Knockhill. I still proudly hold that grade within Motorsport UK and these days mostly Race Marshal now in the North of England and Ireland and Kart Marshal in Scotland.

I joined the SMMC during the 1970's and in the early 1990's I became a Motorsport UK National Race Clerk of the Course. Again I still hold this licence and was lucky enough when I became an International Race Clerk to officiate at the British Grand Prix and also within the BTCC and the British GT + F3 Championships. I have since also become a National Kart Clerk of the Course and an Inter Club Speed Clerk of the Course.

I joined the SMMC Committee in 2014 and served as Club Chairman from 2018 - 2020.

Alastair Gray

Trustee

I enjoyed motorsport from a very young age watching Stockcars and Hillclimbing at a variety of locations in Scotland but only started marshalling when I could transport myself to events at the age of about 18.

My marshalling started at Doune but I quickly became involved at Knockhill too and from there found the rallying world.

During a visit to the British F1 Grand Prix in 1991, while talking to some friendly faces on the SMMC Rescue Unit, I was asked if I would be interested in joining their team. I managed to gain my full rescue licence in 1992 and have had the privilege of attending many events with the Units ever since.

I joined the SMMC Committee in 2008.

I also maintain my connection to Doune Hillclimb as Chief Marshal, a role I have been carrying out since 2008.

Catherine Headridge

Trustee

• Membership Co-ordinator

I started marshalling in the early 1980’s when I accompanied my then boyfriend to the Hackle and Scottish rallies that ran stages in Craigvinean. Motorsport took a back seat when family came along but as soon as they could look after themselves, I returned to help as a Radio Marshal supplemented by the odd trip to the Tour of Mull and to Yorkshire for the Trackrod. Away from the radio, I have assisted in organising events and being a member of the results team.

In 2011 I took on the role of Membership Co-ordinator for the Club and was appointed to the Board in October 2018.

Neil Jeffrey

Trustee

• Operations Support

My strong interest in vehicles and machines came early, a direct result of my parents' market garden business, so a career fixing them was pretty much a foregone conclusion! Spectating at Ingliston in the early 70s was my first taste of motorsport, but rallying always looked more exciting to me, especially when the cars were road legal and looked like the ones I worked on. My involvement started that same decade - spectator, then marshal, sector marshal and even stage commander at one point. Around the same time I got to navigate my pal's Mk 1 Escort on a road rally, and I was hooked. Special stage rallying was my real interest, but with no money to fund it in the 80s I co-drove instead, competing in single-venue and BTRDA/SRC championship rounds with reasonable success. Since then I've prepped, owned and driven (badly!) quite a few stage rally cars, ultimately bowing out competitively after comprehensively rolling my Mk 2 Astra on the '98 Scottish! A change in circumstances led to a 15-year hiatus, but since returning in 2015 as a Motorsport UK registered marshal I've progressed to senior marshal, taken up radio marshalling and club event organising, and from 2019 competed again as co-driver and mentor in the Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge. This grew into the privilege of co-driving my ex-junior in his first senior year, the two of us taking 3rd overall in the 2024 MG3 Rally Championship and 1st in the SRC 1400 C1 Class! Luck permitting, I intend to keep competing for as long as I'm able. I joined SMMC as part of my return to marshalling, particularly on the radio side, and in 2022 was invited onto the Board, where my experience now supports our rescue vehicle and radio groups.

Pete Lawrence

Trustee

• Treasurer
• Safety Radio Group Co-ordinator

I have enjoyed motorsports of all forms for years as a spectator, starting with Formula 1 at Brands Hatch and Silverstone. It was on a visit to Brands Hatch to see my first Rally Cross that I got the bug for this discipline and then subsequently rallying and there has been no turning back. I was given a Rally day experience at Silverstone, but when the instructor at the end said I had the control of a raging bull elephant decided that I wasn’t going to be the next Rally champion, so decided if I wanted to be involved I would help as a marshal and attended a number of events such as Wydean, Sunseeker and what was at the time the Lombard RAC. I took a break whilst my children were growing up, but got back into marshalling a few years ago and now go to as many rallies as I can up and down the country, either on radio or timing. More recently, I have also marshalled at Knockhill at the various SMRC race and SLS meetings and looking to gain experience as a track marshal. I started my involvement with the SMMC Committee in early 2019 as Treasurer and now Trustee.

Chris McKeown

Trustee

More to come!

Allan Matheson

Trustee

• Operations Support

I was always car mad, and remember my dad talking about the Rest & Be Thankful Hillclimb and showing me photos of him competing. I learned to drive at 12 on the farms in Ardnamurchan and grabbed any chance to get behind a wheel. I passed my test the day after my 17th birthday, then almost immediately left home for a 49-year seagoing career, spending the last 25 as Captain and Offshore Installation Manager on ultra-deepwater drillships before retiring in 2023. My interest in motorsport photography led me to marshalling at Doune in 1978, and I joined the then new SMMC soon after, going on to marshal at Ingliston, Knockhill and many long-gone hillclimb venues. When Rescue arrived in the mid-80s I was involved straight away. Since retiring I've taken on responsibility for our vehicle and equipment maintenance. I joined the Board in 2025.

Jon Bolton

Trustee

• Rescue and Medical Co-ordinator

I went on my first rally at the age of 5 when my uncle was marshalling the Cropton Forest stage on the Lombard RAC Rally. This was in the days of Roger Clark and the all conquering Escorts. The sounds and smells of rally cars have never lost their appeal. As an adult, working on an ambulance crew covering Cadwell Park in the mid 90s, I frequently encountered drivers who had come to an abrupt stop somewhat sooner than they had anticipated. Fast forward to recent times and I am a licensed rescue team member and Motorsport UK Trainer. I am also on Motorsport UK's Rescue and Recovery Sub Committee. I was elected to the Board in 2021.

Mark Russell

Trustee

• Sustainability Champion

More to come!