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Veteran Ipswich couple Alf and Maureen Capri have been named as joint winners of this year’s third annual Speecafe.com Spirit of Speed Volunteer of the Year award, presented by Michelin.
Alf was one of the founding members of Karting in Queensland during 1958 and two years later met his now wife of almost 60 years, Maureen, while on a night out at a famous Brisbane dance hall.
In fact, he asked her out on a date the very next day, where he took her to watch him race at a local track, and they have been virtually inseparable ever since.
Tonight’s winners were announced at the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame gala by Speedcafe.com founder, Brett ‘Crusher’ Murray, and the trophy presented by Michelin Australia’s Marketing Manager, Swaroop Tulsidas.
While Alf was racing, Maureen got involved in the administration side of the sport and at one stage was Queensland State Secretary for an 18-year stretch.
Since hanging up the helmet in the early 1990s, Alf to has been instrumental on the technical side of the sport.
They are both life members of Karting Australia, Karting Queensland and the Ipswich Kart Club.
Through the years they have held a variety of roles, including State Secretary, State Technical Officer, Club Delegates, Stewards, Timekeeping and any other roles that have needed filling.
They are still very active in the sport with Maureen, 78, remaining as the Ipswich Membership Officer and Alf, 76, officiating as the technical officer at almost every event held at Ipswich and the surrounding region in some official capacity.
The inaugural Speedcafe.com Spirit of Speed award was won by Victorian drag racing veteran Paul Rogers Snr, who has dedicated more than 50 years of his life to the sport.
Veteran Victorian flag marshal Roger Chirnside won last year’s award after being named CAMS Official of the Year and the FIA’s Outstanding Senior Official of the season for 2017.
As the winners of the award, the Capris receive a beautifully boxed trophy, a $2000 travel voucher to be used for motorsport business or pleasure, and $1000 worth of MICHELIN performance tyres for their road car.
Maureen Capri – Speedcafe.com Spirit of Speed, presented by Michelin recipient
“This is a wonderful surprise and so, so unexpected.
“We thought we had been invited down to fill up the table. We just are involved in the sport because we love it.
“Karting is the grassroots of the sport and we love to see all the drivers progress through their careers.
“Thank you to Speedcafe.com for this wonderful award and initiative for the volunteers of Australia.
“Also a wonderful thank you to Michelin for their support and the lovely trophy and prizes.”
Swaroop Tulsidas – Marketing Manager, Michelin Australia
“It has been said many times before, but volunteers are the backbone of motorsport at every level and Michelin are proud to be the presenting partner of this valuable initiative,” said Tulsidas.
“While Alf and Maureen are the recipients of the Speedcafe.com Spirit of Speed award, this is really a recognition of the enormous number of volunteers who give up their time week in and week out so competitors and the fans can enjoy the sport.
“I am sure if Alf and Maureen were on an hourly rate during their 60 years of service, they would be extremely rich people, but everything they do is on a volunteer basis and they should be applauded for their wonderful dedication.
“Michelin, BFGoodrich and TyrePlus are all proud to be a part of the Speedcafe.com Platinum Partner group and to have this further extension to the motorsport community.”
Brett Murray – Founder, Speedcafe.com
“When the SpirIt of Speed award was created three years ago it was designed to reward people of the quality of Alf and Maureen Capri,” said Murray.
“They are the epitome of what being a motorsport volunteer is all about and are simply a first class team that has dedicated themselves to the sport at the grassroots level.
“With more than 80,000 motorsport officials and volunteers across the country, there is no shortage of dedicated candidates to choose from and Alf and Maureen are a couple of rippers.
“Now the leading independent motorsport news site in the world, Speedcafe.com understands the importance of continually giving back to the motorsport community.
“It is tremendous to have a partner like Michelin involved in the program because of their similar values and commitment to the sport.”
